Dharma book: Hindu Approach to a Purposeful Life. This book provides a perspective for both Hindus and others. It is a simple book to start your understanding of Dharma.
Do you ever find yourself wanting to study about the place you came from on this earth? From where do all the beliefs and ideas you are following came. Where did they originate? Who created them in the first place? If you are looking for all such answers, you need to read the Dharma book.
Dharma is an age-old concept that serves as a foundation since the Hindu Value System has evolved. And in this book, you will get to know the small things that marked its origin.
It will tell you about the evolution of Dharma, the journey it went through. Dharma’s vast scope, how it has been the part of everything that happened for good.
In general, dharma is a vast iceberg. And, this book will give you the knowledge that would help you understand the tip of the iceberg. It contains stories about people, gods and devils.
The Dharm book will throw somet light on the God’s concept of Dharma and what they followed and believed. It is an extraordinary book with the perspective to spread virtue, morality and duty.
It speaks of right and wrong and what difference they hold. What your Dharma should be? This book will be the beginners guide to learm religion. It will acts like a short journey into the world of becoming a better human with better beliefs and morals.
Table of Contents
Author: A.V Srinivasan
Dr. A.V Srinivasan is the author of Dharma: Hindu Approach to a Purposeful Life. He is known for his popular writing skills.
Dr Srinivasan authored many books based on the understanding of Dharma. He is also a recognized speaker and generally clears doubts about religion. He authored many papers on a variety of cultural, social and religious issues as well.
Dr. Srinivasan is an Indian born in village of Amrutur, Kunigal Taluk, Karnataka. Dr. Srinivasan has eight years of formal education in Sanskrit, and the liturgical Hinduism language.
Dr. Srinivasan also performed a wide variety of Hindu religious worship ceremonies, and wedding in the U.S. Apart from religious worl, he is also the part of many housewarming ceremonies in the U.S.
Author has given courses on the epic literature of India. One such presentation was held at the University of Connecticut and Wesleyan University.
Dr. Srinivasan was the founding member of the Connecticut Valley Hindi Temple Society. And, also established the Raga Club of Connecticut in 2006.
Dr. Srinivasan is so talented that he developed a contemporary format for the Vedic wedding. The developed format contains all Vedic rites within a one to two hours of ceremony.
On the basis of this format, he also wrote a book,”The Vedic Wedding: Origin, Tradition and Practice”. The book has also won USA Book News 2007 Best Book Award in the category of Eastern Religions.
Other books of Dr. A.V Srinivasan:
- Hinduism For Dummies
- Hindu Wedding: The Guide
- How to Conduct Puja to Shiva
- How to Conduct Puja to Mahaganpati
- A Hindu Primer: Yaksha Prashna
- Growth, Sustainability, and India’s Economic Reforms
- Managing Modern Hospital
Dhrama Book Review
While growing up as an individual, we all find ourselves dwelling over the right and wrong. There are times when we want to do good for the people, but we fail to identify its rightness.
We want to know if what we are doing is virtuous or not. These are the particular situations that we all go through in our life and need to understand.
Well, that is where the Dharma book comes into consideration. Dharma is the guide to doing right for society. While making decisions in our lifetime, we as humans need light to move ahead.
Doing proper and fair for the people around us brings us the satisfaction that we all crave. And dharma is the concept that defines righteousness to uphold or sustain life.
When a child is born and raised, a lot of factors become essential for his moral and dharmic raising. A child must understand the difference between good and evil.
And for that superior personality development, a sense of Dharma stands as a pillar of hope.
This book does not give you all the guidelines about how to follow the path of Dharma, but it does give you a path to start.
There are no manuals that can serve to distinguish our actions. But this book will give you examples to where to learn.
Dharma is an ancient Hindu concept. In Hinduism it means ‘duty’, ‘virtue’, ‘morality’, even ‘religion’. And it refers to the power which upholds the universe and society.
What is the Purpose of life?
Dharma book: Hindu Approach to a Purposeful Life starts with this question. It asks you about the purpose you have in this life and the reason with which you stand. This book connects the two, Dharma, with the goal we all live.
The former President of India.Dr. S. Radhakrishnan stated the Hindu view of life. He said, “an attempt to discover the ideal possibilities of human life.” He meant that dharma is at the very core of such discoveries.
The Hindu code of behavior serves as a basis for such attempts. What we do in life, how we do it, and what results will it generate.
These things depend on your actions and \doings. And if these actions are under the light of dharma, then it defines the worthiness of different activities.
There is no appropriate word for Dharma in the English language. It surrounds religion and morals, which in turn are aspects of dharma.
But as the Dharma book will continue, you will see that dharma has much different meanings in the various holy texts.
And to understand the scope of the word and the ranges it spreads into, this book is here. The Dharma book will show the reasons why dharma is essential for each one of us through various examples.
