01-02-2004, 11:37 PM
xposted
-----------
We know that many Hindus have different "interpretations" of what
is correct and wrong as per tradition. However let us make no
mistake regarding learning scriptures. *All* are *entitled* to learn
sanskrit, any Tamil(vernacular) sacred text , Gita, Mahabharatha,
Bhagavatham, can sing , dance, chant, learn any puranic, smrithi
text. These are themselves voluminous. There is no prohibition for
*any one* any where to do these things. Hindus can learn, Thevaram,
Thiruvaasagam, Valmiki Ramayan( adhitya hrudayam is in Valmiki),
Aazhvaar pasurams etc etc.
There is/was/ will be no swamiji, however "puritanical" he may be
who can say there is anything any where that can prohobit any one
from any of these! There is no race, varna, jaathi, gender
requirement for any of these any where.
In Chandhogya upa it says- ithihaasa purano panchamo vedhanam-
ithihaasas and puranas are the fifth veda and the veda of vedas!
"Indeed, Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva are the names of the four
Vedas. The Itihasas and Puranas are the fifth Veda." (Kauthumiya
Chandogya Upanisad 7.1.4)
Those who know the veda but know no ithihasa puranas are not leaned!
In the Prabhasa-khanda of the Skanda Purana (5.3.121-124) it is
said â
veda-van niscalam manye puranartham dvijottamah
vedah pratisthitah sarve purane natra samsayah
bibhety-alpa-srutad vedo mam ayam calayisyati
itihasa-puranais tu niscalo'yam krtah purah
yan na drstam hi vedesu tad drstam smrtisu dvijah
ubhayor yan na drstam hi tat puranah pragiyate
yo veda caturo vedan sangopanisado dvijah
puranam naiva janati na ca sa syad vicaksana
" O best of the brahmanas, the meaning of the Puranas is unchanging
just like that of the Vedas. The Vedas are all sheltered within the
Puranas without a doubt. The Veda has a fear that unqualified people
will read her and then distort her meaning. Thus, the significance
of the Veda was fixed in the Puranas and Itihasas. That which is not
found in the Vedas is found in the Smrti. That which is not found in
the Smrti is to be found in the Puranas. Those who know even the
Vedas and Upanisads are not learned if they do not know the Puranas."
Sage Veda Vyasa authored the puranas, Mahabharatha with the
explicit purpose of enabling *any one* who is interested and
motivated, to study all these. In fact the puranas are far more
interesting and easier! Take Bhagavatham and Gita for ex.
The language of vedas is very mystic. It demands a lot of discipline
and commitment. The dwijas(brahmana, kshatriya,vysyas) are supposed
to commit to studying them for about fourteen years in a gurukulum!
Vedic students have to be basically committed to a way of life that
involves rising at 4-30 am, always serve the teacher with whom they
reside for fourteen years approx, not eat nonvegetarian, never drink
alcohol etc etc. Who does all these? Even the most pretentious self
styled P.Cs( my term- P.C.s-preistly castes- are so
called "brahmanas" - a misleading term ) dont do these! Does any one
know of any who do these? Let us remember just wearing a thread and
not do these is an offence!
My suggestion is while we fight to allow all( with no birth-jathi-
requirement as that is against all shastras) to be permitted to
learn vedas ( if they qualify with all the commitment and discipline
required), we could easily propagate all the above puranas, Gita,
sanskrit , bhakthi songs, dance etc. They are far more interesting
any way! Bhakthi transcends even varna system. Varna system is
basically for those who are in the mode of karma primarily( addicted
to desires). Jnana also transcends varna system like wise.
Jai Vigna Vinaayaka Moorthiki!
-----------
We know that many Hindus have different "interpretations" of what
is correct and wrong as per tradition. However let us make no
mistake regarding learning scriptures. *All* are *entitled* to learn
sanskrit, any Tamil(vernacular) sacred text , Gita, Mahabharatha,
Bhagavatham, can sing , dance, chant, learn any puranic, smrithi
text. These are themselves voluminous. There is no prohibition for
*any one* any where to do these things. Hindus can learn, Thevaram,
Thiruvaasagam, Valmiki Ramayan( adhitya hrudayam is in Valmiki),
Aazhvaar pasurams etc etc.
There is/was/ will be no swamiji, however "puritanical" he may be
who can say there is anything any where that can prohobit any one
from any of these! There is no race, varna, jaathi, gender
requirement for any of these any where.
In Chandhogya upa it says- ithihaasa purano panchamo vedhanam-
ithihaasas and puranas are the fifth veda and the veda of vedas!
"Indeed, Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva are the names of the four
Vedas. The Itihasas and Puranas are the fifth Veda." (Kauthumiya
Chandogya Upanisad 7.1.4)
Those who know the veda but know no ithihasa puranas are not leaned!
In the Prabhasa-khanda of the Skanda Purana (5.3.121-124) it is
said â
veda-van niscalam manye puranartham dvijottamah
vedah pratisthitah sarve purane natra samsayah
bibhety-alpa-srutad vedo mam ayam calayisyati
itihasa-puranais tu niscalo'yam krtah purah
yan na drstam hi vedesu tad drstam smrtisu dvijah
ubhayor yan na drstam hi tat puranah pragiyate
yo veda caturo vedan sangopanisado dvijah
puranam naiva janati na ca sa syad vicaksana
" O best of the brahmanas, the meaning of the Puranas is unchanging
just like that of the Vedas. The Vedas are all sheltered within the
Puranas without a doubt. The Veda has a fear that unqualified people
will read her and then distort her meaning. Thus, the significance
of the Veda was fixed in the Puranas and Itihasas. That which is not
found in the Vedas is found in the Smrti. That which is not found in
the Smrti is to be found in the Puranas. Those who know even the
Vedas and Upanisads are not learned if they do not know the Puranas."
Sage Veda Vyasa authored the puranas, Mahabharatha with the
explicit purpose of enabling *any one* who is interested and
motivated, to study all these. In fact the puranas are far more
interesting and easier! Take Bhagavatham and Gita for ex.
The language of vedas is very mystic. It demands a lot of discipline
and commitment. The dwijas(brahmana, kshatriya,vysyas) are supposed
to commit to studying them for about fourteen years in a gurukulum!
Vedic students have to be basically committed to a way of life that
involves rising at 4-30 am, always serve the teacher with whom they
reside for fourteen years approx, not eat nonvegetarian, never drink
alcohol etc etc. Who does all these? Even the most pretentious self
styled P.Cs( my term- P.C.s-preistly castes- are so
called "brahmanas" - a misleading term ) dont do these! Does any one
know of any who do these? Let us remember just wearing a thread and
not do these is an offence!
My suggestion is while we fight to allow all( with no birth-jathi-
requirement as that is against all shastras) to be permitted to
learn vedas ( if they qualify with all the commitment and discipline
required), we could easily propagate all the above puranas, Gita,
sanskrit , bhakthi songs, dance etc. They are far more interesting
any way! Bhakthi transcends even varna system. Varna system is
basically for those who are in the mode of karma primarily( addicted
to desires). Jnana also transcends varna system like wise.
Jai Vigna Vinaayaka Moorthiki!