RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM
In the modern context of understanding Hinduism as a religion, it is supposedly
followed by about 1.2 billion people in the world according to a report submitted on
Oct / 26 / 2022 by the Pew Research Center. Of these 1.2 billion people, about 94%
to 97% of them live in India and identify themselves religiously as Hindus.
These Hindus believe principally in two types of Religious Scriptures called in Sanskrit
/ Hindi as Shrutis meaning The Revealed Scriptures from God and Smritis meaning
The Written Scriptures by learned men.
After the following brief introduction of the Hindu Religious Scriptures, we shall then deal
with the origins and other facts of these scriptures, in succinct.
SHRUTIS OF HINDUISM
In Hinduism, the Four Vedas are believed to be Shrutis, that is, The Revealed Scriptures
from God and most important than all other scriptures. They are :
- [1] Rig Ved
- [2] Atharva Ved
- [3] Yajur Ved
- [4] Saam Ved
An entire corpus of other literature that supplements the literature of the Vedas and is
interpretation of the Vedas is included currently as Shrutis. They are :
- [UPANISHADS There are about 108 Upanishads like the Brihadaranyaka, the
SvetaSvetara Upanishad, the Chandogya Upanishad etc.
- [2] BRAHMANAS There are about 10 Brahmanaas like the Chandogya Brahmana,
Mantra Brahmana etc.
- [3] ARANYAAKAAS There are about 10 Aranyaakaas like the Aitareya Aranyaka,
Shatapatha Aranyaka etc.
- PURANAS There are about 18 Puraanaas like the Bhavishya Puraanaa, Ganesha
Puraana, Shiv Puraanaa etc.
SMRITIS OF HINDUISM
There are EIGHTEEN main SMRITIS also called as Dharma Sastras. The Most
Important Smriti is the MANU SMRITI followed by Yajnavalkya and Parasara.
The Remaining Fifteen Smritis are those of Vishnu, Daksha, Samvarta, Vyasa, Harita,
Satatapa, Vasishtha, Yama, Apastamba, Gautama, Devala, Sankha-Likhita, Usana,
Atri and Saunaka.
ITIHAASAAS OF HINDUISM
Two main mythologies are the TWO MAIN ITIHAASAAS of HINDUISM. They are
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Mythology Ramayana is before the mythology
Mahabharat.
Hindus basically believe in the four main epochs with each epoch lasting for 4.32
million years (43,20,000 years of human reckoning and that is 12,000 divinely years).
These four main epochs of Hinduism in their respective chronological order are the
Satya Yug, the Treta Yug, the Dvapara Yug and the Kal Yug. Ramayana supposedly
happened in the Treta-Yuga era, while the Mahabharat supposedly happened in the
Dvapara-Yuga era.
The exact date of the Ramayana mythology is disputable between 7000 years to 1.6
million years ago and the exact date of the Mahabharat mythology is disputable
between 5000 years to 3000 years ago. No Hindu on the face of the earth can claim
the exact dates based on any undisputable evidence.
Itihaas is a Hindi word and it means History. Till recent past these two Itihaasaas,
Ramayana and Mahabharata were merely referred as mythology, meaning folklore,
legend, bedtime stories. BUT since about 2010s these mythologies have become for
many Hindus living in India or elsewhere, as the main source for religiously identifying
themselves as Hindus.
Itihaas is a Hindi word and it means History. Till recent past these two Itihaasaas,
Ramayana and Mahabharata were merely referred as mythology, meaning folklore,
legend, bedtime stories. BUT since about 2010s these mythologies have become for
many Hindus living in India or elsewhere, as the main source for religiously identifying
themselves as Hindus.
[1] RAMAYANA has the prime character called Rama, believed to be the 7th Avatar
(meaning, a god incarnate of Vishnu, a Hindu tri-une god). In India, Rama these days, is
promoted as Aadarsh Purush meaning the most idealistic man to follow.
The exact date of the Ramayana MYTHOLOGY is disputable between 7000 years to
1.6 million years (16,00,000) ago. In written form, Ramayana is attributed to storyteller
poet Valmiki without any established evidence and is dated not before 300 B.C.
A VERY INTERESTING ASPECT OF THIS RAMA of RAMAYANA is, that, there are at
least 300 DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF RAMAYANA each contradicting the other in the
major aspects of the story theme.
The Ramayana presently popularized with political motives in India is the
Ramayana as basically shown on an Indian Television Episode in the 1980s, that was
not the one taken from the popular most and from the writings of the first ever writer
of Ramayana, that is, Valmiki Version of Ramayana but rather it was the Tulsidas
Version of Ramayana taken from his writing called RamaCharitramanas.
This Tulsidas Version of Ramayana from RamaCharitramanas depicts the story of a
virtuous Sita being abducted by the evil Ravana, and her valiant husband Ram
rescuing her with the help of his devoted brother Lakshmana and the monkey army
whose chief character is called Hanuman after an epic battle. It is the story of
familiar moral stereotypes, that was made to get deeply entrenched in mainstream
society of modern India .
After independence of India on Aug / 15 / 1947 C.E., the Bharatiya Janata Party, a
political party that started ruling India since 2014 C.E. continuously has won elections
promoting Rama as the idealistic figure for all Indian citizens and promoting the
construction of Ram Mandir (a Hindu temple in the name of Rama), as the main
focal point of everything that India needs primarily.
It is this Rama, the prime character of the mythology Ramayana, whose birthplace that
was supposed to be on the exact place where Babri Masjid (mosque) was built in 1527 C.E.,
in Ayodhya, a city of the present Uttar Pradesh state in India that became an important
political landmark in the history of independent India. It became the main source of all
evil happenings between the overall peacefully co-existing Hindu and Muslim communities
since about a millennium (a thousand years).
The first ever claim to this effect, that the Babri Masjid was built on the birthplace of Rama,
the prime mythological character of the mythology Ramayana was made in 1822 C.E. and
before that for 295 years, since the Babri Masjid was built in 1527, not a single Hindu ever
claimed that Babri Masjid was built on the birthplace of mythological character Rama of
the mythology Ramayana.
This same Babri Masjid / Babri Mosque was illegally demolished on Dec / 06 / 1992 /
Sunday, by fascist Hindus, mainly members of the undemocratic, fascistic, jingoistic RSS
Rashtriya SwayamSevak Sangh and the pseudo democratic, pseudo secular, despotic BJP
of India. These fascist Hindu goons, the criminal demolishers of the Babri Masjid, referred
themselves as Kar Sevaks and since long without any single established evidence (hitherto)
falsely claim that mythological Ram was born exactly at the same place where the Babri
Masjid was constructed by a Muslim king Babar in 1527 C.E.
This illegal demolition of Babri Masjid happened during the rule of the Congress (a political
party that continuously ruled India since Aug / 1947 C.E. till 1999 C.E.).
On Dec / 06 / 1992 / Sunday, the then Prime Minister of India, of the Congress Party, Mr.
P V Narasimha Rao was in Pooja meaning, worshiping ones own desirable idol/s, at
Prime Ministers official residence and had no time to listen to the officials who wanted to
update him of the demolition happening illegally of the Babri Masjid in the Ayodhya City
of Uttar Pradesh, that, according to the then existing order of the Supreme Court of India,
it was the duty of the Central Government of India (Congress in Power in Center then) to
fully protect Babri Masjid structure from (fascist Hindu terrorist) demolishers.
