sign in sign up
<<
Home , Atharvan, Gopatha Brahmana, Shakha, Shvetaketu, Smriti, Taittiriya Brahmana

Slide 1

THE HINDU SCRIPTURES

Slide 2

Simple

„ Christians have the Bible

„ have the

The truth is much more complicated…

Slide 3

TIMELINE (written)*

SRUTI

(BC) 1500 800 400 0 400 800 1200 1600 (AD) Note: dates for the Vedas() can vary more than 1,000 years

MAHABHARATA VEDAS &

DARSHANAS *some were orally transmitted prior to this

Slide 4

TWO TYPES OF SCRIPTURES

„ SHRUTI (“heard”) „ SMRITI (“remembered”) heard by the -Itihãsas (History or Epics) direct from God -Purãnas (Mythology) - Shãstras- Law Codes …The Vedas -Ãgamas & Tantras- Sectarian Samhitas, Brahmanas, Scriptures. Arayakas, Upanishads -Darshanas- Manuals of Philosophy

*

Hindu religious literature, the most ancient writings in the world, is of two types: primary scriptures (Sruti) and secondary scriptures (Smriti). The Sruti scriptures are of divine origin, whose truths were directly revealed to ancient rishis (sages) in their deep . The Smriti scriptures are of human origin and were written to explain the Sruti writings and make them understandable and meaningful to the general population. Sruti scriptures include the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sãma and Atharva) and the Bhagavad Gîtã, and constitute the highest religious authority in Hindu religion. Smriti scriptures include five distinct groups of writings : Itihãsas (History or Epics) Purãnas (Mythology) Dharma Shãstras- Law Codes Ãgamas & Tantras- Sectarian Scriptures. Darshanas- Manuals of Philosophy

Slide 5

THE *VEDAS

*Note: “Veda” is used in multiple ways: 1. Referring to the oldest hymn portions (Samhitas) 2. Referring to the collection of samhitas, brahmanas, aranyakas, and upanishads 3. Shaivites and Vaishnavites often include the Agamas by this term 4. Many also include the Gita by this term

Slide 6

THE VEDAS (Samhitas)

The Rig Veda 10,552 hymns The Sama Veda 1,875 hymns--mostly Rig Veda repeated The Yajur Veda Vedic sacrificial manuals The Atharva Veda Incantations, spells, mystical poetry

*stack a comparison of Bible and Vedas (1 v. 4)

Slide 7

Searching for the VEDAS

You want a copy of the Vedas? -you won’t find it in the library -you won’t find it in the bookstores -you might find a concise, edited version -when you find it…

Slide 8

When were they written?

„ Nobody knows exactly… -The oldest Veda (Rig) reached its final stage of compilation about 1000 B.C.

-Different dates given Tilak: 6000 B.C. Jacobi: 4500 B.C. Mueller: 1200 B.C.

Slide 9

The Rig Veda

„ Rig Veda

Book 3 Hymn 10 1. Thee , God, Imperial Lord of all mankind, do mortal men With understanding kindle at the . 2 They laud thee in their solemn rites, Agni, as Minister and Priest, shine forth in thine own home as guardian of the Law. 3 He, verily, who honours thee with fuel, Knower of all life, He, Agni! wins heroic might, he prospers well. …

Slide 10

The Sama Veda

„ “sama” means “song” or “hymn”

„ Rig Veda rearranged for ritual use

„ Usually sung from high to low pitch, never moving between pitches, lulling the mind

„ 1875 making 4000 hymns

“The god Savita is the creator of all beings. May Savita grant you foodgrains. May he grant you strength. O men! You are the breath of life. May the great creator guide you on the path to superior action. O men! Forge ahead. May you not kill others living beings. May you set aside a share for at . May you have children and may you be free of ill health and tuberculosis.” (Debroy, 121)

Slide 11

The Yajur Veda

„ Formulae and verses for sacrifices „ “Yaj” means “sacrifice” „ The ‘white’ and ‘black’ Yajur Vedas: two different schools of the Yajur emerged: 1) Tattitiya (/black) more prevalent in southern 2) Vajasaneyi Samhita (Shukla/white) clearly demarcates samhita and brahmanas

*statement: “So there you have the Hindu Scriptures…” (and sit down…only to stand up and add…)

Slide 12

A little more complicated…

Four recensions of Krishna (black) : -taittirīya saṃhita -maitrayani saṃhita -caraka-katha saṃhita -kapiṣṭhala-katha saṃhita

Two recensions of the (white) Shukla: -Vajasaneyi Madhyandiniya -Vajasaneyi

Add four books to the side to represent the Krishna/black Yajur

Slide 13

Even more complicated…

„ Each recension has its own version of: Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads

E.g. The Taittiriya (branch): Taittiriya Samhita, Taittiriya Taittiriya Aaranyaka, and the Mahaanaarayana Upanishad.

