Sanatana Dharma

or
Hinduism
nti Mantras

O saha nvavatu |
sa ha nau bhunaktu |
sa ha vryam karavvahai |
tejasvinvadhtamastu m vidvivahai |
O shnti shnti shnti ||
nti Mantras
Meaning:
1: Om, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher
and the Student),
2: May God Nourish us Both,
3: May we Work Together with Energy and
Vigour,
4: May our Study be Enlightening, not giving rise
to Hostility,
5: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
INTRODUCTION
Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Way
Hinduism was a term conferred (by visitors to
India) on Indians practicing Sanatana Dharma
Sanatana Dharma is rooted in the Vedic tradition
is the basis for spirituality, religion and culture in
Hinduism
Dharma is the basis for all actions and is the
vehicle that can prepare one for knowledge of
the Self





SCRIPTURES
Sruti (heard)
Veda
Smrti (remembered)
Puranas
Ramayana
Mahabharata





SCRIPTURES
Vedas
Rg (oldest book known to mankind)
Sama
Yajur
Atharva
Bhagavad Gita (also known as Gita) occupies a
special place in the scriptures

VEDAS
How were the Vedas passed on from one
generation to another?
Oral tradition
Method
Still practiced today!
Study of the four Vedas is accompanied by the
study of the ten other disciplines, which help one
in understanding the Veda
Vedas as a Means of Knowledge
Life is full of choices
Vedas, as a body of knowledge, helps people
make these choices intelligently
The two sections of the Vedas are:
Karma Kda
Jna Kda
Vedas as a Means of Knowledge
It is a fact that individuals have desires
The Karma Kda prescribes methods to fulfill these
desires (in accordance with dharma)
Actions prescribed by the Karma Kda section of the
Vedas produce results
There are two types of results dhta phala
(tangible or verifiable result) and adhta phala
(unverifiable result)
GOD
In Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism, the
fundamental tenet is: All is God
When understood properly, this creates an
understanding of unity with all peoples,
creatures, things, and everything in creation





Worship Practices
Practicing Hindus worship God present in every
form, recognizing that everything is a
manifestation of God
Sometimes we hear that Hindus practice Idol
worship - this is incorrect
Hindus do not worship the idol but God in a
particular form
This is common practice in all religions where
some symbol is used to invoke the image of God
in the mind




Pursuits of a human being
The Vedas classify all pursuits of a human being
into four categories called pururthas
Dharma (ethics)
Artha (securities)
Kma (pleasures)
Moka (liberation)
Of the four pururthas,
Artha is the quest for security
Kma is the quest for experiencing pleasure
The Four Pururthas
The four pururthas can be classified into two
sets
The set comprising of Artha and Kma is shared
by all living beings
How?
The set comprising of Dharma and Moka is
unique to human beings
Why?
The Four Pururthas
Why is Dharma the first of the Pururthas?
Because the struggle for security and the search for
pleasures must be governed by ethical standards
What happens if Dharma is violated in achieving
security or pursuing pleasure?
Breakdown of moral and spiritual standards
Destruction of the fabric of society
Ashramas: Stages of Human Life
Brahmacharya: Education is the primary goal of
the person
Ghasta: Life as a householder; very important
stage (supporting society); applying karma yoga
Vanaprastha: Becoming more introspective and
engaging is serious self-inquiry
Sannyasa: Renunciation of attachments to
material pleasures and sole dedication to pursuit
of self-knowledge
Each stage brings more maturity in a person
Karma and Rebirth
Human birth is rare
We can get Self-Realization on in human form
We see disparity in health, wealth, and so on
How do we explain that some suffer while others seem
to coast through life?
Karma and Rebirth
The Law of Karma states that an individual is the
creator of her/his own destiny
The results of past actions place us in various
circumstances (good or bad); how we act in these
circumstances is up to us!
If we act with our selfish interests in mind, we are
bound to create more bindings and eventually to more
suffering down the road; if we act selflessly, we can
transmute the karma!
Guru or Teacher
Hinduism places a special emphasis on all our teachers
Mother (our first teacher) is equated to God
Father (our second teacher) is equated to God
Acharya or spiritual teacher is equated to God
Atithi or a guest is also equated to God!
This is a unique feature of Sanatana Dharma
Guru is truly that teacher who removes (ru) the
darkness (gu) or ignorance from ones mind
Yoga
What is (commonly understood as) Yoga?
What is Atanga Yoga?
Eightfold path culminating in samadhi

Fundamental Problem
What is the Fundamental Problem?
Why is the Knowledge of the Self important?
How can ignorance of the Self be dispelled?

Three Pillars of Hinduism
What are the major beliefs?
Satyam
Brahmacharya
Ahimsa
Ahimsa
Ahimsa means non-aggression
Most important value in Sanatana
Dharma
It does not imply passivity
Hinduism does not advocate conversion
this is against the value of Ahimsa
Rituals
Every society & every religion has rituals
In Hinduism these rituals serve to remind
us about God every day present in
various forms and manifestations
Prayers and Temple
How many times do you go to a temple
each week?
Most Hindus go to temples sometime
during the week
Nearly all Hindus have a shrine at home
this is a sacred place of worship and
meditation

Restrictions?
Are there any restrictions (dietary or
otherwise?)
Eating habits of Hindus range from strictly
vegetarian to non-vegetarian
Discuss Gunas
Sattva
Rajas
Tamas



Varna System or Caste System
There is widespread misunderstanding about the
varna system in Hinduism
The caste system is present in every society in one
form or another we even see it in our workplace
Prasad add here as needed

What are the Major Festivals
There are more festivals in the Hindu calendar than
perhaps in any other religion in the world
Festivals help us to remember the divine through
individual and group prayers
Some festivals celebrated at the temple:
Brahmotsava Deepavali
Ganesh Puja Maha shiva ratri
Janmashtami Vaikunta ekadasi
Nava ratri Guru Poornima
Rama navami Sankranti
Questions
What are the major holidays?
Are there any restrictions (dietary or
otherwise)?
What would be considered the most sacred
belief?
How many times a week do you go to Temple?
Other questions?
Concluding nti Mantra

Om Pramadah Pramidam Prt-Puram-
Udacyate
Prasya Pramdya Pramvvaiyate ||
Om nti nti nti ||

Meaning:
That (God) is infinite; this (world) is whole;
from the infinite the world becomes manifest.

From the infinite, even if the whole is taken away,
what remains again is the infinite.