Sai Prasad Panda - Secrets of Sanatan Dharma: Nectar of Eternal Religion

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the sages, saints & monks of India who gave the divine knowledge & bliss to the world. With their compassionate love for all human being, plants, animals & nature .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sai Prasad Panda, a spiritual seeker. After completing Degree in Hotel mgt, worked in Several International Restaurant chains in countries like Oman & Bahrain later moved to Qatar to work with Doha Metro as a Station Master. The promising career did not quench the thirst to know the Absolute Truth hence decided to move to the Holy city of Vrindavan to do Sadhana & Seva. Writing books is part of my Seva.

Foreword

This book reveals many secrets. Why we do certain things in Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism)? Why do Hindus worship Deity? Why shall we be vegetarian & what are its benefits, what is Brahmacharya? What is contribution of India & Sanatan Dharma the world? Which is the oldest religion in world? What is Garbhadan sanskar? & How to get the ultimate bliss?

God ever exists. God is beyond Time, space & matter. God is never born nor will ever die this is universally accepted in all the religion at least all are on the same page on this matter. God is not under the law of nature. So the religion of god is also never born it is eternal. Sanatan Dharma (Hindu Religion) means the eternal religion/the eternal principles.

Sanatan : means eternal & ever existing .

Dharma : means to understand our relationship with god & act in that relation So that we may attain the ultimate goal of life.

The need to write this book is to explain the essence & secrets of Sanatan Dharma in as simple manner as possible especially to the present generation. Because Hinduism is the least propagated among its own so called followers. Even 1% of Hindus cant quote one verse from their own scriptures like Ramayana, Vedas, and Bhagavad Gita.

CHAPTERS

1) IS GOD WITH FORM OR FORMLESS? Pg. 3-6

2) BEIGN VEGETERIAN Pg. 7-9

3) OLDEST RELIGION IN THE WORLD Pg. 10-11

4) GARBHADAN SAMSKAR & BRAHMACHARYA Pg. 12-17

5) SANATAN DHARMAS GIFT TO THE WORLD Pg.18-20

6) WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? Pg. 21-22

CHAPTER 1: IS GOD WITH FORM OR formless?

The Answer to the Question is God is Formless as well as with form. There are many saints & sages in past & present who worship the formless aspect of god & they attained the benediction of lord by that process for ex. Paramahansa Yogananda, Lahiri Mahasaya etc Many people think Hinduism is polytheism there are many gods but thats not true it is in fact most pluralist religion in the world it has acceptance for all. One ultimate god with different names & forms in other words not many gods but many ways to reach God

For example. A same person can be called with different names example name in school is Mr Shaurya Panigrahi, his nick name is Silu his childrens call him Papa his Wife call him Honey & his form kept changing every day ever since he born. When he was born he was looking different, at teen age he looked differently has a young man he looks different.

Arjun asked Lord Krshna in chapter 12 of Gita VERSE 1: EVAM SATATA-YUKTA YE BHAKTAS TVAM PARYUPASATE. YE CHAPY AKSHARAMAVYAKTAM TESHAM KE YOGA-VITTAMAH ( O Sri Krshna Which is superior to worship formless or to worship Personal form? Lord Krishna gives reason in VERSE 5- KLESHO DHIKATARAS TESHAM AVYAKTASATA- CHETASAM AVTAKTA HI GATIR DUKHAM DEHAVADBHIR AVAPYATE . Lord says,Arjun worship of un manifest is not difficult it is extremely difficult. For the embodied soul, one who has a body to worship the bodiless, it is extremely difficult. How will you fix your mind?

If lord has enchanting form you are easily able to absorb your mind in him. You are able to get a basis on which to love which is his form. The mind requires a base to rest upon

By worshipping the formless, aspect of god a person gets Brahmananda. The bliss of formless. When you worship his personal form you will get Premananda. Because in Brahmananda you cant see him only you can feel him in Samadhi. & in Premananda, with every pore of your body you can perceive the sweetness of his personal manifestation.

God accepts the form we worship that is his grace. Just like the a small kid makes picture of his mom & dad even though the picture does not resemble their face but when he shows that to his parents they become happy.

OUR SCRIPTURES GIVES US BROADER VISION. THEY CLEARLY STATE:

EKAM SAT VIPRAH BAHUDHA VADANTI (RIG VED 1.164.46) Meaning the Absolute Truth is one but devotees call him by many names. The creator of the world is one.

God is all powerful if god wishes he can take up form. If we claim god do not have form this implies that we do not accept him as all powerful.

God is with form simultaneously god is formless. God existing everywhere his divine presence is everywhere. God is all pervading in this manner god is formless. God is not under Law of nature in fact LAW OF NATURE follows the instruction of God. God is beyond Time, Space & Matter. Example - Water can be in 3 different states. Solid(ICE), Liquid, Gas (vapour). So the water from same river can become solid, liquid & gas if we freeze it become ice, in room temperature it is liquid & if we heat it over boiling point it will become gas after certain temperature.

ALL HUMAN BEIGN ALSO HAVE BOTH ASPECTS TO OUR PERSONALITY THE SOUL IS FORMLESS & OUR BODY HAS FORM. OUR SCRIPTURES TELL US GOD IS FORMLESS & ALL PERVADING, BUT HE ALSO MANIFEST IN PERSONAL FORM (BRIHADARANYAKA UPANNISHAD 2.3.1)

If i put different coloured water in 108 pots & place it under sun there will be reflection of sun on all the 108 pots according to the colour. So there is one sun but reflection are many & according to colour of pot the sun appears coloured.

God do not see the action god only sees the intention. Ultimately BHAKTI HAS TO BE DONE BY MIND PHYSICAL activity is just a helper to attain bhakti by mind.

If you ask a Hindu who is devotedly worshiping a deity now what is your concept of god is? Is the stone the only god that you understand? 99.9 percent of the deity worshipers will say no god is all powerful he is all pervading he is everywhere in this world he is seated in my heart but this is his manifestation which is helping me love him & engage my mind in him.

Idol worshipper are those if there concept of god is limited to that stone but if that stone is a symbol of the almighty then it is deity worship. Symbols have been used in all religious traditions even in those who worship formless god.

shrimad-bhagvatam ail dru-may lauh
lepy lekhy ca saikat
mano-may mai-may
pratima-vidh smt (11:27:9) says there are 8 varieties of deity form of lord stone, wood, metals., earth ,paint, sand, jewel & mind. The highest kind of deity worship is to bring the image of god in your mind & with the help of that inner deity you love him but that is very sophisticated and the masses cannot be expected to meditate on the image of god that is why our scriptures & our acharyas gave the simple way of helping people connect with god & progress by giving us the system of daily Deity worship

If we were worshipping only a stone than we would have got thinking for example o deity of stone you were part of this mountain. This person has made you. This person got you here but in fact. We think of God & his past times hence we do not worship a deity in fact god himself.