The Hindu society in the course of its development has been cherishing a number of socio-cultural values. Most of these alues are either orginate or influenced by the Hindu religious beliefs and philosophy. Of the various values, five dominant ones which have exerted a tremendous influence on Hindu socio-cultural life may be stated here : 1). Truthfulness which is equated with dharma and God; 2). Non-violence that is, the principle of "Ahimsa" which means non-injury; 3). Respect for womanhood (that is, woman being considered more an embodiment of Mother Goddess than an object of beauty or enjoyment); 4). Respect for Nature and its various forms such as land, water, fire, wind, sun, moon, etc; 5). Harmony - that is , harmony between the individual and society, the material and the spiritual, actions and knowledge and finally, between the earth and heaven.
