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<\/a><\/p>\nHinduism is a very well defined, well-structured religion with\u00a0Sanatana Darsana<\/em>\u00a0 at its core as its\u00a0Atma<\/em>. Those who pontificate Hinduism is a way of life and not a religion, betray their pathetic knowledge of Hinduism, would do well not to comment upon Hinduism at all. From conception to\u00a0Pinda<\/em>\u2013Dana<\/em>, each and every Hindu ritual is abundantly and profoundly defined, narrated in scriptures. In absence of ideological dogmatism, leave alone fanaticism, Hinduism alone allows ample space to redesign and redefine one\u2019s own package of Hinduism to be pursued under the grand banyan tree of\u00a0Sanatana Darsana<\/em>. Hinduism also allows and accepts complete non-acceptance of all Hindu rituals in the name of atheism so as to enable the iconoclast to transcend entire Hinduism and leap-frog to the\u00a0Adhyatmika<\/em>\u00a0 summit in one go !!! However, that does not validate the ridiculous notion that Hinduism is merely a way of life and not a religion at all !! Ignoramuses and ignorants often refer to \u2018Discovery of India\u2019 authored by JL Nehru and narration of Hinduism therein as a way of life. Abject ignoramus in Nehru did not know, Hinduism did not exist in India at all and what all he \u2018discovered\u2019 in India in the name of Hinduism is still an enigmatic riddle for the knowledgeable ones !! Had he struggled to discover Hinduism in\u00a0Bharatavarsa<\/em>, he would have certainly succeeded in discovering something in the name of Hinduism if not in it\u2019s entirety.<\/p>\n One of the largest religions in the world with Buddhism \/ Sikhism \/ Jainsim included, Hinduism\u00a0 has a few elemental constituents around which entire\u00a0Darsana<\/em>\u00a0 as well as rituals revolve. This article is intended to elaborate those elemental constituents to have an aerial view of the religion so as to enable you proceed in an ordered manner to have an intense understanding of the religion gradually.<\/p>\n Parama Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0\/\u00a0Paramatma<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n He is the Supreme Absolute Reality, the Only One, Eternal,\u00a0 Immortal and Immutable. He is the fundamental principle of existence and every entity emanates from Him and terminates into Him. He is Omniscient and Omni-existent too. He is\u00a0Sat<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. Truth,\u00a0Cit<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. Consciousness and\u00a0Ananda<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. Bliss, three aggregated into One. He is the fulcrum of entire existence, Core of entire Perceptible and\u00a0Cetana<\/em>-Incarnate. He is the Universal Principle wherein everything that is cognisable, everything that is cognised and every cogniser, all merge into Him into one entity. He can be realised, attained and perceived but impossible to describe because for the purpose of description and narration, cogniser shall have to disengage himself from the Cognised i.e.\u00a0Param<\/em>\u00a0Brahma<\/em>\u00a0 by virtue of\u00a0Ahamkara<\/em>. The moment cogniser is disengaged from the Cognised, he is mortified and rendered incapable of describing Him. Thus, you can be\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 yourself or none of Him but not between the two states of existence !!! Every faculty of excellence belongs to Him alone. For every faculty of excellence owned by Him, He is endowed with a name. Since number of faculties of excellence possessed by Him are infinite, He possesses infinite number of names described in tales and lores variously. Since He is Immutable, He is Immortal implying thereby, immortality is a cosmic proceed of immutability. Or in other words, immortality is a consequence of immutability. He is the Supreme \/ Absolute \/ Ultimate Cause as well as Supreme \/ Absolute \/ Ultimate Effect too, inseparably intertwined.\u00a0This one Ultimate Effect is constantly, incessantly coming into existence from it\u2019s Ultimate Cause and redeeming itself instantly into that. So\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is the Cause as well as Effect within Himself and the consequential eternal dynamic flux is the state of Supreme Entity or the Supreme Bliss. Supreme Bliss too because redemption of existence of the Ultimate Effect is instant to its Cause within His Being. And redemption alone is the source of cosmic bliss whatsoever. He has been explicitly described in Chapter 11 of\u00a0Srimadbhagvadgita<\/em>\u00a0 in His absolute manifest.<\/p>\n Atma \/ Jivatma<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is akin to the sun,\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is its ray of effulgence. When\u00a0Atma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is embodied, it is transformed into\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>. While all\u00a0Atma<\/em>-s are exactly identical,\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>-s are different owing to the nature of embodiment.