Hinduism - Basics & FAQ
Preface:
Collection of FAQs to understand basics of Hinduism - a collection of facts as shared by my friend, Shri Sai, a vivid forum contributor in Tamil 'Thuglak' magazine. Entire collection here and the following pages in several parts, due to volume of information, are fully attributed to Shri Sai. His various sources are attributed 'then and there' where relevant. Have a pleasant reading-cum-learning, readers!!
- Singai Sivas
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Preface:
Collection of FAQs to understand basics of Hinduism - a collection of facts as shared by my friend, Shri Sai, a vivid forum contributor in Tamil 'Thuglak' magazine. Entire collection here and the following pages in several parts, due to volume of information, are fully attributed to Shri Sai. His various sources are attributed 'then and there' where relevant. Have a pleasant reading-cum-learning, readers!!
- Singai Sivas
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16. What does 'Veda' mean?
The word 'Veda' comes from the root 'vid', "to know". Veda literally means "the book of knowledge". It is a compendium containing sacred and secular knowledge.
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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17. How many Vedas are there, what do they deal with, and what sections do they consist of?
'Veda' is one book of knowledge divided into four portions, but these four portions are commonly referred to as the four Vedas, namely:
a. Rig Veda - Hymns of praise; believed to be the oldest book known to humanity and one of the most precious collections of knowledge.
b. Yajur Veda - Special directions and formulas for the preparation and performance of rituals and ceremonies.
c. Sama Veda - Melodies and songs, with precise intonations and modulations, to be chanted at rituals; the most voluminous of the four vedas.
d. Atharva Veda - Mystical formulas; Tantric and other forms of esoteric knowledge, which paved the way for modern science in India.
Each 'Veda' consists of three sections, namely:
1. Samhitas - The mantra portion, consisting of hymns of praise for Vedic deities.
2. Brahmanas - The ritualistic portion, dealing with the methodology of performing Vedic rituals.
3. Aranyakas - The completive portion, including the Upanishads.
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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18. What are the Upa-vedas, how many are there, and what do they deal with?
The 'Upa-vedas' or 'Veda-upangas', are writings subordinate to the Vedas. They are four in number, one attached to each of the four Vedas:
a. In 'Rig Veda' - 'Ayurveda', the science of medicine and health.
b. In 'Yajur Veda' - 'Dhanur Veda', military science.
c. In 'Sama Veda' - 'Gandharva Veda', the art and science of music.
d. In 'Atharva Veda' - 'Sthapatya Veda', the science of mechanics and construction.
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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19. What are 'Vedangas' ?
There are six 'Vedangas' that are the additional limbs of the Vedas:
a. Chhandas - Prosody (Science of poetic meters)
b. Jyotisha - Astronomy and astrology
c. Kalpa - Construction and design of religious sites
d. Nirukta - Vedic etymology
e. Shiksha - Phonetics
f. Vyakarana - Grammar
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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20. What are the schools of Hindu philosophy?
There are six 'darshanas', or schools, of Hindu philosophy, each independent of the other, but each acceptiong the Vedas as the scriptural authority:
a. 'Nyaya' of Sage Gautama - deals with the Hindu system of logic
b. 'Vaisheshika' of Sage Kannada - deals with the atomic theory and structure of universe
c. 'Sankhya' of Sage Kapila - deals with the relationship between Nature and Spirit as the cause of the world
d. 'Yoga' of Sage Patanjali - deals with gaining mastery over oneself through the transformation of one's inner equipment
e. 'Mimamsa' of Sage Jaimini - deals with the procedure and practice of rituals, a treatise of 'Karma Kanda'; also known as 'Purva Mimamsa'
f. 'Vedanta' of Sage Krishna Dvaipayana Badarayana Vyasa (Sage Veda Vyasa) - deals with the philosophical and theological views in the Upanishads; also known as 'Uttara Mimamsa'
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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21. What does 'Vedanta' mean?
The term 'Vedanta' means:
a. 'Veda + anta', "the end of the Vedas," which literally means the concluding portion of the Vedas, but refers to the end goal indicated by the Vedas: 'Brahman'
b. 'Vede siddhyati siddhanta iti vedanta', "the philosophical conclusions arrived at, by, and in the Vedas"
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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22. Does Vedantic philosophy include different schools of thought? If so, what are they?
The Hindu seers (rishis) were never satisfied unless they discussed every question to its logical and irrefutable conclusion, and this led to different schools of philosophical thought.
There are six Vedantic schools of thought that developed over time, all claiming to be based on Upanishadic teachings. They are (in chronological order, from the earliest):
1. 'Advaita' of Adi Shankaracharya
2. 'Vishishtadvaita' (Vishishta Advaita) of Ramanujacharya
3. 'Dvaita' of Madhvacharya
4. 'Shuddhadvaita' (Shuddha Advaita) of Vallabhacharya
5. 'Dvaitadvaita (Dvaita Advaita) of Nimbarkacharya
6. 'Achintyabhedabheda' (Achintya-bheda-abheda) of Jiva Gosvamin
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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23. How do we re-concile the different schools of philosophy and different approaches to the Truth?
The apparently divergent scriptures have been given by different teachers at different periods of time to suit different types of students. Amid this diversity, one finds that although paths are different, the goal is the same. Each teacher vehemently emphasizes a path that is best suited for the benefit of his disciples. A true student is able to see through these apparent differences and remain firm in his own path.
Different schools of philosophy are merely different notions about, and interpretations of, the same subject. Differences will exist when teachers and scriptures are trying to describe the indescribable. 'Amria-bindu Upanishad' says,
"Gavam aneka-varnanam, kshirasya-api-eka-varnata, kshiravat pashyate jnanam, linginastu gavam yatha": meaning,
Cows are of different colors. But the milk from all the cows is the same color-white. So too, the intelligent one should regard knowledge as the milk and the sources of such knowledge as the cows."
Scriptures may differ in words and interpretations, but all speak of and indicate the same Truth. The milk is of the main concern for the cowherd; so too, knowledge (not its source) should be the main concern for the sincere seeker.
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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24. What are the three main scriptural sources for a Vendantin?
'Prasthana-traya' refers to the three sources of scriptural authority for a Vedantin:
1. Upanishads
2. Brahma Sutras
3. Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
These are the three accepted sources from which different schools of Vedanta derive their authority. Of the 'prasthana-traya', the 'Brahama Sutras' are 'Nyaya pramana' (means of knowledge with an emphasis on logic); the 'Bhagavad Gita' is 'Smriti pramana' (means of knowledge with an emphasis on 'smritis'); and the Upanishads are 'Shruti pramana' (means of knowledge with an emphasis on the 'Shrutis').
Source - Hindu Culture Series - Hinduism (FAQ-Scriptures), Chinmaya Mission
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