Sucharit (good conduct or right behavior), sukkrit (good deed), and dharm (righteousness) are the basis of moral philosophy Hinduism prescribes for every human being and we would like to see these in our president.

We would also appreciate some of the other virtues in him/her, mentioned in the dharmasastras, like compassion, purity, equanimity, fortitude, and hands off from untruth and greed.

Satya (truth) is highly stressed in Hinduism and we think that it will be an important virtue we should look for in our next president. Upanishads state ‘satyam eva jayate’ (truth alone triumphs).

Are we asking too much?

In Hinduism, vivah (marriage) is the most important samskar (sacrament). The married couple is looked at as a complete module for worship and participation in cultural/social acts. With the marriage samskar, one thoroughly enters into grihasth-ashram (householder phase), where one can attend to the goals of dharm (duty).

Traditional Hindu marriage is a sacred rite and involves various religious steps, including: kanyadaan (giving of the bride), panigrahan (hand grasping), reciting from scriptures, walking around the fire saying Vedic mantars (hymns), saptapadi (seven steps) on the piles of rice, etc.

The course of a conventional Hindu wedding includes various religious/cultural/social procedures, including: gunapariksha, patrika (horoscope), matching, vagdana (betrothal), pressing a tilak (religious mark) on the bridegroom, worship of gods/ancestors/spirits, mrdaharana (bringing of earth) by mothers, applying mehndi (henna) on the bride, Ganesh worship, worship of goddess Sitala for 3-7 days, bride’s abhishek (consecration) by the priest, saptarsimandal (asking stars to be witnesses), dispersal rites, coconut smashing at the temple, etc.

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