[BookReview] "Hindu Dharma : The Universal Way of Life" by Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham

An excellent Book on Sanatana Dharma published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Written by Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham. 

Hinduism/Sanatana Dharma is so vast that like a sprawling Banyan tree it's difficult to grasp its vastness. This extremely difficult task is made to look feasible by the effortless yet authoritative voice of this Seer.

It describes both a Bird's eyeview and a peek into the internal workings of this vast, great and Sanatana Dharma. Describes all the Vedas, Shastras, Ved-angas :

http://www.kamakoti.org/newlayout/template/hindudharma.html

A monumental work by Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, the (erstwhile) Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

This is like a breath of fresh air from the very source of Hindu culture and spiritualism.

It gives insight into the whys of religious and social practises and how they weave the culture and religion into an indivisible whole.

Great people have the capacity to explain complex and subtle things in the simplest of words.
Words which stand the test of changing times as they connect with the eternal.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has done a great service to mankind by publishing these very words.

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[My opinion on why we should read this book: Hindu Dharma]

We are constantly being bombarded by opinionated media on Hinduism.
For people getting confusing signals from "secular", "westernized" and opinionated views of Hinduism
This is like a breath of fresh air from the very source of Hindu culture and spiritualism.

Many of the things said in this book may not be exactly "mod" or even sound "counter intuitive" to the Westernized Indian (like myself) of today.

The fact is I've been so out of touch with my own culture that I identify and know more about foreign culture than my own roots.
I feel like a xeroxed American in my own land. This book is an important step in getting back in touch with my own roots.

This is because we're aping the ways of the West esp. now the American ways.
Without seeing the undesirable things that are creeping into our society.
Unfettered freedom leads to degeneration and decadence a la "Roman Orgies".

The western media and its "indian" counterpart has thoroughly brain-washed us into visions of "Progress".
Seeing the state of our US brethren struggling with drugs, teenage sex, crime and bare-faced consumerism doesn't spell much progress as far as I can see.
Big business trying to sell all kinds of things to lonely people (split from their families and easy prey).
This is packaged as "freedom of choice" and "standard of living" instead of a fall in a sense of values.

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The kamakoti.org has transcribed the book with help from students of BITS Pilani for online access :http://www.kamakoti.org/newlayout/template/hindudharma.html

http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/ (the original Tamil version Deivatthin Kural)

1) Origin of the Universe from Omkara : 
Excerpts from the book 'The Vedas' by Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kama Koti Peetham :http://www.arunachalavedas.org/pdfs/The_Vedas.pdf