\u00a0Atma<\/em>-s are infinite in number, emerge from and immerse into\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>. Every\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is\u00a0Sat\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Cit<\/em>\u00a0 but not\u00a0Ananda<\/em>\u00a0 unlike\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 who is\u00a0Sat<\/em>,\u00a0Cit\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Ananda<\/em>\u00a0 too. It is this\u00a0Ananda<\/em>\u00a0 of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 that every\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is incessantly striving for. The moment this\u00a0Ananda\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is attained,\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is rendered eternally tranquil.\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is not appropriately empowered to create and nurture universe albeit\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is and He accomplishes that through\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s\u00a0 like\u00a0Dana<\/em>,\u00a0Yajna<\/em>,\u00a0Tarpana<\/em>\u00a0etc. performed by\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>-s i.e. embodied\u00a0Atma<\/em>-s.\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0cannot accomplish any\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0while\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is capable of but does not enact\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s Himself. In search of\u00a0Ananda<\/em>,\u00a0Atma<\/em>-s are prodded into\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s at the instance of, on behalf of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 through embodiment while course of\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 is guided by their prevailing\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s emanating from respective unredeemed\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s committed in past albeit ripe to deliver proceeds i.e.\u00a0Prarabdha<\/em>. Existence of an\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 may not be eternal as it may merge into\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 and forfeit it\u2019s individual identity. However, emanation of\u00a0Atma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0and its eventual merger into\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 are certainly eternal. Hence,\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 is mortal while\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>, immortal i.e. never ever forfeits His identity. Inter-relationship of\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 with\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is beautifully explained by fundamentals of Quantum Physics. If Photon is an energy-bundle of heat \/ light \/ electromagnetism,\u00a0Atma\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>is a\u00a0Sat<\/em>\u00a0\/\u00a0Cit\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0bundle being sprayed by\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 into the cosmos to search for\u00a0Ananda<\/em>\u00a0 hidden behind within the Cosmic Being of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 Himself !! No\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 can exist independent of\u00a0Param<\/em>\u00a0Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 just as no sun-ray may exist without the sun even for a fraction of moment.<\/p>\n Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0\/\u00a0Guna<\/em><\/p>\n Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0 is the cosmic tendency \/ inclination \/ propensity to act in a certain manner. The cosmic propensity to act may be towards existence of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 or towards\u00a0Maya\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0i.e. all worldly creations that are transient and evanescent. These two propensities are\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s i.e. qualifying modifications that decide nature of\u00a0Karma<\/em>.\u00a0Karma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0directed towards\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is known as\u00a0Sattvika<\/em>\u00a0 chasing\u00a0Sattva<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. the cosmic Truth.\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 intended towards\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. plethora of cosmic illusions is known as\u00a0Rajasika<\/em>\u00a0 chasing\u00a0Raja<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. desire to possess and enjoy. Third\u00a0Guna<\/em>\u00a0 is\u00a0Tamasika<\/em>\u00a0 relying upon\u00a0Tamas<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. tendency to remain resolute \/ steadfast in the state of existence be that\u00a0Sattva<\/em>\u00a0 or\u00a0Raja<\/em>.\u00a0Tanmatra<\/em>-s of\u00a0Sattva,<\/em>\u00a0Raja<\/em>\u00a0 and\u00a0Tama<\/em>\u00a0 are equi-distributed throughout cosmos. At the instance of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>, rather impelled by\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>, the equi-poise of three\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s is disrupted at multiple points in cosmos causing cosmic whirlpools that trigger association with\u00a0Cetana<\/em>, then embodiment into\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>. Then is the commencement of a long-drawn cosmic journey through the world to restore the equi-poise and emancipate associated\u00a0Cetana<\/em>\u00a0 i.e.\u00a0Atma<\/em>\u00a0 into it\u2019s original glory of divinity.