But the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. P V Narasimha Raos pooja worship of self
desired idol/s at self-chosen time, at Prime Ministers official residence, ended only after
the Masjid was demolished.
This demolition of the Babri Masjid without any order of law and without any established
evidence produced hitherto, was totally based on a two-century old false claim made by
some Hindus, that Rama of Ramayana (mythology) was born where the Babri Masjid was
constructed 465 YEARS BACK in 1527 C.E.
Another notable amazing fact is that, the Supreme Court of India passed the judgement
on Nov / 09 / 2019 / Saturday, to build the Ram Temple on the same site where for 465
years, that is, from 1527 C.E. to Dec / 06 / 1992 / Sunday, the Babri Masjid existed, did
not have any concrete evidence to support the blind faith of false claim that Rama was
born at the same place where Babri Masjid was built. The Supreme Court of India in its
historical judgment mainly sighted the blind faith of the majority as the reason to allow
the construction of the temple rather than judging on the merit of evidence.
This judgement of the Supreme Court of India has no precedence in entire history of
mankind and shall surely be an opening to many more evils of judgments from the highest
authority of judiciary being delivered not on merits of evidence but on merits of blind faith
called as religious sentiments of a majority.
This judgment of the Supreme Court of India, on Nov / 09 / 2019 / Saturday, to construct
the Ram Mandir on the same site where the Babri Masjid was illegally demolished on Dec
/ 06 / 1992 / Sunday, made the fascist Hindus of the RSS, VHP and the continuously ruling
party of India since 2014 C.E., that is the BJP, to further the Hindu and Muslim polarization
in India, mainly for their personal political gains.
Present Government in India has chosen Jan / 22 / 2024 / Monday, as the date for the
Ram Mandirs consecration ceremony, because according to Hindu Panchang, meaning
the lunisolar calendar of Hindu beliefs aligns with Abhijeet Mahurat the auspicious time
of 48 minutes centered on solar noon and time when mythological Rama was born.
Abhijeet means conqueror, victorious and the one who wins. Who won against whom?
So, the answer is an open secret. According to Hindu beliefs the date & time aligns with
Mrigashirsha Nakshatra and Amrit Siddhi Yoga.
[2] MAHABHARAT has the prime character called Krishna, believed to be the 8th
Avatar (meaning, a god incarnate of Vishnu, a Hindu tri-une god). Krishna supported on
the battlefield right-doing family members Pandavas versus wrongdoing family
members Kauravas. This is said to have happened in a place called Kurukshetra, a city
in Haryana state of present-day India.
Mahabharata is worlds longest mythological epic with about a 100,000 slokaas
equal to 200,000 independent verses and about (1800000) 1.8 million words.
The exact date of the Mahabharat mythology is disputable between 5000 years to
3000 years ago.
Mahabharata in written form is attributed to Ved Vyasa a Rishi meaning a sage, without
any proper evidence and is dated not before 400 B.C.
Eighteen chapters of the Mahabharat, that is chapter numbers twenty-five to forty
two (25 to 42) are called Bhagvad Geeta.
Bhagvad Geeta is allegedly a converse given on the battlefield by Krishna to Arjuna of
the Pandavas family, whom Krishna was provoking to wage war against their own family
members called the Kauravas.
Currently, Bhagvad Geeta also in short referred to as Geeta or Gita is being promoted
in India and worldwide, ostensibly by the RSS and its affiliates like the BJP and the militia
group VHP, as the main religious text for all Hindus, to be read and followed for the
routine of life.
Bharata is a popular character in the mythology Mahabharat and he is the son of king
Dushyanta and queen Shakuntala. From this characters name is the Hindi and
Sanskrit name Bhaarat for the country India. .
What actually are the Vedas ?
The word Vedas comes from the Sanskrit root word Vid meaning to know. In
general vid or Vedas would mean knowledge. .
In the Hindu religious context, word Veda will be understood as esoteric, cryptic,
occult and mysterious knowledge that is a Shruti meaning, that which was heard like
a Revelation and it refers primarily to the four chief texts of Hinduism known as Rig
Veda, Yajur Veda, Saam Veda and the Athar Veda.
Each of the above four mentioned primary Vedas consists of a secondary knowledge
source called the UpVeda. They are : AayurVed for Rig Veda, DhanurVed for Yajur
Veda, GandharvaVeda for Saama Veda, ArthaaShaastra for Atharva Veda,
Four primary Vedas are supposed to be basically preserved in four literary works that are
(1) Samhitaas (2) Brahmanaas (3) Aranyakaas and (4) Upanishads. Some Hindu
scholars treat Aranyaakaas and Upanishads as part of Samhitaas and Brahmanaas.
Four primary Vedas are supposed to be basically preserved in four literary works that are
(1) Samhitaas (2) Brahmanaas (3) Aranyakaas and (4) Upanishads. Some Hindu
scholars treat Aranyaakaas and Upanishads as part of Samhitaas and Brahmanaas.
Broadly speaking the whole of Vedic literature is called by Hindus as Apara Vidya
and is classified into two main categories that are : [1] VEDAS [2] VEDANGAAS.
The VEDANGAAS consist of SIX KNOWLEDGE STREAMS needed to understand the
Primary Four Vedas. They are (1) Shiksha (2) Kalpa (3) Vyaakarana (4) Nirukta (5)
Chanda (6) Jyotisha.
The exact original oral compositions of the Vedas weren't recorded in written form
and the written composition started several thousand years after the date when the
Vedas are believed by Hindus to have been primarily Revealed to Seers, Rishis etc.
Most Hindus believe that the Vedas contain hymns, philosophy, and advices to the
priests to perform rituals of Vedic religion.
How did Vedas Originate ?
Historically there is no single evidence to prove the origin of the Vedas. No Hindu
can produce single evidence for his / her popular belief about the origin of the Vedas.
This fact all the learned Hindus and all the orthodox, unorthodox, secular and other
Hindus unanimously agree upon. According to Orthodox Hindus, Vedas do not have
a human origin BUT were still infallibly transmitted verbally for thousands of years. A
claim without evidence.
According to some Hindus, a Tradition has it, but nobody knows who the originator of
this tradition is and when was this tradition first mentioned and by whom and to whom
was this tradition mentioned, that, at the beginning of each cycle of creation, Brahma,
the Lord of creation, would proclaim the eternal truths contained in the Vedas to the
great rishis (divine seers), who would then record these revelations down for posterity
for future.
The present understanding about Vedas is basically attributed to two people. Dayanand
Saraswati (Aug / 1930 to Sep / 2015), an Indian philosopher, a social leader of a section
of Hindus and the founder of a reform movement in Hinduism called the Arya Samaj.
Dayanands famous book named Satyarth Prakash explains philosophy of Vedas that
has convinced many modern-day Hindus to agree with his explanation. The other person
is the German Max Muller (Dec / 1823 to Oct / 1900), a philologist and an orientalist
whose main studies of religions were based on the Texts of the religions. But, neither
Dayanand nor Max Muller could establish the authenticity of the origin of Vedas.
