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[edit] Scriptures and theology

Main articles: Śruti, Smriti, and Hindu philosophy
The Rig Veda is one of the oldest religious texts. This Rig Veda manuscript is in Devanagari
The Rig Veda is one of the oldest religious texts. This Rig Veda manuscript is in Devanagari

Hinduism is based on "the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times."[1][2] The scriptures were transmitted orally in verse form to aid memorization, for many centuries before they were written down.[3][4] Over many centuries, sages refined the teachings and expanded the canon. Most Hindu scriptures are not typically interpreted literally. More importance is attached to the ethics and metaphorical meanings derived from them.[4] Most sacred texts are in Sanskrit. The texts are classified into two classes: Shruti and Smriti.

Shruti (lit: that which is heard) refers to the Vedas which form the earliest record of the Hindu scriptures. While many Hindus revere the Vedas as eternal truths revealed to ancient sages (Ṛṣis),[2][5] some devotees do not associate the creation of the Vedas with a God or person. They are thought of as the laws of the spiritual world, which would still exist even if they were not revealed to the sages.[6][1][7] Hindus believe that because the spiritual truths of the Vedas are eternal, they continue to be expressed in new ways.[8]

There are four Vedas (called Ṛg-, Sāma- Yajus- and Atharva-). The Rigveda is the first and most important Veda.[9] Each Veda is divided into four parts: the primary one, the Veda proper, being the Saṃhitā, which contains sacred mantras. The other three parts form a three-tier ensemble of commentaries, usually in prose and are believed to be slightly later in age than the Saṃhitā. These are: the Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas, and the Upanishads. The first two parts were subsequently called the Karmakāṇḍa (ritualistic portion), while the last two form the Jñānakāṇḍa (knowledge portion).[10][11][12] While the Vedas focus on rituals, the Upanishads focus on spiritual insight and philosophical teachings, and discuss Brahman and reincarnation.[4][13][14]

The Naradeya Purana describes the mechanics of the cosmos. Depicted here are Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi resting on Shesha Nag. Narada and Brahma are also pictured.
The Naradeya Purana describes the mechanics of the cosmos. Depicted here are Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi resting on Shesha Nag. Narada and Brahma are also pictured.

Hindu texts other than the Shrutis are collectively called the Smritis (memory).[15] The most notable of the smritis are the Itihāsa (epics), which consist of the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa. Bhagavad Gītā is an integral part of the Mahabharata and one of the most popular sacred texts of Hinduism. It contains philosophical teachings from Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, told to the prince Arjuna on the eve of a great war. The Bhagavad Gītā is described as the essence of the Vedas.[16] The Smritis also include the Purāṇas, which illustrate Hindu ideas through vivid mythological narratives. There are texts with a sectarian nature such as Devī Mahātmya, the Tantras, the Yoga Sutras, Tirumantiram, Shiva Sutras and the Hindu Āgamas. A more controversial text, the Manusmriti, is a prescriptive lawbook which epitomizes the societal codes of the caste system.

In contrast to the scriptural canons of some religions, the Hindu scriptural canon is not closed in the sense that there is little theological quarrel between Hindu denominations[17] although these denominations may view God and their notions in a different form or sense.[18] The six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, which accept the authority of the Vedas, are Nyāya, Vaisheshika, Sāṃkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā and Vedānta.[19]

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ a b Vivekananda 1987, pp. 6–7 Vol I
  2. ^ a b Vivekananda 1987, pp. 118–120 Vol III
  3. ^ Sargeant & Chappel 1984, p. 3
  4. ^ a b c Nikhilananda 1990, pp. 3–8
  5. ^ Hindu Wisdom - Women in Hinduism. Retrieved on 2006-01-02.
  6. ^ Note: Nyaya-Vaisheshika believe that the Vedas were created by God, not eternal.
  7. ^ Harshananda 1989
  8. ^ Vivekananda 1987, p. 374 Vol II
  9. ^ Rigveda is not only the oldest among the vedas, but is one of the earliest Indo-European texts.
  10. ^ Hinduwebsite.com explaining the yajnas. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  11. ^ Swami Shivananda's mission. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  12. ^ What is Veda?, Vedah.com
  13. ^ Werner 1994, p. 166
  14. ^ Monier-Williams 1974, pp. 25–41
  15. ^ "The Smritis" by Swami Sivananda
  16. ^ Sarvopaniṣado gāvo, etc. (Gītā Māhātmya 6). Gītā Dhyānam, cited in Introduction to Bhagavad-gītā As It Is.
  17. ^ Brahmachari Siddheshwar Shai v. State of West Bengal (Supreme Court of India), available at [1]
  18. ^ Monier-Williams 1974, pp. 64–66
  19. ^ "Schools of Philosophy". Retrieved on 2007-06-25.

[edit] References