THE SCIENCE OF CUSTOMS AND RITUALS IN HINDU DHARMA
What is the definition of a Hindu : Aa sindho: sinduparyantham yasya bhaaratha bhoomikaa maathru bhoo: pithru bhoo (punya) schaiva sa vai Hindu iti smruthaa: whomsoever, is considering the land between the sapta sindu ( Indus valley river) upto Indian ocean as the motherland/ fatherland and holy land, is known as Hindu. This land is known as Hindustanam which is defined as follows: Himaalayam samaarabhya yaavath hindu sarovaram tham deva nirmitham desam hindustaanam prachakshate. The land created by god himself and which is lying between Himalayas and Indian ocean is known as Hindustanam .
Unlike other religions, Hindu dharma has many specialties. This is not known as a religion, it is known as the dharma. Either Hindu dharma or sanaathana dharama. Sanathana means according to bhagavath geetha, which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water, air, and which is present in all living and non living being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the ‘total of all aachaaraasas or customs and rituals’. The aachaaraas which are to be performed by the mother is known as mathru dharma, those of father is known as pitru dharma. Similarly there are putra dharma ( dharma of son) aachaarya dharma (dharma of teacher), as a continuation we can say bhraathru (brother) dharma, bhagini (sister) dharma, poura (citizen) dharma, raja (king) dharma and so on. All these dharmas have been described in detail giving the specific importance in the dharma saastra and smruthies. There is no specific English word for dharma, but it is the sum of the duties + responsibilities + privileges of that individual. Then what is the sanathana/ Hindu dharma ? It is the total of mathru dharma + pitru dharma + putra dharma + putree dharma + acharya dharma + poura dharma + …+…etc. Hence we say Hinduism is not a religion but the way of life....
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