Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) - Understand Basic Principles
The Veda refers to a collection of vedic mantras in vedic Sanskrit. Vedas are eternal in nature and hence self evidence. These matras were also known as shruti and Amnaya. Veda mantra is not manmade, in the sense, it is not born of human intellect or human imagination or speculation. Mantras are deep spiritual truths and occurred phenomena revealed by the Devatas(Vedic Spiritual Gods) to the rishis (sages) in their deep meditation. Each mantra is a verse revealed to men and women of wisdom known as rishis. All of them are not revealed at a same time. The rishis numbered over 500, including women such as vaak, ambrini, apara, lopa mudra, turya, ghosha, etc.
They were preserved orally for a long time. Only about 5000 years ago, they were committed to writing by Vyasa (Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa). These mantras are the earliest literary or poetic work of entire humanity. There are 3 types of mantras with the names of Rk Manta, Yajus Manta, and saman Manta. In course of time, perhaps around 4000 before Christian era, the single collection of mantras was divided in to 4 collections based on their use. And the names are Rg Veda (Mantras to invoke Vedic Gods), Yajur Veda (Mantras to perform Yajnas), Sama Veda (Mantras for Chanting), Atharva veda (Mantras for Administration of Vedic Yajna).
Rg Veda
Main Purpose : Mantras to invoke Vedic Gods.
Rgveda has 21Shakhas. Rg veda has a total of 10 mandalas, rather the whole text is divided in to 10 mandalas. Each mandala has several suktas. The no may be from 40 to 191. Every sukta has several mantras. So the total no of suktas in rgveda is 1017, and the no of mantras is 10512, all of which are metrical verses or rks. Each sukta was assigned a title containing the name of the rishi, to whome the various mantras were reveled, the names of the meters of the verses and the deity to whom the mantras were addressed.
Yajur Veda
Main Purpose : Mantras to perform Yajnas.
Yajurveda has 2 major shaka or re-cension with the names of shukla yajurveda, and the Krishna yajurveda. Each have their own additional shakas or re-censions. And Totally YajurVeda has 101Shakhas. It has both yajus mantras and rk mantras. It has in all 4700 mantras, of which one third of them are rk mantras. Note that Krishna yajurveda is also a overlap of 50% with the shukla yajurveda shakha.
Sama Veda
Main Purpose : Mantras for Chanting.
Sama veda has 1000 Shakhas. Sama veda has about 2000 sama mantras. Most of the text is as same as rg veda, it has to be chanted as saman.
Atharva Veda (Mantras for Administration of Vedic Yajna).
Atharva Veda is a collection of 20 kandas or books. In rg veda we call them mandala here we call them kanda. There are total 730 suktas or hymns, the total of 6000 mantras most of them are metrical. They all reveled to the descendents or disciples of the seers atharvan and angeerasa. There are about 20% overlap between rg veda and atharva veda.
Goal of Veda is to achieve everyone all sided perfection, both individually and collectively. Vedas prescribe Dharma and Yajna to Achieve that.
Most of our capacity are limited and we can envision to continuous improvement and same goes for our organs of knowledge and organs of action. Achieving perfection means each organ becoming more and more conscious about its operation. The perfection cannot be achieved by human effort only, but we need the help of cosmic powers like agni, indra, etc. in the veda, these deities are not only responsible for creation, but also responsible for development of each human being. Each diety is distinct power of supreme one known as ekam sat, it has a distinct personality and distinct function. That these diety like agni, indra are not names, they are the different ways by with different powers are supported. Like agni is divine will in man, indra lord of divine mind, mitra lord of harmony, these power have to be invoked so that, each one of them will manifest in the human being. The manifestation of deity in human being is called dvi-janma the second birth. The first birth of the diety is in the cosmos and the second birth in the human being. Agni divine will, is the first one to take birth in man, he brings in all the powers. The invocation of these deities involves special procedures. Once the deity is established in the human being, then the speed of progress in man, that the attainment of perfection at each level and the harmony become accelerated. It must be noted that the progress is almost never ending.
Goal of Veda is to achieve everyone all sided perfection, both individually and collectively. And to achieve that Vedas prescribe to Dharma and Yajna.
What has been prescribed by Vedas, which helps mankind to progress towards all perfection and without creating any disturbance to the nature is called Dharma.
Only Vedas propagate Dharma and Dharma can be known only by Vedas.
There are three major categories of Dharma propagated by Vedas. Samanya Dharma - (Satya=Truthfulness, Nyaya=Common Justice, Ahimsa=Non-Violance, Dharma Rakshana=Protection of Dharma,...) which has to be carried out by all, Apat-Dharma - (Protecting Animals & Property, Helping Poor and ill,..)which needs to be dispensed at the time of calamity or in case personal of emergency and Varna-Ashrama Dharma - (Study of Knowledge=Medicine, Protection=Defence, Business and Trading, Service,... ) which needs to be followed as per age and social responsibility.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna also re-iterates the theological and philosophical truth propagated by Vedas, and hence also called Pramana (self evident/proof) for Knowledge.
There are three major categories of Dharma propagated by Vedas.
