Principles and Practice of Hindu Religion
Chapter - IV : The Scriptures and The Sacred Works
An Analysis of the Texts Available that gives the Divine Message
for Every One to Study, Understand and Follow as a Way of Life
 
   
 
Lesson - 62 :
Schools for Seeing the Vedic Teachings
Different Philosophical Explanations of the Vedas
 
 
 
 

 

 

Whereas the Agamas are purely theological forms of the religion to explain the ritualistic practice of worship, the Ithihaasas and Puranas are meant for the massesas historical accounts and stories explaining the philosophy. Dharsanas are philosophical explanation of the meanings of the Vedas for the scholars with good knowledge, power of reasoning and intellect to understand the inner meanings of the Hindu Dharma to be practiced according to the Vedas. The six Dharsanas are complementary to each other and not contradictory. One should study all of them to get the benefit of any of them. Vaseshika and Sankhya are not popular faiths now. Nyaya is popular and Yoga is practiced by some in its practical forms. Nyaya and Vaiseshika give an analysis of the world of experience and explain how God has made all material things of different categories out of atoms and molecules and show the ways to attain knowledge of God. Sankhya provides a deep study of Hindu Psychology as Kapila Muni was the father of Psychology.

 

Yoga system deals with the ways to discipline the body, mind and the senses, control the thought waves with meditation and to cultivate concentration of mind to reach the super conscious state. Poorva Mimamsa deals with the Karma-Kanda and stresses the importance of recitation of prayers and rituals as the most important duty to attain salvation. It stresses on prayers to the natural forces of Prakriti whose actions can be controlled by our prayers and Vedic rituals, and it effectively makes the role of God unimportant. This theory was objected and corrected by Sage Vyasa Maharishi in Vedantha Dharsana which deals with Jnana-Kanda. It explains in detail the nature of Brahmam or Eternal Being, and shows that the individual soul is, in essence, identical with the supreme Self. Vedantha calls ignorance "Avidya" and aims at its eradication by True Knowledge or Jnana. It deals with the methods to remove the veil of ignorance and merge in the ocean of Brahmam. The Nyaya calls ignorance as Mithya Nyaya or false knowledge; Sankhya call it Aviveka or nondiscrimination between real and unreal.

 
   
 
 
   
 
Lessons: - 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 .