The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is nothing to do with religion and yoga because it is pure Spirituality or Adyathma.+

All the Advaitic Gurus belong to the religion. Religion is not Spirituality. The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is nothing to do with religion and yoga because it is pure Spirituality or Adyathma

Spirituality or Adyathma is based on truth whereas religion is based on myth, blind belief, and dogmas.

There is a need to bifurcate religion from spirituality or Advaita.

Religion is not a stepping stone to Self-realization.

Religion is based on ignorance and it keeps the seeker permanently in ignorance by hiding the truth with its mythical beliefs and dogmas and superstition. According to the Vedas and Upanishads, all religious propagated beliefs are a myth.**

Whereas Spirituality or Adyathma is based on the Spirit, which is the cause of the world in which we exist.**

As one goes deeper into the annals of history one becomes aware of the fact that the so-called present Hinduism has adopted many things from Buddhism, the religion of Abraham, Jainism, and Islam. If one goes deeper enough he will become aware everything is mixed up and messed up in time.**

Sage Sankara endeavored toward establishing the Vedic religion and overthrowing Buddhism. But even he was not able to avoid the influence of Buddhism. The influence of the revolutionary atmosphere of Buddhism reappeared in the Advaita of Sage Sankara. His inability to revive the Vedic religion that flourished before the Buddhist revolution in its pure form is discernible.**

No one is taken pains to rectify it because; because people have inherited them, from their ancestors and they think it is blasphemy even to hear anything against their inherited religion and belief.**

Once one gets involved with the religious class it is the end of the pursuit of truth.:

Remember:~

That is why Sage Sankara:~Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

To realize oneness the seeker has to tread the path of wisdom. The path of wisdom is Advaita the only Spiritual path based on the Spirit. All other spiritual paths are based on the matter.

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods, and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter:~ All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20)

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I: ~ “That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I: ~ “That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone is known as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I: ~ “That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone is known as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I:~ “That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Max Müller says: ~ “The religion of the Veda knows no idols; the worship of idols in India is a secondary formation, a degradation of the more primitive worship of ideal Gods."

Hindus are idol worshipers of large numbers of Gods and Goddesses whereas Vedas declare God is ‘ONE’ and that God is Atman.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost ‘‘Self’’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is and all else is an illusion

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and that God is Atman, then why believe and worship anything else in place of the real God.

Thus, Atman, the 'Self’, is God. Self-realization is real worship. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary to get realization.

Chandogya Upanishad Chapter: ~ ekam evaditiyam- God is only one without a second. (6- Section- 2- Verse- 1)

Swethaswethara Upanishad:~ Na casya kasuj janita na cadhipah, which means of him of Almighty God, there are no parents they have got no lord. Almighty God has no true father, he has no true mother, he has no true superior. (Chapter-6- Verse -9)

Swethaswethara Upanishad:~ Na Tasya Pratima Asti of that God there is no Pratima, there is no likeness, there is no image, there is no picture, there is no photograph, there is no sculpture, there is no statue. (Chapter -4- Verse- 19)

Swethaswethara Upanishad:~ No one can see the Almighty God. (Chapter -4, Verse -20)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter: ~ all those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself’.

Thus it refers to a formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost ‘Self’ within the false experience. Thus it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imaginations based on the false ‘Self’. Thus Atman or Soul, the ‘Self’ is God.

Santana Dharma or Vedic religion is based on God in truth whereas Hinduism is based on personal Gods with form and attributes.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshiped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains. There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme ‘Self’ i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

It indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imaginations based on the false self.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from the Self does not know the truth. For the Gods he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

People study Vedanta and they under the delusion and conclude that they declare:~ "I-AM-Brahman", but they fail to realize the fact that Brahman is everywhere and in everything! The existence of Brahman is not limited to his physical identity, because it is the very essence of form, time, and space.

Following Vedanta does not mean that one has become Brahman. One gains thereby a mere intellectual understanding of the truth which is beyond form, time, and space.

The ultimate truth or Brahman or God can only be realized through Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana can one cross the domain of duality.

Even then it is only a rare one who sees the all-pervading Brahman (God in truth). He sees the Brahman within more clearly than you see the objects of this world with your physical eyes.

Brahman is to be grasped within and is not to be sought outside. When there is a real longing to be united with Brahman, then he realizes the truth beyond form, time, and space. And still, only a rare one realizes Brahman.

When the Soul remains in its own awareness then there is oneness in the midst of diversity.

In Self-awareness, the world in which we exist is merely an illusion. The Soul, the 'Self itself is God. Realizing the Soul, the 'Self', is Self -realization or truth realization or God realization. ‘‘Self’’-awareness can never be achieved through an intellectual understanding of Advaita. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has not been taken seriously because of people’s orthodox attitude.+

 

Sage Sankara, is one of the greatest geniuses of all time. This world owes him a deep debt of gratitude. He not only consolidated the classical values of life but also spiritual wisdom. 

