If you are trying to be a true Hindu, you must follow the guidelines set by Sanatan Sanstha - or so they say.
If you are trying to be a true Hindu, you must follow the guidelines set by Sanatan Sanstha - or so they say.
The Sanatan Sanstha, which is accused of the murder of rationalist Govind Pansare, has laid out explicit rules and guidelines which governs each aspect of a believing Hindu's life. From what clothes one should wear, to how one should bathe and defecate, to the right way of urinating, the Sanatan Sanstha has all the answers.
1) Urinating: The Sanatan Sanstha states on its website that Hindus must not urinate from a standing position. This is because because it "causes a flow of accumulated Raja-Tama predominant energy towards the feet. As the negative energy gets concentrated there, the distressing vibrations emitting from Hell can very quickly enter the body through the feet." It also "activates the flow of black energy associated with the ground, charging the entire body of the individual with Raja-Tama components".
2) Defecating: While defecating, one must not use toilet paper as it does not 'destroy the Raja-Tama particles' in the feaces. This is because toilet paper is not 'sattvik'.
The rules for urinating and defecating apparently are scientific. The Sanstha claims that a French scientist has come to this conclusion, though it does not state his name.
3) Wearing clothes: Apparently, clothes are not meant only to protect us from the weather or to hide certain organs. The Sanatan Sanstha claims on its website that "Wearing clothes amounts to taking the support of Maya to attain a level of Brahman-realized state,".
It further goes on say that, "Clothes worn by men and women as prescribed in Hindu Dharma are designed by Deities and are those that manifest the Shiva and Shakti Principles." Using this definition, only a nine-yard saree is perfectly 'sattvik' and all other forms of clothes are less so. For men, the dhoti is prescribed. Sanstha claims that this knowledge comes from 'God'.
4) Washing clothes: The Sanstha has a full article on wearing washed and unwashed clothes. It says, "In case of washed used clothes there is sweating due to the Tej waves arising from the cloth. An unwashed used garment will give an experience of heat in the body due to gross appearing sagun. A higher proportion of dirt in unwashed clothes causes greater hindrance to the flow of sattvik waves that are attracted towards it and as a result, the extent of black covering on it is higher.".
Silk clothes are better than cotton clothes, but the best ones are made from the the bark of a tree. Some unknown person is cited as the authority for this knowledge, which also 'comes from God'.
5) Religious marriage v/s registered marriage: The Sanstha argues that a religious marriage is more spiritual than a registered marriage. It creates a glow on the faces of those marrying. The religious rituals increase 'sattvikta' in the groom and bride's bodies, and reduce the impact of 'Raja-Tama vibrations'.
Not to be outdone by fairness cream advertisements, the Sanstha's website then shows a picture of a woman before and after her marriage. While Photoshop may be suspected, the picture on the right is regarded as happier and more sattvik.
Moreover, we are told how to prepare a wedding invitation card. Apparently, none of the content should be in English, and the art work should be 'sattvik'. A full picture of Ganesha must be present in a seated position. Some propaganda matter about spreading 'Hindu Dharma' is a necessity.
6) Bathing: The Sanathan Sanstha informs us how we should bathe, in what position, and with what utensils.
Incredibly, one cannot be nude in the privacy of one's own bathroom while bathing Sanatan-style. One must wear undergarments. One must sit in a cross-legged posture, and chant some shlokas (prayers), which are fortunately not defined.
Only a brass tumbler should be used for bathing. "Clean all nine orifices of the body," is the Sanstha directive.
The Sanstha provides a 'scientific' reason for sitting in a cross-legged posture while bathing. When sitting in a cross-legged posture, the body shape becomes triangular, thus it becoming possible for a protective sheath to be easily generated during a bath," it says.
Interestingly, in December 2014, the Sanatan Sanstha had blasted the RSS for 'defaming' the organisation. Apparently, two families who were members of RSS did not allow their daughters to join the Sanatan Sanstha. This inflamed passions among the Sanstha faithful who condemned the RSS.
A few days ago, it had been reported in the media that the Sanstha had published guidelines on what hair oil to use, and the length of hair that men and women must keep.
The Sanathan Sanstha website focuses exclusively on such bizarrely detailed guidelines for the most mundane, every day things people do in life.
If you are a Sanstha fan, more power to you. If not, you may be doomed for all eternity.
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