Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Santana Dharma scriptural classes being offered?
We are currently offering classes on Sri Rudram/Chamakam, Udakashanti, Mahanyasam, Devi Mahatmyam, Sri Lalita Sahasranamam, Suktams, Saundarya Lahiri, Sri Lalita Trishati, Sandhyavandanam, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam etc. Please check our Youtube Channel.
We are planning to offer in the near future the following – Aditya Hridayam, Acchidram, Ashwamedham, Katakam, Mukha Pancha Shati etc.
Kindly go to our Class Schedule to know the latest classes being offered.
We are currently offering classes on Sri Rudram/Chamakam, Udakashanti, Mahanyasam, Devi Mahatmyam, Sri Lalita Sahasranamam, Suktams, Saundarya Lahiri, Sri Lalita Trishati, Sandhyavandanam, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam etc. Please check our Youtube Channel.
We are planning to offer in the near future the following – Aditya Hridayam, Acchidram, Ashwamedham, Katakam, Mukha Pancha Shati etc.
Kindly go to our Class Schedule to know the latest classes being offered.
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What is the cost of the class?
Our classes are FREE. In true Gurukulam culture of yore, we also provide our in-class students with a simple breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the class timings.
Our classes are FREE. In true Gurukulam culture of yore, we also provide our in-class students with a simple breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the class timings.
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Are there any criteria for joining classes?
There are two important criteria which are pre-conditions for joining our classes:
1. You must have an inclusive mindset. In other words, you must believe that the teachings and scriptures of Sanatana Dharma belong to all those following Santana Dharma and that there is no discrimination on any basis – caste, creed, gender etc. You must believe and support the right of everyone to learn and chant our scriptures, including Vedas. You must especially support women in this regard as they are the bulwark of our Sanatana Dharma.
It is only fair that if you do not believe in our principles that you join elsewhere where the teacher or school is aligned to your belief system. We are looking for a united Sanatana Dharma community that offers equal opportunities for all to learn in an inclusive manner. Your belief in this principle is extremely vital in order to join our team.
2. You must be fearless and have no doubt or guilt in your mind. All sections of our community have been unfortunately conditioned by discriminatory traditions that enforce false beliefs, totally unsupported by Shastras, that only certain sections and too only men, can chant our scriptures. While you may want to join our class, if your mind is plagued by fear, doubt and guilt, then you will be a misfit for our class. You will notice that most people advising you against learning have themselves no knowledge of our scriptures and are passing on what they have heard from others, without applying their intellect to examine the truth of such discriminatory behaviour. You must have a strong personality like Swami Vivekananda and believe in our Dharma’s immortal saying “Sathyameva Jayate” and stand up for our Shastras, which are wonderful and inclusive.
There are two important criteria which are pre-conditions for joining our classes:
1. You must have an inclusive mindset. In other words, you must believe that the teachings and scriptures of Sanatana Dharma belong to all those following Santana Dharma and that there is no discrimination on any basis – caste, creed, gender etc. You must believe and support the right of everyone to learn and chant our scriptures, including Vedas. You must especially support women in this regard as they are the bulwark of our Sanatana Dharma.
It is only fair that if you do not believe in our principles that you join elsewhere where the teacher or school is aligned to your belief system. We are looking for a united Sanatana Dharma community that offers equal opportunities for all to learn in an inclusive manner. Your belief in this principle is extremely vital in order to join our team.
2. You must be fearless and have no doubt or guilt in your mind. All sections of our community have been unfortunately conditioned by discriminatory traditions that enforce false beliefs, totally unsupported by Shastras, that only certain sections and too only men, can chant our scriptures. While you may want to join our class, if your mind is plagued by fear, doubt and guilt, then you will be a misfit for our class. You will notice that most people advising you against learning have themselves no knowledge of our scriptures and are passing on what they have heard from others, without applying their intellect to examine the truth of such discriminatory behaviour. You must have a strong personality like Swami Vivekananda and believe in our Dharma’s immortal saying “Sathyameva Jayate” and stand up for our Shastras, which are wonderful and inclusive.
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How do I join your classes?
Please check the Homepage of our website. The instructions are provided there in great detail.
Please check the Homepage of our website. The instructions are provided there in great detail.
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Where can I take the class?
