इन्द्रम् । मित्रम् । वरुणम् । अग्निम् । आहुः । अथो इति । दिव्यः । सः । सुपर्णः । गरुत्मान् । एकम् । सत् । विप्राः । बहुधा । वदन्ति । अग्निम् । यमम् । मातरिश्वानम् । आहुः ॥
Truly there is only ONE. They may call Him by many names. They call him as Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and he is the celestial winged-bird (Sun); names as they speak of Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan. The learned Rishies call the One and the only One by many names.
RG VEDA 1:164:46
The founding principles of all Dharmic traditions of ancient India are to be found in the Vedas. Supreme Reality is described in the Vedas as “Param” (Ultimate), “Satyam” (Truth), “Rtam” (truth in movement or nature’s laws) and “Brhat” (Vast). The root of Indian Philosophy is to be found in the Ukthas (hymns) and Udgithas (recitations) uttered by the Rishies of the Rg Veda. Thus, the hymns of the Rig Veda (Uktha) and its diligent recitation (Udgitha) serve as the foundational principles on which all Dharmic traditions of India are built.
Rishis in the Vedas are sublime mystical poets (Kavi) who envisioned the mantras (mantra drastaraha) and conceived the self-evident knowledge (svatah- pramana) by spiritual intuition attained through meditative austerity (Tapasya). A Rishi/Kavi is also ‘the hearer of the Truth’ (kavayah Satya-srurtah).
Rishis, Gurus and Spiritual Luminaries of India extrapolated on the mystical verses of the Veda and developed their own distinct philosophies. The religious, social, cultural, economic and political order originated and evolved in ancient India under the guidance of Rishis and their Guru-Sishya Parampara – teacher-disciple relationship, where knowledge, skills, and wisdom are passed down from a Guru (Teacher) to a Shishya (student) through a sacred lineage.
Vedic philosophical principles were not “normative” in their cultural and social temperament. Ancient Indian culture continually thrived for thousands of years because of its all encompassing liberal and non-normative Vedic philosophical system that upheld the sacred ideal of living in tune with nature (Prakriti). In the process, Indian culture developed diverse knowledge systems aimed at helping a person lead a meaningful spiritual existence and a contented materialistic life that promoted social and cultural harmony and universal love towards all animate lifeforms and inanimate objects.
Some of the major sciences and disciplines developed by Dharmic traditions of Indian culture are Nyaya – logic and epistemology; Vaisheshika – atomistic realism and the nature of reality; Sankhya – knowledge on dualistic reality between Spirit (purusha) and matter (prakriti) of the Universe; Yoga – disciplined path to spiritual attainment through dhyana, pranayama and asanas; Mimamsa – rules of ritual worship; Vedanta – philosophical and spiritual insights of the Vedas, especially the Upanishads; Ayurveda – an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine focused on balancing mind, body, spirit, and environment through diet, lifestyle, herbs, and spiritual practices; Vaastu Shastra – ancient Indian system of architecture and design that provides guidelines for building structures in harmony with natural laws; and Jyothisha -science about the stars and heavenly bodies.
The goal of Indic Dharma Academy is to work toward the protection and propagation of ancient Indian knowledge systems and to organize classes and seminars for the public, with the help of reputed traditional scholars.