Even after a clear understanding of this fundamental most weakness that there is
not single established evidence about the origin of Vedas, yet the present-day Vedic
believers conceit themselves and strive hard to give Non Hindus and Non Vedic
believers, a self-satisfying explanation based on their respective illogical explanations,
saying that, the study of the myth about the true origin of Vedas makes the Vedic
believers and researchers become the anthropological guides to global society.
NONE KNOWS AND NONE CAN EVER AUTHENTICALLY KNOW THE ORIGIN OF
VEDAS except a blind belief that they were orally transmitted for thousands of
years verbatim till written. Most popular belief is that the VEDAS were WRITTEN may
be ANYWHERE BETWEEEN 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C.
Vedas are a calcified, puzzling, enigmatic, inscrutable and unreadable knowledge for
common masses and full of never-ending mysteries for the experts of Vedic
knowledge. Vedas has parables that can be interpreted in unlimited ways with every
interpreter claiming his interpretation as most authentic.
Any reasonably sound non-Hindu as well as a Hindu will instantly judge, that, not a single
believer of Vedas, not a single Hindu in the entire world has the established evidence
about the authenticity of the origin of Vedas, except self-opinionated claims of
delusional fallacies.
The Sanskrit of Oral Traditions of Vedas transmitted to Written Sanskrit has
difference of chalk and cheese; heavens and earth and a huge amount of the
vocabulary of Vedic Sanskrit or Sanskrit of Oral Traditions of Vedas did not exist
at the time Vedas were being composed in written forms.
The Written Form Vedas has many Sanskrit words whose meanings may have totally
changed as they were used much before the Vedas were written. For example, the
English word Gay before 19th century only meant very jolly and happy and then in late
19th century scantly used to refer to homosexuals and by the mid-20th century became
popular for homosexuals and by 21st century hardly anyone uses the English word Gay
to mean jolly and happy and is used specifically to refer homosexuals only. SIMILARLY,
many Sanskrit words when Vedas may have been spoken as oral tradition changed in
meaning and usage totally different when the Vedas was composed in a written form
Who Wrote The Present Day Written Vedas ?
The Hindus explain that originally Vedas were not written but were imagined and
envisioned by some seers and Rishis. But, who exactly these seers and Rishis were, is
totally not known to anyone in the world, including no Hindu of the world knows. It is
popularly believed that these seers or Rishis must have been the 7 Brahama Rishis or
the 7 Sapta Rishis with Vishwamitra as the most revered Rishi. The Hindus call Vedas
as Auw-Purushya meaning not written by a Purush, a Sanskrit / Hindi word for man.
In the absence of any external evidence no date which can be accepted as valid
beyond doubt, can be definitely fixed for the Vedas or the Rishis whose literary work is
incorporated in the collections (Samhita). We have to find out the period during which
the hymns of the four Vedas were composed, and the time when they were selected,
classified and arranged as Samhitas or collections. According to many scholars, the first
date, especially of Rigveda, is not later than 2500B.C., and the second, is not later than
1500B.C. There are some who believe that the Vedas were composed very much earlier.
The Vedas in the current written form are attributed to Veda Vyasa. He is supposed
to have spread the study of the Vedas in the proper form, by teaching them to his
four principle disciples Rig to Paila, Yajur to Vaisampayana, Sama to Jaimini and
Atharva to Sumanta.
According to a report in the Vishnu Purana, that the Original Veda, as revealed to the
rishis, consisted of 100,000 verses, and had four divisions. But the amazing fact is
that the Vishnu Purana is attributed to having been written by Ved Vyasa but nobody has
the evidence to prove this claim and nobody can guarantee the authenticity of the writings
of the Vishnu Purana itself. But, however, it is explained by the Hindus that these 100,
000 verses in their four divisions became hidden with the passage of time.
So, in the beginning of the Dvapara Age that according to the Hindus is from (Eight
lakhs-sixty-seven thousand-one hundred and two) 8,67,102 B.C. (before Christ) to (Eight
lakhs-sixty-four thousand) 8,64,000 B.C. (before Christ), Sage Krishna Dvaipayana
revived the Vedic study, collected all materials and reclassified the work according
to the four ancient divisions of Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Look, how ingeniously
the period mentioned is a period of two thousand four hundred years (8,67,102 minus
8,64,000 B.C.) and not one single period as to when exactly in those 2,400 years this work
happened is mentioned. Can any reasonable person acknowledge this explanation
as seriously authentic explanation and as established evidence? Can you imagine
the correction and collection of the materials and reclassification of the Vedas
happening eight hundred and sixty thousand years before Jesus Christ is born?
So, when were the actual contents of Vedas written is impossible to trace, but the
oldest material is considered to exist in verbal form prior to 3000 B.C. and according
to Devdatt Pattnaik, a very renowned Indian mythologist, he says that the Vedas
must be actually existing since 3500 3000 B.C. but they were orally transmitted till
they were written down for the first time not before 2000 years ago. (In an interview
to INDIA TODAY: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current
affairs/story/vedas-explained-devdutt-pattanaik-debunks-misconceptions-explains
origin-and-key-concepts-2375795-2023-05-06).
These days popular spiritual gurus have become self-declared champions of
preserving, promoting and preaching the Vedas in the name of Hindu culture,
Hindu tradition and Hindu religious practices globally IN THE CON OF Sanatana
Dharma to mean the undying and eternal religion, Vasudhaiyva Kutumbakam to
mean world is one family and Yoga to mean fitness exercises for mental and physical
health are the best examples to understand sesquipedalian speakers of Hinduism.
UN-FORTUNATELY we find the followers of major Semitic and Monotheistic religions
like Judaism, Christianity and Islam, fall a trap to the practice of Yoga believing it to
be unassociated with Hinduism. Because this is what is being wrongly preached by
the Sadhgurus of Sanatana Dharma alias for Hinduism.
What was and what is the language of the Vedas ?
Vedic Sanskrit, also simply referred as the Vedic language, is an ancient language of
the Indo-Aryan subgroup (meaning a language family native to overwhelming majority
of Europe) of the Indo-European language family that includes languages such as
Albanian, Armenian, Balto-Slavic, Celtic, Germanic, Hellenic, Indo-Iranian,
and Italic/Romans; and another nine subdivisions that are now extinct.
Vedas are supposed by Hindus to have been written in early Sanskrit (extinct or
fossilized today). The early Sanskrit is totally different from what the people learn,
study and speak as Sanskrit today.
The early Vedic Sanskrit is a dead language and is totally extinct and the Sanskrit in
which the present-day Vedas are written has very interesting data of the number of
people who know it.
The early Vedic Sanskrit is a dead language and is totally extinct and the Sanskrit in
which the present-day Vedas are written has very interesting data of the number of
people who know it.
According to a survey published on Sep / 28 / 2022 by leading media outlets, like
India Today : (https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/people-speak-sanskrit-india-home
ministry-language-department-2005594-2022-09-28),
CNBC TV18 : (https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/only-24821-people-in-india-have
sanskrit-as-mother-tongue-govt-data-14819891.htm),
Mirror7:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t6NGyvhTsY&ab_channel=Mirror7News%
7CBreakingNews)
The Print : (https://theprint.in/india/only-24821-indians-identified-as-sanskrit-speakers
in-2011-census-reveals-rti-query/1148572/) etc. reported that the Home Ministry of Indias Language Department revealed that according to the 2011 census only
(twenty-four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one) 24,821 Indians spoke Sanskrit.