Samanya Dharma :-
Satya=Truthfulness, Nyaya=Common Justice, Ahimsa=Non-Violance, Dharma Rakshana=Protection of Dharma, and so on
which has to be carried out by all and at all time (irrespective of cast, creed, time, place) till death.
Apat-Dharma :-
Protecting Animals & Property, Helping Poor and ill,
which needs to be dispensed at the time of calamity or in case of personal emergency by all (irrespective of cast, creed, place).
Varna-Ashrama Dharma :-
Vedic Society has been divided in to 4 major center of fource. Jnana (Knowledge), Bala(Power), Dhana (Wealth) and Seva (Service).
The vedic Vision was to distribute the power among each other and make them part of social fabric.
The four Varnas are Brahmana (Knowledge oriented), Kshatriya (Power oriented), Vyshya (Wealth oriented), Shudra(Service Oriented).
- Brahmana Dharma :- Study of Vedas, Medicine, Law, Research, Advice to the Society
- Kshatriya Dharma :- Protection of Civilians and property, Defence, Politics, Administration, Management, Wealth Distribution, Donation.
- Vyshya Dharma :- Business, Trading, Donation. Wealth Creation
- Shudra Dharma :- Agriculture, Farming, Animal Husbandry, Transportation, Irrigation, Construction and other Service.
- Brahmacharya Dharma (0-25 years):- Study of Vedas, Medicine, Law, Research,
- Gruhasta Dharma (25-50 years):- Profession, Protection of Family, Donation, Wealth Creation and following Varna Dharma as per his own Varna.
- Vanaprasta Dharma (50-75 years):- Renunciating public & family life and Following Anushtana/Sadhana like Yoga, Vedanta, Tapas, Study,...
- Sanyasa Dharma (after 75 years or at any age):- Abahay & Ahimsa (Non-Competence and Non-Violance at any cost, time, place). Renunciated life (family & Society) focus is only on Adyatmika Kriya like - Yoga, Shravana-Manana-Nidhidyasana,.. for Libration from Life-death-rebirth.
Vedas prescribe every one to follow Dharma through performing Yajna. There are 5 Yajnas called Pancha Maha Yajna which has to be performed by all, and they are :
- Rushi Yajna or Brahma Yajna :- Memorising & Recitation of Vedic Mantras.
- Deva Yajna :- Offering Havis (Offerings) to Agni.
- Pitru Yajna :- Offering Tarpana.
- ManushyaYajna :- Offering Food and Shelter to all human beeing.
- Bhuta Yajna :- Offering Food & Shelter to All living creatures.
Varna-Ashrama Dharma :-
Vedic Society has been divided in to 4 major center of fource. Jnana (Knowledge), Bala(Power), Dhana (Wealth) and Seva (Service).
The vedic Vision was to distribute the power among each other and make them part of social fabric.
The four Varnas are Brahmana (Knowledge oriented), Kshatriya (Power oriented), Vyshya (Wealth oriented), Shudra(Service Oriented).
- Brahmana Dharma :- Study of Vedas, Medicine, Law, Research, Advice to the Society
- Kshatriya Dharma :- Protection of Civilians and property, Defence, Politics, Administration, Management, Wealth Distribution, Donation.
- Vyshya Dharma :- Business, Trading, Donation. Wealth Creation
- Shudra Dharma :- Agriculture, Farming, Animal Husbandry, Transportation, Irrigation, Construction and other Service.
- Brahmacharya Dharma (0-25 years):- Study of Vedas, Medicine, Law, Research,
- Gruhasta Dharma (25-50 years):- Profession, Protection of Family, Donation, Wealth Creation and following Varna Dharma as per his own Varna.
- Vanaprasta Dharma (50-75 years):- Renunciating public & family life and Following Anushtana/Sadhana like Yoga, Vedanta, Tapas, Study,...
- Sanyasa Dharma (after 75 years or at any age):- Abahay & Ahimsa (Non-Competence and Non-Violance at any cost, time, place). Renunciated life (family & Society) focus is only on Adyatmika Kriya like - Yoga, Shravana-Manana-Nidhidyasana,.. for Libration from Life-death-rebirth.
Implementing Dharma prescribed by Vedas is called Karma. Dharma is termed at a collective level and Karma is at a Individual level. Karma is Veda prescribed Duties & Responsibilities towards Family & Society. Karma also includes Karma Phala Paapa (Result of Wrong/bad Karma) & Punya (Result of Good Karma). Both phala will come back to haunt the individual in this life or in next life.
There are different types of Karma, and they are
- Varna-Ashrama Dharma Anushtana Karma :- Following Varna and Ashrama specific Profession.
- Ishta-Purtha-Datta Karma :- Helping poor, ill in Family and Society.
- Nitya Karma :- Following Sandhyavandana and other Self purification Vedic Practices.
- Naimittika Karma :- Performing Samskaara Karma like Naming Ceremoney, Marriage, till Death Ceremony.
- Prayaschitta Karma :- Performing Karma like Daana (giving Food & money) to reduce Papa Karma Phala.
- Upasana Karma :- Performing Yajna, Pooja to gain wealth, health and so on.