Preamble

Introduction to Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma and its Ancient Education System

Sanatan Vedic Hindu dharma is not merely religion as per the general definition of religion. Religions like Christianity, Islam, Judaism are one God, one book, one belief, one faith, one particular worship and one prophet centric religions. Sanatan Dharma believes in pluralism and polyism. Definition of Sanatan Dharma is not limited to general definition of religion or any sect.

Sanatan Dharma allows multiple faiths and beliefs, multiple systems of worship, multiple rituals and spiritual practises. Sanatan Dharma believes oneness in all paths of religions and sects. Therefore, there are huge a number of scripts and literature like Vedas, Upanishad, Brahmana granths, Puranas, Smriti granth, Shastra granth etc. There are more than 10 million scripts and literature books related to Sanatan Dharma available till now in various languages in India and outside India.

Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma is not religion, but it is a way of living life. It offers total freedom and independence to everyone. Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma has ancient traditional educational and knowledge sharing system like Gurukul Shiksha, Family Shiksha, Samaj Shiksha which is totally different from the present religions educational systems of Christianity, Islam etc.

We need to understand the basic difference in the education system in Sanatan Dharma and other religions. Students need to study multiple sources of literature, scripts, cultures, traditions, languages, practises of worship, multiple faiths and beliefs to understand the principles of Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma.The education framework and delivery model of Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma is much different in formation, principles and practise than the education systems of religions like Christianity, Islam etc. Study of literature, educational system, study of various cultures and civilisation, philosophy, ethics, traditional knowledge system etc. are the integral part of Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma Education. Sanatan dharma has holistic approach towards education and knowledge sharing practices.

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ESSENTIALS of Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma
Hindu Dharma is known as 'Sanatan Dharma' ( Eternal Tradition ) by its followers.

• Hindu Dharma is the world's third largest religion and one out of every six people on Earth is a Hindu.

• Hindu Dharma, the world's oldest religion, has no beginning-it predates recorded history

• Hindu Dharma is credited for the original creation of concepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Karma, Vedanta, etc.

• Hindu Dharma has no human founder.

ETERNAL TRUTH - SANATANA DHARMA
Hindu Dharma, the world's oldest tradition, is Universal in its outlook. Its source, the Vedas, is the collective wisdom of saints and sages in the quest of Truth.

ONE GOD (SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS) MANIFESTING IN MANY FORMS - एकं सत्य, विप्र: बहुधा वदंती - Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being (Brahman) who is both Immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality
 

DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS EVERYWHERE
ईआवास्यमिदं सर्व पत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत Divine consciousness permeates all matter in the Universe

A CYCLICAL UNIVERSE
From the Hindu perspective, all processes in the Universe are cyclical. "Divine being, like a sea, surges upward in a wave of creation, then subsides again into its own nature. Waves of universe rise incessantly, in infinite numbers, one after another," Yoga Vasishtha 2:19

ESSENCE OF HINDU DHARMA
Dhriti (fortitude, patience) in sadhana (life governed by spiritual practice), guided by damah (self-control) and indriya nigraha (sense control) leads to realization of satya (eternal truths).

HARMONY AT ALL LEVELS OF EXISTENCE
Perfecting the individual, then family, then society, then the Universe itself

SECTS
There are four main denominations: Saivism, Saktism, Vaishavism and Smartism. It accepts all genuine spiritual paths from pure monism (God alone exists) to theistic dualism (When shall I know His Grace?). Each soul is free to find his own way, whether by devotion, austerity, meditation (yoga) or selfless service. Stress is placed on temple worship, scripture and the guru-disciple tradition. Festivals, pilgrimage, chanting of holy hymns and home worship are dynamic practices. Love, non-violence good conduct and the law of dharma define the Hindu path, Hindu Dharma explains that the soul reincarnates until all accumulated karma are resolved and God Realization is attained.

Definition of Dharma
Dharma is ऋतं Rutam... Dharma is the natural, eternal and universal law that maintains the cosmic as well as the social order.
Human Dharma comprises the duties of an individual towards family, society, humanity and the environment.
The eternal principles of Dharma form the basis of the philosophies, beliefs and practices that originated in India, such as Hindu Dharma, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.