This means, in India, a country with a population of about (130,0000000) 1.3 billion in
the 2011 C.E., has less than (twenty-five thousand) 25,000 Indians speaking Sanskrit,
a language being preached as the language of the Revealed Gods Word, that is the
Vedas and Vedas is believed by more than 75% of Indian Population as Primary
Most Religious Scripture to understand Hinduism or the so called Sanatana Dharma.
This is about only 0.002% Indians speak Sanskrit.
Then from these 0.002% there may hardly be less than five hundred who can read to
understand and explain the Sanskrit of the Vedas.
Then those five hundred or less who read to understand Vedic Sanskrit will surely
have different interpretations and explanations and so there will be an entire mess to
understand Vedas in one unified sense, even for issues that are the core teachings of
the Vedas.
The above statistics are enough to understand how easily, the handful people who
read and understand Sanskrit can manipulate and preach the meanings of the teachings
of the Vedas to suit their personal gains and in the current Indian context to suit the
political goals of the fascists in power.
MORE ABOUT THE RIG VEDA
Rig Veda represents the oldest and the earliest sacred book of the Hindus of India. It is
the biggest of all the four primary Vedas. It is basically written in Classical Sanskrit in
poetic form. Classical Sanskrit is a language close to late Vedic as then used in the
northwest of the Indian subcontinent.
Classical Sanskrit is well described in the Astadhyayi - Eight Chapters composed
by Pa?ini, a Sanskrit grammarian, who lived on dates disputably between 6th century
B.C. to 5th century B.C. It is in this Sanskrit that the oldest available written Rig Veda
is claimed to exist.
Rig Veda or Rig Veda Samhita and Samhita means collection or compilation.
The whole Rig Veda Samhita is in the form of verses known as Mantraas and those
verses or Mantraas meant to praise deity are known in Sanskrit as Rik.
Only one branch of school of Rig Veda is available today, called the Shaakala Shakha
that is mainly followed in India in the states of the
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
- Mandalaas 10
- Anuvaakaas 85
- Suktaas 1,028
- Mantraas 10,552
While citing references from the Rig Veda, the Anuvakas are not mentioned and only
the Mandala (book), Sukta(hymn) and Mantraa(verse) are mentioned.
Scholars teaching Rig Veda mention that every Sukta (hymn) of Rig Veda has a Rishi,
a Seer who is supposed to have received it as a Revelation. Let us know them.
Rig Veda :
Book Mandala 01 has Suktaas - 191 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are,
Maduchchanda, Medhatithi, Gotama and many others. This book has 2006 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 02 has Suktaas - 43 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are,
Gritasamada, and his family. This book has 429 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 03 has Suktaas - 62 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are,
Vishwamitra and his family. This book has 617 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 04 has Suktaas - 58 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are, Vamadeva
and his family. This book has 589 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 05 has Suktaas - 87 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are, Atri and
his family. This book has 727 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 06 has Suktaas - 75 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are, Bhardvaja
and his family. This book has 765 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 07 has Suktaas - 104 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are,
Vashishtha and his family. This book has 841 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 08 has Suktaas - 103 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are, Kanva,
Angira and their family. This book has 1716 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 09 has Suktaas - 114 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are, the
deity Soma Devta but different Rishis or Seers. This book has 1108 Mantraas.
Book Mandala 10 has Suktaas - 191 and the Rishis for these Suktaas are,
Maduchchanda, Medhatithi, Gotama and many others. This book has 1754 Mantraas.
Of Rig Vedas total 1,028 Suktaas (hymns), 7 Suktaas are most often taught and
recited. They are : [1] Purusha [2] Hiranya-Garbha [3] Dhana-anna-dana [4] Aksha [5]
Nasadiya [6] Duhsvapna-nashna [7] Yama-Yami Samvad suktaas.
AyurVeda (medicine) is associated as UpVeda with Rig Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE YAJUR VEDA
Yajur Veda is also referred to as Veda of Karma or the Ritual Veda and is written in
ancient Vedic Sanskrit also called the Classical Sanskrit of Paanini. Yajur Veda is very
different from Rig Veda and the Saam Veda and is basically in a prose form. Yajur Ved
has a popular word often used with various meanings in it and the Sanskrit word is
Yajush from a root Yaj and from this root is a word Yajuh meaning Prose and another
word Yajur-Yajateh related to Yajna / Sacrifice. It is also popular for giving certain
geographical data, depicting religious and social life of Vedic people, presenting
philosophical doctrines, preaching concepts of Prana and Manas, very briefly meaning
positive & negative forces in ones own life. Yajur Veda is said to be two-folded as The
White or Pure and The Dark or Black. Yajur Veda is called the guidebook of the
Adhvaryu priest (responsible for physical details) of sacrifice in particular adhvara a term
used for SomaYagna a form of ritual and sacrifice in which Soma plants juice is offered
to a deity and in Hinduism the Soma represents the god of moon. Yajur Vedas two
main sections are called as Shukla Yajur Veda and the other is Krishna Yajur Veda.
For a general idea the contents of the Yajur Veda can be basically divided into three
sections. First section deals with Darshapuranamasa, the sacrifice on new moon and
full moon days. Second section deals with Somayaga, a ritual done in front of a sacred
fire and Soma is used as main offering and this is said to be equivalent of the Zoroastrian
practice of Iranian Haoma. This is performed only by Brahmins. Third section deals with
Agnicayanas that symbolically, represents a ritual recreation of the original sacrifice of
the cosmic man (Puru?a/Prajapati), through which universe was created and ordered
and to ensure the continuity of the seasons and the well-being of the sacrificer. Shukla
Yajur Veda is followed by Aaditya School of thought in Hinduism and basically has
two Samhitaas / collections (i) Madhynadina (ii) Kanva while the Krishna Yajur Veda
is followed by Brahma School of thought in Hinduism and basically has four Samhitaas
/ collections (i) Taittiriya (ii) Kathaka (iii) Kapishthala (iv) Maitraayani
DhanurVeda (archery) is associated as UpVeda with Yajur Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE SAAM VEDA
Saam Veda is closely connected with the Rig Veda and is shortest of all the four primary
Vedas. Many verses of the Saam Veda are derived from the 8th and the 9th Mandalaas
(Books) of the Rig Veda. Saam Veda is mainly compiled for the ritual application and
its Mantraas / Verses are chanted at the ceremonies of the Soma Sacrifice and
procedures derived from it. The Mantraas of the Saam Veda are called as Samans
meaning chants (song like). According to a tradition attributed to Paataanjali, he is
believed to have said that originally Saam Veda had one thousand 1,000 Shakhaas
of which only three 3 exist now. They are : (1) Kauthuma (2) Jaiyminiya and (3)
Ranayaniya. A section of Saam Veda is divided as : Kauthuma consists of Archika and
Ganaa. Then Archika consists of Purvarcika and Uttararcika and then the Purvarcika
consists of (1) Agneya with 114 verses for Agni (2) Aindraa with 352 verses for Indra
(3) Pavamana with 119 verses for Soma-Pavamana (4) Arnya with 55 verses for Agni,
Indra, Soma etc. This part consists of 650 Verses. The Other Section of Saam Veda
consists of 1225 Verses. Saam Veda consists of a total of 1875 Verses of which only
99 Verses are of Saam Veda while the remaining 1771 Verses are from the Rig Veda.
n Bhagvad Geeta : Ch : 10 V : 22, Krishna declares himself as the Saam Veda.
