Post by admin on Feb 29, 2004 15:39:26 GMT -5
D------ ITHIHASAS or EPICS : MYTHOLOGICAL SCRIPTURES
1. RAMAYANA - story of Rama, written by Valmiki. RAMAYANA is the story of Rama and princess Sita. Valmiki wrote the whole Ramayana as the narration of a crying dove [who just lost her lover to a hunter's wicked arrow] to him. This beautiful poem consists of 24,000 couplets. Lord Rama is one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu and RAMAYANA is a story which projects HINDU IDEALS OF LIFE. There are many versions of Ramayana. The Hindi version was written by sage TULASI DAS. The Malayalam version [Kerala state] was written by Thuncheth Ezuthachan. The original text was written in very stylish Sanskrit language
2. MAHABHARATA - story of Pandvas & Kauravas 220,000 verses, 18 chapters BHAGAVAD GITA is part of this scripture. It is lengthier than Homer's ODYSSEY. It consists of episodes, dialogues, stories, discourses and sermons. It contains 110,000 couplets or 220,000 lines in 18 PARVAS or sections or chapters.
They are 1--ADI PARVA 2--SABHA PARVA 3--VANA PARVA 4--VIRATA PARVA 5--UDYOGA PARVA 6--BHISHMA PARVA 7--DRONA PARVA 8--KARNA PARVA 9--SALYA PARVA 10-SAUPTIKA PARVA 11-STRI PARVA 12-SHANTI OR SANTI PARVA 13-ANUSASANA PARVA 14-ASVAMEDHIKA PARVA 15-ASHRAMA PARVA 16-MAUSALA PARVA 17-MAHAPRASTHANIKA PARVA 18-SVARGAROHANA PARVA
Apart from 18 PARVAS there is a section of poems in the form of an appendix with 16,375 verses which is known as HARIVAMSA PARVA. So in total there are 19 Parvas, even though many saints do not consider the last Parva as an important PARVA. The BHAGAVAD GITA is part and parcel of MAHABHARATA
IS BHAGAVAD GITA the HINDU HOLY BIBLE?
Bhagavad Gita is a part of the epic Mahabharta, appearing in the middle of the great epic. Hindus do not any such thing as a HOLY BIBLE. Many consider BHAGAVAD GITA as the most important scripture of Hindus. IF THE ENTIRE UPANISHADS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS COWS, THEN THE BHAGAVAD GITA CAN BE CONSIDERED AS MILK. it is the essense of the Vedas.
Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses. It deals with all type of Yogas, means of self-realization. It is in the form of a very lively conversation between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his friend and charioteer Lord Krishna, at the outset of the great MAHABHARTA WAR, in the middle of the battle field. Just before the beginning of the war, Arjuna refused to fight, when he found he had to kill thousands of his own kinsmen to be victorious in the war. Lord Krishna advised him on a very large variety of subjects in a QUESTION AND ANSWER format. At the end, Arjuna took Lord Krishna's advice and fought and won a very fierce war. Gita has an answer to every problem a man face in his life. It never commands anyone what to do; Instead it discusses pros and cons of every action and thought. Through out Gita you will not come across any line starting or ending with THOU SHALT NOT. That is the reason why Gita is the DARLING OF MILLIONS OF SEEKERS AFTER TRUTH THROUGH OUT THE WORLD
VERSIONS OF GITA
The very first English translation of Gita was done by CHARLES WILKINS in 1785, with an introduction by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. One of the most popular translation was done by Sir Edwin Arnold, under the title THE SONG CELESTIAL. There are many translations of the Gita and one of most descriptive translation on Gita was done by Swami Sri Prapupada of International Krishna consciousness. Almost all saints in India have published their versions of the Bhagavad Gita. Recently the Self Realization Fellowship, California have published an excellent translation of the Bhagavad Gita. Most intellectuals in the world go through Gita at least once in their life time. Aldous Huxley wrote: The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most systematic scriptural statement of the perennial philosophy" in his introduction of the THE SONG OF THE GOD by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. Gita won the interest and admiration of great intellectuals such as VON HUMBOLDT of Germany and EMERSON of America. It has influenced thinkers like HAGEL and SCHOPENHAUER.
