hindu article-puranas teach us morals

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Puranas teach us morals

 

 

CHENNAI, JULY 8. What is the definition of man? He who

can think is called a `man.' Man's singular trait is

his spirit of inquiry which impels to apply the

question `why' to virtually every aspect of life. Yet,

as no two persons possess identical levels of

comprehension, the process of assimilation varies

accordingly. Above all, it is not possible for any

individual to singularly grasp the higher truths which

are vast, despite diligent application of one's

faculties.

 

In his lecture on what the Puranas teach us, Sri. K.

Srinivasan said even the saints felt that the

scriptures could not be read and assimilated in one's

lifetime. Sage Bharadwaj embarked on a study of the

entire body of holy texts for hundred years. Yet, he

had not covered all the texts. After severe penance,

he received an extension of hundred years on earth,

which he devoted to exclusive study of the scriptures.

The result being similar to the earlier experience, he

applied for yet another stint on earth; when it

recurred for the fourth time the celestial Indra

picked up three fistfuls of sand from three huge

mountains, equating that meagre amount to what

Bharadwaj had studied. Knowledge is as vast as this

earth. Hence scholars say it is enough if a person

learns that (amount) which is sufficient to achieve

his spiritual goal. The learning process is influenced

in four different ways — through available data, which

could be wrong; by faulty analysis of the same; by

misleading or obscure matter; or by obstacles.

Furthermore, man is handicapped by his innate nature

which could not comprehend the finer nuances. What

then can one do, when faced with voluminous body on

the one hand and terse statements on the other? Even

if comprehensible, how does one apply theory into

practice? It is to overcome such hurdles that one

should seek out such texts as the Puranas which offer

aspirants the essence of the Vedas. Written over a

wide time span, the Puranas are considered to be

commentaries on the Vedas, and as such are far more

relevant than as mere historical documentaries. There

are various aspects to each of the eighteen Puranas,

but largely these are composed of first hand

narration, what was gleaned through second hand

information, ancient folk lore such as the story of

Dhananjaya, as well as clear guidelines on how to

uphold traditional methods. The efficacy of the

Puranas lies in the morals they teach us. As parables,

they are an excellent source of self- awareness, since

they help us to identify ourselves.

 

copy right: the hindu-daily

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

This was the precisely the reason why Vyaasamunii wrote mahaabhaarata

and puraana.

 

He tells to suvrata that all the four veda are extremely complex with

very deep meaning therofore it is difficult to understand them, for

that reason I wrote itihaasa (history) and puraaNa:

 

itihaasapuraaNaani mayaa sR^iShTaani suvrata ||

ya ete caturo vedaa guuDhaarthaaH satataM smR^itaaH |

atastaitaani sR^iShTaani bpodhaayaiShaaM mahaamune ||

 

itihaasapuraaNaabhyaa.m veda.m samupabR^i.mhayet .

bibhetyalpashrutaadvedo maamaya.m prahariShyati \(ma\. bhaa\.

Adiparva 1\.293\.-294\.\)

 

Meaning - One must use itihaasa and puraana for furthering their

understanding veda (upabR^ihaNa). Here, Veda Vyasa calls (or rather

classifies) person who know veda but not the puraaNa as

being "alpashruta". He further goes on to say that veda is afraid of

them as if "they (veda)" are going to be attacked.

 

striishuudradvijabandhuunaa.m trayii na shrutigocaraa . iti

bhaaratamaakhyaana.m kR^iopayaa muninaa kR^itam .. bhaagavata \(1\.4

\.25\.\) ..

 

Meaning – Veda Vyasa wrote mahaabhaarata in order to benefit women,

shuudra, or alpashruta folks of the so called higher cast.

 

It is about time that we concentrate on understanding the

significance of various vedic treasures rather than remaining

attached to the mechanical and ritualistic aspects of upaasanaa.

 

Now I can get off my soap box.

 

Regards,

 

Dr. Yadu

 

 

advaitin, b vaidya nathan

<vaidyanathiyer> wrote:

> Puranas teach us morals

>

>

> CHENNAI, JULY 8. What is the definition of man? He who

> can think is called a `man.' Man's singular trait is

> his spirit of inquiry which impels to apply the

> question `why' to virtually every aspect of life. Yet,

> as no two persons possess identical levels of

> comprehension, the process of assimilation varies

> accordingly. Above all, it is not possible for any

> individual to singularly grasp the higher truths which

> are vast, despite diligent application of one's

> faculties.

>

> In his lecture on what the Puranas teach us, Sri. K.

> Srinivasan said even the saints felt that the

> scriptures could not be read and assimilated in one's

> lifetime. Sage Bharadwaj embarked on a study of the

> entire body of holy texts for hundred years. Yet, he

> had not covered all the texts. After severe penance,

> he received an extension of hundred years on earth,

> which he devoted to exclusive study of the scriptures.

> The result being similar to the earlier experience, he

> applied for yet another stint on earth; when it

> recurred for the fourth time the celestial Indra

> picked up three fistfuls of sand from three huge

> mountains, equating that meagre amount to what

> Bharadwaj had studied. Knowledge is as vast as this

> earth. Hence scholars say it is enough if a person

> learns that (amount) which is sufficient to achieve

> his spiritual goal. The learning process is influenced

> in four different ways — through available data, which

> could be wrong; by faulty analysis of the same; by

> misleading or obscure matter; or by obstacles.

> Furthermore, man is handicapped by his innate nature

> which could not comprehend the finer nuances. What

> then can one do, when faced with voluminous body on

> the one hand and terse statements on the other? Even

> if comprehensible, how does one apply theory into

> practice? It is to overcome such hurdles that one

> should seek out such texts as the Puranas which offer

> aspirants the essence of the Vedas. Written over a

> wide time span, the Puranas are considered to be

> commentaries on the Vedas, and as such are far more

> relevant than as mere historical documentaries. There

> are various aspects to each of the eighteen Puranas,

> but largely these are composed of first hand

> narration, what was gleaned through second hand

> information, ancient folk lore such as the story of

> Dhananjaya, as well as clear guidelines on how to

> uphold traditional methods. The efficacy of the

> Puranas lies in the morals they teach us. As parables,

> they are an excellent source of self- awareness, since

> they help us to identify ourselves.

>

> copy right: the hindu-daily

>

>

>

>

>

> _________ALL-NEW

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