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An Investigation of the Notion of Avatara in The AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NOTION OF AVATARA IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS OF SHANKARA MANIRAJ SUKDAVEN Student Number: 2005040247 Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Faculty of Theology, Department of Religion Studies at the University of the Free State Date of Submission: 31 January 2013 Promoter: Prof SJPK Riekert Co-promoter: Prof P Verster DECLARATION I declare that the thesis hereby handed in for the qualification DOCTOR IN PHILOSOPHIAE (PhD) at the University of the Free State, is my own independent work and that I have not previously submitted the same work for a qualification at/in another University/faculty. I hereby declare that I cede all copyright of this thesis to the University of the Free State. SIGNED: ______________________________ DATE: ________________________ i FOREWORD At a time when I was unsure about a theme for my research Prof Pratap Kumar from the University of KwaZulu Natal was at hand to offer me advice. He suggested that I embark on a study of Shankara and his notion of Avatara in Advaita Vedanta. I therefore wish to thank Prof Kumar for his sound advice. To Proff Fanie Riekert and Pieter Verster, my promoter and co-promoter respectively, thank you for your patience, guidance and encouragement during the frustrating months where I felt I was not making sufficient progress. To Prof Dolf Britz, my colleague and critical reader of the thesis, I want to thank you for the late nights you spent with me on the critical reading and assessment of thoughts on the thesis. A word of deep appreciation also to Mrs Ernene Verster, who proof- read this thesis and ensured the correct referencing and bibliography. My thanks and appreciation also to Prof Francois Tolmie, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, who never hesitated to grant me time off from meetings and other responsibilities, so that I could concentrate on my research. To Mrs Ronel Ellis, my assistant, whom I relied much on for the day-to-day affairs at work; thank you for the sacrifices you made in making my workload much lighter. I wish to also extend my thanks and appreciation to my siblings, Irene and Vinesh and their families for assisting me in my research by making their homes available to me, and offering to assist with photocopies of chapters in books, journals and articles. To my dear beloved wife Sarah, who had to sacrifice much and bear much during the tedious years and months of this thesis: Words would not be able to express my deep love and appreciation to you for your patience and encouragement. Similarly also to my sons Jared and Akhiel, who had to put up with my persistent absence; thank you for your patience, understanding and tolerance. I dedicate this thesis to my mother, Suminthra Sukdaven and in honour of my late father, Rev Surajlall Sukdaven, who passed away on the 16 Sep 2011. MANIRAJ SUKDAVEN JANUARY 2013 ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AU .. Aitareya Upanishad with commentary by Shankara BG .. Bhagavad Gita BGS .. Bhagvad Gita with commentary of Shankara BS .. Brahmasutra Upanishad BSB .. Brahmasutra Upanishad with commentary of Shankara BU .. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad with commentary of Shankara CU .. Chandogya Upanishad with commentary of Shankara CHU .. Chandogya Upanishad GK .. Gaudapada Karikas IS .. Isa Upanishad with commentary of Shankara KU .. Katha Upanishad with commentary of Shankara MHB .. Mahabarata MU .. Mundaka Upanishad with commentary of Shankara MUS .. Mandukya Upanishad with commentary of Shankara Rg .. Rig Veda SBH .. Shribhasya of Ramanuja, SBE XLVIII, George Thibaut Sv .. Svetasvatara Upanishad TU .. Taitiriya Upanishad with commentary of Shankara Vs .. Vedanta Sutra VS .. Vedantasutra with Sharirakabhaysa of Shankara iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .............................................................................................. i FOREWORD ............................................................................................. ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iv CHAPTER 1 SETTING THE SCENE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO HINDUISM ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 THE TERM HINDU AND HINDUISM ......................................................................... 1 1.2.1 ORIGIN OF THE TERM HINDU ....................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 THE TERM HINDUISM ................................................................................................... 3 1.3 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURE OF HINDUISM ...................................... 4 1.3.1 THE FORMATIVE PERIOD (2500‐800 BCE) .................................................................... 4 1.3.1.1 INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION ............................................................................ 5 1.3.1.2 ARYAN EXPANSION ........................................................................................... 7 1.3.1.3 PRIMARY HINDU SCRIPTURES: THE VEDAS (SHRUTI) .................................. 8 1.3.2 THE SPECULATIVE PERIOD (800‐400 BCE) .................................................................. 10 1.3.3 EPIC AND CLASSICAL PERIOD (400 BCE‐600 CE) ........................................................ 12 1.3.3.1 THE EPICS ........................................................................................................ 13 1.3.3.1.1 THE RAMAYANA ......................................................................................... 13 1.3.3.1.2 THE MAHABHARATA .................................................................................. 13 1.3.3.2 THE LAW BOOKS (DHARMASHASTRAS) ........................................................ 14 1.3.4 THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (600 CE–1800 CE) ................................................................. 14 1.3.4.1 THE DEVOTIONAL (BHAKTI) MOVEMENTS .................................................... 14 1.3.4.2 PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS (DARSHANAS) ......................................................... 15 1.3.4.3 TANTRAS .......................................................................................................... 16 1.3.5 THE MODERN PERIOD (1800 CE TO THE PRESENT) ................................................... 17 1.4 SYNOPSIS ON THE NATURE OF THE HINDU RELIGION ........................................... 17 CHAPTER 2 THE PROBLEM OF INVESTIGATING THE NOTION OF AVATARA IN SHANKARA’S PHILOSOPHY OF ADVAITA VEDANTA ..... 18 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 18 2.2 BASIC PROBLEMS IN DEFINING HINDUISM ........................................................... 18 2.3 TOWARDS A BRIEF DEFINITION OF AVATARA ...................................................... 20 iv 2.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM OF AVATARA IN SHANKARA’S ADVAITA VEDANTA ............................................................................................................................ 21 2.5 HYPOTHESIS ......................................................................................................... 23 2.6 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 23 2.7 EXPOSITION OF THE STUDY .................................................................................. 24 2.8 VALUE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 3 THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF HINDU DEITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF AVATARA ................................. 26 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 26 3.2 AN EXPOSITION OF THE CONCEPT OF ‘AVATARA’ ................................................ 26 3.3 ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF DEITIES IN HINDU MYTHOLOGY .............................. 28 3.3.1 THE EVOLUTION OF THE VEDIC GODS ....................................................................... 28 3.3.1.1 THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE VEDIC GODS ............................................ 29 3.3.1.2 THEOPHANIC OCCURRENCES AND MANIFESTATIONS .............................. 31 3.3.2 CONCEPTION OF HINDU DEITIES IN POST VEDIC PERIODS ........................................ 33 3.3.2.1 THE EPICS ........................................................................................................ 34 3.3.2.1.1 THE RAMAYANA EPIC ................................................................................ 34 3.3.2.1.1.1 RAMA AS AN AVATARA OF VISHNU .................................................. 36 3.3.2.1.2 THE MAHABHARATA EPIC ......................................................................... 37 3.3.2.1.2.1 GODS MANIFESTED THROUGH KRISHNA ........................................ 37 3.3.2.1.2.2 AN EXEGESIS OF BHAGAVAD GITA 4:5-8 ......................................... 38 3.3.2.2 THE PURANAS .................................................................................................. 43 3.3.2.2.1 SHIVA .......................................................................................................... 44 3.3.2.2.2 VISHNU .......................................................................................................
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