The second part of the series looks into the importance attached to the human life and why giving birth to a child is considered a very noble activity in the Dharmic tradition.
Sanatana Dharma extensively deals with the issue of abortion. However, to have a proper understanding, it is vital to understand how Dharma perceives life itself and the process of birth.
Conceptual frameworks of Indian civilization can pay the way to effectively negotiate with the challenges of the modern world- ethical or otherwise- that are arising out of the rapid march of technology.
Adi Shankaracharya in his famous introduction to Gita Bhashya, speaks about how Vedas expound two-fold Dharma for people: Pravritti Dharma or the path of action for those with desire and Nivritti Dharma or the path of knowledge and dispassion, for those who have turned away from desire. In other words, Pravritti and Nivritti Dharmas form the two-fold essence of Veda.
Bhakti is not mere faith, it is not mere chanting of bhajans or listening to Satsang. Bhakti in its primary sense refers to the highest love which is of the nature of modification of the melted mind directed continuously and uninterruptedly towards Ishwara.
Dharma refers to righteous duties, which acts as a link between Artha and Kama, on the one hand, and Moksha, on the other, and facilitates attainment of Artha and Kama, all the while also leading one towards dispassion and Moksha.
Bhakti is the “Parama-Purushartha” or the ultimate goal of life
This paper makes important contributions to the study of dharmasāstra-s in general, and to Manusmṛti in particular from an emic perspective.
Understanding the practice of sati from a Dharmic perspective
The correlation between light and knowledge on the one hand, and between darkness and ignorance on the other, is very deep in Hindu consciousness and pervades the entire corpus of Hindu scriptures, starting with the Vedas.
In this article, Nithin Sridhar examines the issue of Homosexuality and Marriage from a Hindu Perspective and Comments on the Petition.
Navaratri festival, in many a sense, is the practical expression of the Vedantic path.
The Hindu tradition, one of the last surviving planetary traditions that honor the sacred feminine, can help women recover the sacred aspect of the menstrual process.
Ayurveda recognizes menstruation as a physiological process and like other physiological processes, it is also governed by the actions of the Doshas.
Yogic literature perceives menstruation as a physiological process that is deeply connected with the Apana Vayu
Nithin Sridhar has a degree in Civil Engineering, and having worked in the construction field, he passionately writes about various issues from development, politics, and social issues, to religion, spirituality, and ecology. He is currently Editor of IndiaFacts- a portal on Indian history and culture; He is editor of Advaita Academy dedicated to the dissemination of Advaita Vedanta. He is a Consulting Editor to Indic Today Magazine. He is based in Mysuru, Karnataka. His first book "Musings On Hinduism" provided an overview of various aspects of Hindu philosophy and society. His latest book 'Samanya Dharma' enunciates upon general tenets of ethics as available in Hindu texts. However, his most widely read book is "Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective" that examines menstruation notions and practices prevalent in different cultures & religions from across the world. He tweets at @nkgrock.
