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=== समानता || Equality ===

=== समानता || Equality ===

The first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is about Equality. It says,<blockquote>''All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.''</blockquote>In this context, it is worth quoting the Charter of Equality incorporated in the Vedas that is almost similar but most ancient. The Vedas constitute the primordial source of Dharma. And both, the Rgveda, considered the ancient most of the Vedas, as well as the Atharvana Veda speak about the virtue of equality. It is said, <blockquote>अज्येष्ठासो अकनिष्ठास एते सं भ्रातरो वावृधुः सौभगाय || ''ajyēṣṭhāsō akaniṣṭhāsa ētē saṁ bhrātarō vāvr̥dhuḥ saubhagāya ||''</blockquote>Meaning: No one is superior or inferior. All are brothers. All should strive for the interest of all and should progress collectively.<blockquote>समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः । समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति ॥४॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [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%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 191].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Let there be oneness in your resolutions, hearts and minds. Let the strength to live with mutual co-operation be firm in you all.<blockquote>समानी प्रपा सह वोन्नभागः | समाने योक्त्रे सह वो युनज्मि | अराः नाभिमिवाभितः || (Atharvanaveda – Samjnana Sukta)</blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: All have equal rights to articles of food and water. The yoke of the chariot of life is placed equally on the shoulders of all. All should live together in harmony supporting one another like the spokes of a wheel of the chariot connecting its rim and the hub.

The first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is about Equality. It says,<blockquote>''All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.''</blockquote>In this context, it is worth quoting the Charter of Equality incorporated in the Vedas that is almost similar but most ancient. The Vedas constitute the primordial source of Dharma. And both, the Rgveda, considered the ancient most of the Vedas, as well as the Atharvana Veda speak about the virtue of equality. It is said, <blockquote>अज्येष्ठासो अकनिष्ठास एते सं भ्रातरो वावृधुः सौभगाय || ''ajyēṣṭhāsō akaniṣṭhāsa ētē saṁ bhrātarō vāvr̥dhuḥ saubhagāya ||''</blockquote>Meaning: No one is superior or inferior. All are brothers. All should strive for the interest of all and should progress collectively.<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः । समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति ॥४॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [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%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 191].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Let there be oneness in your resolutions, hearts and minds. Let the strength to live with mutual co-operation be firm in you all.<blockquote>समानी प्रपा सह वोन्नभागः | समाने योक्त्रे सह वो युनज्मि | अराः नाभिमिवाभितः || (Atharvanaveda – Samjnana Sukta)</blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: All have equal rights to articles of food and water. The yoke of the chariot of life is placed equally on the shoulders of all. All should live together in harmony supporting one another like the spokes of a wheel of the chariot connecting its rim and the hub.

These Vedic provisions emphasise on equality among all human beings. The last of them impresses that just as no spoke of a wheel is superior to another, no individual can claim to be, or regarded as, superior to others. This was the grand concept of equality in this country at the earliest period of civilization.  

As for question like was discrimination sanctioned by Dharma? It is not so. The very expression Dharma is opposed to and inconsistent with any  kind of social inequality. These Vedic provisions emphasise on equality among all human beings. The last of them impresses that just as no spoke of a wheel is superior to another, no individual can claim to be, or regarded as, superior to others. The relevant provisions of the Shruti (Vedas) leave no room for doubt that discrimination on the ground of birth or otherwise had no Vedic sanction; they were plainly opposed to vedic injunction. This was the grand concept of equality in this country at the earliest period of civilization. It should however, be pointed out that some time later, the society had been divided into four Varnas (Chaturvana) namely,

But, this division was on functional basis and did not determine the superiority or inferiority of an individual by birth. For instance, Rshi Valmiki, the composer of one of the two great Itihasas, the Ramayana, who is held in the highest esteem down to this day by all sections of the society, belonged to the fourth varna. This is also true in the case of Shri Rama and Shri Krishna. Belonging to the Kshatriya varna, because of his superb qualities as a human being and as an ideal ruler, Shri Rama has won a place in the hearts of one and all for ever. And So has Shri Krishna, the greatest of diplomats and warriors, and a great teacher, being the propounder of the immortal Bhagvad Gita. They are both adored and worshipped by all sections of the society as avataras of the Supreme Being Himself. Therefore, discrimination of any kind is contrary to Dharma. It is really Adharma.

