Who is the Founder of Hinduism?

Concept: Puri Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj

Credits: Deepankar Ji

How old is Hinduism? What is its world ranking as per the followers? What is Ishwara? It is very difficult to make an atheist understand the meaning of visible Bhagwan on earth.

Bhagwan takes Avatars (incarnations) periodically to establish Dharma. “Dharmasangsthapanarthay Sambhabami Yuge Yuge”. But Bhagwan’s Avatars are not the founder of Dharma. It means, when Dharma declines, it is reestablished by Avatars. Also, we must understand the meaning of the “decline of Dharma.” If 99% of the people become top-class liars then it indicates the decline of Truth, the disappearance of Truth. When there are 100% liars it means the disappearance of Truth.

When Dharma declines, greed becomes inexhaustible; “Glanirbhavati Bharata”. Bhagwan has said in the fourth chapter of Srimad Bhagwat Gita that he takes Avatar to reestablish Dharma.

But Dharma is accomplished through Vedas; Shastras are the proofs. Bhagwan has preached Vedas, Bhagwan has not created the same. As a healthy person doesn’t do a conscious effort to breathe, similarly Vedas are like the natural breathing of Bhagwan.

Bhagwan who is called Para Brahma is without any beginning. Similarly, Veda which is called Shabda Brahma is also without any beginning; therefore, there is no founder of Dharma in reality. In Brahma Sutras it has been said Bhagwan is accomplished through Shastras; “Shastra yonitvat”. That Bhagwan who encroach the limits of Shastras is an inferior Bhagwan while the Bhagwan within the limits of Vedas & other Shastras is the real Bhagwan.

Another meaning of ‘Shastrayonitvat’ is Shastras are expressed through Bhagwan. As per the first verse of the first chapter of Srimad Bhagwat, “Tene Brahma hrudaya adi kavaye muhyanti yat surayah” — Here the meaning of ‘Brahma’ is ‘Veda’. Bhagwan preaches Vedas to Brahmaa Ji. One can contemplate on the founder of Hinduism according to these aspects. It can be said that Sacchidanadswarup Sarveshvar establishes Dharma at the time of the beginning of the creation but that Dharma is realized through Vedas.

Dharma does not disappear because what remains useful in every place, every time, every situation, and for every person that uses and ever persistence is known as Dharma. That, which proves the usefulness, existence, and the being of a person or a thing, is Dharma. The existence and usefulness of Fire exist until it has heat and light; the power and usefulness of Land exist with its fragrance; the power, and usefulness of Water exist with its flavor; this is the philosophical definition of Dharma.

The practical definition of Dharma according to Manusmriti is practicing qualities like self-control, forgiveness, etc. According to Jain scriptures, it is practicing Pancha Sheela (five vows) like Non-Violence, Non-Possession, Truth, etc. These vows and qualities are befitting for human nature. Then, there is Varna Dharma and Ashrama Dharma. Dharma prescribed for Brahmanas is also a Dharma. There are two distinctions of Dharma: ‘Anushthey Dharma’ which is accomplished by performing rituals like ‘Yajna (Vedic rituals), Dana (donation), Tapa (penance). The rituals and Dharma can be accomplished by execution only.

The second one is called ‘Siddha Dharma’, which is about the properties of an entity. The fragrance is a property of earth thus its Dharma of earth. When the truth is spoken, then only ‘Satya’ is executed.

It is said that atheism is rising nowadays; it is happening because children are influenced too much by television, computer, and mobile phones. When these children raise questions and make comments, their parents, who are incompetent to answer the questions, are unable to give satisfactory replies.

Dr. Lakshmi Gautam who is the principal of a Degree College in Vrindavan is a post-graduate in Sanskrit and a doctorate in Hindi, and History. Her daughter is a judge in Ranchi who has a six-year-old daughter. Once the child was eating food with her left hand then Dr. Gautam asked her to eat with the right hand. Then, the girl asked her about the reason to eat with the right hand. Professor didn’t have the answer, so she brought her near Puri Shankaracharya Mahabhag and requested the solution.

The kid said to her that Bhagwan has given two hands and if he wanted us to eat with the right hand then would have provided us right hand only. Initially, Acharya supported her by saying that Bhagwan has provided us two eyes too and has not mandated about their usage for seeing. She became happy with Acharya’s support and after that Acharya told her the reason for eating with the right hand as per the Shastra. This example shows that due to the digital intervention and with smartphones etc. everything is being done nowadays by considering the body as ‘Atma’. There are questions now, which raise objections to Dharma. Why should we continue the Varna system? Let’s save Hindus by intense intermingling among Varnas!

Even, the popular Hindu savers' parties raise the same slogan. It is their motto to save Hindus by promoting intermingling among Varnas. This is going on now in the name of Dharma. They believe that the lack of the aforesaid intermingling is dangerous for the Hinduism. While in reality, the intermingling is a great danger for the Hinduism. To resolve this contradiction, Bhagwan makes people like Acharya take birth. If you people are competent enough to resolve all issues then there is no requirement of Gurus.

Shankaracharya Mahabhag said earlier too that he has been feeling great pleasure since the time he started interactions with the scientists. The scientists may be Christians or Muslims too but they have always listened to Acharya with great interest as if they are listening to those words the first time. There has not been even the slightest hint of boredom. That’s why, Sanatana Dharma is useful for all the people under all the circumstances during all the times at the levels of Philosophy, Science & Conduct.

To prove the usefulness of Sanatana Dharma, it should be deliberated on the levels of Sruti (the study of scripture), Yukti (application of logic), and Anubhuti (reflections on own inner experience).

Narayana !!!