Before starting on the Bhagavat Gita and other texts, it will be a good idea to have a brief background on Hinduism and its Scriptures. These will be discussed in the next few postings.
Origin of the word “Hinduism”
The name “Hinduism” for the ancient religion of India is a misnomer. The word “Hindu” is really a mispronunciation of “Sindhu”, which was the name of the river Indus. The Persians, who had contacts with India since ancient times, pronounced ‘Sa’ as ‘Ha’. So “Sindhu” became “Hindu” as the name of the inhabitants this land, their land was called “Hindustan” and later, their religion “Hinduism”. Wide use of the term “Hinduism” as a name for a religion happened only during the British rule.
Sanatana Dharma
In ancient India the guiding principles to live a moral and spiritual life was referred to as “Sanatana Dharma”. The word Sanatana is derived from the words Sada Nutana, which means ever-fresh, always-new. So Sanatana Dharma is an Eternal Dharma.
Dharma itself has no direct English meaning. Using “Religion” to mean Dharma severely restricts and limits its scope. Dharma is a way of life; it is righteous living, in harmony with all beings, nature and the cosmos. There are no fixed set of doctrines and dogmas; there is no room for bigotry and narrowness. Dharma is based on eternal laws and provides the framework of principles guiding us both in our secular and spiritual pursuits.
Sanatana Dharma is not a religion to be followed, but rather to be lived.
Since Sanatana Dharma is not often used now, I will in future, for the sake of simplicity, use the more common term “Hindu Religion”. But please do bear in mind what I have stated above.
In my next posting, I will discuss some of the important features of Hinduism.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Introduction
It happened one evening about 10 years ago. I was with a friend and he asked me casually, “Have you heard of the Bhagavat Gita?”
“Of course I have,” I replied. “Isn’t it something about Krishna giving a lecture to Arjuna in some battle field.”
“Well, sort of,” said my friend. “But have you read it. Can you recite any one famous verse.”
“Well no. But there is no hurry, is there. I can read it after I retire. After all, the Bhagavat Gita is for old folks. Wont serve any purpose reading it now."
My friend smiled knowingly, and said nothing further.
Somehow this conversation kept coming back to me. Was the Gita really for the geriatrics? I recalled, from what little I knew of the Mahabharata, that at the time of the battle Arjuna was a young man of action - in the prime of his life. What reason could Krisna have possibly had for talking to a young man, in the middle of a battle field, and that too with some spiritual mumbo-jumbo?
I had no idea. Secretly I felt ashamed. Here I was, with all the right pedigree –IIT graduate, multi national executive, member of exclusive clubs, etc, etc., and I knew absolutely nothing about my own religion and the great spiritual heritage of India. But who would enlighten me? How would I get a teacher?
In India there is a saying – when the student is ready, the master appears. My Guruji is the greatest man I have ever met; he has taught me all I know. Interacting with him has been a unique experience, I have got fresh insights about life, and I hope a bit of his infinite wisdom has rubbed off on me.
This blog, I have begun, as a self test, to put down in words what I have understood. My attempt is to write as simply as possible in a language which every one can understand. If anybody reads it and responds I shall be grateful.
A small explanation on the title – “Sun and the firefly”: the mighty sun and the humble little firefly (glow worm); both emit the same light. Similarly, the same divine light of consciousness (Atma Chaitanaya) that illumines the entire universe is present in all beings, however small and insignificant the being may appear to be.
“Aham Atma, Gudakesha, sarva bhuthasya stithaha….” says Lord Krishna in the Bhagavat Gita, “ Oh Gudakesha (Arjuna), I am that Atma that resides in the hearts of all beings…”
More in my next post. Bye for now.
“Of course I have,” I replied. “Isn’t it something about Krishna giving a lecture to Arjuna in some battle field.”
“Well, sort of,” said my friend. “But have you read it. Can you recite any one famous verse.”
“Well no. But there is no hurry, is there. I can read it after I retire. After all, the Bhagavat Gita is for old folks. Wont serve any purpose reading it now."
My friend smiled knowingly, and said nothing further.
Somehow this conversation kept coming back to me. Was the Gita really for the geriatrics? I recalled, from what little I knew of the Mahabharata, that at the time of the battle Arjuna was a young man of action - in the prime of his life. What reason could Krisna have possibly had for talking to a young man, in the middle of a battle field, and that too with some spiritual mumbo-jumbo?
I had no idea. Secretly I felt ashamed. Here I was, with all the right pedigree –IIT graduate, multi national executive, member of exclusive clubs, etc, etc., and I knew absolutely nothing about my own religion and the great spiritual heritage of India. But who would enlighten me? How would I get a teacher?
In India there is a saying – when the student is ready, the master appears. My Guruji is the greatest man I have ever met; he has taught me all I know. Interacting with him has been a unique experience, I have got fresh insights about life, and I hope a bit of his infinite wisdom has rubbed off on me.
This blog, I have begun, as a self test, to put down in words what I have understood. My attempt is to write as simply as possible in a language which every one can understand. If anybody reads it and responds I shall be grateful.
A small explanation on the title – “Sun and the firefly”: the mighty sun and the humble little firefly (glow worm); both emit the same light. Similarly, the same divine light of consciousness (Atma Chaitanaya) that illumines the entire universe is present in all beings, however small and insignificant the being may appear to be.
“Aham Atma, Gudakesha, sarva bhuthasya stithaha….” says Lord Krishna in the Bhagavat Gita, “ Oh Gudakesha (Arjuna), I am that Atma that resides in the hearts of all beings…”
More in my next post. Bye for now.
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