\u00a0Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0 is devoid of\u00a0Cetana<\/em>, incapable of enacting\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 on it\u2019s own.\u00a0Prakrti\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is regarded as eternal as\u00a0Param<\/em>\u00a0Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 albeit mutable and\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 enacted through\u00a0Prakrti\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>is mortal.\u00a0Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0 is the means, instrumentality through which\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is enacted.\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s of\u00a0Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0 exist in the manifest of\u00a0Spandana<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. extremely subtle modulations and conglomeration through aggregation of\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s creates five\u00a0Maha Bhuta<\/em>-s i.e. elemental constituents of entire universe. These\u00a0Maha Bhuta<\/em>-s are the building blocks of entire universe.<\/p>\n Karma<\/em>\u00a0\/\u00a0Karmaphala<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Karma<\/em>\u00a0 implies actions and\u00a0Karmaphala<\/em>, its proceeds. Principle of\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 and\u00a0Karmaphala\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is an extension of the fundamental principle of cause and effect. Just as every cause has an effect and every effect, a cause, every\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 has a\u00a0Karmaphala\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0and every\u00a0Karmaphala<\/em>, it\u2019s very own\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 to explain its existence.\u00a0Karma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0already rendered can be neutralised either through its redemption in its corresponding\u00a0Karmaphala\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0or through another\u00a0Karma<\/em>. If this \u2018another\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u2019 is\u00a0Niskama<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. enacted devoid of aspiration to possess or enjoy its proceeds, it does not create another\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 while redeeming pre-existing\u00a0Karma<\/em>. If \u2018another\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u2019 is\u00a0Sakama<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. enacted in the spirit of possessing or enjoying its proceeds, it shall create yet another\u00a0Karma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0to be redeemed later while redeemimg pre-existing\u00a0Karma<\/em>. Now \u2018another\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u2019 may also be\u00a0Adhyatmika<\/em>\u00a0 i.e. ascetic pursuits undertaken to dissolve\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s enacted earlier. Every\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 has a gestation period to ripe and once a\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 matures to deliver proceeds, it is absolutely impossible to dissolve it and the only option available is to undergo its consequences in a\u00a0Niskama<\/em>\u00a0 manner. When a\u00a0Karma\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0matures to deliver proceeds, it is known as\u00a0Prarabdha<\/em>, a cosmic entity so sacrosanct that even the Supreme Absolute\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 is incapable of violating its sanctity or eradicating proceeds. Gestation period of\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 varies based on its intensity and content. It may mature immediately or may be after several lives. Since\u00a0Karma<\/em>\u00a0 always search for conducive \/ facilitative ambiance \/ circumstances to mature,\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s alone decide nature of next embodiment \/ family \/ community to be born to so as to be able to be redeemed unhindered and uninhibited. Also, desire \/ aspiration moments before demise enjoys supremacy and that one of the first\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s to be redeemed in next life. In a nutshell, our present is the proceed of our past\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s impossible to be altered now as these constitute\u00a0Prarabdha<\/em>. However, we are certainly capable of improving our future by enacting right\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s in our present existence.\u00a0Thus, every act of every moment impacts upon subsequent moments of our being, our consciousness. Causes and conditions of our emotions, perceptions, volition and grades of consciousness are proceeds of our\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s of past. All phenomena are undergoing an intransigent state of dynamic flux, changing moment to moment. Nothing is permanent or forever, including miseries and sufferings. By retaining deserts of vanities, we cannot harvest savannas of virtues.\u00a0Every sentient is a potential giant. Only our negative\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s obfuscate us from beholding this profound reality.