reply posted on 15-2-2005 @ 11:34 AM by Indigo_Child
The Knowledge religion:
In this post I am going to expound further on the Vedic civilization and how it was structured. I don't feel it is necessary to prove that this
civilization was technologically advanced anymore, as the sum of all the proof provided already should speak for that itself that it indeed was. I
will now concentrate on simply providing more knowledge about this civilization now - for those that are interested.
Santana Dharma or Hinduism is a knowledge based religion. It covers all fields of knowledge. Science, philosophy, laws, economics, politics, history
medicine, logic, mathematics, engineering, strategy, metaphysics, astronomy, cosmology, geology, consciousness, biology, psychology, sociology,
sexuality and all the esoteric sciences. Knowledge is the highest, most complete, most grand concept of life. These are imparted by the
Vedas(knowledge) which is forms the religion of Hinduism. The Vedas are the supreme authority and are eternal and were revealed through a divine and
superhuman source to Indian Rishis who became one with the Brahman. All other sciences of India are derived from this.
There are 4 Vedas:
1. Rig Veda: 21 sections
2. Yajur Veda: 109 sections
3. Sama Veda: 1000 sections
4. Atharva Veda: 50 sections
Each Vedas consists of the following:
Mantra-Sahmitas: Hymns
The Brahmanas: Explanations of Mantras or Rituals
The Aryanyakas: Philosophy of the rituals
The Upanishads: The knowledge
The Mantra Samhita are poetic hymns addressed to god and his various manifestations and to demi gods both subjective and objective.
The Bramana are explanations of using the Mantras for the ritual sacrifice or Yajna. The sacrifice is an offering prepared of sweets, vegetables,
woods, herbs and perfumes and butter that is thrown into a burning fire during the recitation of Mantras. This is conducted on a specially constructed
sacrificial altar that is based on geometric principles.
The Aryanyakas: These give the philosophical interpretations of the rituals and explains what they are used for. They are concerned with meditations
and prayers.
The Upanishads: These are the most important parts of the Vedas. They deal with the subtle and profound knowledge of the soul and it's identity and
the supreme consciousness. They form the Vedanta(the end of knowledge) of the Vedas
There are four up-vedas or subsidary Vedas:
1. Ayur Veda: The science of life and health. It forms the schools of medicine, psyotherapy and surgery. Also said to belong to this is the Kamasutra
or the science of sex.
2. Dhanurveda: The science of war. It forms the schools of military strategy, both offensive and defensive, martial arts, weapon arts, missiles and
projective weapons and advanced weapons.
3. Gandharva Veda: The science of music and dance. It forms the school of arts, theatre, musical instruments.
4. Arthasastra: The science of polity. It forms the school of politics and economics.
The Vedangas
There are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas
The Siksha(teachings) of Maharshi Panini: Phonetics
Vyakarana of Maharshi Panini: Sanskrit Grammar
The Chhandas of Pingalacharya: Prosody metre
The Nirukta of Yaska: Philosophy or etymology
The Jyotisha of Garga: Astronomy and astrology
The Kalpas: Srauta, Grihya, Dharma and Sulba
belonging to the authorship of various Rishis.
The Sulba Sutras are based on mathematical laws, from which the system of Vedic mathematics is derived.
The other Scriptures are the Manu Simriti(laws of man) here social laws are created for living according to the four ages: golden, silver, copper and
Iron.
Itihas(History)
The main texts on History are:
The Valmiki-Ramayana
The Yogavasishtha
The Mahabharata and the Bhagvad Gita(which is also a standalone spiritual text)
The Harivamsa
The Purans.
The Puranas are further divided into 18 categories:
1.Vishnu Purana
2.Naradiya Purana
3.Srimad Bhagavata Purana
4.Garuda (Suparna) Purana
5.Padma Purana~
6.Varah Purana
7.Brahma Purana
8.Brahmanda Purana
9.Brahma Vaivarta Purana
10.Markandeya Purana
11.Bhavishya Purana(prophecies)
12.Vamana Purana
13.Matsya Purana
14.Kurma Purana
15.Linga Purana
16.Siva Purana
17.Skanda Purana
18.Agni Purana
There are eighteen further Upa-Puranas(subsidary) SanatKumara, Narasimha, Brihannaradiya, Sivarahasya, Durvasa, Kapila, Vamana, Bhargava, Varuna,
Kalika, Samba, Nandi, Surya, Parasara, Vasishtha, Devi-Bhagavata, Ganesa and Hamsa.
The Purnas contain history, chronology of events, philosophy, cosmology and stories
The final six texts are based on the Vedanta portion of the Vedas and comprise the schools of rationalism and science.
The Six Darsanas or six schools of thought. They are composed of sutras, or formulas. They are designed as single sentence laws that condense huge
volumes of knowldege as memory aids. Each sutra has Bhashya or a detailed exposition and eludication of it and each has a "Sutrakara" a Rishi who
first systematized the schools of thought into Sutras or formulas. They are as follows.