Sage Sankara is the only Sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogmas.

Unfortunately, few philosophers in the world are as misunderstood and misinterpreted as Sag Sankara. Ironically, most of the harm came from his admirers and followers of Advaitic orthodoxy because they propagated rituals as a means to attain lower knowledge which is meant for those who believed in the physical existence (universe or waking) as a reality.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is dualistic and it is not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant mass that is unfit to grasp the highest truth. 

Thus, the Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman. Those who have chosen the Atmic path have to discard orthodoxy in order to get the pure essence of Advaita

Sage Sankara was an independent thinker. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has not been taken seriously by many in India because most of the followers of Sage Sankara are religious orthodox.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47- All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

It is that philosophy in India was for centuries more an exposition of the ancient classics than the independent thought of individual thinkers as in ancient Greece or modern Europe and America.

Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada are independent thinkers other schools of Indian philosophy are mere theologies. Advaitic wisdom is the only tool to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’. The dualistic philosophy cannot escape the charge of dogmatism.

Intelligence and thought, are not applicable to Advaitism, intelligence and thought are based on a false self (waking entity) within the false experience (waking). The whole Advaitic philosophy is an attempt to transcend the limitations of intelligence and thought.

The two points of view a Gnani is not cut off from the experience of practical life within the practical world because Advaitic truth is neither realism nor idealism; it is beyond both these.

Sage Sankara said:~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

Advaitic wisdom does not begin with the ultimate truth. The ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Hence, so-called philosophers who take Brahman for granted are not philosophers at all.

Lots of Advaitin scholars will teach that all is yourself but none of them can show that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it. Rational proof is required so that one arrives at knowing the ultimate truth or Brahman i.e. Gnana.

Theirs is dogma, parrotism, and repetition of what they read in scripture. Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

Sage Sankara endeavored towards establishing the Vedic religion overthrowing Buddhism. But even he was not able to avoid the influence of Buddhism. The influence of the revolutionary atmosphere of Buddhism has reappeared in the Advaita of Sage Sankara. His inability to revive the Vedic religion that flourished before the Buddhist revolution in its pure form is discernible.

Sage Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Mandukya, he gave the highest non-dual message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practice of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasūtra he gave lesser teaching, positing both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Ishvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

Only through Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana negation of duality is possible. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Consciousness is the cause of the origin, maintenance, and withdrawal of the universe is Advaita (i.e. non-dual), which means that consciousness transcends all conceptions, positive and negative. Nothing positive can ever be imagined or said about it.

Consciousness is existence absolute, awareness absolute. The existence of absolute means that consciousness is not unreal or non-existent. And it is not unconsciousness. Nothing positive can be stated about consciousness.

The nature of the Soul, the ‘Self’ is the non-dualistic silence. Non-dualistic silence is like a deep sleep state. The silence indicates that the nature of the formless Soul, the ‘Self’ is inexplicable, indescribable, and unimaginable. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Only through the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara ignorance vanishes.+

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has not been taken seriously because of people’s orthodox attitude.

Sage Sankara was an independent thinker. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has not been taken seriously by many in India because most of the followers of Sage Sankara are religious orthodox.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47- All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

It is that philosophy in India was for centuries more an exposition of the ancient classics than the independent thought of individual thinkers as in ancient Greece or modern Europe and America.

Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada are independent thinkers other schools of Indian philosophy are mere theologies. Advaitic wisdom is the only tool to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’. The dualistic philosophy cannot escape the charge of dogmatism.

Intelligence and thought, are not applicable to Advaitism, intelligence and thought are based on the false self (waking entity) within the false experience (waking). The whole Advaitic philosophy is an attempt to transcend the limitations of intelligence and thought.

The two points of view a Gnani is not cut off from the experience of practical life within the practical world because Advaitic truth is neither realism nor idealism; it is beyond both these.

Sage Sankara said:~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

Remember:~

Some Gurus say by dropping the body and mind you get enlightenment but without knowing what this body and mind are supposed to be in actuality it is impossible to realize the truth, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

Only through the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara ignorance vanishes.

People only imagine that way by dropping the body and the mind they get enlightenment. Imagination is not truth. It is impossible to drop the body alone because the body and the world have appeared together and they disappeared together.

Only by getting rid of the whole dualistic illusion the reality hidden by the dualistic illusion will be revealed. Only when ignorance vanishes then only the dualistic illusion vanishes. Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the ignorance vanishes.

From the dualistic perspective, people see the world in which they exist as a reality. They see their body as the body, their ego as the ego, and the world in which they exist as the world whereas a Gnani sees everything from the nondualistic perspective.

A Gnani sees his body as the consciousness, his ego as consciousness, and the world in which he exists as the consciousness. For a Gnani, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced is nothing but consciousness. There is unity in diversity in Gnani's understanding whereas the ignorant people see only diversity and separation.

