The name of my religion is Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma. As a Hindu I believe in the following:
- That there is only ONE God but He can assume many forms.
- God manifests in different forms on earth from time to time.
- The four tenets which guide me daily are: Satyam (truth), Soucham(cleanliness), Dayaa(compassion) and Daan(charity).
- My purpose here on earth is to attain ‘moksha’ or self-realisation, that is, to realise that God and I are one.
- Law of Karma: We reap the fruits of the actions we perform.
- Reincarnation: In order to exhaust our karmas (fruits of actions) we are reborn.
- Transmigration of the soul: of the 8,400,000 species of creation I can be reborn as any of these forms in order to exhaust my karmas and in my quest to seek ‘moksha’ or self-realisation.
- My Holy Books include: Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan, Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharat and Upanishads.
As a Hindu I strive to carry out the following DAILY duties which I call ‘nitya karma’ :
- Dev yagya-worship of God- offer jal, flowers, aarti, perform havan, chant mantras, sing bhajan.
- Rishi yagya- read my scriptures.
- Pitri yagya- practise the traditions of my ancestors.
- Bhoot yagya- show compassion to animals and all lower forms of creation.
- Manushya yagya- serve my fellow-man.
- Worship my parents and Guru as my Gods upon earth.
- Consider Mother Earth as a form of Divinity and do my part to revere the environment.
- Consider the cow as a form of Divinity.
- Seek to be God-conscious in everything I do.
As a Hindu I strive every day in every way to carry out the practices of ‘Yama’- forms of self-restraint and ‘Niyam’- forms of positive virtues. These are:
YAM: the ten recognized forms of self-restraint:
- Ahimsaa:- non-aggression, causing no harm to others.
- Satya:- truthfulness
- Asteya:- non-stealing, non-covetousness
- Brahmacharya:- sacred study, maintenance of purity of mind and body, continence.
- Dayaa:- compassion
- Arjavam:- straightforwardness, sincerity, honesty, purification of knowledge.
- Kshamaa:- forgiveness
- Dhriti:- constancy, firmness
- Mitaahaara:- control of diet
- Soucham:- maintenance of internal and external cleanliness.
NIYAM: ten forms of positive virtues are:
- Tapasya:-austerities
- Santosh:- contentment
- Asteya:- relentless pursuit of self-realisation
- Daanam:- providing service, charity to others without expectation of fruits.
- Devasya-poojanam:- worship of God
- Siddhaanta-sravanam:-listening to Scriptures with unwavering attention
- Hrih:- modesty
- Mati:- self-study; heightening state of self-awareness
- Jap:-constant repetition of mantras, recitation of God’s names
- Homa:- offerings into the sacred fire.
These practices bring me closer to realizing my true nature which is Divinity.
Upper School Students
Hindu Religious Instruction Class
St George’s College