+ add five more to represent additional 6 rescensions (in each pile) + add 16 more to represent the versions each of these has with Brahamanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads

Slide 14

Yajur Veda

6.1.1 (Taittiriya Samhita) [6]. Indra slew Vrtra, he died upon the waters. Of the waters what was fit for sacrifice, pure, and divine, that went out of the waters, and became Darbha grass. In that he purifies (the sacrificer) with bunches of Darbha grass, verily he purifies him with the waters which are fit for sacrifice, pure, and divine. He purifies (him) with two (stalks); verily he purifies him by days and nights. He purifies (him) with three (stalks); three are these worlds; verily he purifies him by these worlds. He purifies (him) with five stalks [7]; the Pankti has five syllables, the sacrifice is fivefold; verily he purifies him by the sacrifice. He purifies (him) with six (stalks); six are the seasons; verily he purifies him by the seasons. He purifies (him) with seven (stalks); seven are the metres; verily he purifies him by the metres. He purifies (him) with nine (stalks); nine are the breaths in man; verily he purifies him along with his breaths. He purifies (him) with twenty-one (stalks); there are ten fingers and ten toes, and the body is the twenty first; he thus completely purifies the man.

Slide 15

The Atharva Veda

„ Incantations, charms and spells to counteract evil; marriages and funerals.

„ 20 books or kandas; 750 hymns, 6,000 verses

Atharvan is said to be the first man to rub to pieces of sticks together and to make fire. He could vanquish evil demons. Revealed to three ancient families: 1) Atharvan 2) Angirasa 3)

Slide 16

SAMPLE: Atharva Veda

„ I, 23. Leprosy cured by a dark plant. 1. Born by night art thou, O plant, dark, black, sable. Do thou, that art rich in colour, stain this leprosy, and the gray spots! 2. The leprosy and the gray spots drive away from here-- may thy native colour settle upon thee--the white spots cause to fly away! 3. Sable is thy hiding-place, sable thy dwelling-place, sable art thou, O plant: drive away from here the speckled spots! 4. The leprosy which has originated in the bones, and that which has originated in the body and upon the skin, the white mark begotten of corruption, I have destroyed with my charm. *

* So there you have it the Vedas. That’s the basics of it all...

Slide 17

The

Though not shruti, they are important for the study of the Veda

Siksa- pronunciation - details of ritual Vyakarana- grammar - of rare words Chanda- explain and practice verse meter Jyotisa- planetary

The memorization of the Vedas was very precise: memorization of them in multiple ways (e.g. forward and backward), recited in a particular pitch, along with precise movements of the arm and fingers.

Add 6 large books to represent the Vedangas (behind of Shruti pile)

Slide 18

Vedic Gods

Agni Indra

Slide 19

Vedic Gods

Surya

Slide 20

THE VEDAS (entire)

In addition to the oldest portion, the hymns, there are three other portions: (The Samhitas) The Brahmanas The Aranyakas The Upanishads

Slide 21

The Brahmanas

Circa 600-200 B.C.

Details of ritual and sacrificial rites and duties; commentaries on rituals and prayers on the four vedas (Samhitas)

Slide 22

The Brahmanas

Rig Brahmanas The Kaushitaki or Sankhayana Brahmana Sama Brahmanas

8 Brahamanas Yajur Brahmanas

Shatapatha Brahmana (white)100 lectures (black) Atharva Brahmanas

Gopatha Brahmana

Add 14 more books

Slide 23

The Aranyakas

Circa 400-200 B.C., Spiritual/mystical interpretations of rituals and ceremonies. Called “forest texts” as they were from ascetics of the forest