In Advaitic Self-awareness, the ego is not considered as ego, even though the ego is present, the body is not considered as a body even though the body is present, the world which confronts him is not considered as the world even though the world is present, the duality ceases even though the duality is present, because of wisdom everything is considered as consciousness. Thus there is conscious oneness.

Only in ignorance, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, the innermost Self.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions determine the world, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the world will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same world. Each one interprets the world that they see in terms of their existing knowledge. The commoner sees everything based on the ego, therefore, experiences birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing exists other than the Soul or the consciousness. Thus, all the egocentric (religious) adulteration has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Thus, it is necessary to learn to view and judge the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective, in order to realize that form, time and space are one in essence. There is nothing to realize other than realizing that consciousness is everything. Consciousness is second to none.

When everything is nothing but the consciousness then what remains which is not the consciousness.

Without knowing ‘what is this mind in actuality it is impossible to realize the truth hidden by the mind. People are stuck thinking the mind is within their body and theorize and write books speculating and creating their own theories.

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ is present in the form of mind. And the mind is in the form of the universe. And the universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).

Self-realization is necessary to realize the mind, which is present in the form of the universe is merely an illusion. The mind cannot be destroyed because it is merely an illusion. When Advaitic wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed, the same way the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place.

I am highlighting all the obstacles in the inner journey and how to overcome these obstacles. All accumulated knowledge is of no use in the Atmic path.

It is for every seeker, who is on the Atmic path to realizing himself “What is the truth? “and “What is untruth?” to assimilate the Self–Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. My postings are only signposts. The seeker needs to reflect constantly on the subject till the cobwebs of his doubts and confusion get cleared.

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’. It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Without an intense urge to know the truth and sharpness to grasp the truth, it is difficult to tread the path of wisdom.+

The path of orthodoxy is the path of karma, are nothing to do with the path of wisdom. Rituals and theories of orthodoxy are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in ritualistic-oriented lifestyles and follow the path of Karma and Upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.

Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant for those orthodox who believe their conduct-oriented lifestyle leads to Moksha (liberation). But religious-based Advaita is not the means to acquire Self –knowledge or nondual wisdom. Those who are seeking the truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The orthodoxy has to be dropped if one has chosen the path of wisdom.

The orthodoxy is the greatest hindrance in the pursuit of truth because it makes the inborn samskara or conditioning (I or I AM) more and stronger. Till this inborn conditioning prevails it is impossible to grasp, assimilate and realize the non-dual truth. The orthodoxy is egocentric and egocentricity is the greatest obstacle in the path of truth.

The orthodoxy indulges in all non-Vedic rituals and because of add-ons and adulteration and such rituals lead one nowhere and it is a waste of time and effort. Thus orthodoxy is not for those who are seeking truth nothing but the truth. Mixing orthodoxy and preaching non-duality is a foolish venture.

Rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for Brahman or ultimate or wisdom.

Sage Goudapada says: - The merciful Veda teaches Karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Gnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

As per the scriptures, the three "Ashrams" or stages in life were originally intended for three grades of intelligence thus:

Religion:- Low intellects had to do 'karmas' works, ritual actions, chanting of mantras and indulging in bhajans and prayers, etc.

Yoga:~Middle intellects -taking yellow robes, going to caves, ashrams, etc.

High intellects:- Wisdom who wanted the truth is concerned with no external rites no prayers or sanyasa but depend solely on the Soulcentric reasoning for their path.

Thus, the seeker has to choose his path according to his choice. Without an intense urge to know the truth and sharpness to grasp the truth, it is difficult to tread the path of wisdom never mix different paths with each other, and make cocktails because it leads to all sorts of doubts and confusion.

Remember:~

There are two kinds of audiences - The ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the more advanced seeker who seeks to know the truth beyond form, time, and space. The religious orthodoxy is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. The Atmic path emphasis on Advaitic wisdom is meant for those who wish to go beyond form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara:~ VC- 61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

Religious propagated moksha. Spiritual moksha is different from religious propagated moksha.

Everyone’s individual experiences are not the same. Some are so much immersed in materiality, religion, and duty bound towards their family and society, that they will not be attracted to the path of wisdom or understand and assimilate the Advaitic truth because they accepted the world (dualistic illusion) as a reality whereas the Sage Sankara says the world is merely an illusion.

Many are good at acrobatics with words, but their knowledge is limited to the domain of form, time, and space. When the inner work is in progress then the realization will happen as the conviction about the Soul, the innermost Self, becomes firm. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Past present and future are reality within the illusory world in which you exist.+

You cannot forget the past because your birth belongs to the past. Without your birth identification, you cannot live in the present and will not be able to live in the future.

Every moment you are reminded of who you are in this world. The past, present, and future belong to the domain of form, time, and space.

