Hari Om
~~~~~~
Namaste,
If one is new to Sanatana Dharma [Vaidika Dharma - the knowledge or Dharma of the Veda's or Arsa Dharma, the Dharma of the rishi's] there is much to read.
I liken it to walking into a library for the fist time and seeing all the books. Where does one start? Fiction ? Non-Fiction? The sciences? Perhaps it makes sense to layout the library so one can then pick and choose where one might want to investigate.
Lets do this in two posts so each one is reasonable in length. Lets lay out some of the Shastra's (or Sastra) for consideration… this post will not be exhaustive, but an outline that can assist you as a framework.
Six Key Shastras - lets start here. Are there more then these? Sure, but lets not boil the ocean!
- Srutis
- Smritis
- Itihasas
- Puranas
- Agamas
- Darsanas
Sruti
This word in general is considered 'that which is heard' and are considered the Vedas [ from vid or knowledge ]; sruti is revelation on part of the rishis. They the rishi's are known as mantra-drashta or seers (dris) of mantras.
We know there are 4 Vedas - the Rik, Yajur, Sama and Atharva veda.
Overall what does the vedas address? 3 areas of life (some say 2 and I will start with the 2) and ones spiritual development:
Karma Kanda or the action section - Actions of attainment, of yajyas, attaining prosperity here on earth or attaining heaven.
Jnana Kanda or the knowledge section - the conversion from ignorance to enlightenment.
Upasana kanda or the sadhana/worship/spiritual sections.
Each veda has various sections, they are:
- Samhitia - these are the core mantras that are in the vedas and are hymns in praise to the devata. These samhitia are the hymns that have been cognized by the rishi's in their consciousness. That is one reason they are called sruti - as they are heard, 'seen' by the rishi's within their pure consciousness. So when you think of sruti, and heard - it is the spiritual hearing from within , some say within akashara or the Absolute.So sruti is revelation.
They have a specific meter (Chandas), author ( rishi some call kavi or poet in this case) and devata ( or the deva the mantra or hymn is addressed to). When people think of the vedas there attention typically go to the Samhitas, yet there are other sections also.
- Brahmanas - this section of the veda outlines the method of performing yajya's or sacrifices ( Some call homam, havan, agnihomam, puja).
- Arayankas - or forest books. Texts of philosophical views of the veda that assist one with the concepts offered. They are called the forest books, as it was the knowledge the sadhu took when retiring to the forest.
- Upanishads - this body of knowledge contains the essence of the Vedas. Vidyas on the essence of the relationship between the sadhu and the Supreme. A I have found the Upanishads and the Aranakas are a bit co-mingled together. The Upanishads are called Vedanta or veda+anta , the end of the vedas or the crescendo.
Auxiliary or extensions to the Vedas.
There is additional knowledge and extensions to the 4 Vedas outlined. These are grouped as the Upa-veda and the Vedangas.
Upa-vedas
- Ayurveda - or the science of life/longevity or health
- Dhanurveda - science of war/battle
- Gandharva veda - science of music/harmony
- Arthasastra - science of politics and policy
- Sthapatya Veda called Vastu Vidya - from vastu or the place where people dwell - the science of structures, housing, buildings and the like ~ The use of and framing of akaska
Vedangas
The angas or limbs of the Ved (Ved+angas). There are 6 limbs:
- Siksha and Vyakarana - this work is associated with Panini-muni and deals with proper pronunciation. The Vyakarana deals with Sanskrit grammar and composition. Panini allows one to understand the samhita's of the ved.
- Chandas - deals with meter or timing . Most notably in chants, one thinks of the sama veda. This is the work of Pingalacharaya.
- Niruka - is the works of Yaksha muni and he offers the etymology and roots of Vedic/Sanskrit words.
- Jyotish - this is the science of light; of astrology and astronomy and the works of Gargacharaya.
- Kalpas - this is the method of rituals called the Kalpha sutras;parts are from the Rig , Sama Yajur ( both white and black), and Atharva Vedas. I do not have much information on this and is a place for discovery and additional reading for me.
Smriti
The smriti's stand next in authority to the srutis. Smrti is that which is recalled. The smriti's are considered the Dharma sastras. Some would call theses the regulatory or law giving shastras for codes of conduct.
The most popular is Manu Smriti some call this the Laws of Manu or the Manava Dharma Sastra. There is also the Yajyavalkya Smriti and Parashara Smriti. These are considered the top 3 with an additional 15 more main smritis from Visnu to Vasishta to Atri and then to Saunka.
What I find of interest, the smriti are yuga-centric or cycle or era-centric. Certain laws and codes of conduct apply to various levels of society and people.
- Manu Smriti - Sat Yuga [ dharma is in full blossom]
- Yajyavalkya Smriti - Treta Yuga [ dharma is 3/4 in bloom]
- Sankha and Likhita - Dvapara Yuga [ dharma is 1/2 in bloom]
- Parashara Smriti - Kali [ dharma is 1/4 in bloom ]
Next post we will do the following:
- Itihasas - the suhit samhitas or friendly treaties
- Puranas - belonging to ancient times ; also to pura or fullness; also a class of friendly treaties.
- Agamas - that which has been handed down: 3 Groups - Vaishnava, saiva and sakta.
- Darsanas - usually called shad (6) darsana or the 6 systems of Indian philosophy; 6 Views that work in concert to give a full 360° view of knowledge; theses are complimentary and competing philosophies. The 6 are outlined on this HDF post: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/sho...18&postcount=1
What should one read first? I have some ideas as will others. Lets list a few out with the next post.
pranams,
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