If you live in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, you can take the classes at our home. Else, you can avail the classes online which are streamed over Ustream and Livestream. Only the Rudram class is streamed on an Audio platform. All the Streaming Platform links are available on the home page of our website. There is no need to login. Just click the link and follow the class.
If you live in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, you can take the classes at our home. Else, you can avail the classes online which are streamed over Ustream and Livestream. Only the Rudram class is streamed on an Audio platform. All the Streaming Platform links are available on the home page of our website. There is no need to login. Just click the link and follow the class.
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What is special and unique about your class or teaching methods?
We provide all the aids needed for learning our scriptures in the most easily digestible manner.
We provide all the aids needed for learning our scriptures in the most easily digestible manner.
- We are inclusive and provide an equal platform where sincerity, competence and hard work are the level setters. There is no discrimination on any basis.
- We provide “Veda Patashala” like atmosphere in our classes.
- We provide our unique and simple “Chanting Rules” to make chanting extremely easy for beginners.
- And our classes are FREE!
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What are “Chanting Rules”?
We have come up with some easy-to-follow technical Chanting Rules that will allow you to quickly get upto speed in correct chanting. Following these rules consistently results in correct and synchronized chanting. Kindly watch the videos below to understand the Chanting Rules
We have come up with some easy-to-follow technical Chanting Rules that will allow you to quickly get upto speed in correct chanting. Following these rules consistently results in correct and synchronized chanting. Kindly watch the videos below to understand the Chanting Rules
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Is knowledge of Sanskrit required for learning in your classes?
Preferably yes, but not mandatory. Our students read from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English etc. apart from Sanskrit. We provide relevant texts in those languages too. Once you know and follow the Chanting Rules and get proper training, you will find chanting mantras very easy.
Preferably yes, but not mandatory. Our students read from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English etc. apart from Sanskrit. We provide relevant texts in those languages too. Once you know and follow the Chanting Rules and get proper training, you will find chanting mantras very easy.
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Is Gayathri mantra initiation and Upanayanam for all?
Absolutely. Including women. Before the upanayanam ceremony, all are considered as Shudras. Only after upanayanam, are they considered re-born or Dwijas. As per Shastras, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas should be initiated in Gayathri mantra, which is called Brahma upadesham, or the mantra that leads to the knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. The Shastras refer to varnas and the classification of people as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras depending on their Gunas or nature. In today’s world, I would suggest that we need to be progressive and include the 4th caste also. In fact, I would say that all of us should refer to ourselves as only “Sanatana Dharmi” and nothing else.
If someone is spiritually inclined with their Satva guna dominating, then they are definitely “Guna-Brahmanas” though they may be born in any caste. Lord Rama was a Kshatriya and so was Lord Krishna (He only grew up among Yadavas but was born to a deposed king). They both went to Veda patashalas. Lord Krishna studied Vedas with Sudama, a Brahmin, which shows that there was no discrimination in the good old days. We have the famous story of Satyakam Jabali being accepted as a Shisya of Sage Gautama, thought his parentage was not known. Sage Agastya’s wife was a Kshatriya called Lopamudra who was initiated in Gayathri mantra and used to wear the sacred thread and is considered foremost among Sri Vidya upasakas. And we have the opposite examples too. Dronacharya , Kripacharya and Parashurama took up weapons and were “Guna-Kshatriyas”. But the final argument would be that, Sage Vishwamitra was a Kshatriya who gave us the all-powerful Gayathri mantra.
Our community lies divided on caste and is being exploited politically. Intellect erosion is widely pervasive. We need to repair and maintain our glorious Sanatana Dharma. It is possible. As such, let’s follow the Shastras correctly and get initiated in Gayathri mantra and perform Sandyavandanam regularly. Imagine, a billion of Sanatana Dharmis, getting the Brahmna Tejas on their faces as they realize Brahma Gyanam! Would you not like to see a world that is a Vedic world, full of knowledge and intellect? I would! And am working towards it actively. I would like to request you to join me in this endeavour.
Absolutely. Including women. Before the upanayanam ceremony, all are considered as Shudras. Only after upanayanam, are they considered re-born or Dwijas. As per Shastras, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas should be initiated in Gayathri mantra, which is called Brahma upadesham, or the mantra that leads to the knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. The Shastras refer to varnas and the classification of people as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras depending on their Gunas or nature. In today’s world, I would suggest that we need to be progressive and include the 4th caste also. In fact, I would say that all of us should refer to ourselves as only “Sanatana Dharmi” and nothing else.
