Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 135)

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Parts 1 to 134 were posted earlier. This is part 135. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 135

6. Beliefs of the Nyaya-Vaisheshika School

According to Nyaya, "Shabda or Veda (the criterion of truth) is the word of those who have realized the highest."(62)

Shabdas are again divided into two classes, the Vedic shabdas and those in common use. I found this position in the Nyaya book called Shabdashaktiprakashika. There the arguments indicate, no doubt, great power of thought; but, oh, the terminology confounds the brain!(63)

[The Vaisheshikas] are called orthodox because they accepted the Vedas, although they denied the existence of a personal God, believing that everything sprang from the atom or nature.(64)

7. Some Puranic and Tantric Ideas Which Do Not Agree with the Vedas

In the Puranas you find that, during the first divine incarnation, the minavatara,[fish avatar], the Veda is first made manifest. The Vedas having been first revealed in this incarnation, the other creative manifestations followed. (65)

In the Puranas we find many things which do not agree with the Vedas. For instance, it is written in the Puranas that some one lives ten thousand years another twenty thousand years; but in the Vedas we find: "Human beings live indeed a hundred years." [isha Up., 2] Which are we to accept in this case? Certainly the Vedas. Notwithstanding statements like these, I do not depreciate the Puranas. They contain many beautiful and illuminating teachings and words of wisdom of yoga, bhakti, jnana and karma; those, of course, we should accept.(66)