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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 let 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 despite the fact that people call him by different names.  

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.

Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti |

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.  

 

The following prayer incorporated in the Upanishads, discloses the lofty ideals evolved in our culture from 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 (God) protect us both together; may Re 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 Bhagavadgita, Chapter XII-13-14, Lord 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.  

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.  

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.