Foundations of Hinduism

Foundations of Hinduism.
Dalip Singh Wasan, Advocate.

If we trace history of the Hindus we would not find one founder of this Hinduism. That is the reason, some people believe that Hinduism is not a religion, but it is a way of life which had been adopted by the people of this sub region and they had been getting guidance from old Rishis, Munnis, Avrtaras and the Gods and Goddesses. The important works of the great Rishis who had been residing in jungles and had been creating guidelines for the people are contained and collected in four Veras. The name of four Vedas are, The Rig Veda, The Yajur Veda, The Atharva Veda and the Sama Veda. The Rishis had also been writing Upanishads, Purana and Simiriti. It is on record that the two great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are also there and in Maha Bharata, we find the great book Bhagvad Geeta too. If we go through all these works of the Hindus, we shall find that they could establish the following main principles which they directed that the Hindus must follow and it is on record that this community had been following all these principles through the ages and still they believe that they are following the same principles. Let us have a look on the Hindu principles laid down in these great works of the Rishis and avtaras:-
(1)God is one and one only and it cannot be divided into parts.
(2)God never takes His birth nor He dies.
(3)God is present everywhere.
(4)No action in this universe without the will of God.
(5)God sends all the men, women, animals and other things having life on this earth and when He so desires, the calls them back and they die.
(6)God writes the luck and destiny of all of us and we live life as per such directions in those writings.
(7)God is like our parent and we all are members of this family.
(8)There are 84,00,000 lives on this earth and people who commit crimes, sins and misconducts while in life are condemned to this circle and they shall attain this manhood after completing this circle.
(9)They created the office of Dharam Raj where each soul shall give accounts of his past and shall be awarded or punished as per record.
(10)They believe in the concept of Hell and Heaven. They believe that the people who had been doing good works in life shall get Heaven and the people who had been doing bad deeds shall be given Hell where they shall suffer.
(11)The believe in salvation 'mukti' and they say that people who had been feeling presence of God in life shall get salvation and shall never come to this world once again.
(12)They believe that one should follow life of 'Dharma' I.e. the right path in life and one should not be leaving this path when the circumstances so compel him.
(13)They believe that none should snatch away the share of others, rather one should help and protect the weak whose share is being snatched away by powerful people.
(14) They believe in charity and they had been helping the needy throughout the ages.
(15)They have established and installed Gods and Goddesses and they are worshiping and praying before them.
(16)They believe in penance and facing hardship and that is the reason they had been living in jungles where nothing had been provided to them.
(17)They want to live in peace and it is on record that people of India had not been invading other countries.
(18)They were not killing animals for eating purpose.
(19)They believe in simple life and high thinking.
(20)They also believe that if we do wrong with another, we shall receive punishment even in this life.
(21) They believe in blessing and in curse and therefore, they always want to have blessing from the others and they are afraid of curse, which they believe shall work adversely.
(22)They believe that repentance shall free the man from all the punishments which are prescribed for the sins committed by the man while on this earth.
(23)They believe that a beggar should not go without charity.
(24)They visit religion places and they believe that without these visits devotion of God is not complete.
(25) They sit all alone and close their eyes and try to have an image of God in heir mind and in their heart.
(26)They believe in prayer and they had been inventing so many method of offering prayer before God.
(27)They believe that one should not snatch away the share of another.
(28)They believe that we should earn honestly.
(29)They do not believe in converting other people to their faith.
(30)They do not hate people in other religions nor they hate other religions. They believe that people in all religions are trying to meet God in their own way.
(31)They do not take meat of a cow because they have recognized her as their mother, because it gives milk and its sons are utilized for farming purposes.
There are more beliefs and principles in Hindus and some of the beliefs and principles are also available in other religions too. The principles adopted by the Hindus are very good and if found useful people should adopt these principles. These principles are available in religious books of other religions too though in different form or language, because all the religions on this earth are trying to make this man a right person and all are good guides, provided the man on the earth adopt all these principles and turn a good person. So we should honour the Hindus who have given so much to the people of the world. We should also be thankful to those Rishis, Munnis, Bhagatas, Gurus, Gods and Goddesses who had been laying down these principles for the people of the world.
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