SCRIPTURES

SECTION 3 SCRIPTURES


BE AWARE OF GOD

Contents

3.1 System of Religion& Philosophy
3.2 Sanathana Dharma
3.3 Basic Schools
3.4 Hindu Religion - 6 Branches of worship
3.5 Schools of Vaishnavism
3.6 Guru Parampara
3.7 Vedic System
3.8 Division of Vedic Texts
3.9 Agamas
3.10 Dravida Veda (5th Veda)


3.1 System of Religion and Philosophy

I. Systems based on Vedas (Asthika)
1. Vedantha
2. Sankhya Kapila
3. Yoga Brahma, Patanjali
4. Nyaya Gautama, Akshapadar
5. Vaiseshika Kanada
6. Mimamsa Jaimuni
7. Sikhism Guru Nanak
8. Arya Samaj Dayananda Saraswathi
9. Brahmo Samaj
Iswar Chandra Vidya Sagar

Systems based on Vedas + GOD (Asthika)

1. Advaita Sankaracharya
2. Visihtadvaita Ramanujar
3. Dvaita Madvacharya


II. Based on logic ( Nastika )

1. Jainism Arhata Mahaveer
2. Budhism Gautama Budha
3. Charvaka

III. Foreign Origin

1. Christianity Jesus Christ
2. Islam Prophet Mohammed
3. Jews
4. Parsi (Zorasterian) Zoraster

Religions - Breakup

1. Christians 1,800,000,000 1/3 of total population of approx.6,500,000,000 (650 Crores)
2. Muslims 900,000,000 1/5 of total population

3. Non-religious 900,000,000 1/5 of total population

4. Hindus 700,000,000 1/7 of total population

5. Budhists 300,000,000 1/15 of total population

6.Atheists 200,000,000

7. others Chinese folk religion New Religions Tribal religions Sikhs Jews Shamanists Confucious Baha’is ains Shintoists Others
Total population approx. 650 Crores (6,500,000,000)
India’s population 110 Crores

3.2 Dharmas

1. Sanatana Dharma (Hindu Dharma)
Law of mutual rights and duties arising from the one and only Sanatanana- Paramatma

2. Varnasrama Dharma
Based on Varnas ( vocational class ) and asramas-stages of life.
3. Vaidhika Dharma Based on Vedas.
4. Manava Dharma Religion laid down by Manu for Manavas (Human beings)
Hindu Dharma covers
1. Unity (1) Parmathma / Supreme God
2. Duads (2) Purusha (one) x Prakriti( many ); Pravriti x Nivriti
3. Triads (3) Iswara Jiva Jagat
Iswara Chia Achit
Satva Rajo Tamasa gunas
walking Dream Sleep states of consiousness
4. Quartets (4) Chathur manaas,Chathur ashrams, chathur purushaarthams


3.3 3 Basic Schools

1. Advaitam ( Not 2 ) Adi Sankara based on Abeda Sruthi. Six forms of worship. Only God exists. The World is unreal - it is an illusion.(temporary / perishable)
2.. Vishishtadwaitam Propounded by Ramanuja – based on Bheda , Abeda struthis and their reconciliation. Only Narayana to be worshipped. God forms the soul of Jivatma (souls) and Prakriti (matter). The World is real.
3 Dwaitam ) (2): Madhvachariar - based on Bedha shruthi of Vedas. Worship Krishna.
Paramathma and Jeevathma are different and separate . The world is real.

3.4 6 Main Branches of Worship
(Shan Madam)
1. Vainavam Vishnu / Krishna
2. Saivam Siva
3. Saktam Sakthi / Devi
4. Sauram Sun
5. Kaumaram Murugan
6. Ganapathyam Vinayaka

3.5 Schools of Vaishnavism

1. Sri Ramunuja Philosophy (Sri Samprathayam)

2. Vallabhacharya (Sudha Advaitha)

3. Ramanada (Janaki Vallabh)

4. Chaitanya Doctrine of inconceivable simultaneous oneness and differences between Lord and His creation.

5. Nimbarkar-Dwaitha/Adwaitha –Hamsa Samparathaya

6. Madhavachariar (Dwaitam)

Saint Philosophy Sampradaya God Form of Bhakti Year (AD)

1 Shankarachya Advaita Shan (6) mada 788

2 Ramunaja Vishistadvaita Sri Narayanan Dasya 1017

3 Nimbarkar Swabhavika Bheda-abheda vada Hamsa Krishna Madhurya 11th centuary

4 Madhvacharya Dvaita Brahma 1197

5 Ramanada anaki Vallabh Rama 1299
Guru to Kabir, Tulsidas, Ravidas

6 vallabhacharya Sudha Advaita Rudra Krishna 1473
relied on Bhagavata Purana. Shifted idol from Govardhan to Nathdwara.

7 Chaintanya Achintya bheda-abheda vada Krishna Madhurya 1485

8 Sankara Dev (Assam) Nama Dharma Krishna Dasya 1486
relied on Bhagavata Purana & Bhagavat Gita or Mahapurshiya Dharma

9 Swaminarayan Ramunaja’s philosophy Bhagavad Krishna 1781
and Vallabhacharya’s bhakti Ekantika Dharma as Swaminarayan
had vision of / initiation by Ramunaja during stay at Srirangam. Vaikuntam is called Akshardam
( Seva implies I belong to GOD; Bhakti implies GOD is mine )
Guru Parampara

Vishistadvaitam

1. Sridhara ( Narayanan ) lst Guru
2. Sri
3. Viswaksenar (Senai Mudaliyar)
4. Satagopan ( Nammalvar )
5. Nathamuni
6. Uyyakondar (Pundarikashar)
7. Manakkal Nambi (Rama Mishrar)
8. Alawandar (Yamunacharya)
9. Peria Nambi (Maha Purnar)
10. Sri Ramunajar (founder of Vishistadvaita)


Ramanuja

Vedabta Desikan Manavala Mahamuni
North)Sanskrit based (South) Tamil based
Ahobila Mutt Vanamamalai Mutt Parakala Mutt
Muni-treyam 1.Sringam Andavan 2.Poudarikapuram Andavan

Hamsa School of Vaishnavism
Vishnu as Hamsa bird
Brahma Sanat Kumars Narada Nimbarkar (founder)
Advaita school lst Guru Narayanan
Brahma
Vashista
Shakti (sons)
Parasarar
Vyasar
Sukar
Gaudapada
Govinda Bhagavatpada (disciples)
Adi Shankaracharya ( founder )
Adi Guru is called Dakshinamurhty – silent )

Vedic System

•Authority

1. Prathyaksham perceived directly through senses

2 Inferred by logic and reasoning

3 Things recited in the form of vedic mantras

Shad Darshani - Ways of Seeing Things to Unite with Him

1. Nyaya Knowledge of God and His creation

2 Vaisesika Knowledge of God and His creation

3 Sankya Knowledge of Purusha, Prakrithi, their relation

4 Yoga use senses to unite with Him

5 Mimamsa Performance of Karmas (actions)

6 Vedanta Knowledge of true nature of God and Atma

3.8 Religious Texts

1. Veda Sruthi that which is heard.
2. Smrithi that which is remembered.
3. Ithihasa legends that took place during authors living.
4. Puranas that happened before the authors life.
5. Mimamsa emphsis on Karma not God
6. Agamas Temples construction, worship etc.


Sub-division of Religious Texts

3.8.1 Vedas - eternal , endless, exists by itself Any sacrifice involves four priests, covering the four Vedas. One who organizes the sacrifice is called Yajaman ( Master )