Essence of Sanatan Dharma
The essence of Sanatan Dharma or Vaititka dharma is comprised in five yajnas, பஞ்ச மஹாயஜ்ஞங்கள்.
What are these five yajna?
1. ப்ரம்மயஜ்ஞம்- Bhrahma yajna :
The true charity - Vidhya Dhan - consists in chanting Veda and making one learn Veda.
2. பித்ருயஜ்ஞம் - Pitru yajna :
Remembering our deceased elders, forefathers by doing shraptam, darpan.
3. Deva yajna - ஈஸ்வர ஆராதனம். -
Prayers.
All yajnas culminate with the last of the above 3.
We have referred to five yajnas. What are the other two?
4. Bhuta yajna - பூத யக்ஞம் -
We, the human in this universe are not here just to care for only humanity. Imperative it's and a human is obligated to serve all other species - like feeding dogs, crows and all species.
5. Nru yajna - ந்ரு யஜ்ஞம் -
This is honouring the guest - Athithi Devo Bhava. Even today, you can see when we go to someone's house, first thing they offer you is a glass of water. To quench your thirst, relax and feel at home.
With the Missionaries setting up hospitals, educational institutions etc., we were made to imagine that there were no such thing as helping others in our Vaititka, Sanatan culture.
In fact it's not so.
The Vedic culture goes a step further. If we don't do all the above yajnas, it's deemed as doshas - தோஷங்கள்.
Does Sanatan Dharma confine only to above five yajnas?
No.
It talks of yet another Dharma, viz., பூர்த்த தர்மம். To do this it calls for collective efforts. Instances of பூர்த்த தர்மம் :
Digging wells,
Establishing and maintaining waterbodies, sheds - like குளம் தூண்டுதல், நீர்நிலைகளைப் பராமரித்தல் etc.
Laying roads, pathways
Planting trees
Well can be used by only human beings who can pull water out of it. That is the reason for digging waterbodies like ponds, குளம், lakes etc where not just two legged beings but also all four or multi legged, winged species could easily reach and quench their thirst. The name in Tamil ஊருண்ணி came into vogue as all God's creatures can reach out to the water bodies. Ironically we have Lake Roads, Lake View Roads, River View Roads etc. But where are the lakes, rivers?
It's interesting to note Hon'ble PM Modiji's Government brought in to the term, 'charitable activity' the maintenance and establishing of waterbodies, environmental protection activities like tree planting etc.
Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu !
