 |
Shivananda
Maharaj describes Indian Mythology as follows:
Vedas
The Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization,
and the most sacred books of India. They are the original scriptures of Hindu
teachings, and contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of our life.
Vedic literature with its philosophical maxims has stood the test of time and
is the highest religious authority for all sections of Hindus in particular and
for mankind in general.
"Veda" means wisdom, knowledge
or vision, and it manifests the language of the gods in human speech. The laws
of the Vedas regulate the social, legal, domestic and religious customs of the
Hindus to the present day. All the obligatory duties of the Hindus at birth, marriage,
death etc. owe their allegiance to the Vedic ritual. They draw forth the thought
of successive generation of thinkers, and so contain within it the different strata
of thought.
Origin of the Vedas
The Vedas are probably the earliest
documents of the human mind and is indeed difficult to say when the |  |
earliest
portions of the Vedas came into existence. As the ancient Hindus seldom kept any
historical record of their religious, literary and political realization, it is
difficult to determine the period of the Vedas with precision. Historians provide
us many guesses but none of them is free from ambiguity.
Who wrote
the Vedas?
It is believed that humans did not compose the revered compositions
of the Vedas, which were handed down through generations by the word of mouth
from time immemorial. The general assumption is that the Vedic hymns were either
taught by God to the sages or that they were revealed themselves to the sages
who were the seers or "mantradrasta" of the hymns. The Vedas
were mainly compiled by Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana around the time of Lord
Krishna (c. 1500 BC).
Classification of the Vedas
The Vedas
are four: The Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharva Veda, the
Rig Veda being the main. The four Vedas are collectively known as "Chathurveda"
of which the first three Vedas viz., Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda agree
in form, language and content.
Structure
of the Vedas
Each Veda consists of four parts - the Samhitas (hymns),
the Brahmanas (rituals), the Aranyakas (theologies) and the Upanishads
(philosophies). The collection of mantras or hymns is called the Samhita.
The Brahmanas are ritualistic texts and include precepts and religious
duties. Each Veda has several Brahmanas attached to it. The Upanishads
form the concluding portions of the Veda and therefore called the "Vedanta"
or the end of the Veda and contains the essence of Vedic teachings. The Upanishads
and the Aranyakas are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas,
which discuss philosophical problems. The Aryanyakas (forest texts) intend
to serve as objects of meditation for ascetics who live in forests and deal with
mysticism and symbolism.
The Mother of All Scriptures
Although
the Vedas are seldom read or understood today, even by the devout, they no doubt
form the bedrock of the universal religion or "Sanatana Dharma"
that all Hindus follow. The Vedas have guided our religious direction for ages
and will continue to do so for generations to come. And they will forever remain
the most comprehensive and universal of all ancient scriptures. |
Upanishads
The Upanishads form the core of Indian philosophy. They are an amazing collection
of writings from original oral transmissions, which have been aptly described
by Shri Aurobindo as "the supreme work of the Indian mind". It is here
that we find all the fundamental teachings that are central to Hinduism - the
concepts of "karma" (action), "samsara" (reincarnation),
"moksha" (nirvana), the "atman" (soul), and
the "Brahman" (Absolute Almighty). They also set forth the prime
Vedic doctrines of self-realization, yoga and meditation. The Upanishads are summits
of thought on mankind and the universe, designed to push human ideas to their
very limit and beyond. They give us both spiritual vision and philosophical argument,
and it is by a strictly personal effort that one can reach the truth. |  |
Meaning
of "Upanishad"
The term "Upanishad"
literally means, "Sitting down near" or "Sitting close to",
and implies listening closely to the mystic doctrines of a guru or a spiritual
teacher, who has cognized the fundamental truths of the universe. It points to
a period in time when groups of pupils sat near the teacher and learnt from him
the secret teachings in the quietude of forest "ashrams" or hermitages.
In another sense of the term, "Upanishad" means "brahma-knowledge"
by which ignorance is annihilated. Some other possible meanings of the compound
word "Upanishad" is "placing side by side" (equivalence
or correlation), a "near approach" (to the Absolute Being), "secret
wisdom" or even "sitting near the enlightened".
Time
of Composition
Historians and Indologists have put the date of composition
of the Upanishads from around 800-400 B.C., though many of the verse versions
may have been written much later. In fact, they were written over a very long
period of time and do not represent a coherent body of information or one particular
system of belief. However, there is a commonality of thought and approach. |
The
Ramayana
The story of Rama, the prince and eventual emperor of India;
the epic precedes the Mahabharat by substantial period. It is a story of idealism
and characters are much easily be categorized into heroes and villains. The following
table compares the two great Hindu epics, Ramayan and Mahabharat. Please also
see the much more detailed sections on each of these epics for characters, tales,
and the art forms these epics have inspired.
Said to have written by sage
Valmiki. Version written by saint Tulasidas is also widely recited. Set in Ayodhya,
encompasses the route from Northern Indian to Srilanka. The names and cultures
of the places still bear resemblance to present day.
Main characters:
Dasharatha, Kaikeyi, Rama, Lakshman, Sita, Rawana, Vibhishan. |  |
The
Mahabharat
The central theme is a fraternal war to decide which of the
two sides is right in a moral dispute. Krishna acts as a mediatory, first as a
diplomat, then as a war time counsel. The characters are vivid, and the epic provides
a guideline for humans to live a life of virtues amidst conflicting interests.
Said
to have written by sage Vyasa. A predominant part, the Bhagavad-Gita is narrated
by Sanjay, an aid to the blind emperor Dhritarashta. It is believed that Ganesh
assisted as the copy-writer, using his tooth as a pen. Set in Northern India,
the war involved factions from as far as present day Afghanistan and South India.
The Nagas and the Himalayan region features prominently in the story and the Himalayan
region features prominently in the story.
Main Characters: Bhishma, Dhritarashtra,
the Pandavas, Karna, Duryodhana, Krishna, Kunti, Gandhari, Drona. |  |
Bhagavad
Gita
A handful of inspiring places on the Net that offer you the enlightenment
of the greatest of the Hindu scriptures. Bhagavad Gita Jayanti, or simply Gita
Jayanti, marks the birth of the holy book of the Hindus. It is an annual celebration
to commemorate the day when Lord Krishna rendered his philosophical teachings
- immortalized in the epic Mahabharata - to prince Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra.
For thousands of years, the Bhagavad Gita has inspired millions of readers. Here's
what some of the greats have to say in praise of this venerable scripture. "Bhagavad
Gita for Modern Times: Secrets to Attaining Inner Peace and Harmony" is a
unique commentary on the Gita - the most profound Hindu scripture. Knowing some
popular verses from the world's famous scriptures not only adds to your knowledge,
but also comes in handy while speaking or quoting. Here is arguably the most famous
verse from the Gita.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, the greatest and holiest of
Hindu scriptures, Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of "Bhakti"
or loving devotion as the only way to realize God. |  |
| |
