Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism, is a spiritual path that centers on compassion, non-attachment, and freedom from Samsara — the cycle of birth and death. The core principle here is to transcend worldly pettiness to build a life of inner peace and wisdom. For this, the sages of yore created a lifestyle defined by some keywords, the pillars of this faith.

The Six Pillars: An Overview

A popular Sanskrit Subhashita (proverb) goes:

gītā gangā ca gāyatrī govindeti hṛdi sthite 
caturgakāra saṃyukte punarjanma na vidyate

There’s no rebirth if we establish the four words starting with the ga-sound in our hearts. Those are Gita, Ganga, Gayatri, and Govinda.

Some versions of this proverb replace Govinda with Gau (cow) or even Guru. When we combine them all, we arrive at Sanatana Dharma’s six pillars — Gau, Ganga, Gita, Gayatri, Guru, and Govinda.

These six words define the lifestyle advocated by Sanatana Dharma. This post examines the deeper-lying significance attached to these.

1. Gau: Kindness to All Living Beings

Gau or cow, is revered as a Mother in this faith. This stems from the fact that the ancient sages heavily depended on the cow for sustenance: milk, ghee, paneer, and so on.

However, it is important to remember that “Gau” here refers to something larger than a cow. It denotes carrying an attitude of compassion and kindness towards all living beings.

In the Vedic tradition, cows and bulls are often associated with Dharma, a call for living a spiritually rich life. Lord Shiva is Pashupati, lord of animals. And Lord Vishnu is Govinda, the protector of cows. These terms “animals” and “cow” highlight this concept of Dharma in Sanatana Dharma.

Thus, the first pillar, Gau, teaches us compassion and kindness toward all beings. It indicates the recognition of interconnectedness of life.

2. Ganga: Reverence for Nature

The Ganga River in India is not merely a physical body of water. Instead, it is a symbol of nature’s sacredness personified as the Goddess Ganga. Her waters are believed to purify both the body and the soul.

According to the Vedas, the Cosmic Water or Expansive Space was one of the first entities to have emerged at creation. River Ganga symbolizes this limitless ocean-like existence of Mother Nature. For this reason, the Milky Way is known as Akasha Ganga, or Ganga of the Sky, in this faith.

By venerating the Ganga, we learn to respect and protect the resources of Nature. Hence, the second pillar, Ganga, denotes respect for the environment around us.

3. Gita: The Pursuit of Wisdom

Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a text like none other. It’s 700 verses, spoken by Sri Krishna to Arjuna on a battlefield, is in essence the synopsis of Sanatana Dharma. It is a comprehensive manual on — how to live life?

Beyond its actual lessons, as a pillar of Hinduism, the Gita stands for the broader idea of obtaining wisdom: both worldly and spiritual. Learning, reflecting, and then putting it into practice is the foundation for a holistic and fulfilled life.

The more we engage in self-reflection and introspection, the more we develop the wisdom needed to navigate the complexities of life. So, the third pillar, Gita, represents the pursuit of wisdom.

4. Gayatri: Self-Purification

If you wish to make one mantra your own, let it be The Gayatri Mantra. Speaking from personal experience, from helping us build mindfulness to regulating body temperature, this mantra is almost magical.

Gayatri Devi, the presciding deity of the Vedas, denotes pure spiritual wisdom, which cleanses us from within. Hence, chanting of the Gayatri Mantra is prescribed for the purification of the mind and consciousness.

Self-purification is synomous with spirituality. Therefore, the fourth pillar, Gayatri, symbolizes self-purification through spiritual disciplines.

5. Guru: The Inner Guide

Guru means “the one who dispels darkness”. Here, darkness symbolizes the mind’s Tamasik tendencies — laziness, stubbornness, low self-esteem, and so on — that prevent us from living to our full potential.

Parents, teachers, and spiritual guides may play a vital role in our lives. Yet, they can only hold our hands to a certain point. Beyond that, we are responsible for navigating our own lives. And here’s where invoking the ultimate Guru — the guru who resides within us — becomes crucial for our spiritual growth.

Listening to our inner voice is a key practice in our journey toward self-realization. The fifth pillar, Guru, nudges us to recognize and trust the wisdom that lies within us.

6. Govinda: Realizing the Divine Within

Govinda is another name for Sri Krishna. This particular name is employed here because it goes well with the g-sound of Sanatana Dharma’s pillars. However, in this context, “Govinda” refers to any divine form you revere.

When we master the first five pillars — kindness, reverence for nature, gaining wisdom, self-purification, and invocation of inner guru — we gradually perceive the Divine presence inside ourselves.

This is where Hinduism differs from most leading religions. It says — you don’t have to negate or stop at worshipping the divine. Instead, if you adopt the lifestyle represented by these pillars, you yourself can live and breathe like a god!

As a result, the sixth pillar, Govinda, stands for living in divine sentiments by discovering the “god” within us.

Don’t Take It Literally

While many people read the scriptures of Sanatana Dharma literally, it is essential to know that the sages of yore used symbolic and metaphorical language to convey deeper spiritual truths. Consequently, significant introspection is required to understand what they mean in daily life.

The concept of six pillars — Gau, Ganga, Gita, Gayatri, Guru, and Govinda — is one such which carries meanings that go beyond the surface. They offer a roadmap for living a life of virtue, intelligence, and spiritual fulfillment.

By bringing these six keywords into our lives, we can live a life of wisdom, compassion, and inner peace. This then paves the way for us to transcend the cycle of rebirth, which is termed “liberation” in this faith.

Love, 
Sri Devi Om