The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhri ( to hold) and means 'that which upholds' or 'that by which the universe is upheld. It is Dharma that keeps up this rising chain of evolution, from which there is no escape. All Jivas, other then man are completely under the power of Prakriti (Nature) and follow her law automatically. Kanada defines Dharma 'That is Dharma which brings about material and spiritual advancement and final Liberation."
The Rishis of old made four Divisions of Dharma Sadharana, Vishesha, Asadharana & Apaddharma. Karma is the vibration of Prakriti or primordial matter, which is the result of its three gunas or principles of creation. Ril creation comes from the operation of Karma. According to the Hindu Shastras Bhakti is considered of the Prana or life principle of all the Phases of worship. The Sadhans have been devided by the holy Maharshits into four classes-Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga, Raja Yoga. In Sanatan Dharma death does not signify anything more then the leaving of the Sthula Sharira of five tattwas by the Sukshma Sharira of 18 Tattwas. In the law of Karma the position of men and women are like seed and the soil.
The aim of all the Religion of the world is the realisation of the Divine. This realisation assures freedom from pain.
The four Vedas-The Rig, the Yajus, The Sama and the Atharva are the ancient scriptures of the aryans. The Upanishads occupy a prominent place in Sanskrit Literature. The quintessence of Vedic philosophy is contained in them. Ramayan has no peralledl in literary grande our and in historical significance. It's style is so simple charming, fluent and chaste that any reader possessing an ordinary knowledge of Sanskrit language, carefully grasp the meaning and thought.
Attempts have been made to present in English the character of India's time-honoured religion to the world both by Indian and foreign writers. The essential and universal character of India's ever lasting religion has neither been yet fully known to. nor understood by many of the writers. The writers are usually indifferent to the truths, teachings and to the essentially spiritually and truly human interest that distinguishes it.
But the Indian Dharma, as will be seen from the following pages is a universal spiritual system recognizing the goal of humanity true life and explaining and guiding its course to that goal. There is no reason why the teaching should not be accepted if it be in perfect agreement with science and philosophy and capable of realization by positive experience in this life. This teaching comes by immemmorial tradition from master to pupil and is recorded and preserved in part in the ancient Vedic Literature and in part in the more popular Puranas Smrities. The test of historical sequence and antiquarian research are no tests to prove the genuine ness of such spiritual teachings. Even in their own province of utility both these tests are condemned by their own critics, the one on account of the prejudices and ignorance of the original writers, the other on account of the vagneness of the authorities and the fancies of the interpreters.
Those who ask for the sources of the teachings of India's religion cannot find them all in one place, or in one work, or some one period of time or in any sort of written record. They are scattered far and wide, not only in numerous works, extant and inextant but in varied traditions which are yet in accessible to the general world. We have access to a large mass of such teachings. So we intend to present them in original or modified forms in a series of Volumes in Sanskrit accompanied by translations into Hindi as well as in English. We should examine them with an open mind to test their true character by the principal positive tests of reason and self experience.
We briefly describe the nature of some of those teachings, which will be found to be easily intelligible from the point of view of the theory of evolution. Evolution in religions thought is not merely phisical or biological not only social, moral or of any character referring to mortal life alone it is a universal Law comprehending the sublime truths of Philosophical and the final conclusions of Science and uniting and reconciling all truths into one.
For instance "The Spirit in man and in the whole universe is one without a Second." Man is a microcosm, the universe a macrocosm. Having arrived through four stages of ignorance previous to his human life, man had yet to pass three more stages to be perfectly evolved human being. He then becomes a fit candidate for future progress and evolves into absolute perfection by a gradation leading from the physical to the spiritual life, eliminating at cach successive stage some persistent encumbrances and finally gaining freedom, which in other words is self realization as to being "one without a second". The problem is grand and sublime, almost awful to follow, but there is perfectly theory of man's progress in this way. The student will find light in the study of it and as in this field of study thinking is itself a direct instrument of help, the mere study will be of material use to the student helping his own progress towards the Goal. Here is some explanation of the problem.
The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhri (, to hold) and means "that which upholds" or "that by which the universe is upheld." The Mahabharata recognizes this etymological meaning of Dharma and takes it as upholding all creation. The power and utility of Dharma are similarly described in the "Narayan-Upanishad'. That Shakti (or Divine power or Divine law or Divine will) is Dharma, which pervades the whole universe and regulates it's harmonious action. It is the cause of the birth of the universe. Its preservation and final dissolution or absorption into the Supreme.
We see the continous working of the force of attraction and repulsion in the universe Dharma is the power that maintains an equilibrium of these two forces through out the creation. The sun attracts the earth, the earth travels round the sun and the moon round the earth-this is due is the operation of Dharma. It Dharma were to cease working even for a single instant, everything would go to wrack and ruin. There is balance between the force of attraction and repulsion in all embodied forms in the universe and what maintains the balance is Dharma. Each world system has it's own Sun, planets and satelites, each if which is kept is position by the balance of attraction and repulsion. The whole nature is under Dharma. This world of ours arose out of Dharma.
The ancient Hindus were aware of the principal of evolution long before Darwin and others taught it in west. The Hindus hold that the Jiva in its onward march toward its Goal, travels steadily by degrees. till at last it takes it's birth as a man. And Dharma will take him incourse of time yet higher. It is Dharma that keeps up this rising chain of evolution, from which there is no escape. who can resist this all powerful Divine Dharma? Dharma teaches us how to work smoothly and harmoniously with it.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
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Vedas (1278)
Upanishads (477)
Puranas (741)
Ramayana (892)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (474)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1288)
Gods (1280)
Shiva (334)
Journal (132)
Fiction (44)
Vedanta (323)
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