Itihaasa/Puraana as the Fifth Veda

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Camp: ISKCON Bangalore, Sri Sri Radha Krsna Candra, Krsna Balaram Mandir.

 

> Hare Krishna. Namas tebhyaH. Jaya Prabhupada!

>

> It's nice to see a forum like this that is specifically dedicated to

> answering questions. I hope to see this project continue indefinitely, as

> it would be extremely useful for those of us who don't have immediate

> association of senior devotees.

 

Sorry for the delay in replying. I am glad if this is of some use to you.

 

> I have a question. Jiva Gosvami, in his Tattva-Sandarbha, states quite

> explicitly that the itihaasas and puraaNas are literally the Fifth Veda.

> He quotes the Vaayu Puraana to establish that the material left in the

> original Veda (after Vyaasa divided it into four) became this Fifth Veda.

> Jiva Gosvami uses this argument to build the bridge to the argument that

> the Bhagavatam is just as authoritative as the shrutis.

 

With Candogya Upanisad, I believe, it is also mentioned that the Puranas are

the fifth veda.

 

> The nature of the Vedas, however, is to speak the truth only. We accept

> them as scripture because they are without flaw. Something that contains

> falsehoods cannot be an independently authoritative scripture.

>

> Jiva Gosvami states that the Bhagavatam is to be accepted as the final

> authority if there are any contradictions presented in other Puranas. And

> in CC, the Padma Puraana is quoted which states that various other

> demigods are sometimes presented in other Puraanas as being Supreme. And

> again, there are arguments by various acharyas that the Puraanas are full

> of interpolation. With all this being the case, how can we say that the

> itihaasa/puraana are the Fifth Veda? If they present other demigods as

> supreme by design, then that means they tell falsehoods. If they are full

> of interpolation, then are they not subject to interpretation by referring

> to shruti?

>

> yours,

>

> -- H. Krishna Susarla

 

Srila Prabhupada has explained that there are 18 puranas. Each group of 6

are spoken from a different angle of vision. That means 6 from mode of

goodness, 6 from mode of passion and six from the mode of ignorance. Taking

these different perspectives one might see that in some sense Lord Siva is

Supreme. He is Supreme in the Material World being the Mahadeva. Even within

these Puranas one can find references indicating Visnu is superior to Siva,

for instance, but one might also find some prayer by someone glorifying Siva

as Supreme. It isn't a falsehood to say Siva is Supreme from that point of

view. Just like saying the President of the USA is the Supreme Citizen isn't

wrong, but it only refers to one country and not the whole existence. If

take out of context then one can get bewildered.

 

That is where the SB is taking the absolute viewpoint so in case one gets

confused about what context to take any statement from any Purana by

referring to the SB the final understanding will be gotten. Therefore it is

considered the spotless and purest Purana from the spiritual point of view.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami