Three Pillars of Hinduism
Hinduism teaches that the ultimate goal of life is to live happily, contentedly and grow spiritually. Individuals find inner peace through various paths, such as living ethically and fulfilling their duties (dharma), meditating and practicing yoga to calm the mind, living simply and letting go of attachments, showing devotion to a higher power through prayer or rituals, or helping others selflessly. To support this journey, Hinduism is rooted in three major pillars, helping us stay grounded and committed to living a pure and virtuous life.
Temple Worship
Studying Sacred Scriptures, and
Learning from an Enlightened Master (Satguru)
TEMPLE WORSHIP
Worship in the temple or home shrine is an integral part of the Hindu culture. It helps us connect with our inner divine, pure, and blissful soul nature, uplifting and bringing happiness to the worshiper.
Worshiping God and Guru serves as a profound and transformative tool for personal growth and self-refinement. It develops faith and devotion, which in turn nurture humility and grace. Grace softens the heart, cultivates compassion and understanding, and helps develop a pious character. Temple worship provides guidance and self-confidence through a deep sense of friendship with God. Prayers and meditation bring clarity and mindfulness, helping to calm emotions and maintain positive thoughts. These practices help us to face our challenges more effectively.
“Offer oblations in love, light golden lamps. Spread incense of fragrant wood and lighted camphor in all directions. Forget your worldly worries and meditate. You shall attain true and rapturous moksha. Worshiping thus, there is nothing that you cannot attain. Worshiping thus, you shall inherit the wealth of Indra, heaven’s king. Worshiping thus, you shall gain miraculous powers. Worshiping thus, you shall attain moksha.”
LEARNING FROM SATGURU
Who is a satguru? A satguru is a God-realized, illumined master who possesses ultimate knowledge and understanding. He knows it all! The term satguru comes from the Sanskrit words ‘Sat’ (meaning truth) and ‘Guru’ (meaning teacher or spiritual guide). Hence, satguru refers to ‘true guru’ or ‘true spiritual teacher’.
As explained in What is Hinduism?, satguru is the one who knows the philosophy, who knows the inner workings of the temple, and who in himself is the philosopher and the temple.
My satguru, Bodhinatha Veylanswami of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, once said, “Anyone hoping to climb Mount Everest would be wise to have a Sherpa by his side, a guide who has been where you want to go. Similarly, as we walk the spiritual path, we should not be without a satguru, an enlightened master who knows the truth and can take us there.”
“Without a satguru, all philosophy, knowledge and mantras are fruitless. Him alone the Gods praise who is the satguru, keeping active what is handed down to him by tradition. Therefore one should seek with all effort to obtain a preceptor of the unbroken tradition, born of Supreme Siva. ”
STUDYING OF SACRED SCRIPTURES
Hinduism's most important and revered scriptures, which explain the sacredness of life and the purpose of man’s life, are the Vedas and Agamas, as explained by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniya Swami in Dancing with Siva. Veda, from vid, ‘to know’, means ‘supreme wisdom or science’. Similarly, Agama, which names the sacred sectarian revelations, means ‘descent of knowledge’.
Hindu scriptures constitute a rich and varied collection of texts that provide guidance on various aspects of everyday life, including personal conduct, the observance of rituals, dietary customs and the upholding of ethical values. Studying these timeless truths lays a strong groundwork for philosophical clarity and provides an accurate understanding of the supreme power, the journey of the soul, and the world we live in. These sacred literatures offer practical paths to achieve wisdom, inner peace, and confidence to move forward in life. They provide the foundation for living a happy, productive and ethical life.
“The man who rejects the words of the scriptures and follows the impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path Supreme. Let the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to what is right and what is not right.”