If someone is spiritually inclined with their Satva guna dominating, then they are definitely “Guna-Brahmanas” though they may be born in any caste. Lord Rama was a Kshatriya and so was Lord Krishna (He only grew up among Yadavas but was born to a deposed king). They both went to Veda patashalas. Lord Krishna studied Vedas with Sudama, a Brahmin, which shows that there was no discrimination in the good old days. We have the famous story of Satyakam Jabali being accepted as a Shisya of Sage Gautama, thought his parentage was not known. Sage Agastya’s wife was a Kshatriya called Lopamudra who was initiated in Gayathri mantra and used to wear the sacred thread and is considered foremost among Sri Vidya upasakas. And we have the opposite examples too. Dronacharya , Kripacharya and Parashurama took up weapons and were “Guna-Kshatriyas”. But the final argument would be that, Sage Vishwamitra was a Kshatriya who gave us the all-powerful Gayathri mantra.
Our community lies divided on caste and is being exploited politically. Intellect erosion is widely pervasive. We need to repair and maintain our glorious Sanatana Dharma. It is possible. As such, let’s follow the Shastras correctly and get initiated in Gayathri mantra and perform Sandyavandanam regularly. Imagine, a billion of Sanatana Dharmis, getting the Brahmna Tejas on their faces as they realize Brahma Gyanam! Would you not like to see a world that is a Vedic world, full of knowledge and intellect? I would! And am working towards it actively. I would like to request you to join me in this endeavour.
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Are Vedas for everyone, especially women?
Gayathri mantra is from the Vedas and I have already stated that all have the right to be initiated in the Gayathri mantra. As a natural corollary, yes, women definitely have the right to chant Vedas. They need to be learnt properly from a Guru just as you would learn any other subject and be sincere in your learning. They are certain sections that are to be avoided or recited in a low voice as there is the risk for pregnant women. Eg. Certain sections of Aruna Prashnam. But Rudram/Chamakam etc. can definitely be chanted contrary to orthodox discriminatory traditions.
Gayathri mantra is from the Vedas and I have already stated that all have the right to be initiated in the Gayathri mantra. As a natural corollary, yes, women definitely have the right to chant Vedas. They need to be learnt properly from a Guru just as you would learn any other subject and be sincere in your learning. They are certain sections that are to be avoided or recited in a low voice as there is the risk for pregnant women. Eg. Certain sections of Aruna Prashnam. But Rudram/Chamakam etc. can definitely be chanted contrary to orthodox discriminatory traditions.
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Do you conduct Sri Kailash-Manosarovar Yatra?
With the blessings of Mahadev, we have taken a sankalpam to perform Sri Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra every year and performed the Sri Kailash Yatra from 2016- 2019. Due to Covid, Kailash yatras in 2020-21 could not be made. With Shiva-Shakti’s blessings, we hope to resume the Kailash yatra. Usually, GuruCool global family members accompany on this yatra and it is a great bonding opportunity during this most spiritual of yatras.
With the blessings of Mahadev, we have taken a sankalpam to perform Sri Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra every year and performed the Sri Kailash Yatra from 2016- 2019. Due to Covid, Kailash yatras in 2020-21 could not be made. With Shiva-Shakti’s blessings, we hope to resume the Kailash yatra. Usually, GuruCool global family members accompany on this yatra and it is a great bonding opportunity during this most spiritual of yatras.
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How can I sign up for the Kailash-Manasarovar yatra?
You are welcome to join us. Kindly go through the “FAQs” on Kailash Yatra posted here. If you would like to join us, then please join us on this Telegram platform (provide the link here). The booking form is also included here, which you need to fill up and colour-scan and email the same to [email protected] . The time line to send the booking form is 25-March-2018.
You are welcome to join us. Kindly go through the “FAQs” on Kailash Yatra posted here. If you would like to join us, then please join us on this Telegram platform (provide the link here). The booking form is also included here, which you need to fill up and colour-scan and email the same to [email protected] . The time line to send the booking form is 25-March-2018.
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