Form, time, and space belong to the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

The ‘Self’ is not you. The ‘Self' is the Soul. The Soul is beyond form, time, and space.

The Soul is birthless and deathless because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The past, present, and future is nothing to do with the unborn Soul, the Self. 

Remember:~

Past, present, and future are within the world in which you exist. The past, present, and future are based on form, time, and space. Form, time, and space are created out of a single clay. And that single clay is consciousness.

You are the false self within the false experience (waking). The world in which you exist within the Soul, and the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the cause of the world in which you exist. And consciousness itself is uncaused.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. thus, the past present future is merely an illusion. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana brings eternal freedom and frees the Soul, the Self from the bondage of the illusory form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Caste infected Hinduism is nothing to do with Sanatana Dharma because Rigveda prohibits the very concept of castes by birth.

Caste-infected Hinduism is nothing to do with the Vedic religion or Sanatana Dharma because Rigveda prohibits the very concept of castes by birth.

There is hardly any evidence of a rigid caste system in the Vedas. It is argued that the purushasuktahymn of the Rig Veda (X.90) which is often referred to in order to give a religious sanction to the caste system was a later interpolation.

The Vedas, however, speak of various classes of people, which appear to have been names of professions, and they were not hereditary.

The very concepts of castes by birth, upper/lower castes, superior/inferior castes, outcastes, untouchables, Dalits, etc. are clearly prohibited by Rig-Veda”.

The caste system which is so integral to Hinduism was also not practiced in the Vedic times.

The Book of Manu was made by Manu Dharma Shastra. The Book of Manu was a book that originated in India. This book of Manu was given a false spiritual interpretation by orthodoxy. And this book was projected as ‘Manu Dharma Shastra’ by orthodoxy. It is the Manu Dharma Shastra that is the foundation and cause of caste discrimination.

Sage Sankara endeavored toward establishing the Vedic religion and overthrowing Buddhism but Sage Sankara's inability to revive the Vedic religion that flourished before the Buddhist revolution in its pure form is discernible.

Santana Dharma or Vedic religion was not the religion of the Hindus, nor were the Vedic people Hindus, nor will the Hindus of today approve the replacement of the term ‘Hinduism’ with Santana Dharma or Vedic Religion. None can say exactly when the Aryans became Hindus because neither the name Hindu nor its major beliefs and practices existed in the Vedic times.

To this, one must add the marginal place the Vedic gods occupy in today’s Hindu pantheon. In addition, as we have seen, the Vedas themselves are not attractive to most of today’s Hindus as sacred texts. The Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita, Puranas, and Manusmriti, may have more to do with the Hinduism of today than the Vedas.

Thus, it is clear that there is no direct ancestry of modern Hinduism traceable in the Vedas, though it does have some influence on it “The Vedic corpus reflects the archetypal religion of those who called themselves Aryas, and which, although it contributed to facets of latter-day Hinduism, was nevertheless distinct”.

All Hindus indulge in non-Vedic practices barred by the Vedas introduced by the different founders of the different sects of Hinduism at different times, whereas the Vedic religion, or Santana Dharma is ancient and has no founder.

Hinduism is not Vedic religion or Santana Dharma. Hindus do idol worship, while Vedas bar idol worship.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, until about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshipped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains.

There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme ‘Self’ i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which was introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed.

When the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma knows no idols then why so many Gods and goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods. Why these conceptual Gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes.

Hindus do idol worship, while Vedas bar idol worship. According to Vedas, God pervades everything and everywhere.

People, who worship the belief in Gods, with forms and names, are hallucinating that they become one with such God because they believed the false God as the real God.

To be considered an orthodox Hindu one need only accept the authority of Shruti, however, there is no universal agreement among Hindus on what constitutes Shruti. Vedantins consider the Vedanta, i.e., the Upanishads as Shruti but also include the Bhagavad-Gita and Brahma Sutras as authoritative. For some Vaishnavas, the Bhagavata Purana is to be considered Veda. Some consider the Tantras are considered Veda. Thus, we find that there is ample scope for different ideologies, philosophies, and practices under the very broad umbrella of Hinduism.

Hindus indulge in non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, and child marriages. All these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not Ancient Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost ‘Self’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is and all else is an illusion.:

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Yajurveda: ~ There is no image of God in truth. God in truth is unborn and eternal. (Chapter 32, Verse 3)

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure"

Yajurveda: ~ "They are entering darkness, those who worship the natural things (like air, water, fire, etc.), they are sinking more in darkness who worship created things." (Chapter 40, Verse 9)

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Yajur Veda indicates that: ~ Those who worship visible things born of matter in place of God in truth are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

When Upanishads and Vedas declare that, “God is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself then why accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman.

Thus, to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the seeker has to realize his inherited religion is adulterated in the past and it becomes a great obstacle is realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar