Visistadvaitha 15

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Jai Srimannarayana,

 

The statements in the Veda are broadly classified into three

 

1. 'Vidhi Vaakyams' are those statements of Veda which is in the form ofan

order “Do this” to execute leading to performance of action.

2. 'Nishedha Vidhi Vaakyams' are those statements, which are also in the

form of order but in the form “Do not do that” ie., “abstain form doing that”.

3. 'Artha Vaadams' are those statements, which explain the entities

involved in the first two classes of statements.

 

There is an objection raised by a school of thought based on Veda named

“Poorva-Mimaamsaka” as follows:

 

The poorva-mimaamsaka objects that Veda cannot establish an already existing

entity as its nature is only to dictate an order to execute it leading to

performance of action (by Vidhi and Nisheda Vidhi). He further states that the

“Artha Vaadams” is only to praise the entities involved in the actions and this

praise is only to encourage the individual to do the action. He says that as the

Brahman and individual soul are already existing entities, the Veda cannot

establish them”. The refutation of this objection is simple.

The Veda has explained Brahman and also placed an order to adopt the means

(Upaasana) to attain the feet of Brahman. Therefore the own words of he who

objects makes the objection null and void. Otherwise also, words of Veda need

not be always in the form of order to execute to impart knowledge.

 

" Don’t we see parents just pointing already existing objects like moon etc to

their small children and just say the name of those objects without any order to

execute and make the children to get knowledge about it? "

 

Therefore the Veda can establish already existing entities also and thus the

Veda can prove the existence of God (Brahman) and that of individual souls and

so many transcendental entities.

 

Apart from the sruti as briefly explained above, few 'Smruties' like 'Manu

Smruti' are accepted as authorities. " Smruti " as the name indicates are

different from " Sruti " . " Smruti " means memory - remembrance. Sages like Manu

Maharishi learnt vedas (sruti) and practiced it for several years and out of

their knowledge and experience, they remembered the sruti and explained it

through their works called smruti. Thus Smruti has author. Sruti has no

author. The other works like puranas, itihasasas and aagamas were outlined in

the lesson one. but

 

Any authority can be accepted as authority only if it supports Vedas. If it

contradicts Vedas, it has to be appropriately understood such that there is no

contradiction to the Vedic authority or it should be rejected. One has to

necessarily understand that Vedas (Sruti) alone is the base authority or the

only final authority.

 

Apart from this Nyaya, Tarka and such darsanas (systematic tools of

philosophy) are considerable in our sidhdantam. Everything has its root in the

Vedas. The veda is thus the eternal authority. Many sutras like Vyakarana sutra,

Yoga sutra, Brahma Sutra and Saastras are also considered similarly.

 

 

The Prastaana Trayam & Its Significance In Our Visistaadvaita Shree

Vaishnava Sidhdantam...

 

The three authoritative scriptures as proof taken collectively is popularly

referred to as Prastaana Trayam. They are :

 

 

1. The Vedas (Sruti) - Poorva & Uttara Mimaamsa together.

2. The Bhagavat Geeta - Told by Lord Krishna Himself & recorded by

Vyasa.

3. The 'Brahma Sutras' - Saareeraka Saastra Of Veda Vyasa Bhagavan.

 

I have explained the nature of vedas earlier. Paarthasaarati Krishna has

preached the Bhagavat Geeta Himself to Arjuna in the battlefield of Maha

Bharata. It is the essence of all Vedas and it is of greatest significance as it

is a saastra, which came as the divine message & order of the Lord Kannan

Himself. The brahma sutras are aphorisms (nearly 550 formula like short -

precise - clear - error free - small verses) composed by Veda Vyasa Bhagavan to

explain the Saareeraka Saastra Of Upanishads. Our Visistaadvaita Shree Vaishnava

Sidhdantam is based on this prastaana trayam and the darsanas. After the concept

of Pramaanam, let us see in brief Prameyam.

 

To be continued...

 

Andal Tiruvadigale Saranam

Madhava Ramanuja dasan.