The Science of Customs and Rituals in Hindu Dharma

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....