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Revision as of 11:00, 17 January 2006 by Tanul (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. Its liturgy is reflected in the text of the Vedas. The religion centered on a clergy (the Brahmins) administering sacrificial rites.
Texts considered to date to the Vedic period, composed in Vedic Sanskrit, are mainly the four Vedas, but the Brahmanas, and some of the older Upanishads are also considered Vedic. The Vedas record the liturgy connected with the rituals and sacrifices performed by the purohitas.
To the rishis, the hymns of the Rigveda and other Vedic hymns divinely revealed and they were rather "hearers", of divine revelation. (shrauta means "what is heard").
The mode of worship was performance of sacrifices and chanting of hymns (see Vedic chant). The priests helped the common man in performing rituals. People prayed for abundance of children, cattle and wealth.
The main deities of the Vedic pantheon were Indra, Agni (fire), and Soma. Other deities were Varuna, Surya (the Sun), Mitra, Vayu (the wind). Goddesses included Ushas (the dawn), Prithvi (the Earth) and Aditi. Rivers, especially Sarasvati, were also considered goddesses. Deities were not viewed as all-powerful. The relationship between the devotee and the deity was one of transaction, with Agni (the sacrificial fire) taking the role of messenger between the two. Strong traces of a common Indo-Iranian religion remain visible, especially in the Soma cult and the fire ritual also preserved in Zoroastrianism. The Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) has parallels in the 2nd millennium BC Andronovo culture, in India allegedly continued until the 4th century AD. Vegetarianism, the practice now thought by many to be so characteristic of Hinduism, arose only in late or post-Vedic times, possibly already at the time of Panini: The root-compound goghan "slaying cattle", in RV 7.56.17 used parallel to nrhan "slaying men" in reference to the referring to the weapon vadha of the Maruts,
- 17c aaré gohaá nRhaá vadháH vaH astu "far be your cow-slaying, men-slaying weapon!"
in Panini is taught to refer to a "receiver of a cow" exclusively; this change occurred parallel to the rise of, and possibly under the influence of, Buddhism, which began as a reform-movement of the Vedic religion. In later texts, the cow is often described as aditi and aghnya (that which should not be killed).
Specific rituals and sacrifices of the Vedic religion include:
- The Soma cult described in the Rigveda, descended from a common Indo-Iranian practice.
- Fire rituals, also a common Indo-Iranian practice, cf. Zoroastrianism:
- The Agnihotra or oblation to Agni
- The Agnicayana, the sophisticated ritual of piling the fire altar.
- The Agnistoma or fire sacrifice
- The Ashvamedha or horse sacrifice described in the Yajurveda
- The Purushamedha or human sacrifice, probably very early reduced to a symbolic sacrifice.
- The rituals described in the Atharvaveda concerned with demonology and magic.
Post-Vedic religions
Vedic religion evolved into the Hindu paths of Yoga and Vedanta, a religious path considering itself the 'essence' of the Vedas. The Vedic pantheon was interpreted as a unitary view of the universe with God seen as immanent and transcendent in the forms of Ishvara and Brahman, projected into various deities in the human mind.
Religions considered to be related to the Vedic religion include:
A Commentry
This matter is not just a thousand or lakhs of years ago. It is a crore years old matter. You may or may not believe, may even ridicule but the tradition meant here is really a crore years old. The oldest tradition, culture and a system of life meant here is called vaidic tradition.
Vid means to know and vaidic menas after acknowledging - to line life that way. The same tradition was then called Sanatan, then Aryan and Dravid. And then the same was called Hinduisim from this only Jani and Baudh cults came later on. And from the same, from the only wisdom and scientific tradition, from the oldest and yet the most modern and highest Aryan and Hindu tradition two different cults took birth. They are known as Christianity and Islam.
San means to move forward towards wisdom and Atan means everlasting everyday. And so Aryan and Dravid tradition was called Sanatan Dharma. Then came the word Hindu. "Hinsa Duriyate Chittam" means "One who becomes sad because of violence is a Hindu." He may or may not have faith in God, may or may not pray to Allah but who is non-violent in real sense of the word Hindu. He may not then belong to any cult.
Now we should find out the meaning of Dharma. A cow will even die of hunger bit will not eat meat. A tiger will prefer to die of hunger but will not consume grass. The Dharma of a cow is to eat grass and that of a tiger to eat his kill. This is the meaning of Dharma. "Dharyati iti dharma", the nature borne by oneself is his Dharma. Dharma does not mean religion. Dharma does not mean Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Dharma of a teacher is to teach, that of a student is to learn. Dharma of a road is to give way to pedestrian and vehicles' traffic. These days people build temple, Mosque or chapel on roads. That is not fair. Human Dharma is to love and oblige. There is no other Dharma better than these. Thus we see that Hinduism is not a religion. It is not a cult, but it is a way of living, one which climbs on the top of Himalayas and declares "Live and let live", You can not create so you have to right to kill.