<\/p>\n Maya<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Maya<\/em>\u00a0 literally mean \u201cthat does not exist\u201d. Entire creation through\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s of\u00a0Prakrti<\/em>\u00a0 constitute\u00a0Maya<\/em>. Every piece of\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 has a specified life-span before being either dissolved or transformed into another state of transient existence. Complete dissolution of\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is known as\u00a0Pralaya\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>in which matter loses its identity through dis-aggregation and complete reversion into the state of\u00a0Guna<\/em>-s is attained. Thus, it may be enigmatically said,\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 too attains\u00a0Moksa<\/em>\u00a0!! Contrary to a belief that\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is sheer hallucination,\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 does exist, albeit transiently.\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>\u00a0 explores\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 through innumerable\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>-s without being involved in it directly. However, being Master of entire universe, entire\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is solemnised at His instance alone, on His behalf alone. Belief in\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 that\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is real, is the state of\u00a0Moha<\/em>\u00a0 that every\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>\u00a0 is mandated to transcend through\u00a0Sadhana\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0while traversing through the world repeatedly as a cosmic traveller. Someone may like to remark, \u201cMaya<\/em>\u00a0 is a smart, well-crafted divine corruption\u2026may be divine\u00a0Ghotala<\/em>\u201d !! It would be an interesting observation indeed.\u00a0Being physical,\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0 is finite. Even the vast Cosmos littered with thousands of galaxies spread over 26 dimensions, is a finite reality. Albert Einstein calculated its radius to be 100000000000000000000000000000000 Light-Years springing into existence from the Infinite Black-Hole with a diameter of 100000000000000000000000000000000th fraction of a centimeter !!!!! Similarly, our finite bodies carry within Infinite\u00a0Cetana<\/em>\u00a0 of infinite dimensions !!\u00a0Ultimately, entire existence boils down to mere three entities,\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>,\u00a0Jivatma<\/em>\u00a0 and\u00a0Maya<\/em>. Quite mystically,\u00a0Maya<\/em>\u00a0leads to enrichment of knowledge and wisdom vested in the Supreme Being of\u00a0Param Brahmatma<\/em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Avatara<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Avatara\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is Divinity-Incarnate who descends to restore righteousness and slay sinners. Human conduct is perfect only as a rare exception and not as a rule. Hence, these have to be restored to greater heights from era to era by a powerful, influential persona who derives His \/ Her acceptability by virtue of His \/ Her divine faculty as divine faculty alone may impart influence of that order.\u00a0 Interestingly and quite mystically, several of them are susceptible to dislodgement from their divine celestial glory, suffer exile and even humiliation at the hands of those diminished ones who had earlier inveigled them into granting fabulous boons climaxing their long-drawn ascetic pursuits for the purpose !!! Appearance of an\u00a0Avatara<\/em>\u00a0 may occur once or twice in the entire span of a\u00a0Yuga<\/em>\u00a0 and every such descendance is an event of the highest order. During interregnum between two\u00a0Avatara<\/em>-s, sinner may be punished variously, even by another sinner. Immediate past\u00a0Avatara<\/em>\u00a0 had been\u00a0Gautama Buddha<\/em>\u00a0 whose mission was to mitigate suffereings through violence and animal-slaughter while next impending\u00a0Avatara<\/em>\u00a0 happens to be\u00a0Kalki Bhagavana<\/em>\u00a0 by the conclusion of\u00a0Kali<\/em>\u2013Yuga<\/em>\u00a0 after some 4,50,000 man-years.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Punarjanma<\/em><\/p>\n Punara\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0means repeatedly and\u00a0Janma<\/em>\u00a0 is embodiment into life.\u00a0Punarjanma<\/em>\u00a0 is re-incarnation through embodiment i.e. metempsychosis.\u00a0Sakama Karma<\/em>\u00a0 leads to\u00a0Punarjanma<\/em>\u00a0 and\u00a0Punarjanma<\/em>\u00a0 provides a platform to perform more\u00a0Karma<\/em>. Not only felonious\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s but noble,\u00a0Sattvika Karma<\/em>-s too, lead to\u00a0Punarjanma<\/em>\u00a0 so as to be able to accept proceeds of\u00a0Karma<\/em>-s enacted earlier unless these are utterly\u00a0Niskama\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0in nature. Unredeemed aspirations too, constitute a powerful causative factor to effect\u00a0Punarajanma<\/em>. Real life cases of\u00a0Punarjanma<\/em>\u00a0 have been reported, documented and verified too. In large number of cases, it has been discovered to be true and authentic.<\/p>\n Purusartha<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Purusartha<\/em>\u00a0 is the entire spectacle of activities undertaken in pursuit of four elements of\u00a0