Slide 24

The Aranyakas

Each Aranyakas is associated with a Brahmana, sometimes having more than one; the Atharva has none.

add 14 more books

Slide 25

The Upanishads

“Those who sit near”- the teachings of to their students

Doctrines of caste, , and reincarnation are more fully developed in these writings

Upanishad means the inner or mystic teaching. The term Upanishad is derived from upa (near), ni (down) and s(h)ad (to sit), i.e., sitting down near. Groups of pupils sit near the teacher to learn from him the secret doctrine. In the quietude of the forest hermitages the Upanishad thinkers pondered on the problems of deepest concerns and communicated their knowledge to fit pupils near them. Samkara derives the word Upanishad as a substitute from the root sad, 'to loosen.,' 'to reach' or 'to destroy' with Upa and ni as prefixes and kvip as termination. If this determination is accepted, upanishad means - knowledge by which ignorance is loosened or destroyed. The treatises that deal with brahma-knowledge are called the Upanishads and so pass for the . The different derivations together make out that the Upanishads give us both spiritual vision and philosophical argument. There is a core of certainty which is essentially incommunicable except by a way of life. It is by a strictly personal effort that one can reach the truth. The Upanishads more clearly set forth the prime Vedic doctrines like Self-realization, and , karma and reincarnation, which were hidden or kept veiled under the symbols of the older mystery religion. The older Upanishads are usually affixed to a particularly Veda, through a Brahmana or . The more recent ones are not. The Upanishads became prevalent some centuries before the time of Krishna and Buddha. The main figure in the Upanishads, though not present in many of them, is the sage . Most of the great teachings of later Hindu and Buddhist philosophy derive from him. He taught the great doctrine of "neti-neti", the view that truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it. Other important Upanishadic sages are Uddalaka , Shwetaketu, , Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat Kumara. Many earlier Vedic teachers like Manu, Brihaspati, Ayasya and are also found in the Upanishads. In the Upanishads the spiritual meanings of the Vedic texts are brought out and emphasized in their own right.

Slide 26

UPANISHADS

„ Older portions of Vedas (Samhitas) were part of the path of knowledge, “karma kanda.”

„ Upanishads (and Aryanyakas) are part of a different type of literature in the broader Vedas: “ kanda”

„ Inversion of Influence- older texts of the Veda are not as influential as the later philosophical portions (the Upanishads)

Slide 27

Upanishad Basics

„ When? ? 400-200 B.C. is the most likely range; some in recent centuries „ Who? No one knows. Sages who taught. “Upanishad” = “one who sits near” „ How Many? 12 are most important (acc. to Sankara, 8th century) 108 important many more-- 240?

+ 108? No let’s just add 12 for the most popular

Slide 28

Upanishads

„ Topics: -states of consciousness -dreams, meditation -the world within the mind and soul -self-realization (that you are divine) -the unity of all things

Slide 29

The Four Great Vedic (Upanishad) Statements

1. TAT TVAM ASI (You are *that). (Sama Veda – Chandogy Upanishad) 2. AHAM BRAHMASMI (I am ). (Yajur Veda – Brhadaranyak Upanishad 3. AYAM ATMA BRAHMAN (This Self is Brahman). (Atharva Veda – Manduky Upanishad) 4. PRAGNANAM BRAHMAN (Brahman is consciouness). (Rig Veda - Aitarey Upanishad)

* “that” is the Upanishadic way of referring to the ultimate, yet indescribable Reality

Slide 30

SAMPLE: Upanishad

The , Chapter 11 (4.5)

A wife loves her husband not for his own sake, dear, but because the Self lives within him. A husband loves his wife not for her own sake, dear, but because the Self lives within her… This self has to be realized. Hear about this self and meditate upon Him…