A few thousand years ago this Hindu tradition was the only one teaching formless God, Love and piety. Tolerance was and still main declaration. Worship of idols started after Gautam Buddha.
The word Krishna changes to Keshto in Bengal and to Karsan in Gujrat. Similarly it changed to Krist-Christ in Europe. Neeti changed to Nity. And so the yogi who taught Krishnaneeti there, became Christ. And Krishnaneeti became Christianity just by a different way of pronunciation.
Then is the same vaidic tradition one more yogi took birth. He was a shepherd doing meditation under a tree. Gibral (Gibrial) appeared before him. This gibrial is mentioned in Vedas also. He used to sing hymns during meditation and someone used to write those. The collection of these hymns is called Kuraan. And its prophet is known as Mohammad Paigambar. This happened 1400 years ago. As it was mentioned earlier Vaidic Tradition is a crore years old. Vedas were already written. At that time there was only one language 'Sanskrit'. The stories told by Christ have their origin in the epic 'Mahabharata';2000 years old. And those 1400 years old stories told by Mohammad Paigambar also have their origin in the same one and only 'Vaidic tradition'. Even the words 'Kuraan', 'Musalmaan' and Allah are from original single language Sanskrit. One by one we will see that, Kuru means to do and aan means to get, the highest yogi stage. Kuru + aan = Kuraan. Slaam is a Sanskrit word which means peace. Aa means of a great quality. This Aa changed to Ee. As 'Aadtyawaar' became 'Eitwaar', Abraham became Ibrahim, etc. Thus Islaam means who lives in a high quality peace. One who is not in Islam is 'Kaafir', kill him. It means that kill the person who is not peaceful. But because of ignorance, the meaning of kaafir is perverted. Simple, innocent people are killed just because they are idol worshippers. Human mind is created in such a way that he can not worship formless God, he needs some or the other form. If not an idol it becomes a Mosque. Then to insist on mosque is in opposition of formless worship. Islam agreed with the formless worship of Vaidic tradition, but did not accept tolerance. And so they started violence. Hindu view of life accepted formless as well as idol worship with tolerance and so did not resort to violence. Next is the word Musalmaan. Meaning: Mu means no/not, Sa means to move, Al means God, Iman means faith. In trying conditions also, whose implicit faith in God is not shattered, is Muslalmaan. Today's Muslims must understand the real meaning of Islam and Musalmaan and practice it, otherwise this world will trade on way of violence and will be destroyed. Allah is also a Sanskrit word: Amm -> Amma, Akk -> Akka, All -> Alla and Ha means the greatest. Amma and Akka mean mother. Thus the word Allah means the greatest mother. Jagat janani. They take the name Allah, recite it and torture the mother (woman), this is ignorance and this is irony.
In the original Vaidic tradition many Saints, yogi, Paigambar (Pag means foot, amber means the one whose foot is in the sky.) described by Hinduism but they never did idol worship or of any book. It is a pity that later on they started worshipping of either saint or a book. Sam means similar, pradaay means to give. So the word Sampradaay or cult means have faith in only one saint or Yogi, a bible or a kuraan. And so the Muslim cult started. And they lost faith in unity of all and they turned communal. Hinduism is not a cult. It is a system of living. It has accepted all under its wings; including monistic and agonist, worshipper of formless as well as of idol. It is a scientific fact that our body (our teeth and intestines) are not suitable for non-vegetarian food. So Hindus don't eat it. It is cause of many diseases as well. Islam also mentions non-violence. Kuraan says "Don't move on earth quarrelling others." As Arabia didn't have water, no agriculture, they were forced to eat meat. Because of shortage of water they used to do vaju (washing hands and feet from one pot), taking bath only once a week. This was not religion; it was only an adjustment according to the circumstances. As days were hot and nights were cool, they used to worship setting sun and love moon and stars. This is not a religion, not even a way of living. It was just an adjustment.
Now is the time to understand the meaning of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian as one and to behave accordingly. To become a real Hindu is to be a real non-violence follower. Now is the time to live in peace; to be a real Muslim is to have faith in God. To be a real Jaini means Gnyani (In Sanskrit 'Dnya' is called 'Jya'). To a real Baudh means Buddhiwan (intelligent) To be a real Sikh means to become a real disciple of Guru. To become real Christian means to follow Krishnaneeti.
Only by colouring our clothes, our outer appearance, saffron, green or red will be of no use. Let us colour our inside with the colour of love and charity. Then only we will be called real religious.
Om sahana vavatu, sahananu bhunaktu Sahaveeryam karavav hai, Tejaswimam vadhit mastu Mam vid vishar hai, om shanty shanti shanty.
(Lets all join together in becoming bright, and not in envying others)