This is open evidence of plagiarism and God does not commit plagiarism. Therefore,
undoubtedly Saam Veda is a human creativity and not Revelation.
GandharvaVeda (music and dance) is associated as UpVeda with Saam Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE ATHAR VEDA
Atharva Veda is derived its name from Atharvan meaning a priest and a priest called
Atharva is supposed by Hindus to have brought to light the Atharva Veda. Atharva Veda
in the Indian literature is known by its oldest name AtharVangirasa Veda. It is called
so because it is believed to be Vedas belonging to the Atharvaas and the Vangiraas
groups of priests.
Pataanjali is attributed to have said that Atharva Veda had nine Shakhaas (branches)
but only Shaunaaka and Paippallaada, these two remain today. Atharva Veda
basically and frequently is referred to the Shaunaaka- Samhita.
Hindus call Atharva Veda as an Encyclopedia of many subjects, including the
knowledge of medicine, especially the Aayur Veda form of medicine. It is also
supposed to have knowledge pertaining to politics, agriculture, philosophical, social
matters etc. They say that the Atharva Veda can be used to cure diseases and
destruction from evil forces like ghosts etc., and is believed to have knowledge of
Supreme Reality, time, death and immortality. Most importantly Atharva Veda is
supposed to be the root for the Indian Philosophical Thought.
Athar Veda has 20 Kaandaas (Books), 730 Hymns, and 5987 Mantraas (verses). Of
these 5987 verses about 1200 Verses are derived from Rig Veda. The 15th and 16th
Kaandaas / Books of Atharva Veda are in prose form while remaining in poetic form.
This is open evidence of plagiarism just like we can find in Saam Veda and God does
not commit plagiarism. Therefore, undoubtedly Saam Veda is a human creativity and
not Revelation.
ArthaSastra (economics) is associated as UpVeda with Saam Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE UPANISHADS
Upanishads are supposedly believed as the most important books after the Vedas
to understand and practice Hindu Theology and Hindu Philosophy. Upanishads come
at the end of the Aranyakas.
In the current times The Upanishads are promoted by fascist Hindus as one of the
three scriptures of Prasthanatrayi (a composition of Upanishads, Bhagwad Geeta and
Brahma Sutras).
The fascist Hindus are currently using all resources at their disposal to promote
Hinduism globally with the pseudonym Sanatana Dharma focusing on their
respective interpretation of the Prasthanatrayi.
BAPS an acronym for Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha is one
of the primary organizations associated or affiliated at-least as is understood to be an
open secret with the RSS and its minimum 40 important Hindu Affiliate
Organizations like the HSS of United Kingdom, HAF Hindu American Foundation etc.,
to be promoting Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) through the scriptures composed in
Prasthanatrayi.
Primary understanding of Upanishads being promoted in our times is that the Vedas
are books explaining the teachings of Theology in Hinduism while Upanishads explain
in detail the Hindu Philosophy and Hindu Culture.
What Does UPANISHAD Mean ?
The Sanskrit root words for Upanishad are Upa + Ni + Sad.
Upa means Nearness and Ni means Devotedly focused and Sad means to sit. As such
Upanishad would mean Sit devotedly in nearness. This is explained as disciples sitting
devotedly near their Guru meaning teacher (of Vedas).
This word Upanishad later gathered another meaning with passage of time. It started to mean
Rahasya a Sanskrit word meaning secret or Guhya meaning mystery. But this was not its correct
meaning understood at the time when it was first composed according to learned men of Hinduism.
What Does UPANISHAD Mean ?
This word Upanishad later gathered another meaning with passage of time. It started to mean
Rahasya a Sanskrit word meaning secret or Guhya meaning mystery. But this was not its correct
meaning understood at the time when it was first composed according to learned men of Hinduism.
How Many UPANISHADs Are There ?
According to Panini's Ashtadhyayi (also known as Panineeyam), the Total number of
Upanishads were 900, and Patanjali also puts the number of Upanishads at 900; it
appears that MOST OF THEM are LOST FOREVER.
Upanishads are currently said to be more than 200 BUT traditionally only 108. Among
Hindus a great speculation remains about the actual number of Upanishads. Some
argue that traditionally Upanishads were a part of Brahmanas and Aranyakas.
The NigeernUpanishad, of apocryphal nature, names 187 Upanishads.
Adi Shankarachaarya, who lived anywhere between 700 C.E. to 820 C.E., was a staunch
anti-Buddhism and he is generally believed to have composed commentaries to 11
Upanishads that are considered as the canon of Oldest Upanishads.
Hinduism, since known, had some type of political influence in its religious ideology, to
suit the rulers of the respective times. Hence, Upanishads have taken an independent
position since long, but still, the Orthodox Hindus Believe that Upanishads basically
own up to the teachings of one of the four Vedas. The date of composition of each is
unknown, with the oldest probably composed from about 800 BC and the youngest
probably composed after the 15 C.E.
Hinduism, since known, had some type of political influence in its religious ideology, to
suit the rulers of the respective times. Hence, Upanishads have taken an independent
position since long, but still, the Orthodox Hindus Believe that Upanishads basically
own up to the teachings of one of the four Vedas. The date of composition of each is
unknown, with the oldest probably composed from about 800 BC and the youngest
probably composed after the 15 C.E.
According to Muktika a Sanskrit word meaning deliverance and is used popularly
to refer to the canon of, to the catalogue of the 108 Upanishads. The 10 PRIME
UPANISHADS of the 108 Upanishads also called as DAShUpanishad, whose names have
been mentioned in the Muktika are : Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Munda, Mandukya,
Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka. Another 3 More Upanishads
are listed in the Old Upanishads. They are : ShvetaShvatara, Kaushitaki and
Maitrayaniya.
These 13 Main Upanishads, that is, 10 of Muktika and the 3 of Old Upanishads are related
to the Four Vedas as :
- (1) Aitareya and Kaushitaki to Rig Veda
- (2) Brihadaranyaka and Isha to Shukla-Yajur Veda
- (3) Taittiriya, Katha, ShvetaShvetara and Maitrayanaya to Krishna-Yajur Veda
- (4) Chandogya and Kena to Saam Veda
- (5) Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna to Atharva Veda
According to the MUKTIKUPANISHAD the 108 Upanishads are divided according to
the Primary Four Vedas as : 10 Upanishads from Rig Veda ; 19 Upanishads from
Shukla-Yajur Veda ; 32 Upanishads from Krishna-Yajur Veda ; 16 Upanishads from
Saam Veda ; 31 Upanishads from Atharva Veda.
The promoters of Sanatana Dharma emphasize that it is impossible to get the true
insight of the Indian Philosophy and Indian Culture (here the word Indian means
Hindu) without studying the Upanishads. They claim that every subsequent
development of philosophy and religion in India has drawn heavily on Upanishads.
MORE ABOUT THE BRAHMANAS
Brahmanas are Explanation of the Vedic Mantras (verses) by the learned men called
Brahmans.
Brahmanas are also said to be the Religious Textbooks of Hinduism on the details of
Sacrifice, that is, Yagna commanded in the Vedas. Based on this, Brahmanas later came
to be known as Collections of explanations by Rishis / priests on the science of
Sacrifice commanded in the Vedas. To be more precise, Brahmanas means Brahmanical
Explanation of the Mantras (verses) of Vedas.
