• REVIEWS & COMMENTS • Tiru M. Arumugam His Holiness Swami Satchidananda Sivathondan Nilayam (Siva Yogaswami Centre), Founder, Integral Yoga Institute, Virginia, USA London, UK The Saivite Hindu Religion course prepared by Sivathondan Nilayam/UK (Yogaswami Centre) Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami is a great welcomes with great plea sure the publication of boon for all Hindu children worldwide. Many the course of lessons in simple English for the schools outside India and Nepal are not providing teaching of Saivite Hindu religion to children. courses for Hin du children so that they can learn This fulfills the long-felt need for such books. This more about their Hindu heritage. Once one’s cul- publication is one of the admirable attempts by our Satguru Sivaya ture is lost, the person is lost. To ensure a positive future for our Hindu Subramuniyaswami in carrying out the commands of his Satguru Siva children, it is imperative that a strong foundation of Hindu philosophy, Yogaswami to spread the Sanatana Dharma to all parts of the world. culture and practice is built. The course prepared by Satguru Sivaya The beautiful Tamil translation is a great benefit to the Tamil-speaking Subramuniyaswami provides the needed building blocks for Hindu children now living all over the world for them to grow in their own children of all sects and can help them to fulfill their Hindu dharma reli gion and language and preserve their culture. in the world. H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati Sri A. Parsuramen Founder, International Society of Divine Love and Former Minister of Education and Science, Republic Barsana Dham, Austin, Texas, USA of Mauritius The children’s books Saivite Hindu Religion I am deeply honored to be associated with are inspiring general knowledge books this international publication of Saivite Hindu especially designed for the worship of God Religion. Saivite philosophy emphasizes karma, Siva and God Ganesh. God Siva is called dharma, right living, truth telling and respect for Yogishwar, which means God of yog and gyan all living beings. It is founded on the concept that that relates to soul and brahm. The illustrations in these books are God is present everywhere and in all living beings. It is indispensible unique. Saivite religious disciplines to adopt in day-to-day fam- that religious teachings—the message of universal love and brother- ily life and the religious stories are described in a very interesting hood contained in our scriptures—be brought to the youth, to our manner which gives the reader a feeling to bring God into his life. children. I am particularly happy to note that Saivite Hindu Religion places great stress on the teaching of values to the young children as Tiru Mootoocoomaren Sangeelee well as their parents. These values will augment human life by promot- Ex-Inspector of Schools, Mauritius ing peace and unity in the world. I first came across only books 2 and 6 of the six- Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, book Saivite Hindu Religion course. As I was then President/Founder very busy, I thought I would read a few pages Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, Kerala, India of each of the books at random and that that would be enough for me to assess the value of I am very happy that Gurudeva has come forward the course. I started reading Book 2. I found it so with this children’s course, Saivite Hindu Religion. interesting that I read the whole of the two books without missing one Even in India no one is doing this kind of work. single page. I can now honestly say that these books constitute a mine Only those outside India are doing these things. of lofty teachings of pure Hinduism. The lessons given in them impart a correct knowledge of true Hinduism. I now guess that it was les- sons of this sort, widely spread, that made ancient India so much more spiritual than is modern India. These books should find their place, not H.H. Swami Chidananda Saraswati (Muniji), only in all Hindu homes throughout the world, but even among other President, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, India religious communities. Thanks to the inspiration and guidance of Karan Singh, Ph.D. Satguru Sivaya Subra muni ya swami and his Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), former pioneering efforts, the deplorable lack of text Ambassador of India to the US, Chancellor of the books on Hinduism for school children is being Banaras Hindu University, New Delhi, India remedied. The Saivite Hindu Religion is a series of six books. It presents imaginatively and with I have received and looked through with consid- apt illustrations, the essentials of Hindu precepts and practices, with erable interest your six book course for children special focus on Saivism. I commend them enthusiastically for use as on Saivism. It is indeed an excellent