In fact, the Vyasa Smrti expressly provided that if at all there seems to be a conflict between the provisions in the vedas (shruti) and those in smrtis or puranas (including custom or usage) what is declared in the veda alone should be accepted. The provisions in the smrtis or custom, which ran counter to the Shruti were to be regarded as invalid being opposed to the Shruti. The directive to set aside things inconsistent with Dharma, which alone is of eternal value is mentioned in Manusmrti as follows,<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । धर्मं चाप्यसुखोदर्कं लोकसंक्रुष्टं एव च । । ४.१७६ । ।<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%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajēdarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । dharmaṁ cāpyasukhōdarkaṁ lōkasaṁkruṣṭaṁ ēva ca । । 4.176 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Discard wealth (artha) or desire (kama) if it is contrary to Dharma, as also any usage, custom or rule regarded as source of Dharma if at any time they were to lead to unhappiness or arouse people's indignation.

 

 

At a still later point of time, in the long meandering course of our history, society got divided into innumerable castes and sub-castes on the basis of occupations, vocations or trade or business. The evil of discrimination as high and low among men, on the basis of birth, hereditary avocations and other considerations, raised its ugly head and the pernicious practice of untouchability with all its degrading implications came into existence, However, all right-thinking persons and social reformers have been fighting against these evils which were afflicting society. In spite of such divisive and undesirable customs, the love for the country and its culture, the common heritage and aspirations of our people, and the basic tenets of dharma have held us together and there has always been unity despite diversity in the country. This was refurbished during our struggle for freedom when everyone fought for it unitedly. 

 

In view of the above vedic declarations, the various discriminatory provisions in the Smritis arid other customs have to be regarded as invalid being opposed to the Shruti and set aside as inconsistent with Dharma, which alone is of eternal value. In fact Vyasa Smriti expressly provided that whenever there is conflict between the provisions in the vedas (shruti) and those in smritis or puranas (including custom or usage) what is declared in the veda alone should be accepted. The provisions in the smritis or custom, which ran counter to the Shruti was Adharma and invalid.9 Manu Srnriti also incorporated the following directive vide Ch.IV-176:<blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । धर्मं चाप्यसुखोदर्कं लोकसंक्रुष्टं एव च । । ४.१७६ । ।<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%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajēdarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । dharmaṁ cāpyasukhōdarkaṁ lōkasaṁkruṣṭaṁ ēva ca । । 4.176 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Discard wealth (artha) or desire (kama) if it is contrary to Dharma as also any usage or custom or rules regarded as source of Dharma if at any time they were to lead to unhappiness or arouse people's indignation".

 

 

It is therefore, the duty or Dharma of every individual to obey these provisions in letter and spirit in thought, word and deed which will foster the feeling of fraternity and ensure the dignity of individuals.

=== GRATITUDE (Krtajnata) ===

=== GRATITUDE (Krtajnata) ===

To have a feeling of gratitude towards persons and other living beings who/which have been helpful to us, is another value of our national life. It is this feeling which is the basis ~ custom of worshipping animals, and plants as also Ayudha Pooja, i.e., worshipping one day in year all the implements or instruments through which we earn our lively hood. It is the same feeling which had led to the prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves, oxen, bullocks -as the cows give milk which sustains us, from childhood till death. We worship the cow as 'Gomata' (Mother Cow). Kautilya in his Artha Sastra made a specific provision banning cow slaughter. It reads:<blockquote>वत्सो वृषो धेनुश्चैषामवध्याः | ''vatso vr̥ṣo dhenuścaiṣāmavadhyāḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: Cattle such as calves, bulls or cows, shall not be slaughtered.

To have a feeling of gratitude towards persons and other living beings who/which have been helpful to us, is another value of our national life. It is this feeling which is the basis ~ custom of worshipping animals, and plants as also Ayudha Pooja, i.e., worshipping one day in year all the implements or instruments through which we earn our lively hood. It is the same feeling which had led to the prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves, oxen, bullocks -as the cows give milk which sustains us, from childhood till death. We worship the cow as 'Gomata' (Mother Cow). Kautilya in his Artha Sastra made a specific provision banning cow slaughter. It reads:<blockquote>वत्सो वृषो धेनुश्चैषामवध्याः | ''vatso vr̥ṣo dhenuścaiṣāmavadhyāḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: Cattle such as calves, bulls or cows, shall not be slaughtered.