Author’s Introduction
For the Students
Welcome to Saivite Hindu Religion, Book Two. All of you children are expected to learn many, many things these days. You’ve been learning how to read and write and add and subtract, along with other subjects, such as the history of your country. This book is for one of the most important subjects you will ever study: your religion. Here in Book Three you’ll learn many of the basics of our Hindu religion. You’ll learn about our Supreme God, Lord Siva, about Lord Murugan and Lord Ganesha and about your soul. ou’ll learn about our temple practices and why we do each thing. You’ll learn about karma and ahimsa, nonviolence, and more. Hinduism is a very practical religion. It makes you a good student and a better citizen of your country. Study your religion as hard as you study your other subjects. Understand well our practices, beliefs and philosophy.§
For the Teachers
This book is intended for children ages 6 to 8. As the teacher, you should be sure your students understand all the words of the lesson text. If they are bilingual, then they should understand what is said in both their languages. This will make the meaning much clearer in their minds. Encourage them to ask questions, and if you can’t answer them, send their question to me for a response. There is additional material available at www.himalayanacademy.com/teaching/ on the Internet to help you with your class, including a teacher’s guide, additional Internet resources, available books and videos suitable for children. The book is prepared in four languages—English, Tamil, Malay and French—for the countries where most of the classes are taught, which include Malaysia and Mauritius. Teachers are encouraged to communicate with each other, sharing class material and ideas.§
For the Parents
This is the most important study your child can undertake. This is the study of Hinduism, the Sanatana Dharma, “Eternal Truth.” Some parents feel that the study of religion is not important, that their children should focus solely on their academic studies. A wiser approach is that the study of Hinduism as it is presented in this course gives practical suggestions that help a child do better in his or her academic studies. It also creates a more balanced life for children, a happier and less stressful childhood. Please take an interest in your child’s study of Book Three by reading all the lessons and, if you have the time, the teacher’s material on the Internet. Consider this course the education of your child’s soul and conscience, a training which will prepare your child to understand his religion, practice it with knowledge and be able to use its divine directions in facing the really difficult ethical and moral issues of his life. Encourage your child, help your child with the studies and, who knows, you might learn something new yourself in the process.§
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
163rd Jagadacharya of the Nandinatha Sampradaya’s Kailasa Parampara
Guru Mahasannidhanam
Kauai Aadheenam, Hawaii, USA§