Actually, Hinduism is not a Religion, but a way of life or culture of the Indian people who lived since 5000 years ago as per Legends. This culture is being maintained since then. In other words, it is known as a civilization of the people who lived in this great land, Bharat now known as India.When the emergence of other religions here, those who believed in the Indian culture kept their indentity seperately who are known as the present Hindus.
THE VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY: The word Vedanta literally means the end of the Vedas,the Vedas being the scriptures of the Hindus.The vedas divided mainly into two portions, the Karma kanda and Jnana-kanda - the work portion and the knowledgeable portion.The Upanishads belong to the Jnana-kanda, or knowledge portion. In fact, the whole world is moving in Vedanta consciously or unconsciously as this is pure ethics. It was practiced and adopted by the ancient people of India and it is their way of life known as Sanathan Dharma. Some say it is very difficult to practice vedanta in human life, but I say this argument is not correct as it can be done to a certain extent in our life. In my opinion, everything has to be done with morality and ethics. A man must have atleast following few qualities, viz.Good character,Courtsey,Courage,Conviction,Committment and do our duties, help others as far as possible,live with ethics, then it is almost Vedanta life.Even the Buddhists and Jains, when it suits their purpose, will quote a passage form the Vedanta as authority. In general there are three sorts of commentators in India now, from their interpretations have been arisen three systems of philosophy and sects. One is the dualistic,or Dvaita, a second is the qualified non-dualistic, or Vishishtadvaita and the third is the non-dualistic, or Advaita.Ofcourse the dualistic and the qualified non-dualistic include the largest number of Indian people. The non-dualists are comparatively few in number. However all Vedandists agree on three points.They believe in God, in the Vedas as revealed and in cycles.The three post-Buddhistic commentators are Adi Sankaracharya, Ramanuja Acharya and Madhava Acharya, non-dualistic, qualified non-dualistic and dualistic respectively. Every action of man is worship, because the idea is to attain to freedom , and all action, directly or indirectly, tends to that. Only, those actions, that deter are to be avoided. The whole universe is worshipping, consciously or unconsciously, to the great Creator, the Almighty God in all senses.The Vedanta God developed out of the Sankhy's Purusha. All the systems take up the psychology of the Sankhya. Both the Vedanta and the Sankhya believes in the infinite soul, only the Sankhya believes there are many souls. As per Sankhya, this universe does not require any explanation from outside. The Vedanta believes that there is the one Soul,which appears as many and we build on the Sankhy's analysis.
YOGA :As per Hindu system, there are many ways to reach the spiritual realm and the most practical way is different Yoga methods. Among many Yogas, two are important which are Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga.Although these two are connected each other, Rajayoga is supreme in all senses as it directlty helps the God vision by conquering the internal nature. " The affections of external objects are carried by the outer instruments to their respective brain centres or organs, the organs carry the affections to the mind, the mind to the determinative faculty, from this the Purusha (the soul) receives them, when perception results.Next he gives the order back,as it were, to the motor centres to do the needful. In this body of ours the breath motion is the "silken thread"; by laying hold of and learning to control it we grasp the pack thread of the nerve currents, and form these the stout twine of our thoughts, and lastly the rope of Prana, controlling which we reach freedom". This is the process of Raja Yoga. Actually the real meaning of Yoga is union, the union of the Supreme Self or Paramatma and Jeevatma Yama,Niyama,Asana,Pranayama,Pratyahara,Dharana,Dhyana and Samadhi are the steps of Raja Yoga. Yama,Niyama,Asana and Pranayama are the steps of Hathayoga and Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are the steps of Rajayoga. All spiritual practices finally reach to Rajayoga which is the real God vision.One should practice Hathayoga to become a Rajayogi, it is said. An important Yogasan is Pathmasan, which is useful for preventing and resisting heart diseases. The sitting position or posture of Pathmasan is similar to a Lotus flower.One can find the great Illumined Sage of India, Sri.Budha's sitting posture mostly in pathmasan.Our all ancient Maharshis were sitting in this Yogasan as it can help a lot in meditation, pranayama, concentraion as more energy or Prana will flow to crown chakra during meditation and pranayma at this posture. Another simple Hatha yoga practice for headaches is to drink cold water through the nose as soon as you get up in the morning,the whole day your brain will be nice and cool, and you wll never catch cold.For sinus one can do the same thing, but it should be with lukewarm and salted water.No sinus complaints will occure thereafter.
MEDITATION is a constant remembrance of the object we meditate upon. It is described as like "an unbroken stream of oil poured from one vessel to another." When we attain to this kind of remembrance in relation to the Supreme Being, all the bonds of the heart break and it becomes illuminated by the presence of the Self. In meditation Shoonayabhav-Samadhi or Superconscious stage is the real Spiritual ecstasy.
PRANAYAMA- The meaning of Pranayma is the control over Prana and controlled breathing.When Prana and our breathings are controlled, the whole systems of the body is controlled including character which is very important in Yoga life.
The Fire of Yoga burns the cage of sin that is around a man.Knowledge becomes purified and Nirvana is directly obtained.Yoga gives knowledge.He who combines in himself both Yoga and knowledge, with him the Lord is pleased.
OM TAT SAT
S.S.YOGI
(SUBRAMANIA SIVA YOGI)