ROBERT OPPENHEIMER--FATHER OF ATOM BOMB & Bhagavad Gita
Robert Oppenheimer, the very first Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and father of Atom bomb was a great admirer of the Bhagavad Gita. He learnt Sanskrit during MANHATTAN PROJECT to understand the true meaning of Gita. He really shocked the world, when he quoted a couplet from Gita [Chapter 11:12] after witnessing the first Atomic Explosion in the state of New Mexico. Later when he addressed congress regarding ATOM BOMB he said Atom Bomb remind him of Lord Krishna who said in the Bhagavad Gita, I AM DEATH DEVOURER OF ALL.
E-----PURANAS - 18 are most important MAHABHAGAVATAM - is the most read important scripture of ISKCON[HAREKRISHNA ]Puranas are RELIGIOUS STORIES which expound truths. Just like the parables told by Jesus Christ, these stories are told to common folk to make them understand the higher truths of life. According to Jesus Christ MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE ARE REVEALED TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY AWAKE, BUT TO OTHERS THOSE MYSTERIES HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED IN PARABLES. On that Puranas are called the VEDAS of the Common folk, for they present the mysteries through myth and legend.
SIX puranas addressed to Lord Vishnu are 1-Vishnu Purana 2-Narada Purana 3-Srimad Bhavata Purana 4-Garuda Purna 5-Padma Purana 6-Varaha Purana
Six Puranas --addressed to Lord Siva are 1-Matsya Purana 2-Kurma Purana 3-Linga Purana 4-Vayu Purana 5-Skanda Purana 6-Agni Purana
SIX Puranas addressed to Lord Brahma are 1-Brahma Purana 2-Brahanda Purana 3-Brahma-Vaivasvata Puranaor Brahma-Vaivarta Purana 4-Markandeya Purana 5-Bhavishya Purana 6-Vamana Purana
Apart from that we have 22 minor Puranas They are ADITYA, ASCHARYA, AUSANSA, BHASKARA, DEVI, SAIVA, DURVASA, KALIKA, KALKI, KAPILA, MAHESVARA, MANAVA, MARICHI, NANd**eSVARA, NARADA, NARASIMHA, PARASARA, SAMBA, SANATHAKUMARA, SIVADHARMA, SURYA, SUTA-SAMHITA, USANAS, VARUNA, YUGA, VAYU, VRIHAN
F---AGAMAS ---SECTARIAN SCRIPTURES They are a group scriptures worshipping God in particular form and they describe detailed courses of disciple for the devotee. Like Upanishads there are many AGAMAS. They can be broadly divided into three sets of AGAMAS.
A----VAISHNAVA AGAMAS--worship God as LORD VISHNU
B----SAIVA AGAMAS------worship God as Lord Siva
C----SAKTI AGAMAS------worship God as Mother Goddess
Believe it or not there is no AGAMAS for Lord Brahma [God of creation]. Saivates have 28 Agamas and 108 Upa Agamas [minor agamas]. Saktiates recoganizes 77 agamas. I am not sure about the actual number of the Vaishna Agamas. Vaishanavates consider PANCHA RATRA AGAMAS as one of the most important agamas.
Each Agama consists of A--Philosophy B--mental discipline C--Rules for constructing temples D--Religious practices.
