Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, originating in Central Asia and the Indus Valley, still practiced in the present day. The term Hinduism is what is known as an exonym (a name given by others to a people, place, or concept) and derives from the Persian term Sindus designating those who lived across the Indus River.
Hinduism, also known as Sanatana Dharma, is the world’s oldest living religion. It is a natural religion, meaning its philosophies and practices are considered universally accessible through sincere study, reason, and experience apart from special revelation. Hinduism is also an indigenous religion made up of a diverse family of philosophies and traditions that have been practiced primarily throughout Asia for thousands of years. Hinduism views the universe as a family or, in Sanskrit, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
SHANTI
Peace is an essential part of Hinduism. Hindus believe that violence in any form is wrong and a bad action, whether it be fighting in a war or harming a small living creature.
In Sanskrit, the term Shanti is used for peace. The word’s literary meaning is peaceful, non-violent, calm or undisturbed. It denotes abstention from mental and physical violence and disturbances. It is a virtue under which some sentiment is to be removed from the mind instead of generating some sentiment in the mind. It is to bring the refusal of violent feelings from the mind and violent activities from life.
Shri Krishna became Shantiduta i.e. messenger of peace in Mahabharata to teach the lesson of peace to the enemy but finally supported Arjun to fight against the wicked enemy. So Shanti can exist with the absence of non-violence too. In fact, peace is to be performed on three levels – mind, speech, and action (manasa, vacha ,karmana). Accordingly, shanti is a state of equilibrium that is needed for the proper existence of all and everyone in this universe.
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