| The Indian culture is described as "Saa Prathamaa Sanskrati Vishvavaaraa" - the first and the supreme culture in the world. It is honored as a divine culture. Today, when the country is undergoing haywire transformations on cultural front and facing cultural diversion and adulteration - the influence of occidental civilization and commercialization has over shadowed the way of life of even those who vaunt for the great cultural heritage of India, it has become more important to review the original form and expansion of the Indian culture, analyze its foundation-principles in scientific light and present in detail its different aspects which deal with the day to day life of people and are useful for the righteous progress of the world.
The global expansion of ancient Indian culture and its contributions to human civilization and evolution of intellect are discussed in the next volume of this series. The present volume focuses at the basic philosophy, original structure, value system, traditions and modes of practices of upaasana associated with psychological and spiritual refinement. Social aspects and relevance of this culture in the modern circumstances is also highlighted in these two volumes. Both the volumes together make comprehensive treatise on the Indian Culture.
This volume describes in detail, the divine elements of the Indian cultural values and its linkage with human psychology and spirituality. The philosophical and scientific foundation of this culture set the basis of culmination of human life and ultimate evolution of the conscious faculties of human self. It encompasses all possibilities of global welfare and righteous progress of the entire world - of all beings and everything existing on this earth. The central theme behind the development of Indian culture as shaped by the revered rishis was - "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", treating the entire world as our own family - reflecting universality of serene love, altruism, sharing of responsibilities and caring for all beings.
The central theme of Indian cultural development has evolved from the Indian philosophy of continuity of life and realization of the soul as a manifestation of divine impulse. Successive refinement of human consciousness by elimination of animal instincts and evil tendencies of the mind and enlightenment of its inner cores was therefore given maximum importance by the rishis. The system of shodash sanskaaras was devised by them for this purpose.
The shodash sanskaaras, performed at different stages of human life, aim at continuous refinement and escalation of the individual self. The methods of performing these sanskaaras and adoption of associated disciplines in personal and social life constitute an important component of Indian cultural system. Comprehensive description of the philosophy, scientific basis, methods and positive effects - especially in the present state of the world, of the shodash sanskaaras is given in the previous volume (no. 33) of this series. The present volume would focus them in contextual reference to the eternal conjugation of Indian cultural philosophy with human life.
It is a culture of this type which produces true saints, altruist social reformers, martyrs, great personalities, intellectuals, scientists and spiritual masters of the kinds of the rishis, who, like angels, bestow the world with divine grace through their noble deeds and ascetic characters.. The purity of intrinsic faith and arousal of inner sentiments are regarded most important for the realization of divinity existing in the inner self. The methods of upaasanaa prescribed under the Indian cultural principles lend excellent support in this direction. The source of aspirations and happiness and the ultimate core of sentiments - the inner self too gets refined and charged by the devotional practices of upaasanaa and it experiences absolute peace and blissfulness... |
