Hindu texts proclaim 4 progressive Declarations called the Maha Vakyas (The Supreme Declarations)

Starting with a general enquiry into the nature of life and the world, the seeker realizes that everything is a manifestation of God. Hence the first Mahavakya

1.  Prajñānam Brahma– God is Truth or the Supreme Consciousness (Aitareya Upanishad of the Rig Veda)

After this follows the logical inference that the same God that manifests as the Universe must be within him (the seeker) as well. Here comes the second realization

2.  Ayam Ātmā Brahma - The same God is within me (Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva Veda)

To understand and establish a relationship with God, the mind then ascribes certain supernatural forms to Him and the devotee reveres that form and develops an affinity with the form. His enquiry takes him to the wise who try to awaken him to the fact that the he himself is the Truth i.e. the essence of that form of God.

 3.  Tat Tvam Asi - Thou art that God (Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda)

The aspirant continues to contemplate on the Form until one day no form is necessary as he realizes that he is not just a part of God, but rather that he is God Himself – the State of Samadhi, Enlightenment or Moksa. The final stage, the final Mahavakya

4.     Aham Brahmāsmi - I am God (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajur Veda)

These statements signify the essence and purpose of our life and require deep understanding and contemplation to truly understand this truth. Our ancient Rishis compiled 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, 6 Vedangas, 6 Darshanas, 3 philosophies of Vedanta and so many other texts only to arrive at and illustrate the Truth Aham Bramhasmi – I am God!

Yet comprehension of these profound ‘Vakyas’ was not restricted to the intellectual elite of Hindu Society. This Truth that every creation is God Himself was woven into the very fabric of life. The simplest manifestation of that was in Hindus calling themselves, their children, their homes by names of their various Gods - Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Narayan, Vishnu, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati, Surya etc. etc. you get the drift.

And this tendency of calling ordinary mortals by names of Gods is not as prevalent in other religions as in Hinduism. For instance, you will never find a Christian named Jesus or an Islamist called Allah because these religions believe God to be a superlative entity which no human can dare share identity with. Most religions seem to brand some class of or all humans as ‘sinners’ and so called ‘lesser beings’ as it were.

But the Hindu thought in this regard is starkly different. Naming themselves after their revered Gods and Goddesses was never an act of blasphemy, but rather a reminder that the same Divine Energy that created the Universe, itself took on the multifarious, innumerable forms of all Gods and of all creation that we find around us whether as Space, the Planets, the Stars, the Forests and Mountains, the Rivers and Flowers, the Crops and Fruits, the Animals and Birds and that the Human Being, is its most potent manifestation.

The idea behind naming themselves as Gods was not to make God appear Casual but rather to make the Human Being Special and remind him or her that no matter what duties he or she MUST perform to keep the world running, their ultimate goal and objective of life is to discover and experience their own innate Divinity – become one with the God residing within.

Not only did this simple tradition remind humans of their purpose to experience the Truth, it also showed them the path to achieve this high purpose through the values that the names themselves evoked in the human psyche. The following are just a few examples of how this convention elevated Hindu Society. The name ‘Ram’ instantly brings to mind the qualities of compassion, the purest filial affection and sacrifice for the highest good. The name ‘Shiva’ inspires meditativeness, non-materialism and the understanding of Divine Power; the name ‘Saraswati’, induces one with a sense of awe and appreciation of the higher aspects of life through the Creative Arts and the Pursuit of all kinds of Knowledge. No wonder then, that ancient India was a joyous society of the rich and the fulfilled – whether in terms of family ties, culture, economics, science, technology or spirituality.

This tradition of naming themselves, their animals and homes after their revered Gods also gave the world a tremendously potent legacy – one which has unfortunately now become unique to Hinduism in many ways – the LEGACY of TOLERANCE

Since All forms are HIS, all names are HIS it follows that ANY NAME, ANY FORM belongs to HIM alone. Thus, Allah is as much a valid name for God as is Shiva or Bramha or Narayan and the formless Bramhan is the same as the formless Allah or Gabriel’s God and is as Divine as the elephant-headed, beloved Ganesha or Ram or Hanuman.

And this is just one common everyday tradition among numerous others in the Hindu ethos. Hindu culture is replete with conventions which appear to be simple and innocent but have deeply impacted the consciousness of people not just in Bharathvarsha but rather in the entire world. These modest practices – which include worship of nature in all her resplendent forms of rivers, trees, crops, the sun and the moon and the festivals associated with them, have manifested as values of Universal Love, Environmental Consciousness, Gratitude, Truth, Peace, Harmony, Compassion and Fairness to all. All of the practices of Hindu Culture – are stoically established in the ONLY tenets of Hinduism that  are compulsory for all Hindus to adhere to.

 1.     Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti – Truth is One but the Wise call it by different Names (Rigveda)

 2.     Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu – Let all beings (and non-beings) in all the worlds be happy (Ancient Inscriptions)

 3.     Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The entire Earth Is ONE FAMILY (Maha Upanishad)

Amishi Seth has authored four books published by Penguin, Landmark and Orange Art Media. She has written and directed over 50 successful plays, mega stage shows, conducted trainings and workshops with reputed Educational Institutions like Birla, Somaiya, SIES, Vibgyor International and others as also with Production Houses including Raell Padamsee’s Ace Productions and Harish Bhimani. She also runs her own YouTube channel called PEP THOUGHTS...that talks about do-it-here-and-now practical ways to apply concepts of Spirituality and Human Values to change one’s attitude and solve everyday problems and issues of life.

Image credits: Pixabay

Tags :

• Hindu Philosophy65

• Share on Social Media

• Follow us on Social Media