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INTRODUCING JAINISM
describes, are, at least, basically theanthropic. To establish, effectuate, or realize this relationship between God and man, the Vedic people preached various rites, formulas and practices. These tenets as embalmed and treasured up in the whole terrain of Vedic literature are commonly known as dharma in Indian atmosphere, which I want to translate as “Attitude towards Life" or "Way(s) of Life". If we forget this basic conception of Indian Religion (dharma) which tries to establish a relationship between God and man, we may fail to understand the Indian ways of life.
As I have said above that the origin of the idea of Religion is associated with the idea of God and man, the Vedic seers naturally speculated on many of the problems connected with man and Universe. They questioned many times about the origin of the Universe which was a wonder and a mystery to them. They endeavoured their best to understand the mystery of the Universe on the one hand and to get the idea about the oneness of the Creator on the other. This oneness of the creator is emphasized in some of their inspired hymns commonly known as Hiranyagarbha, Prajāpati, Puruşa, Viśvedeva, Kāla etc. In all these hymns and many others they have stated that 'Laws and Orders' of this Universe are due to the creator who is self-existent (Svayambhū), self luminous (svayam prakāśa), self-conscious (samanaska) and full of qualities (saguna). They have also depicted God as Father (dauspitā), as friend (mitra) and as companion (āryaman). God is Almighty, and His power over Nature is boundless. All living and moving things, all phenomena, are dominated and ruled by the Ultimate Reality or Divinity (Parama Purusa). So ultimately supreme powerfulness is attributed to God. In the same period, different phenomena around this Universe were also recognized as different aspects of one creator. They are independent and at the same time are controlled by the Supreme Power. They are
8. For this idea of Vedic religion see S.K. Chatterji, Indianism and
Sanskrit, Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol-XXXVII, pts. 1-11, January-April, 1957. See also R.D. Ranade, A Constructive Survey of Upanisadic Philosophy, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay (1927), Second edn., 1968,
pp. 66-75. 9. Chatterji, op.cit.
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