This booklet also explores the concepts of artha and kama with a more comprehensive emphasis on dharma. Dharma for ages has been the beacon of hope guiding the lives of Hindus and giving them something to hold on to.
What About Dharma?
What is dharma in Hinduism, and What it means? How did dharma evolve over the years? What did it stand for in the old age epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana? Why dharma?
These are some of the questions that this book answers beautifully and elegantly. Thousands and thousands of tales and sagas link us with the concepts of dharma.
Knowing and reading these stories will let you relate to them. And looking at what their characters did to protect dharma will, in turn, help you understand it.
Dharma is not an easy topic to read and follow. It will take time and dedication. The Dharma book has a mere count of 40 some pages, but still, it contains the essence that dharma holds.
There are various scopes of life where dharma plays a vital role. And most important is that there are hardly any aspects where dharma does not stand broad.
And for that, this book will be your onset to have a more in-depth knowledge of black and white, good and bad.
Acting with virtue does not mean the same for everyone. Different people have different duties according to their age, gender, and social position.
And so dharma is universal. But it is also particular and operating within concrete circumstances.
The Dharma book also has some fun topics and insightful anecdotes. There is this one narrative of dharma that tells about dana and daya (Da, Da, Da).
It has a conversation between the creator: Lord and his three progeny; gods, humans, asuras. The exciting illustration of dharma. And what it contains you will have to read on your own.
Why Care to Read the Dharma Book?
Dharma is not everyone’s topic. But, somehow, they reach here whether they deny it or accept it at the end. Some enter it after an overwhelming experience that shattered their world.
Others come due to disillusionment of the shallowness of contemporary culture. And they all after encountering dharma, at the end, find meaning and purpose.
Some come because they have a wound in some way, whether by love or hatred or by the bitter dance of loneliness. In dharma, they discover a salve for their ills.
Then some come looking for answers; they couldn’t get from science or philosophy. All these people have one motive that binds them together, and it is a desire for a right and purposeful life.
And we all at some point in life passion for that. We want to do something that we can be proud of, but what matters is that if it is right or wrong.
The Dharma book is an approach that builds within us the basis pillar needed to understand the vastness of dharma. The book also contains many verses from Vedas, and Bhagwat Gita explained in simple words.
The best part is that this book has only 40 around pages which you can complete in one sitting. But at times, you will have some concrete idea about dharma and adharma.
You will be able to have a direction and some confidence. At the end of the book, you will be able to define the basic idea behind this vast Hinduism concept.
What I like the most in the Dharma Book?
The book was a mixture of profound and still simple texts. It had a fantastic beginning with a fundamental yet intense question.
There are many things I, as a reader like about this book. The first and the best being that it has a mere 40 around pages. You will not have to wait to find interest in this book; instead, you will be reading this because you know you will learn.
This book has a straightforward language and useful construct of the content. Another thing I liked about the book was that the author has also included dharma from the perspective of modern times.
It creates awareness of the present. The examples at different places in the book add versatility to text. It tries to relate how dharma was a part of every ancient anecdote.
It told how Lord Rama had dharma running in his veins, how Yudishtir always followed the path of dharma.
The examples will give you a sense of connecting to the tricky concept of dharma. Those lessons will guide to understand dharma in a better way.
The Dharma book in not a thriller or paranormal story but it is about the realness and rightness. This will not be an enthralling read, but it will provide you with the knowledge we only hear about in serials.
The author has also linked some other of his books within the content. And those links will be beneficial if you want to read more about dharma.
What I Didn’t Like
There are hardly any things you will hate about this book. But still, if you are the reader who gets bored very soon will find it hard to complete.
At some places, the books might seem a little challenging to understand if you are not clear about the idea it holds.
The book might also feel a bit confusing at times, and you will have to read some parts twice to understand better.
Also, if you are already aware of what dharma means, then this book might seem a waste of your time because it is more beginner-oriented.
It defines dharma and gives some other basic ideas behind it. Also, the Dharma book does not have a very vast explanation; it often refers to other publications.
You cannot expect an in-depth understanding of dharma from this book. So for a person who has alread studied, dharma might find it annoying and straightforward.
But at the same time, this book is best for someone who is new to the concept and wants to dive into the world of Hinduism.
Dharma Book Best Quotes
As the ancient sage Apastamba has said, “Dharma and adharma do not go around saying ‘Here we are!’ Neither do the gods, gandharvas, or ancestors tell us ‘this is right, this is wrong’.”
the verse: satyam brhad rtam ugram deekshaa tapo, brahma yagnaha prthiveem dhaarayanti from Atharva Veda (XII – 1.1). Meaning , “Truth, eternal order that is great and stern consecration, austerity, prayer and ritual – these uphold the earth.”
“Bodies are short lived, wealth does not last long, and death is constantly knocking at our door and therefore accumulation of dharma is a must”
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