Wk01 Wednesday, Mar 28 Loose ends Canvas / Email / Web check Introductions under Discussion Questions re. Syllabus, logistics? MW: Reading feedback Th: section By Sat: Reflection Sign ups for Get Acquainted Meeting 1
For Next Week Watch video online: Altar of Fire A twelve-day Vedic ritual Readings Selections from the Atharva Veda Essays by Halbfass, Eastman Transition to Olivelle s Upaniṣads J. D. Salinger s Teddy 2
Beginnings of Vedic Speculation Ṛg Vedic Ritualism Hymns of praise to personifications of nature fire, rain, wind sun, moon Complicated sacrifices Performed by priestly class. Complexity grows to where gods become subsidiary. Only rich persons can afford these. 3
Atharva Veda Popular Religion Lower ritualism, popular belief Available to the masses Magic spells, charms Healing, prosperity, victory No opposition to Ṛg Veda Ideas from lower sphere contribute to the higher Henotheism, Monotheism, Monism Henotheism = acceptance of many gods, with one deity as the supreme Mitigated polytheism Ritual context Monotheism Tentative glimpses in RV, AV Monism Abstract, ultimate First Principle Opposite of Dualism, Pluralism 4
Principle of Identification, Magical Power of Knowledge Cosmic force (identified with) another entity. Control of this entity + mystical knowledge = power over cosmic force. Everything that is The one principle of the whole universe, Knowledge of that principle = control over everything Magical thinking of AV leads to Philosophical Speculation? Power of Knowledge, cont d Knowledge of an entity gives possessor of knowledge power over the entity. includes knowledge of name Knowing a ritual is as good as performing it 5
First/Supreme Principles Bráhman, n. = holy utterance Vāc = holy utterance Creator as father, ruler, lord, controller of all as carpenter, blacksmith as sacrificer Cosmic man, puruṣa Further speculation Something more to man/universe than physical components life breath (prāṇa)? desire? mind? ātman, self, soul! existent? non-existent? both? neither? Knowledge of one s ātman knowledge (and control) of Brahman, the universe! 6
Select Ṛg Vedic Hymns The Marriage of Sūryā, 10.85 1. Truth, Right = ṛta 2-5. Soma 6-7. Wedding imagery, wagonbox = hope-chest 8, 10. car = chariot 8-9. Aśvins 9. Savitar = father of bride 11. hearing as two wheels 15-16, third wheel 18-19, riddle verses 7
Marriage, RV 10.85, cont d Ādityas = sons of Aditi, 10.72.4-5 Aśvins = charioteers of Sūrya/Savitar Mitra= upholder of Laws Varuṇa = Guardian of ṛta Pūṣan = giver of fertility, god of safe roads and journeys Creation Hymns 8
10.72 Creation of the world, gods Edgerton: rather superficial 2. Brahmaṇaspati = Bṛhaspati, creates the worlds. 2-3. Existent from the non-existent. 4-5. Aditi, f. Dakṣa, m. 6. Dust/spray, from tapas? 8-9. Sun-bird = Mārtaṇḍa; cast away = miscarry; rebirth & death 10.129 Creation, Nāsadīya 1. No non-existent, nor existent 2. No death/immortality; breathed without breath 3. Fervour = tapas; self-born. 4. Cause of existence in the non-existent found by sages, bandhu 5. Above/below 6-7. Gods were created, what if they do not know?! 9
10.121, The Unknown God 1,7. Golden germ / embryo 4. Rasā stream, directions = arms 5. creation of space 5-6. echoes of 2.12 hymn to Indra 8. Sacrifice = Dakṣa, hints of 10.72.4-5 9. Shift in tone, fearful 10. Considered a later addition 10.90, Puruṣa sūkta (hymn) 1. thousand head-eyes-feet, 10 finger lengths beyond 2. grows beyond by food 3-4. ¼ = all beings, ¾ beyond earth 5. Shining One = Virāj, fem. creative principle Prakṛti later, Virāj Puruṣa! 6,8. butter = ghee, runoff of dismemberment 12. The four varṇas, castes of classical Indian society 15. Surrounding sticks Puruṣa gods (13), rules over gods (2), gods sacrifice Puruṣa (6-7, 16)?! 10
10.190 Tapas, Cosmic Heat tapas = lit. heat, later asceticism Here, = ritual fervor ritual kindling generative force, also in 10.129.3 10.81-82 Viśvakarman Divine architect of the universe 81.1 hotar-priest; concealing? 2, 4. Support, raw-material? 3. Echoes of 10.90.1 5-6. Sacrifice for self, of? 6. Stray helplessly 7. Contest 11
10.81-82 Viśvakarman, cont d 82.1 eye = sun, fixing limits 2. Seven Sages = Big Dipper constellation 3. name giver 4.? 5-6. First embryo = echoes of 10.121.1,7 6. The One vs. the Unborn? 7. Enveloped in fog robbers of lives. Speech, vāc 12
10.71 Origin of Holy Utterance 1. Bṛhaspati, Lord of bráhman, neut., Holy Word; vāc, f. 1-3. Revealed to the wise out of affection, vs. fashioned with their intellects, by sacrifice 4-10. Competition 9. sirī = shuttle (of a loom) 11. Priests YV RV 10.125 Holy Utterance,Vāc This hymn is Vāc praising herself: 1-2. Company of the gods, supporter/bearer. 3. first worthy of reverence, whom gods have settled in various places. 4. Whoever hears hear that you are heard! 6. Militant 7-8. Father? Watery womb? (10.81-2); Extend through the worlds 10.90.1 13
1.164.45-46 Four quarters, 3 secret +1 spoken Echoes of 10.90.3-4 46: That which is One (n.), the wise refer to variously. Monism (v. 46) Henotheistic Hymns 2.12 Indra 2.1.3-7 Agni, Fire god 5.3.1-3 Agni 5.83 Parjanya, rain god 14