Brahmanical means explanation of Vedas etc., given by highest caste in Hindus called
the Brahmins, who alone were created with the sole purpose to read, understand
and teach the Religious Scriptures of Hinduism and to perform Religious Rituals for
all remaining Hindus. Brahmanas are also called KarmaCodana Brahmanani meaning
injunctions for performance of sacrificial rites.
Less than 20 Brahmanas are extant / surviving while MOST BRAHMANAS HAVE
BEEN LOST OR DESTROYED. Oldest Brahmanas is supposedly dated to 900 B.C. and
the Youngest Brahamana is supposedly dated to 700 B.C.
Brahmanas basically deal with Six Main Topics : 1. Vidhi injunctions for performing
particular rights 2. ArthaVadha numerous interpretations on verses of sacrificial rites
3. Ninda criticism of opposing viewpoints 4. Prashansa exaltations 5. Purakalpa
imagining sacrificial rites of much previous times 6. Prakriti achievements of others.
Brahmanas basically deal with Six Main Topics : 1. Vidhi injunctions for performing
particular rights 2. ArthaVadha numerous interpretations on verses of sacrificial rites
3. Ninda criticism of opposing viewpoints 4. Prashansa exaltations 5. Purakalpa
imagining sacrificial rites of much previous times 6. Prakriti achievements of others.
Names of Principal Brahmanas in relation to the Vedas are : Aitareya and Kaushitaki /
Sankhayana Brahmanas related to Rig Veda ; Shatpatha and Taittiriya Brahmanas
related to Shukla and Krishna Yajur Veda respectively ; Gopatha Brahmanas related to
Atharva Veda ; Tandya, Shadvinsha, Samavidhana, Arsheya, Daivata, Upanishad,
SamhitUpanishad, Vamsha, Jaiminya, JaiminiyaAsheya, JaiymanyUpanishad are the
Brahmanas related to Saam Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE ARANYAKAS
Aranyakas are mostly believed to be the Concluding Parts of Several Brahmanas. They
are partly included in the Brahmanas and partly they were formed as independent works
Aranyaka is a Sanskrit word derived from the root word Aranya meaning forest and
Aranyakas are to be read in the forest. While the Brahmanas are to be read in habitats.
It is believed that Aranyakas must have been propounded by Hindu Rishis / sages who
emancipated the world and lived in forests and gave explanations about the sacrificial
rituals called Yagnas mentioned in the Vedas. Another name for Aranyakas is Rahasya
because it is believed that they explained the secrets mentioned in the Upanishads.
Major content of the Aranyakas include BrahmaVidya meaning knowledge about
Creator Upasana meaning knowledge about meditation and PranaVidya meaning
knowledge about breat
There are Only 7 Aranyakas present currently in the world and not a single Aranyaka
belongs to the Atharva Veda. Those belonging to the remaining three Vedas are :
Aiytareya and Kaushitaki / Shankhayana Aranyakas belonging to the Rig Veda ;
Talavakara / Jaiminiya Upanishad and Chandogya Aranyakas belonging to the Saama
Veda ; Brihadaranyaka Aranyakas belonging to the Shukla Yajur Veda ; Taittiriya and
Maitrayaniya Aranyakas belonging to the Rig Veda.
MORE ABOUT THE PURANAS
Purana is a Sanskrit word that merely means old or ancient. In Hinduism that genre
of Scriptures in written form mention stories of some specific gods are called as Puranas.
Purana is a Sanskrit word that merely means old or ancient. In Hinduism that genre
of Scriptures in written form mention stories of some specific gods are called as Puranas.
Purana is a Sanskrit word that merely means old or ancient. In Hinduism that genre
of Scriptures in written form mention stories of some specific gods are called as Puranas.
Hindu learned men explain the importance of these 18 Authoritative Puranas as
something like the Haggadah contained in the Jewish Talmud, The Jataka Tales in
Buddhism and like the Hadees (Sayings) of Prophet Muhammad ? in Islam.
In Hindu mythology, Puranas are considered to have been compiled by Ved Vyasa,
the author attributed also for worlds longest mythology called MahaBharata BUT
WHO WROTE PURANAS and WHEN WERE PURANAS WRITTEN - NO ONE KNOWS.
AN INTERESTING FACT is that almost all stories and all serials made as plays in
theaters or shown on television serials or shown as movies on Hinduism have almost
or in total, the stories taken from these Puranas.
ANOTHER INTERESTING POINT TO NOTE ABOUT MAHA PURANAS IS that these
Sanskrit Maha-Puranas are not directly accessible to common persons as read texts.
They are available in vernacular and dialect translations and are disseminated,
circulated by Brahmin Scholars, who read from them and tell their stories, usually in
Katha sessions (in which a traveling Brahmin settles for a few weeks in a temple and
narrates parts of a Purana, usually with a Bhakti perspective).
The names of the 18 Maha Puranas are :
(1) Agni Purana (2) Bhagvata Purana (3) Bhavishya Purana (4) Brahmanda Purana (5)
Brahmavavarta Purana (6) Garuda Purana (7) Kurma Purana (8) Linga Purana (9)
Markendya Purana (10) Matsya Purana (11) Naradiya / Narada Purana (12) Padma
Purana (13) Shiva Purana (14) Skanda Purana (15) Vamana Purana (16) Varaha Purana
(17) Vayu Purana (18) Vishnu Purana
The names of the 18 Upa Puranas are :
(1) Sanatkumara Purana (2) Narasimha Purana (3) Brihannaradiya Purana (4)
Sivarahasya Purana (5) Durvasa Purana (6) Kapila Purana (7) Vamana Purana (8)
Bhargava Purana (9) Varuna Purana (10) Kalika Purana (11) Samba Purana (12)
Nanda Purana (13) Surya Purana (14) Parasara Purana (15) Vashishtha Purana (16)
Devi Purana (17) Ganesha Purana (18) Hamsa Purana
In Hinduism, the 18 Upa-Puranas are much less in importance than the 18 Maha
Puranas. The 18 Upa Puranas are considered too less authoritative.
The canonical list, the recognized list of Puranas varies from place to place and from
time to time, and they are enumerated and classified in multiple ways. Many of these
Puranas (Maha Puranas and Upa Puranas = 36) were written by Brahmins BUT
NONE KNOWS exactly which Brahmin wrote and when exactly did that Brahmin
write these Puranas ?
SOME NOTABLE PURANAS are the Bhagvata Purana deals mainly in Vishnu Bhakti,
mentioning the exploits and deeds of different incarnations Avataars of Vishnu, a
Hindu deity. The 10th canto / verse of Bhagvata Purana is the longest and it is this verse
that contains the details of the exploits of Krishna a Hindu deity, as a child stealing
butter - maakhan. It is from this narration that later the popular Hindu Bhakti
Movements used this to elaborate and make plays and stories on Krishna.
Skanda Purana Is the longest of all Puranas and is considered the vast storehouse
of many stories, legends and parables with several versions and recensions (revised text).
