Slide 1 THE HINDU SCRIPTURES

Transcription

1 Slide 1 THE HINDU SCRIPTURES

2 Slide 2 Simple Christians have the Bible Hindus have the Vedas The truth is much more complicated

3 Slide 3 TIMELINE (written)* SRUTI SMRITI (BC) (AD) Note: dates for the Vedas(samhitas) can vary more than 1,000 years MAHABHARATA VEDAS & RAMAYANA BRAHMANAS TANTRAS ARANYAKAS PURANAS UPANISHADS *some were orally transmitted prior to this DARSHANAS

4 Slide 4 TWO TYPES OF SCRIPTURES SHRUTI ( heard ) heard by the rishis direct from God The Vedas Samhitas, Brahmanas, Arayakas, Upanishads SMRITI ( remembered ) -Itihãsas (History or Epics) -Purãnas (Mythology) -Dharma Shãstras- Law Codes -Ãgamas & Tantras- Sectarian Scriptures. -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 meditations. 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

5 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

6 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)

7 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

8 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.

9 Slide 9 The Rig Veda Rig Veda Book 3 Hymn Thee Agni, God, Imperial Lord of all mankind, do mortal men With understanding kindle at the sacrifice. 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.

10 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 mantras 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 Indra at sacrifices. May you have children and may you be free of ill health and tuberculosis. (Debroy, 121)

11 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 Samhita (Krishna/black) more prevalent in southern India 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 )

12 Slide 12 A little more complicated Four recensions of Krishna (black) Yajurveda: -taittirīya saṃhita -maitrayani saṃhita -caraka-katha saṃhita -kapiṣṭhala-katha saṃhita Two recensions of the (white) Shukla: -Vajasaneyi Madhyandiniya -Vajasaneyi Kanva Add four books to the side to represent the Krishna/black Yajur

13 Slide 13 Even more complicated Each recension has its own version of: Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads E.g. The Taittiriya Shakha (branch): Taittiriya Samhita, Taittiriya Brahmana Taittiriya Aaranyaka, Taittiriya Upanishad 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

14 Slide 14 Yajur Veda (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.

15 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) Bhrigus

16 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...

17 Slide 17 The Vedangas Though not shruti, they are important for the study of the Veda Siksa- pronunciation Kalpa- details of ritual Vyakarana- grammar Nirukta- etymology of rare words Chanda- explain and practice verse meter Jyotisa- planetary astrology 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)

18 Slide 18 Vedic Gods Agni Indra Varuna

19 Slide 19 Vedic Gods Surya Soma

20 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

21 Slide 21 The Brahmanas Circa B.C. Details of ritual and sacrificial rites and duties; commentaries on rituals and prayers on the four vedas (Samhitas)

22 Slide 22 The Brahmanas Rig Brahmanas The Aitareya Brahmana Kaushitaki or Sankhayana Brahmana Sama Brahmanas 8 Brahamanas Yajur Brahmanas Shatapatha Brahmana (white)100 lectures Taittiriya Brahmana (black) Atharva Brahmanas Gopatha Brahmana Add 14 more books

23 Slide 23 The Aranyakas Circa B.C., Spiritual/mystical interpretations of rituals and ceremonies. Called forest texts as they were from ascetics of the forest

24 Slide 24 The Aranyakas Each Aranyakas is associated with a Brahmana, sometimes having more than one; the Atharva has none. add 14 more books

25 Slide 25 The Upanishads Those who sit near - the teachings of gurus to their students Doctrines of caste, karma, 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 brahmaknowledge by which ignorance is loosened or destroyed. The treatises that deal with brahma-knowledge are called the Upanishads and so pass for the Vedanta. 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, yoga and meditation, 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 Aranyaka. The more recent ones are not. The

26 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 Yajnavalkya. 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 Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandilya, Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat Kumara. Many earlier Vedic teachers like Manu, Brihaspati, Ayasya and Narada 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.

27 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: jnana kanda Inversion of Influence- older texts of the Veda are not as influential as the later philosophical portions (the Upanishads)

28 Slide 27 Upanishad Basics When?? 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, 8 th century) 108 important many more-- 240? + 108? No let s just add 12 for the most popular

29 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

30 Slide 29 The Four Great Vedic (Upanishad) Statements 1. TAT TVAM ASI (You are *that). (Sama Veda Chandogy Upanishad) 2. AHAM BRAHMASMI (I am Brahman). (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

31 Slide 30 SAMPLE: Upanishad The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 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

32 Slide 31 SAMPLE: Upanishad Chandogya Upanishad * After years away at school, Shvetaketu 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 Hinduism. p.55) * So that s it!... Oh I forgot the Smriti!

33 Slide 32 Shruti Smriti

34 Slide 33 DARSHANAS Exhibitions or philosophical systems developed out of the Vedas by various teachers or schools. SIX FAMOUS SCHOOLS: Nyaya Sankhya Mimansa Vaiseshika Yoga Vedanta +Six more books to our stack in the rear

35 Slide 34 PURANAS A.D major books and at 18 minor books relating to the Trimurti- Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva Popular mythology that is well-known by the common people of India POPULAR HINDUISM TODAY

36 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. Parvati 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. Ganesha 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.

37 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.)

38 Slide 36 AGAMAS: Basics Texts of the Trimurti -Siva Agamas (28) -Vishnu Agamas (108) -Devi Agamas (Tantras) (77) Shiva Vishnu Parvati Make the point of asking for 213 more books

39 Slide 37 TANTRAS A.D Numerous writings (mainly in dialogue form) between Shiva and his consort, Parvati (Durga) Belief that true power resides in the feminine aspect of deity, worship of the mother goddess, from which Shakti or power comes.

40 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

41 Slide 39 EPICS 1. MAHABHARATA (Gita)

42 Slide 40 Mahabharata Mythology of the war between two families (cousins), Pandavas v. Kauravas The longest epic poem Contains the Bhagavad Gita perhaps the most popular scripture Let s add four more volumes to the back pile

43 Slide 41 EPICS 2. Ramayana

44 Slide 42 Ramayana The life of a noble king, Ram while in exile, his wife, Sita is abducted by the evil king, Ravana. Hanuman (the monkey god) and other cohorts help Ram rescue Sita. written by Valmiki in 3 rd century B.C. in Sanskrit other language translations exist with variations add another book to back pile, and one to side pile as there are several alternate versions

45 Slide 43 Dharma Shastras Code of Manu Other law codes (Arth, Niti, etc.) add four more to the back pile