THE ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DHARMA: INVESTIGATING THE MEANING OF BEING HINDU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.5778Keywords:
Environment, Culture, Religion, Caste, EducationAbstract [English]
This article builds upon previous studies that have argued ecological consciousness as being central to the ancient Vedic (and modern Hindu) way-of-life. Differentiation between the terms ‘religion’, ‘culture’ and ‘dharma’ have been formalized. Hindu dharma has been defined in terms of its main objective: attaining moksha (liberation), and then investigated in terms of the rituals and practices that represent the belief-system of its followers. The ecological foundations of the ashrama and varnashrama (caste) systems have been investigated. Education-based policy recommendations for the protection of Hindu dharma have been presented in the conclusion.
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