Slide 31

SAMPLE: Upanishad

Chandogya Upanishad

*

“After years away at school, returned home to his father, Uddalaka. Uddalaka could tell from Shvetaketu’s boasting about how much he had learned that he hadn’t learned anything at all. Or at least not anything worth knowing. “Did your teacher teach you how to hear that which can’t be heard or know what can’t be known?” Uddalaka asked. “Oh-Oh. That wasn’t in the curriculum.” “Go outside and get me a fruit from the banyan tree.” Shvetaketu ran outside for the fruit. “Now cut it in half,” his father instructed. “What do you see?” “I see the seeds, dad.” “Cut one of those in half.” This wasn’t easy—banyan seeds are extremely small. Finally Shvetaketu managed to slice one evenly. “What do you see?” Uddalaka asked. “The boy was baffled. “What do you mean, dad? There’s nothing there.” “Uddalaka looked his son in the eye. “from that ‘nothing’ an enormous tree arises. When you understand what that ‘nothing’ is, you will understand yourself. The nothing tyou can’ see is the very essence of the reality of the tree. The unperceivable essence of being is also what you are. You are that, Shvetaketu.” (Linda Johnsen, Idiot’s Guide to . p.55)

* So that’s it!... Oh I forgot the Smriti!

Slide 32

Shruti Smriti

Slide 33

DARSHANAS

Exhibitions or philosophical systems developed out of the Vedas by various teachers or schools.

SIX FAMOUS SCHOOLS: Vaiseshika Sankhya Yoga Mimansa Vedanta

+Six more books to our stack in the rear

Slide 34

PURANAS

A.D. 400-1500

18 major books and at 18 minor books relating to the - Brahma, , & Popular mythology that is well-known by the common people of India …POPULAR HINDUISM TODAY

Slide 35

SAMPLE: Puranas Summary from the Siva Purana

Parvati, Siva’s consort, was surprised while bathing and decided she should have a servant of her own to guard her door while she bathed. She fashioned from dirt a young man who was handsome, and strong and called him her son. She appointed him to guard her door and to use force if necessary, and made him the chief of her ganas (servants). She then went in to bathe. At that moment, Siva came to the door. ’s gana or son did not know this was the lord Siva and told Siva he could not enter. Siva rebuked him, but he still would not let him enter. struck Siva with his stick. Siva then mustered his own ganas, who warned him. But since Ganesha showed no fear, then attacked him. Ganesha waged war with Siva’s army and was a formidable foe. Visnu came and helped Siva sage war against Ganesha. Finally, Siva used his trident and cut off Ganesha’s head. Siva was sorry he had cut off Ganesha’s head. Parvati was furious and fashioned hundreds of thousands of saktis or powers, and Parvati commanded them to attack the gods. A millions gods were annihilated and the gods consulted what to do. Narada (god of the seers) then came and beseeched Parvati to stop her devastation. Parvati then said that if they could revive Ganesha and make him overseer of everything, then there would be peace. Narada went back to the other gods and told them. Siva then said to go north and cut off the head of whomever you first see.. So they brought the body of Ganesha and then went out to look, to the north. The first thing they met was an elephant with a single tusk. They took its head and fastened it to the body of Ganesha. Through repeating Vedic mantras and sprinkleing holy water on the boy he rose up as though from sleep. (Dimmitt. P. 179ff.)

Slide 36

AGAMAS: Basics

„ Texts of the Trimurti -Siva Agamas (28) -Vishnu Agamas (108) - Agamas (Tantras) (77)

Shiva Vishnu Parvati

Make the point of asking for 213 more books

Slide 37

TANTRAS

A.D. 500-1100

Numerous writings (mainly in dialogue form) between Shiva and his consort, Parvati () Belief that true power resides in the feminine aspect of deity, worship of the mother goddess, from which ‘’ or power comes.

Slide 38

TANTRAS

Two forms of tantrism: right-handed (symbolic) left-handed (literal/sexual) Three schools: Kaula (taboo breaking) Mishra (external and internal mixed) Samaya (meditative)

Let’s just add 9 more books-- 3 schools x 3 volumes to the back pile

Slide 39

EPICS

1. (Gita)

Slide 40

Mahabharata

Mythology of the war between two families (cousins), Pandavas v. Kauravas

The longest epic poem

Contains the …perhaps the most popular scripture

Let’s add four more volumes to the back pile

Slide 41

EPICS

2. Ramayana

Slide 42

Ramayana

The life of a noble king, Ram while in exile, his wife, is abducted by the evil king, . (the monkey god) and other cohorts help Ram rescue Sita. written by in 3rd century B.C. in other language exist with variations

add another book to back pile, and one to side pile as there are several alternate versions

Slide 43

Dharma

„ Code of Manu

„ Other law codes (Arth, Niti, etc.)

add four more to the back pile