HINDUISM- DOCTRINE AND PEACE

G.M.Subhasree Iyer

Hinduism: Origin and Essence:

In these days of technical civilization, life is full of stress and strain. A state of indefiniteness and indecision prevails and is patent all through the turmoils of modern life. Only one thing that is evident in our activities is ‘speed’. But when we settle down for a moment to think calmly, what we need is Rest, which is true and quiet rest- ‘Shanthi’. This Shanthi is the message of Hinduism, the message of the Vedas, Upanishads and the message that was preached and practiced by many eminent men. It may be rather difficult to reconcile ourselves to this idea of peace in the bewildering conditions of the modern times. It may be difficult to conceive that this idea of peace is to help one towards God-realization. But in reality it’s not so. This can be illustrated with an example, suppose a navigator is voyaging on the seas, and in the midst of his voyage, he finds himself engulfed by a cyclone. The intelligent navigator steers to the centre of the cyclone and discovers Rest and safety there.  In the same way, the centre of our cyclonic life may be found in our spirit. This is the simple conception to start with! (Mm. Professor Kuppuswami Sastri Birth Centenary Commemoration Volume 1)

Of all the several faiths originating in India, Hinduism is generally acknowledged to be the oldest religion known to mankind. Hinduism is practiced primarily by its adherents over 700 million. The Hindu trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu form the triumvirate, who oversee the entire cosmos and its inhabitants. Hinduism is not strictly a religion and is primarily based on dharma, the code of life. Hinduism claims no founder and calls itself a revealed religion based on the eternal path or ancient wisdom (Patanjali Yoga Sutras –book I).

Hinduism is called the ‘Sanathana Dharma’ or ‘Perennial duty’ or ‘Eternal Universal Religion’.

Hinduism, which is the oldest of the world religions, had its origin in India, and is practiced by the majority of its people. The name originally has a geographical establishment. The Persians who invaded India through the north-western passes of the Himalayas, named the region watered by the Indus as Sindhu; and the word ‘Hindu’ is only a corrupt form of ‘Sindhu’. The faith of the people of the Indus-land is regarded as Hinduism. Eventually, the word Sindhu has a twofold basis of both Persian and Hinduism in it. Hinduism is thus a geographical term. It does not define the Hindu religion alone, but simply pinpoints the region from which western cultures have got in touch with it. Hinduism does not owe its origin to any historical personage. There is no date and founder to regard as the beginning or as to who began Hinduism.

Hindus lay their basis of everything on the Brahman, the eternal, beginning less, unmodified basis of all. Human life for a Hindu is based on four pillars of Hindu thought namely Karma (action), Janma (birth), >Dharma (righteousness, right conduct) and Brahman (the unmodified basis of all). Karma causes Janma. Janma occurs for the purposes of pursuing Dharma. The pursuit of Dharma through Karma, eventually leads to the realization of Brahman. The main focus and attempt of Hinduism is to make an individual conscious about life, world, and God. If one becomes conscious about himself, he is aware of all the worldly pleasures which just exist for a short period of time, eventually leading to redemption in one’s life. It advocates the truth and the way of truth so that one can get peace and happiness. In fact, Hinduism can be called a way of life and living.

By examining the core teachings of Hinduism, Peace is considered as the greatest yearning of the Hindus. Ceremonies in Hinduism are entirely based on a number of mantras and in the end of each mantra, Hindus  pronounce ‘Om Santih, Shantih, Shantih (Peace, Peace, Peace) which is to say and mean, peace be to men, to the forces of nature and to the entire universe.

Various books in Hinduism preaches about internal peace (inner tranquility) and external peace (which is attained through meditation and other relaxation techniques)

Peace in Hinduism:

In Sanskrit, the word for violence is ‘Himsa’, which is causing injury or harm to others. The alphabet “a” placed before the word, negates it. Thus assuming, ‘Ahimsa’ is abstaining oneself from causing any type of harm to others, wheth