project and I educational material in schools. hope it will be widely used in India and abroad. First Edition Copyright © 2007 by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami Saivite Hindu Religion, Book Four for Children Ages 8 to 10 is part of a six-book children’s course initially based on Saiva Neri, a course prepared by the Educational Publications Department of the Government of Sri Lanka in 1979. Original English material by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami. Trans lations in Ta mil by Appasamy Kup pu sa my (Malay- sia). Malay translation rendered by Usha Rani Kuppusamy (Malaysia). French translation provided by Monsieur Jean- Samuel Sahai (Guadaloupe, France). Back cover photograph by P. Ganesan (Malaysia). Cover photo courtesy of Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh, India). Saivite Hindu Religion, Book Four for Children Ages 8 to 10 is published by Himalayan Academy. All rights are reserved. This book may be used to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path, but reprinted in quantities over fifty only with the prior written consent of the publisher. Designed, typeset and edited by the sannyasin swamis of the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii, 96746-9304 USA. Cover photo: The rishikumars of Parmarth Niketan gather for worship on the banks of the Ganga River at Rishikesh, India. These are orphaned and underprivileged children who are living at the ashram, going to school and learning Hindu religion. Back photo: Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami with students of the Saivite Hindu Religion class at a temple in Penang, Malaysia. At Bodhinatha’s right is Sivaram Eswaran, who teaches the class. Arumugaswami is to Bodhinatha’s left. Published by Himalayan Academy printed in malaysia by sampoorna printers sdn bhd USA • India by arrangement with uma publications Library of Congress Control Number 2006923774 ISBN: 978-0-945497-84-4 BOOK FOUR FOR CHILDREN AGes 8 to 10 Acv ;nfT cmymf na[fkamf p<tftkmf vyT 8 Mtlf 10 vAr Agama Hindu Saivisme BUKU EMPAT UNTUK Kanak-kanaK daRI UMUr 8 hinGGA 10 Religion Hindoue Sivaïte VOLUME QUATRE POUR ENFANTS de 8 à 10 ans Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami Table of Contents ENGLISH Author's Introduction ................................................................vii lesson page 1 What Is Religion?....................................................................2 2 What is Hinduism? . 6 3 What Are the Main Hindu Sects? ......................................................10 4 What is Saivite Hinduism?............................................................14 5 What Are Saivism's Glories? . 18 6 Are Hindus Tolerant of Others? . .22 7 What Are the Three Worlds? ..........................................................26 8 Did God Siva Create Everything? ......................................................30 9 What Is Karma? .....................................................................34 10 What is Dharma?....................................................................38 11 What Is Reincarnation? . 42 12 How Do We Celebrate Festivals? . 46 13 What is a Guru?.....................................................................50 14 What is Our Heritage of Gurus? .......................................................54 15 Who Are Our Holy Men and Women? . .58 16 Who Are the Four Great Saints? .......................................................62 17 How Do We Ask God for Help? . .66 18 What Is Japa? . .70 19 What Are Affirmations? ..............................................................74 20 How Do We Meditate? ...............................................................78 21 What Is the Hindu Way of Greeting Others? . 82 22 What Is the Importance of Doing Good Deeds? . .86 23 What Is the Ideal Home? . .90 24 What Is the Home Shrine? ............................................................94 25 Why Do We Respect Others? . .98 26 What Is Hindu Hospitality? .......................................................... 102 27 How Do We Get Along with Others?..................................................106 28 What Is a Temple? .................................................................. 110 29 How Do We Visit the Temple? . 114 30 How Can We Become Part of the Temple? . 118 31 Why Should We Learn a Cultural Art? . 122 32 Why Were We Born?................................................................ 126 33 How Can You Be a Strong Hindu? .................................................... 130 34 What Is the Value Of Spiritual Friends?................................................ 134 35 Are There Two Paths in Life?......................................................... 138 glossary . 142 index............................................................................. 162 iv Saivite Hindu Religion, Book 4 epaRqdkfkmf TAMIL TABLE