This is the story of the religiosity of the ancient Aryan race of people who lived in their homeland called the Aryavarta or Bharata or India (now) from the most prehistoric times in the history of human civilisation, and their way of life called the Vedic Dharma, which forms the heart and soul of the present day Hindu Dharma or Hinduism. The general reader from any part of the world will find this small book to be quite informative about one of the most widely practiced and living religions of all times.

Hindu Tenets is meant for those keen minds of a rejuvenating India who are professionally trained in the modern western way. It gives them a glimpse and feel of the Vedic Hindu Philosophy of life, how it evolved, developed and proliferated down south the Himalayas in the East, and also the way it stood so firm during the most testing times in the history of the world.

This book lists the eleven principles on which the Vedic Hindu Dharma rests till today. They may be called the Eleven Tenets — the founding doctrines of Hinduism — to give the entire picture in a very concise form. The most significant among them are: belief in one Supreme Being, in His revealed wisdom in the shape of the Vedas; in the great law of Karma or Action; in the theory of Reincarnation of the soul; and belief in the legacy of the great rishis of the bygone days, who are the guiding force in the lives of Indians even today.

About the Author

Mr. J Agarwal is a keen researcher and proficient writer on theology. Having retired as Chief Engineer from a government job, he has been devoting all his time and energy to the study of the Vedic sciences and art of Yoga Practice. This has led to formal study of the foundations of religious beliefs including development of India\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s spiritual philosophy from the Vedic times to Swami Dayananda Saraswati and thereafter. The present book is the result of his untiring efforts of the past eight years.

Mr. Agarwal is now fully disposed to the research and dissemination of the knowledge of the Eternal Vedas in India and abroad. He is also the founder President of The Institute of Vedic Research & Studies Lucknow, India. He has delivered lectures on subjects connected with the Vedic Hindu Philosophy and Yoga at several places in India and the US.

CONTENTS:

Part-I : Historical Brief

1. Introduction
2. Some of the World’s Known and Living Faiths / Religions
3. Social Reforms Movement and Hindu Awakening
4. Vedic Spiritualism vis-à-vis Science and Technology
5. Migration of Aryans to India – Cradle of Human Civilisation
6. The Science of Creation and Annihilation of the Universe

Part-II : Eleven Commandments

The Founding Doctrines of Vedic Hindu Dharma
Doctrine-1 : Belief in the Three Shashvat Sattas or the Vedic Law of Trinity
Doctrine-2 : Belief in the Eternal Vedas and other Holy Scriptures
Doctrine-3 : Belief in the Six Bhartiya Darshans
Doctrine-4 : Belief in the Great Law of Karma
Doctrine-5 : Belief in the Theory of Reincarnation
Doctrine-6 : Belief in Dharma, Artha,Kama and Moksha
Doctrine-7 : Belief in the Principles of Varna Vyavastha and Ashram Vyavastha
Doctrine-8 : Belief in the Principles and Efficacy of the 16 Sanskars
Doctrine-9 : Belief in the Panch-Mahayajna
Doctrine-10: Belief in the Great Legacy of Vedic Rishis of India
Doctrine-11: Belief in the Daily Prayer

Conclusion

Appendix-I : Daily Prayer
Appendix-II : Some Valuable Precepts of Hindu Dharma for Good Human Behaviour
Appendix-III: Glossary
Appendix-IV : References

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:

The Eleven Doctrines of Vedic Hindu Dharma
Coming to the main theme of the book, Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma may be broadly summed up in the following Eleven Fundamental Doctrines on which it was founded. You may also call them ‘The Eleven Commandments of Vedic Hindu Dharma’.

The Eleven Doctrines or Commandments are:

1. Belief in the existence of one Parmatma (God), innumerable Jivatmas (Souls) and Prakriti (Primordial Matter) as three eternal, fundamental entities always existing in the Cosmos.

2. Belief in the Eternal Vedas as divinely revealed knowledge at the beginning of human life.

3. Belief in the six schools of thought or Indian Philosophies (Bhartiya Darshan).

4. Belief in the Law of Karma.

5. Belief in the Theory of Reincarnation or the doctrine of eschatology as a positive approach to life.

6. Belief in Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha – the fundamental deeds and goal of human life signifying the very purpose of creation of life on Earth.

7. Belief in the principles of Varna Ashram Dharma (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanprastha and Sanyas Ashrams) and Varna Vyavastha in society.

8. Belief in the principles and efficacy of the sixteen Sanskaras for the making and crafting of a perfect human being.

9. Belief in the principles of Panch-Mahayajna.

10. Belief in the great legacy of great rishis (men of wisdom) of India.

11. Belief in the daily prayer of the Almighty God.