The Nyaya founded by Gautama Rishi: The school of logic - It consists of 537 Sutras in five chapters on analytical thinking, scientific thinking,
paradox and thought processes.
The Vaiseshika by Kanada Rishi: The school of physics - It consists of about 373 Sutras in twelve chapters on atoms, thermodynamics, chemistry, motion
and gravity , energy, waves, mind, soul and space and time
The Sankhya by Kapila Muni: The school of philosopy
The Yoga by Patanjali Maharshi: The school of meditation - It consists of 194 Sutras in four part on breath control(pranayama), body, mind and soul,
concentration and chanting.
The Purva Mimamsa by Jaimini
The Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta by Badarayana or Vyasa
The Other sciences or texts from the Vedas were called the Kalas(arts) Some of those are:
Akshara-laksha By Sage Valmiki - 325 kinds of mathematics including modern geometry, algebra, trigonometry, physics or applied mathematics;
minerology, hydels; the method of measuring air, heat, eletricity and geography. It is covered in 50 chapters. The first half deals with mathematics
and the second half deals with the power sources.
Sabda Sastra By Kandika Rishi - It deals with sounds, echoes of moving and non-moving objects in creation. It also deals in five chapters with
capturing or mechanically reproducing sounds, measuring their pitch, velocity, etc.
Lakshana Sastra - or the science of determining the sex in animate and inanimate creation
Shilpa Sastra by Sage Kashyapa - it consists of 22 chapters on engineering and archtecture. 307 varieties of Shilpas including 11 types of
constructions like temples, palaces, halls etc., are detailed. .
Supa-Sastra by Sukesa - The science of cooking and deald with 108 varieties of preparations, from condiments and pickles to sweetmeats, cakes,
puddings, and 3032 kinds of dishes meant for people living in different parts of the world are mentioned.
Malinee Sastra by Rishyasringa - the science o flower arrangements, making garlands, bouquets, hair-do’s in various styles for women, writing love
messages on flower petals to convey to beloveds in codes. This work consists of 16 chapters.
The science of Kala or time by Lord Karttikeya. Its division into definite periods, their classification into auspicious and inauspicious moments, the
deities that preside over each are dealt with in this work.
Dhatuvada by Aswini Kumara - 7 chapters on natural and artificial primary substances, their combinations and transmutations. Alchemy or converting
copper into gold etc. is dealt with in this work.
Visha Sastra by Aswini Kumaras - The science poisons of 32 kinds of poisons, their properties, their preparations, effects and antidotes.
Chitrakarma Sastra by Bhina - The science of freehand drawing art. It consists of 12 chapters and expounds nearly 200 kinds of drawings. There is a
section in which students are taught to recreate the figure of a person after seeing a single hair or nail or a bone of that person.
Malla Sastra by Malla - deals with 82 kinds of gymnastics and sports necessary for preservation of health and athletic activities and 24 kinds of
infantry warfare where hand to hand combat is involved. This work consists of 3 parts.
Parakaya Pravesha by Valakhylias - the science of psyhcism, entering into one body from another body, and it teaches 32 kinds of Yogas or psychic
powers and the eight-fold Siddhis (super-human capabilities), Anima, Mahima, Lagima(levitation)
Ratna Pariksha by Sage Vatsyayana - The science of testing gems (precious stones). His analysis shows 24 characteristics of gems or precious stones,
natural and artificial ones; their forms, weights etc are discussed and classified into categories. 32 methods of testing them for genuineness are
also described.
Shakti Tantra bySage Agastya - consisting of eight chapters in which Mulaprakriti, Maya etc., and 64 kinds of external Shaktis of bodies like those of
the Sun, Moon and Air, Fire etc., are explained and their particular applications are also given. Atomic fission or nuclear science appears to form
part of this science.
Soudamini Kala by Sage Matanga - the science of photography, television and scanning. Also taught is the science of photographing interiors of
mountains, earth and space.
The science of clouds by Sage Atri. This work deals with 12 kinds of clouds, their characteristics, 12 kinds of rains, 64 kinds of lightnings, 32
varieties of thunderbolts etc.
The Yantra Sarawana and Vyaamnika Shatra by Bharadwaja(we all know this one) - Explans 339 types of vehicles useful in travelling on land, 783 kinds
of boats and ships to be used on water and 101 varieties of airships, by use of the Mantra, Tantra, and artificial means and those used by semi-divine
beings like Gandharvas etc., are also explained.
Amsu Bodhini by Maharishi Bhardwaja -In it are mentioned the various kinds of planets, the different kinds of light and heat which these planetary
bodies possess and radiate.
It also gives us detailed descriptions of the various instruments and machinery by the help of which their phenomena may be seen and analyzed, and the
different kinds of gadgets by which their forces, such as light, darkness, heat, velocity, colour and electricity may by attracted.