Devi Bhagavata Purana is one of the Upa Puranas and it is from this Purana that the
main story of DURGA MATA / KALI MATA / BHAVANI MATA (popular goddess
worshiped mainly in the eastern India region and is mostly considered by women as a
source of women empowerment) is taken and then through different and several versions
spread out as a Revealed Story from God for people to worship a female goddess. This
Devi Bhagavata Purana extols and admires the virtues of Durga as a Supreme Being.
Bhavishya Purana Sanskrit word, bhavishya means future. Hence, this is the Purana,
that contains signs of the future. Future here would mean the future from the time of its
writing. This is used by Muslim preachers to quote the Hindus to teach them that
whoever must have written it but it contains the name of Prophet Muhammad ? with
good enough details about the Prophet and his ? followers.
OTHER THAN THESE MAIN PURANAS are the STHALA PURANA called so because
they contain stories to set the virtues and importance of different places of the Hindu
temples and pilgrimage places of Hindus. There are several different versions of the
Sthala Puranas and one such popular version is the Tamil Sthala Purana.
Another such Purana is the KULA PURANA and Kula is a Sanskrit word which basically
means family / tribe / caste. It is believed that it is in this Purana that one can understand
a lot about the Discriminatory Caste System in Hinduism that is fundamentally a
teaching given in Rig Veda : Book : 10 Hymn : 90 Verse : 12 & Bhagvad Geeta : Ch :
18 V : 41 to 43.
Even Jain religion has Puranas that In Shaa Allah (by Will of Allah) I shall deal under the
section on the religion of Jainism.
SMRITIS OF HINDUISM
Smriti is a Sanskrit word and it literary means, that which is remembered. The
Smritis are attributed to some writer and are unlike the Shruti that have no author.
The authority of smriti is accepted by orthodox schools of Hinduism as they believe
that the Smriti is derived from that which is Shruti, on which it is based.
There are EIGHTEEN main SMRITIS also called as Dharma Sastras. The Most
Important Smriti is the MANU SMRITI followed by Yajnavalkya and Parasara.
The Remaining Fifteen Smritis and not considered to be of much prominence are those
of Vishnu, Daksha, Samvarta, Vyasa, Harita, Satatapa, Vasishtha, Yama, Apastamba,
Gautama, Devala, Sankha-Likhita, Usana, Atri and Saunaka.
YAJNAVALKYA SMRITI is supposedly composed after the ManuSmriti and is in
shloka style (poetic). There is no evidence to suggest the exact author and the exact
date but is believed to be composed during the Gupta Rule in India anywhere between
3 C.E. to 5 C.E. It is attributed to Yajnavalkya, supposedly a writer of portions of
Upanishads. He is also said to be the author of a book called Yoga Yajnavalkya a male
female dialogue between him and a female named Gargi. The Yajnavalkya Smriti is
basically said to be a Dharma text of Hinduism composed in Classical Sanskrit.
Yajnavalkya Smriti comprises of basic three portions. (1) Achara-Kanda dealing with
customs. (2) Prayaschita-Kanda dealing with Crimes and Punishments and (3)
Vyavhara-kanda dealing with judicial procedures and judiciary.
(Dharma is basically a Sanskrit word used more commonly these days by Hindus to hide
the vacuum of fundamental core of their belief on any set standard and the word has so
many meanings that they use to fill their condition and choice of custom and rituals done
spiritually in the name of Hinduism as a whole. The same word has a different meaning
when used by Buddhists, Jains and the Sikhs in many aspects from its usage by the Hindus).
PRASARA SMRITI is more popularly known as PARASHAR SMRITI attributed to a
man called Parashar supposedly a sage himself and the son of sage named Shakti and
the grandson of a sage called Vashistha. Moreover, this man Parashar is said to be the
father of Vyasa also called as Ved Vyasa the popularly attributed writer of many
prominent Hindu Texts, especially the worlds longest mythological episode,
MahaaBhaarat. Prashar is also believed to be the writer of the first Purana, i.e., the
Vishnu Purana.
The name Prashara basically means enlivener of the dead. He got this name because of
his grandfather Vashishtha, survived several suicide attempts miraculously. He was
depressed because all his sons including Prashars father was killed by a king called
Kalmashapada also called Saudasha Mitrasaha. But, every time Vashishtha attempted
suicide, he failed miserably, so finally he gave up his habit of attempted suicides and
returned to his hamlet, only to find that his daughter-in-law, the mother of Prashar is
pregnant with Prashar and so Vashishtha decided to become his father and bring him
up. The GENEOLOGY of PRASHARA is also interesting. Brahma the creator of universe
as believed by Hindus according to Vedas, created Vashishtha and he had a son Shakti
who sired Prashara.(SIRE is a word used to describe a man who marries the widow of his
brother or has children from her without marriage. In Bible it is used for referring to a male
parent of an animal). Prashara is believed to be the father of Vyasa or Ved Vyasa and
then this Ved Vyasa sired Dhritarashtra father of Kauravas of MahaaBhaarat and
Pandu the foster father of the Pandavas of MahaaBhaarat. Prashara is also attributed
to works like Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra meaning Prasharas large horoscopy
which is the foundational text of Hindu Astrology. He is also recorded as a seer / rishi
for some Rig Vedas verses. Vrksayurveda is attributed to him and is prime book for
students of Traditional Indian Medicine.
PRASHARA SMRITI is supposedly a book written by Prashara as a Law Code for
Hindus to follow during Kal Yuga the fourth Time-Cycle full of tribulations and
according to some research scholars it is more castiest than the Manu Smriti.
MANU SMRITI is that RELIGIOUS TEXT OF HINDUS that was PUBLICLY BURNT
DOWN by none other than THE FATHER OF INDEPENDENT INDIAs CONSTITUTION
known as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on December / 25 / 1927 during the Mahad
Satyagraha. Ambedkar referred to this public burning of Hindu Religious Text Manu
Smriti as MANU SMRITI DAHAN DIVAS meaning DEATH DAY OF MANU SMRITI the
HINDU RELIGIOUS TEXT.
In present times it is contested that the Manu Smriti was never a Law Code of Hindus,
but the action by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar of publicly burning the Religious Text of
Hindus, the Manu Smriti, speaks volumes about the truth of Manu Smriti and its
teachings in practice during and before the British Rule in India. According to some
historians, the only period when the lower caste Hindus were not mistreated much by
upper caste Hindus was when Muslims were ruling India and the Muslim rulers did not
allow the caste-based atrocities to openly occur against lower caste Hindus, that existed
in Indian History for several thousand years before advent of Muslims in India. It is
against these caste-based atrocities committed by a handful of upper caste Hindus
called Brahmins against the lower caste Hindus that still form more than 60% to 70% of
the total Hindu population in India, that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar openly and publicly burnt
the Hindu Religious Text which was foundational for caste-based discrimination within
Hindus. Even today after more than 75 years of Indian Independence there are scores of
incidents of extreme atrocities committed by upper caste Hindus against lower caste
Hindus in India, that supposedly increased since 2015 C.E. and that include raping young
girls of the lower caste Hindus and burning them down after raping, making lower caste
Hindu men lick boots of upper caste Hindus, murdering the youth of lower caste Hindus
and burning down their homes with lower caste Hindus still inside their homes etc. If
this is happening in our present times when media and technology is so advanced, then
just imagine the plight of the lower caste Hindus when the upper caste Hindus, the
Brahmins were not answerable to anyone and were believed and are still promoted as
By Birth Authorities to lead Hindus in all Hindu Religious Affairs.
