Vedic culture

[Guest guest]

> Sometimes mundane scholars object to Srila Prabhupada's use of the terms

> Vedic and Vedic culture to mean Krsna consciousness or a culture centered

> on Krsna consciousness, because Gaudiya Vaisnavism is not directly based

> on the four Vedas, giving more importance to Srimad Bhagavatam and

> Bhagavad-gita. However, as these two books convey the essence of and

> fulfill the purpose of the Vedas, the teachings of Gaudiya Vaisnavism are

> Vedic in the truest sense.

>

> Are there any quotes from sastra or explanations by Srila Prabhupada to

> ratify this position?

>

> (Here is one quote that hints at the above) Artho 'yam brahma-sütranam:

> Srimad-Bhagavatam is the original commentary on the Vedanta-sütra, written

> by the author himself, Srila Vyasadeva.

 

 

 

There is no point in doubting the authority of the Puranas and Mahabharata

as parts and parcels of the Vedas. In the Chandogya Upanisad (7.1.4), the

Puranas and Mahabharata, generally known as histories, are mentioned as the

fifth Veda. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, that is the way of ascertaining

the respective values of the revealed scriptures.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.4.19

 

 

 

rg-yajuh-samatharvakhya

vedas catvara uddhrtah

itihasa-puranam ca

pancamo veda ucyate

 

SYNONYMS

rg-yajuh-sama-atharva-akhyah -- the names of the four Vedas; vedah -- the

Vedas; catvarah -- four; uddhrtah -- made into separate parts; itihasa --

historical records (Mahabharata); puranam ca -- and the Puranas; pancamah --

the fifth; vedah -- the original source of knowledge; ucyate -- is said to

be.

 

TRANSLATION

The four divisions of the original sources of knowledge [the Vedas] were

made separately. But the historical facts and authentic stories mentioned in

the Puranas are called the fifth Veda.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.4.20

 

 

 

itihasa-puranani

pancamam vedam isvarah

sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyah

sasrje sarva-darsanah

 

SYNONYMS

itihasa -- histories; puranani -- the Puranas (supplementary Vedas);

pancamam -- the fifth; vedam -- the Vedic literature; isvarah -- the Lord;

sarvebhyah -- all together; eva -- certainly; vaktrebhyah -- from his

mouths; sasrje -- created; sarva -- all around; darsanah -- one who can see

all time.

 

TRANSLATION

Then he created the fifth Veda -- the Puranas and the histories -- from all

his mouths, since he could see all the past, present and future.

 

PURPORT

There are histories of particular countries and nations and of the world,

but the Puranas are the histories of the universe, not only in one

millennium, but in many kalpas. Brahma has knowledge of those historical

facts, and therefore all the puranas are histories. As originally composed

by Brahma, they are part of the Vedas and are called the fifth Veda.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.12.39

 

 

 

Being the eldest learned Vedantist, O Suta Gosvami, you are acquainted with

the knowledge of Vyasadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead, and you also

know other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical and

metaphysical knowledge.

 

PURPORT

Srimad-Bhagavatam is a natural commentation on the Brahma-sutra, or the

Badarayani Vedanta-sutras. It is called natural because Vyasadeva is author

of both the Vedanta-sutras and Srimad-Bhagavatam, or the essence of all

Vedic literatures. Besides Vyasadeva, there are other sages who are the

authors of six different philosophical systems, namely Gautama, Kanada,

Kapila, Patanjali, Jaimini and Astavakra. Theism is explained completely in

the Vedanta-sutra, whereas in other systems of philosophical speculations,

practically no mention is given to the ultimate cause of all causes. One can

sit on the vyasasana only after being conversant in all systems of

philosophy so that one can present fully the theistic views of the

Bhagavatam in defiance of all other systems. Srila Suta Gosvami was the

proper teacher, and therefore the sages at Naimisaranya elevated him to the

vyasasana. Srila Vyasadeva is designated herein as the Personality of

Godhead because he is the authorized empowered incarnation.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.7

 

 

 

The Vedas are divided into four: Sama, Rg, Atharva and Yajur. Then these are

explained by the Puranas, of which there are eighteen. Then these are still

further explained by the Upanisads, of which there are 108. The Upanisads

are summarized in the Vedanta-sutra, and the Vedanta-sutra is still again

explained by the Srimad-Bhagavatam, by the same author. This is the process.

So the Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic knowledge.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => TYS 8: Sources of Absolute Knowledge

 

 

 

nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam

suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam

pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam

muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah

 

TRANSLATION

O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of

the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri

Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful,

although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including

liberated souls.

 

PURPORT

In the two previous slokas it has been definitely proved that the

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the sublime literature which surpasses all other Vedic

scriptures due to its transcendental qualities. It is transcendental to all

mundane activities and mundane knowledge. In this sloka it is stated that

Srimad-Bhagavatam is not only a superior literature but is the ripened fruit

of all Vedic literatures. In other words, it is the cream of all Vedic

knowledge.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.3