Hindutva

[Sunder]

<!--QuoteBegin-rajesh_g+Aug 8 2004, 01:59 AM-->QUOTE(rajesh_g @ Aug 8 2004, 01:59 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> From the above article..

<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->One way of conceiving the soul was as an entity which could embody itself in a human body, but could also exist outside the body and later return to the physical world by incarnating in yet another body. This belief in reincarnation is central to Jainism and Buddhism, and it has also been adopted in Hinduism. The Vedic hymns had no notion of reincarnation yet, but in the Upanishads we learn that the idea was borrowed from the warrior class, the class to which wandering ascetics like Mahavira Jina and Gautama the Buddha belonged.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Is this true ? <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I haven't gone thru all the vedas to be able to assertively make a statement. But I do know that the Panchagni Vidya - as given out in the Chandogya upanishad - had remained with the kshatriyas. It was later revealed to Swetaketu, by Pravahana the son of Jeevala.

Panchagni Vidya is a wonderful wonderful explanation - and I would recommend to read it in Samskrit original for the beauty of the description. (I had heard of it first from GV Iyer's movie Adi Shankaracharya.) This Panchagni vidya is cited By Sri Shankarcharya to explain Brahma Sutra 3.1.

Chandogya Upanishad - Panchagni Vidya.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There was a student named Svetaketu who was the son of sage Uddalaka. This student was well-read and finely educated. He was so confident about his knowledge that he used to parade his learning and calibre in the midst of all learned people, have discussions in courts of kings etc., and was very reputed for his great educational gift. This boy went, by chance, to the court of the king called Pravahana Jaivali, a noble emperor. The moment the boy arrived at the court, the king received him with respect, and after offering him the requisite hospitality becoming of a Brahmin boy well-versed in the Vedas and all the branches of learning, the king put a question to the boy.

       “Are you well educated? Have you studied? Is your education complete? Has your father instructed you?” The boy said, “Yes, my education is over, and I am well-read.”

       Then the king put some questions. “Naturally, you are a well-informed person so as to be able to answer any pose. You are proficient in every branch of learning.” That the boy professed to be, that he would be able to answer any question. Then the king posed five questions.

        The first question was: “Do you know where people go after they depart from this world? When people die, where do they go? Do you know the answer to this question, my dear boy?” The boy said, “I do not know. I cannot answer this question.” Then the king asked another question, “Do you know wherefrom people come when they are reborn into this world?” The boy said, “I do not know this also.” “Do you know, have you any idea of the paths along which the soul ascends, the paths being known as the devayana and the pitriyana? Do you know the difference between these two paths? Why is the one distinct from the other?” The boy said, “I do not know the answer to this question also.”

       Then the fourth question: “Why is it that the yonder world is not filled with people and overflowing? Always, the world is able to contain people and it is never flooded with them. What is the reason for this?” “This, also, I do not know.” Now the fifth question: “Do you know what are the five oblations that are offered and how the fifth oblation as liquid becomes a human being?” “This, too, I do not know,” said the boy.

       Then, the king said, “Why did you say that you are instructed and well-read? How is it possible for one to regard oneself as properly educated if one cannot answer even these questions? What made you think that you are educated? What is it that your father taught you if he has not told you these things?” The boy was humbled, his pride vanished, he began to realise that there are things which he could not understand. His education was not complete. This was the first time that he was taken aback from the conviction that he knew everything.
.....
The king was perplexed; he was disturbed in his mind when the Brahmin spoke thus. He did not know what to say, because it is difficult suddenly to impart knowledge to a person the moment he asks for it. That is the procedure of any teacher. This is the position of the imparting of knowledge. Also, Kshatriyas do not seek Brahmins to be their pupils. That was the ancient custom. The king was a Kshatriya and now the student here is a Brahmin. Brahmins teach Kshatriyas; Kshatriyas do not teach Brahmins. So, under those circumstances, the king did not know what to tell this Brahmin. He was a little bit concerned in his mind and was not sure as to what to tell him.
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Brahmasutra Bhashya 3.1