LR Bureau
RISE &REFLECT
Who Am I? A Sanatanist…
Inspired by the recurring question, "Are you a Hindu?"
Professor (Dr.) Ravindra Kumar ( Awarded Padma Shri)
Former Vice Chancellor, CCS University, Meerut;
Ombudsman/ Professor Chair Swami Vivekananda Research Centre
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut;
Advisor, Business Economics, Kolkata, India
ravindrwpmt@gmail.com; ravindrakumar5@hotmail.com
Man, on this earth is like a traveller in this fleeting world, which changes rapidly and frequently every second. Period of his journey is also fixed. He has to complete this transient journey of his life within the fixed period with actions –Karmas, which are consequential to bear fruits for his future life in this world as well as in the other world. I am also the one, a mortal being, passing through the process of life performing Karmas through a self-chosen path travelling through the country and many parts of the world for the purpose. Serving my purpose to serve the humanity, I deliver lectures especially in the institutions of social studies, philosophy, peace, higher education and culture on the related areas.
During such journeys, I am often asked, “Are you a Hindu?”— rarely in India, but quite frequently abroad.
“Yes, I am a Hindu. I am a follower of the Vedic way of life. I am a Sanatanist –a Sanatanadharmi”, I always answer firmly. I cannot remember any occasion on which I missed the opportunity to respond with firm conviction. Along with giving a straightforward answer, I take pride in calling myself to be a Sanatanadharmi. I get myself filled with thrill; the level of my consciousness continuously increases. I realize, “It is my absolute fortune that I am born in a Hindu family. I have a lineage of the followers of the Vedic way of life. My Samskaras are guided –directed by the Sanatana Dharma.”
I swell with pride and self-awareness in the wakefulness of the reality that “the basic source of my perception is the Hindu philosophy and it is further guided by the Vedic way of life. It is structured on the dictates of the Sanatana Dharma. That is to say, my very life is eventually directed by the Sanatana Dharma. By thought and actions, I am a Sanatanist –a Hindu. I am pound of being a Hindu.”
I feel a profound sense of blissful contentment in declaring, “The Vedas, dedicated to the ideal of universal unity, are the foremost interpreters –commentators of the Sanatana Dharma. The Vedas are the guiding force of my Samskaras –thoughts and actions or deeds. Further, the Upanishads, the best exponents of the divine-knowledge –Brahman-jnana are associated with the Vedas. I continuously try to learn from the Upanishads. I also try to take up the teachings of the Upanishads in my life. The all-welfaristic divine composition Shrimadbhagavadgita, an utterance through the lips of the Yogeshwara Shrikrishna Himself, is the essence of the Vedas. The Gita, having the reality of universal unity as the objective, calls each and every one, general and elite, to indulge in selfless righteous acts, which is the Nishkamakarmayoga. The Gita always keeps my conscience alive and guides my soul, mind, heart and wisdom to the tunes of the Nishkamakarmayoga. The Ramayana and the Ramacharitamanasa narrating the story of the highest moral character, Maryadapurushottama Shrirama, the Crown-head of Hindu philosophy, also indicate the truth of cosmic harmony –universal unity. The verse of the Ramacharitamanasa ‘Siya Rama Maya Saba Jaga Jani Karahu Pranama Jori Juga Pani –I salute with folded hands everything in the entire creation, knowing that Sita and Rama pervade them all’, clearly gives the message of creature unity.”
And, the Smritis, the Samhitas, the Sutras and the Puranas with the purpose of making the Vedic philosophy, view and way of life accessible assumable and intelligible to common men according to the dictums of the Vedas, impart the divine knowledge, Brahman-jnana, in easy manner. These treatises make the fundamentals of the Sanatana Dharma, especially its foremost principle of universal unity, which necessarily comprises the welfare of all or prosperity of each and everyone, available in simple way and guide people to follow them. These scriptures get people familiar with the basic spirit of the Sanatana Dharma and inspire everyone for self-realization and growth, and to dedicate one’s life for the large-scale welfare of humanity. These scriptures get one realize the spirit –soul within mortal body and pave the way to absolve into the Amar-Tattva –the aspect of deity or the element of reality –Satya, the Ultimate Truth. I, undoubtedly, take inspiration from these treatises, which are totally free from prejudices and discard all kind of discriminations based on castes, colour, creeds, races or communities. The texts of these treatises guide me and I take pride being a Sanatanist, a Hindu. I feel morally and ethically secure realizing myself as a Sanatanadharmi –a Hindu, a follower of the Vedic way or view of life.
As and when one asks me if I am a Hindu, I give one answer only with pride, I repeat, I say with joy, “I am a Hindu. I am a follower of the Vedic way of life. I am a Sanatanist.” Not only this, at the time of giving the answer to a question asked about my being a Sanatanadharmi –a Hindu, the process of my self-realization continues –it tends to come up with a new meaning in different situations every day.
Sometimes people, especially abroad after getting a straightforward answer from me come up with arguments and desire to discuss more. They ask various questions about the Sanatana-Hindu Dharma and wish answers from me with curiosity. I try my level best to reply to such curious ones to their satisfaction.
Denmark is a beautiful country in the continent of Europe. I was there some time ago to deliver a lecture at the University of Odense. Tanja, a research scholar had come to attend my lecture along with her mother, Lene. After my forty-five minutes delivery in the University, she, asked me the same question during my overseas visits, if I am a Hindu. I replied her in the same manner I did in the past, “Yes, I am a Hindu. I am a follower of the Vedic way –I am a Sanatanadharmi.”
"For me, to be a Sanatanadharmi is not merely to belong to a religion—it is to dedicate one's thoughts, actions, and life to the eternal pursuit of truth, universal harmony, and the welfare of all creation."
