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Re: REQUEST : What is VEDANTA AND .....
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Subject: Re: REQUEST : What is VEDANTA AND .....
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From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar@braincells.com>
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Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 16:30:57 GMT
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Apparently-To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: Consolidated Braincells Inc.
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References: <ghenDx9t1K.By8@netcom.com> <ghenDxL7I1.Kp1@netcom.com>
> UDSD065@DSIBM.OKLADOT.STATE.OK.US wrote in article
<ghenDxL7I1.Kp1@netcom.com>...
> Can somebody tell me what is Vedanta?
>
> Also,
> What is the purpose of "Veda" why are there 16(?) types of Veda
>
> what is the purpose of "Upanishad" and its types?
>
> What is our holy book like "Bible for Christians?"
> (AFAIK it is Bhagbat Gita but why is not "Beda" or "Ramayana" )
>
> What is "Puran"?
>
> I know they all belong to Hindu scultures but what is confusing me is
> the purpose of each of them. I woul appreciate if somebody would answer
> to my queries.
>
Our Shastras in general can be divided into two types. Those that teach
Dharma, and those that teach Jnana. Dharma is how to live life ranging
from which days we are allowed to shave to the proper ethical attitude we
should maintain towards our fellow Man. The philosophy of Dharma is
called Purva Mimamsa. Jnana is the knowledge of Brahman or Ultimate
Reality. The philosophy of Brahman is called Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta.
The original Shastra is the Veda. Maharshi Veda Vyas divided the Veda
into four sections (Rk, Yajus, Sama, and Atharva) which he taught to four
students. They taught them to their students and so on. Each of these are
divided into four sections (Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, and Upanishad.)
However these 16 types are not really that relevant in the practical
sense. No part is worth more or less than the others. The Veda is
apaurusheya or uncreated. Therefore it is called Shruti. ("Heard") The
sages whose names are associated with various sections didn't write them
but "heard" or "saw" them.
The problem with the Veda is that it is off-limits to women and Shudras.
As it would be unjust to deny access to the shastras to the vast majority
of Dharmik people Maharshi Veda Vyas took the essence of the Veda and
wrote the Mahabharata (of which the Bhagavad Gita is a part) and the
Purana which he taught to his student Suta Pauranik. The original one
Purana was split into 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas. The Mahabharata
together with the Ramayana of Maharshi Valmiki are called Itihasa. The
Itihasa's and Puranas together with the shastras various other sages wrote
are collectively called Smrti. ("Remembered") Although they are very old,
they are acknowledged to be written by actual people unlike the Veda.
The third basis for the practice of our religion along side Shruti and
Smrti is Shishtachar or customs and traditions which have been passed down
to us through the centuries by our teachers.
We have no equivalent to the "holy books" of other religions. The sum
total of Shruti, Smrti and Shistachar is our guide. The emphasis has
always been on learning from a qualified teacher of Dharma, part of an
unbroken chain of teachers ("Sampradaya") Even though many of the shastras
are available in book form, it is considered more important to memorize
your duties and most importantly _practice_ them rather than just read
about them.
--
Jaldhar H. Vyas [jaldhar@braincells.com] o- beable .-_|\
Consolidated Braincells Inc. / \
http://www.braincells.com/jaldhar/ Perth Amboy-> *.--._/
"Witty quote" - Dead Guy finger me for PGP key v McQ!
