“Hinduism is not a scientific religion

Hinduism is a religion of Science.”

“Dincharya” means the science of daily routine, the science of order in life. And this forms the focus of the marvellous piece written by Kshitij Dabhade.

The purpose of the book, Dincharya  is to take its readers back to the rich cultural heritage of India, to the very roots.

The storyline, narrated in a simple and precise. It follows the tale of a young, promising entrepreneur, engulfed by the routine monotony of city life. He soon begins to adopt an increasingly uncertain and unhealthy life. Engrossed in his work, and with commercial success, he loses touch not only with Nature, but also with himself- with his inner self. Until an unexpected series of events happen which help him find answers in a small Indian village, in the most unexpected way.

AUTHOR INTRODUCTION:

Kshitij Dabhade is a successful entrepreneur from the city of Mumbai. After completing his education in Computer Science and MBA (Finance) from Mumbai, he started a consultancy firm called Eclat India Pvt. Ltd. 

Mr Dabhade believes that the profound truth entrenched in the Hindu scriptures, and the ancient philosophy of our forefathers- the great Indian sages, hold the key to salvation for all of us. In this self-absorbed, materialistic world, there is little time for self-care. There is no time to “stand and stare”, to quote the poet William Henry Davies.

Kshitij Dabhade shows us how it is indeed not only possible, but also essential to break away from the rat race, and to seek liberation, through simplicity.

ABOUT THE BOOK IN DETAIL:

Dincharya: Science of Daily Routine is a book which explores the often forgotten nuances of the Hindu way of life. History and Literature have told us time and again how the ancient Indian sages led a meticulous, yet simple and healthy life. Behind the stereotypical image of a sage meditating underneath a tree, lies a much more complex science. Kshitij Dabhade explores this science, and brings it to life in simple language. Mr. Dabhade was inspired greatly by the work of Maharishi Vagbhata, and his treatise on Ayurveda.

On the surface, the story of Dincharya is about a successful entrepreneur, who, despite his commercial success, fails to truly find peace and contentment. 

He begins to lead an increasingly unhealthy and erratic life. However, before it is too late, he realizes  flawed his lifestyle is, and seeks remedies.

His search for answers takes him unexpectedly to his ancestral village, where, under the guidance of his grandparents, and the tutelage of a wise Guruji, he finally learns and grows.

A familiar scenario is presented to the urban readers, when the protagonist of the story initially protests at the idea of “blindly following” the preaching of religious texts, and accepting the tutelage of a stranger, about whom little is known.

Moreover, he is alarmed to hear that one needs to climb 7000 steps to reach the top of the mountain, where the ashram of Guruji was situated.

Yet, to his credit, the protagonist follows the wishes of his grandfather, and meets the great Guruji.

What unfolds hereafter is a test of faith.

We meet a woman who also climbs up seven thousand steps, carrying a stone and chanting the Shiva Mantra. Faith truly can move mountains, as demonstrated throughout the book.

Through simple conversation between the Guruji and the protagonist, we are gradually introduced to the simple, yet mind-boggling scientific way of life of ancient India.

As the scepticism and disbelief of the urban bred man is shaken, and he grows more accepting, he allows faith to touch him in inexplicable ways, until he is a reformed man.

To the urban mind, the mud huts of the village seem rustic and uncivilized. The practice of drinking water from a clay pot seems unhygienic. The regular walking, rather than travelling by some form of transport seem unnecessarily time consuming and exhausting. 

Yet, behind each of these simple acts lie deep seated scientific truths.

The guidelines laid down by our holy scriptures with regard to the way one must wake up in the morning, and go about every little daily activity until one finally retires for the day is each guided by scientific knowledge and understanding of the human body.

Mr Dabhade explores each of these little aspects in great detail.

Within the pages of this book unfolds the amazing and accurate world of the Hindu way of life.

The guidelines laid down in Dincharya will help a believer have not a good day, but to have a God’s day.

The format of the book is simple and concise.

The cover of the book has a thought-provoking image, and definitely does justice to the theme of the book.

The story is narrated through different chapters, each chapter revealing something new and exciting about the Hindu way of life.  As a major part of the narrative is in the form of conversation between the protagonist and various other characters, the reader feels involved in the story, eager to know what is about to be unveiled next. 

The author’s use of simple language help to allow readers to really grasp the essence of the book.

In the second part of the book, the author includes a list of all the activities to be followed for Dincharya. This is a useful way of involving the readers.

On the downside, the conversation and dialogue between the characters sometimes seem monotonous, and follow such a similar pattern as to make one lose interest.

Despite this, Dincharya is a book which I would highly recommend to everybody eager to gain a deeper insight of the ancient way of life.

It is not a book where religious texts are blindly repeated; rather, the deeper meaning of such texts is explored, and presented before the modern reader.

It is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Ratings: 4.5/5

Author Name:  Kshitij Dabhade
Book Title: Dincharya Science Of Daily Routine
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing;  1 edition (1 January 2020)          Buy Book: Amazon  Store                                                  Reviewed by  Theliteraturetoday