Today many apologetic Hindus give explanations to change the very meaning in
which CASTE DISCRIMINATION existed for thousands of years in India and its
foundational teachings are given in Rig Veda (: Ch : 10 Hymn : 90 Verse : 12 and
Bhagvad Geeta Ch : 18 Verse : 41 to 43), two very Prominent Hindu Religious Texts.
Mr. Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujrat state of India, when the
Muslims were brutally raped and murdered in Gujrat during the Hindu-Muslim Gujrat
riots in 2002 C.E. and for which for many years the USA did not issue Mr. Narendra
Modi a US Visa, but now as a Prime Minister of India since 2014 C.E., constantly
promotes Bhagvad Geeta by giving it as a gift to a lot of international dignitaries whom
he keeps meeting on his foreign visits. Bhagvad Geeta is the same book in which
Krishna a popular Hindu deity Preaches Caste System in Ch : 18 Verses : 41 to 43.
Manu Smriti, a Religious Book of Hindus, is considered by many to be the Mother of
All Text Books On Caste Discrimination. It must not have been a declared Law Book
or Law Code followed by Upper Caste Hindus, but the atrocities committed against
the vast majority of lower caste Hindus involved actions written in Manu Smriti.
As the Brahmana (top caste Hindu) sprang from (Brahmas Creators) mouth, as he was
the first-born, and as he possesses the Veda, he is by right the lord of this whole creation.
Manu Smriti : 1 : 93. The very birth of a Brahman (top caste Hindu) is an eternal
incarnation of the sacred law; for he is born to (fulfil) the sacred law and becomes one
with Brahma (Creator). A Brahman (top caste Hindu), coming into existence, is born as
the highest on earth, the lord of all created beings, for the protection of the treasury of
the law. Whatever exists on earth is the property of the Brahman (top caste Hindu); on
account of his excellence in origin, he (Brahman) is surely entitled to all. Manu Smriti :
1 : 98 to 100. Similarly the Manu Smriti : Ch : 2 V : 30 to Ch : 6 V : 97 is largest portion
speaking on one single subject and the subject is the Veneration of Brahmins, the
highest caste of Hindus religiously as mentioned in Rig Veda : 10 : 90 : 12 and
Bhagvad Geeta : 18 : 41 to 43. (https://www.indiadivine.org/content/files/file/644
manu-smriti-in-sanskrit-with-english-translations-pdf/)
Manu Smriti has innumerable versions filled with several contradictions and this is
accepted by a lot of Hindu learned men also. At least fifty of these versions are more
popular than the remaining and that which was most popular, most translated and
presumably the most authentic since the 18th century is the Kolkatta Version of Manu
Smriti (Kolkatta is the new name for Calcutta, city of West Bengal, India). It is considered
to be the first of all texts translated into English in 1776 C.E. by Sir, Willian Jones to help
the East India Company ruling India frame laws for Hindus of India then.
Manu Smriti is also known as Manava DharmaSastra meaning Laws of Manu and
Manu is a Sanskrit word which means a man. It is also believed that the English word
man is from this Sanskrit word, manu. But No Hindu Knows till date who this Manu
was and when did he exactly live and where did he live ?
Another fact about Manu Smriti is that No one knows the exact date when Manu
Smriti was written and none knows who the exact author of the Manu Smriti is? It is
debated between Hindus to be anywhere from 1000 B.C. to between 1 C.E. to 3 C.E.
Manu Smriti basically consists of 12 chapters and about 2,694 verses and it lays down
a set of obligations upon Hindus based on their four respective castes of Hindu beliefs.
Manu Smriti deals mainly in defining duties and laws and about rituals called as
Upanyana meant for children born to three upper caste Hindus, about sacraments
called Samskaras, about marriage, hospitality, funeral rites, dietary restrictions, pollution,
and means of purification; the conduct of women, daughters and wives; It has about 18
separate headings dealing with juridical / judicial interest as the law of kings. It also deals
with topics on charity, rites of reparation, the doctrine of karma, the soul, and hell.
Manu Smriti had a great influence and still has the influence on Hindu society for
justification of Caste System and it is still evident when one checks the statistics
based on crimes committed in most parts of central, west and north Indian states
like Uttar Pradesh, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi etc.
ITIHAASAAS OF HINDUISM
Two main Hindu mythologies are also the two most popular epics / costume dramas in
Indian philosophy, whose main characters are either worshiped or cursed by a vast
majority of Indians who religiously identify themselves globally mostly as Hindus. One
of them is the RAMAYANA and the other is the MAHAaBHAaRAT. The Ramayana is
mostly believed by majority of Hindus to may have occurred before Mahabharat,
though this claim is debated by research scholars of Indian mythology.
Let us now analyze both the Ramayana and the Mahabharat scholastically, rationally
and academically to learn more from established evidence and not by blind beliefs
or religious sentiments of a majority about the historical truth of Babri Masjid
(Mosque) illegally and criminally demolished by Hindu fascists and Hindu terrorists.
RAMAYANA
Is believed to have happened by the followers of Hindu religion in the Treta Yug
supposed to be the second epoch of the Four Yugs (yug means a cyclic age in Hindu
cosmology / an age of the gods of Hindus / divine age). The other three Yug of the Hindu
cosmology are the Krta Yug that is before the Treta Yug in which Ramayana is said to
have occurred and following the Treta Yug are the Dwapara Yug and the Kal Yug.
- 1. Krta Yug : 1.728 million human years (17,28,000 human yrs / 4,800 divine yrs)
- 2. Treta Yug : 1.296 million human years (12,96,000 human yrs / 3,600 divine yrs)
- 3. Dvapara Yug : .864 million human years (8,64,000 human yrs / 2,400 divine yrs)
- 4. Kali Yug is .432 million human years (4,32,000 human yrs / 2,400 divine yrs)
Based on above time zones of Hindu cosmology a Non-Hindu is said to believe that
Ramayana happened in Treta Yug.
Even for the sake of argument if we are living today in the beginning of the last Yug
i.e., the Kali Yug, and if we believe that Ramayana happened in the last year of Treta
Yug, still it would mean that Ramayana happened Eight hundred and sixty-four
thousand years ago (8,64,000 years ago).
Hindus say that RAMAYANA WAS WRITTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 200 B.C. by a
person called Valmiki and that too is merely an attribution and no established
evidence that Valimiki really wrote Ramayana.
ANALOGY The Second World War happened from 1939 C.E. to 1945 C.E. and LET
US SUPPOSE there is NO WRITTEN EVIDENCE AT ALL of a single incident of the
Second World War and for the 1st time someone WRITES ABOUT Second World War
in 8,63,722 C.E. and that is believed to be Divine Truth Of Second World War by
about a billion people living about 2023 years later in 8,65,945 C.E.. and they have NO
EVIDENCE about the person who wrote it for the first time. Let me simplify the
analogy further for all of you to understand.
2nd World War 1939 C.E. to 1945 C.E. - NO WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF WAR
1st Time SOMEONE WRITES about 2nd World War in 8,63,722 C.E.
About 1 billion people believe it Divine Truth in 8,65,945 C.E. WITHOUT EVIDENCE
OF WHO WROTE IT 2223 years ago.
