Dharma Sastram (Ethical Ethics Don't! Don’t! Don’t!)

It goes to the credit, erudition, penance & foresightedness of the great sages who adorned our holy contry, to have laid down the various tenets for our daily life, all based on scientific wisdom. Their teachings, known as Dharma Sastra, bestow on us valuable guidelines of how to lead a virtuous and meaningful life from birth to death, particularly in relation to things and other living beings. Lord Krishna in Bhagawath Gita Highlights the paramount importance of the Darma Sastra thus :

Yah sastra-vidhim utsrujya vartante kama- kaaratha:
na sa sidhhim avaapnoti na sukham na param gatim (16-23)
(One, who transgresses the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures whimsically acting under the impulse of desire, never attains perfection, neither happiness nor the supreme goal)

The word sastra refers exclusively to the Vedic scriptures. Vidhi means the injunctions and ordinances within them. The Vedic scriptures are the Supreme Lord Krishna’s mandates. Whosoever foolishly abandons these instructions and utsrjya or transgresses the injunctions and ordinances to drift whimsically wherever their desires aimlessly take them will never achieve siddhi or perfection beyond mundane conceptions, never achieve sukham or happiness of any longevity or param gatim the supreme goal of human existence. Further, as the saying goes.

Tasmac sastram pramanam te karyaakarya-vyavasthitau

Jnathva sasra-vidhanoktham karma karthum iharhasi (16-24) (Therefore the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures in ascertaining what should be done and what should not be done are your authority; knowing the ordinances of the Vedic scriptures as prescribed, you should perform actions in this word as a matter of duty).

Sastra meaning the Vedic scriptures is the sole absolute supreme authority deciding all matters of existence guiding all creation as to what is to be done and what is not to be done. What the ordinances and injunctions of the Vedic scriptures enjoin along with their auxiliaries such as the Puranas, Upanisads, Itihasas, etc reveals that the highest truth is the Supreme Lord Krishna, that all activities should be engaged in as devotion and propitiation to Him and that this in itself constitutes the means of attaining Him.

Realising these ultimate truths to be absolute reality, nothing more is required and one should sagaciously act with full faith in accordance therewith.

He alone qualifies to be called a man who performs all his deeds in total conformity with the sastras, otherwise he is demonish. Other who behave and act, following the whims and dictates of mind can, at best, be equated with monkeys. The famous saying goes ‘mind is a monkey’

Discipline of previous generations has regretfully decayed in the present day world, mainly due to lack of proper advice, good association and appropriate teachers. The young generations are at a loss to comprehend what to do and what not, not do they display even the inclination of learn and assimilate the sastraic prescriptions. Their children also naturally miss the timely advice at the right age.

Consequently, book on Dharma Sastra which are both comprehensive and simple are of limited availability, and even those available do not command wide readership. Persons who show keenness and inquisitiveness, do not get sufficient opportunities, nor the time due to other work pressure and strains. In this scenario, therefore, lectures on the subject with deep sastraic knowledge, and also the audience, are few and far between.

Subject of Dharma sastra is indeed very vast and it is hoped that the instructions covered in this volume will be useful, though some of which may be found difficult to follow in the present day circumstances. Once we understand what the sastras say on these matters, the circumstances may actually turn out favourable to be followed. However, it is our earnest desire that people are encouraged to read and practice the path shown by Dharma Sastras to make life fuller and enjoyable. May God bless all in this Endeavour.

For the benefit of those who are not familiar with some of the Sanskrit or Tamil words used, a glossary is appeared at the end of reference. We pray God of Dharma and our Bhagwan to help us to follow this eternal and blissful path.

“Veda Vidyalankaara” “Vidya Rathnam” “Veda Visharada”
“Sanskrit Rathna” “Salakshana Vidwan” “Nannilam”
Brahmasri

Part I

Contents

A Few words with you	1
At the Temple	7
While Worshiping	10
During the Pooja	12
Bathing(Snanam)	16
Dressing	17
Food Habits	19
At the Bed Time	25
For Gents	27
For Ladies	30
During the Specified- Time	32
Self Control	36
Prosastration (Namaskaram)	48
Good Ceremonies (Functions)	50
Pithru Puja	53
Other in general	57

Part II

Contents

At Worship	7
While performing Pooja	13
While performing Homa	19
At the temple	24
What to do when specific times	34
Self- discipline	37
Bathing- Clothing	45
Food Habits	49
While Sleeping	59
For Gentlemen	60
For Ladies	68
Namaskaram	71
Travel	74
Auspicious Occasions/ceremonies	77
Pithru Poojanam	82
Miscellaneous	92

Part III

Contents

Preface	4
Worship of god	10
Temple Premises	17
Puja (Worship)	23
Japam & Homam	30
Namaskarams	35
Timeliness	37
Individual Conduct	40
Bathing and Dressing	42
About Food Habits	45
For gentlemen	49
For Women	51
Travels	56
About condolence routines	59
Ceremonies for ancestors	60
Holy Auspicious Functions	70
Miscellaneous	75
Glossary	77

Part VI

Contents

Preface	04
Worship of god	10
Temple premises	15
Puja (Worship)	19
Japan & Homam	25
Namskarams	33
Timeliness	34
Individual Conduct	37
Bathing and Dressing	46
About Food Habits	48
For gentlemen	51
For Women	56
Travels	63
Ceremonies for ancestors	65
Annual Ceremonies	69
Holy Auspicious Functions	74
Miscellaneous	82
Glossary	88

Sample Pages
Part I

Part II

Part III

Part VI