Lesson 3 Shrutis We have got a little idea of our Vedas in our first 2 lessons. Now let us study how Vedic knowledge is gained. There are 3 sources of Vedic Knowledge. They are called prasthan-traya. Shruti Prasthan Smriti Prasthan & Nyaya Prasthan The Shrutis - Vedic Injunctions. (Vedas, Samhitas & Upanishads etc) The Smritis - Additional supplementary presentations or evidence for Vedic Principles (Puranas, Itihas, Mahabharat, Gita etc) The Nyayas - Vedant Sutras (Precise formulae). They tell us about the ultimate goal of life by using logic and cause & effect. In this lesson let us try to understand the Shrutis. As stated above Shrutis are Vedas or Samhitas (Text of the Vedas). We have read before that Vedas are apaurusheya (beyond human endeavors). That is why they are also called revealed scriptures. They form the base of all knowledge. Vedas can be further divided into The Mantra-Samhitas or hymns. The Brahmanas or explanations of Mantras or rituals. The Aranyakas (philosophical interpretations of the rituals). The Upanishads (The essence or the knowledge portion of the Vedas). These division of the Vedas into four parts is to suit the four stages in a man's life. The Mantra-Samhitas are hymns in praise of the Vedic God for attaining material prosperity here and happiness hereafter. They are metrical poems comprising prayers, hymns and incantations addressed to various deities, both subjective and objective. The Mantra portion of the Vedas is useful for the Brahmacharins (celibates). This is what a student was supposed to learn and practice in a Gurukul in Vedic Culture. The student was not supposed to work in Mcdonalds or Walmart for earning during holidays. The Brahmana portions guide people to perform sacrificial rites. They are prose explanations of the method of using the Mantras in the Yajna or the sacrifice. The Brahmana portion is suitable for the householder (Grihastha) The Aranyakas are the forest books, the mystical sylvan texts which give philosophical interpretations of the Rituals. The Aranyakas are intended for the Vanaprasthas or retired people who prepare themselves for taking Sannyasa. (Vanaprastha) The Upanishads are the most important portion of the Vedas. The Upanishads contain the essence or the knowledge portion of the Vedas. The philosophy of the Upanishads is sublime, profound, lofty and soul-stirring. The Upanishads speak of the identity of the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. They reveal the most subtle and deep spiritual truths. The Upanishads are useful for the Sannyasins. [Note: Although the Vedas are divided into four parts its studies continue throughout one's life.] Interestingly out of the four ashramas three were spent in the forest. Only the Grihasthas or householders stayed in cities or villages. The other three - the brahmacharis, vanprasthas and sannyasins lived in the forest or fields. The shrutis are also divided into three aspects of life, namely Karma-Kanda Upasana-Kanda Jnana-Kanda. The Karma-Kanda or Ritualistic Section deals with various sacrifices and rituals and the whole theory of good karma and bad karma - what we call as paap and punya. The do's and dont's of material lives. This is what is minimally required to even lead a good materialistic life. The Upasana-Kanda or Worship-Section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or Knowledge-Section deals with the highest knowledge about absolute truth. The Mantras and the Brahmanas constitute Karma-Kanda (rituals). The Aranyakas constitute Upasana-Kanda (worship). The Upanishads constitute Jnana-Kanda (knowledge). Samhitas are the text of Vedas. The Brahmanas and The Aranyakas 1. There are two Brahmanas to the Rig-Veda: The Aitareya The Sankhayana 2. The Satapatha Brahmana belongs to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Krishna Yajur-Veda has the Taittiriya and the Maitrayana Brahmanas. 3. The Tandya or Panchavimsa, the Shadvimsa, the Chhandogya , the Adbhuta, the Arsheya and the Upanishad Brahmanas belong to the Sama-Veda. 4. The Brahmana of the Atharva-Veda is called the Gopatha . Each of the Brahmana has got an Aranyaka. The Upanishads The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Vedas or the end of the Vedas. The teaching based on them is called Vedanta. We are going to discuss these in details in future lessons. (Next Lesson: Shurtis contd, Sutras, Vedangas etc)