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=== आचारः ॥ Code of Conduct ===

=== आचारः ॥ Code of Conduct ===

All the rules of righteous conduct of human beings in every sphere of human activity evolved from times immemorial in this country, fall within the meaning of the word 'Dharma'. It is a code of conduct for all human beings for all time to come and is thus, Universal in nature. Manu describes this Dharma as a collection of specific qualities that are eternal.<blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यं अस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । एतं सामासिकं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्येऽब्रवीन्मनुः । । १०.६३ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ahiṁsā satyaṁ astēyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ । ētaṁ sāmāsikaṁ dharmaṁ cāturvarṇyē'bravīnmanuḥ । । 10.63 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not coveting the property of others), Shaucha (purity), and Indriyanigraha (control of senses) are, in brief, the common Dharma for all.

All the rules of righteous conduct of human beings in every sphere of human activity evolved from times immemorial in this country, fall within the meaning of the word 'Dharma'. It is a code of conduct for all human beings for all time to come and is thus, Universal in nature. Manu describes this Dharma as a collection of specific qualities that are eternal.<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यं अस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । एतं सामासिकं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्येऽब्रवीन्मनुः । । १०.६३ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ahiṁsā satyaṁ astēyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ । ētaṁ sāmāsikaṁ dharmaṁ cāturvarṇyē'bravīnmanuḥ । । 10.63 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not coveting the property of others), Shaucha (purity), and Indriyanigraha (control of senses) are, in brief, the common Dharma for all.

As these conduct codifying qualities apply to all, they are referred to as Samanya Dharma.

As these conduct codifying qualities apply to all, they are referred to as Samanya Dharma.

Apart from this, it has also been a fundamental practice in the Bharatiya tradition to pray individually, as well as collectively, for the well being of all. This is evident from the following prayers.<blockquote>सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥ (Vajasaneyi Samhita)</blockquote><blockquote>''sarvē bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarvē santu nirāmayāḥ । sarvē bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkhabhāgbhavēt ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: May all be happy, May all be free from diseases, May all see auspicious things and let nobody suffer from grief.<blockquote>लोकाः समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु || ''lōkāḥ samastā sukhinō bhavantu ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May all people be happy.  

Apart from this, it has also been a fundamental practice in the Bharatiya tradition to pray individually, as well as collectively, for the well being of all. This is evident from the following prayers.<blockquote>सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥ (Vajasaneyi Samhita)</blockquote><blockquote>''sarvē bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarvē santu nirāmayāḥ । sarvē bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkhabhāgbhavēt ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: May all be happy, May all be free from diseases, May all see auspicious things and May nobody suffer from grief.<blockquote>लोकाः समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु || ''lōkāḥ samastā sukhinō bhavantu ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May all people be happy.  

The Bharatiya Parampara also laid stress on the principle that the Supreme Being is one though people call him by different names. <blockquote>एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति |<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%AA Sukta 164].</ref> ''ekaṁ sadviprā bahudhā vadanti |''</blockquote>It emphasized that whatever the name addressed in offering obeisance, the destination is the same. <blockquote>आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् | सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ||</blockquote><blockquote>''ākāśāt patitaṁ tōyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram | sarvadēvanamaskāraḥ kēśavaṁ prati gacchati ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as the rain water coming down to the earth from the sky reaches the same ocean, obeisance to the Supreme by any name reaches the same destination ie. the Supreme One by whatever name He is called.

The Bharatiya Parampara also laid stress on the principle that the Supreme Being is one though people call him by different names.<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति |<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%AA Sukta 164].</ref> ''ekaṁ sadviprā bahudhā vadanti |''</blockquote>It emphasized that whatever the name addressed in offering obeisance, the destination is the same. <blockquote>आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् | सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ||</blockquote><blockquote>''ākāśāt patitaṁ tōyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram | sarvadēvanamaskāraḥ kēśavaṁ prati gacchati ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as the rain water coming down to the earth from the sky reaches the same ocean, obeisance to the Supreme by any name reaches the same destination ie. the Supreme One by whatever name He is called.

The Upanishads also unfold the ideals evolved in the Bharatiya culture since ancient times.<blockquote>सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्यं करवावहै | तेजस्वी नावधीतमस्तु | मा विद्विषावहै | ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः |</blockquote><blockquote>''saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai | tējasvī nāvadhītamastu | mā vidviṣāvahai | oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: May He (Supreme Being) protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; may we work conjointly with great energy; may our study be vigorous and effective; may we not hate anyone. Let there be peace, peace and peace.

The Upanishads also unfold the ideals evolved in the Bharatiya culture since ancient times.<blockquote>सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्यं करवावहै | तेजस्वी नावधीतमस्तु | मा विद्विषावहै | ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः |</blockquote><blockquote>''saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai | tējasvī nāvadhītamastu | mā vidviṣāvahai | oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: May He (Supreme Being) protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; may we work conjointly with great energy; may our study be vigorous and effective; may we not hate anyone. Let there be peace, peace and peace.

Again in the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna lays down the proper code of conduct by saying that a person who observes such a code of conduct is dear to Him. It reads:<blockquote>अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च । निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥१२- १३॥</blockquote><blockquote>संतुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः । मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥१२- १४॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''advēṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa ēva ca । nirmamō nirahaṁkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥12- 13॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''saṁtuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yōgī yatātmā dr̥ḍhaniścayaḥ । mayyarpitamanōbuddhiryō madbhaktaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥12- 14॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The person who hates none, who is friendly and has compassion for all, who has no selfishness and ego, who , maintains balance of mind in pain and pleasure, who has contentment, is steady in meditation, self controlled, and firm in his decision, who is dedicated to me, and who is my devotee is dear to me.  

And in the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna emphasizes that people who observe a proper code of conduct are dear to Him. He says,<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च । निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥१३॥</blockquote><blockquote>संतुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः । मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥१४॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''advēṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa ēva ca । nirmamō nirahaṁkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥13॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''saṁtuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yōgī yatātmā dr̥ḍhaniścayaḥ । mayyarpitamanōbuddhiryō madbhaktaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥14॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The person who hates none, who is friendly and has compassion for all, who has no selfishness and ego, who maintains balance of mind in pain and pleasure, who has contentment, who is steady in meditation, self controlled, and firm in his decision, who is dedicated to me, and who is my devotee, that person is dear to me.  

Every one of the qualities indicated is general in nature. Surely cultivation of such qualities, elevates the individual to a higher level of humanity. The above mentioned provisions in the Smritis, the Upanishads and the Geeta indicate that secularism par excellence has been one of the elements of the basic structures of Raja Dharma, our constitutional law, from times immemorial.

A glance at the qualities mentioned above indicate that they are all general in nature. And cultivation of such qualities is sure to elevate an individual to a higher level of humanity.<ref name=":2" />

=== RESPECT FOR WOMANHOOD ===

=== RESPECT FOR WOMANHOOD ===