1. RAMAYANA - story of Rama, written by Valmiki. RAMAYANA is the story of Rama and princess Sita. Valmiki wrote the whole Ramayana as the narration of a crying dove [who just lost her lover to a hunter's wicked arrow] to him. This beautiful poem consists of 24,000 couplets. Lord Rama is one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu and RAMAYANA is a story which projects HINDU IDEALS OF LIFE. There are many versions of Ramayana. The Hindi version was written by sage TULASI DAS. The Malayalam version [Kerala state] was written by Thuncheth Ezuthachan. The original text was written in very stylish Sanskrit language
2. MAHABHARATA - story of Pandvas & Kauravas 220,000 verses, 18 chapters BHAGAVAD GITA is part of this scripture. It is lengthier than Homer's ODYSSEY. It consists of episodes, dialogues, stories, discourses and sermons. It contains 110,000 couplets or 220,000 lines in 18 PARVAS or sections or chapters.
They are 1--ADI PARVA 2--SABHA PARVA 3--VANA PARVA 4--VIRATA PARVA 5--UDYOGA PARVA 6--BHISHMA PARVA 7--DRONA PARVA 8--KARNA PARVA 9--SALYA PARVA 10-SAUPTIKA PARVA 11-STRI PARVA 12-SHANTI OR SANTI PARVA 13-ANUSASANA PARVA 14-ASVAMEDHIKA PARVA 15-ASHRAMA PARVA 16-MAUSALA PARVA 17-MAHAPRASTHANIKA PARVA 18-SVARGAROHANA PARVA
Apart from 18 PARVAS there is a section of poems in the form of an appendix with 16,375 verses which is known as HARIVAMSA PARVA. So in total there are 19 Parvas, even though many saints do not consider the last Parva as an important PARVA. The BHAGAVAD GITA is part and parcel of MAHABHARATA
IS BHAGAVAD GITA the HINDU HOLY BIBLE?
Bhagavad Gita is a part of the epic Mahabharta, appearing in the middle of the great epic. Hindus do not any such thing as a HOLY BIBLE. Many consider BHAGAVAD GITA as the most important scripture of Hindus. IF THE ENTIRE UPANISHADS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS COWS, THEN THE BHAGAVAD GITA CAN BE CONSIDERED AS MILK. it is the essense of the Vedas.
Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses. It deals with all type of Yogas, means of self-realization. It is in the form of a very lively conversation between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his friend and charioteer Lord Krishna, at the outset of the great MAHABHARTA WAR, in the middle of the battle field. Just before the beginning of the war, Arjuna refused to fight, when he found he had to kill thousands of his own kinsmen to be victorious in the war. Lord Krishna advised him on a very large variety of subjects in a QUESTION AND ANSWER format. At the end, Arjuna took Lord Krishna's advice and fought and won a very fierce war. Gita has an answer to every problem a man face in his life. It never commands anyone what to do; Instead it discusses pros and cons of every action and thought. Through out Gita you will not come across any line starting or ending with THOU SHALT NOT. That is the reason why Gita is the DARLING OF MILLIONS OF SEEKERS AFTER TRUTH THROUGH OUT THE WORLD
VERSIONS OF GITA
The very first English translation of Gita was done by CHARLES WILKINS in 1785, with an introduction by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. One of the most popular translation was done by Sir Edwin Arnold, under the title THE SONG CELESTIAL. There are many translations of the Gita and one of most descriptive translation on Gita was done by Swami Sri Prapupada of International Krishna consciousness. Almost all saints in India have published their versions of the Bhagavad Gita. Recently the Self Realization Fellowship, California have published an excellent translation of the Bhagavad Gita. Most intellectuals in the world go through Gita at least once in their life time. Aldous Huxley wrote: The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most systematic scriptural statement of the perennial philosophy" in his introduction of the THE SONG OF THE GOD by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. Gita won the interest and admiration of great intellectuals such as VON HUMBOLDT of Germany and EMERSON of America. It has influenced thinkers like HAGEL and SCHOPENHAUER.
ROBERT OPPENHEIMER--FATHER OF ATOM BOMB & Bhagavad Gita
Robert Oppenheimer, the very first Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and father of Atom bomb was a great admirer of the Bhagavad Gita. He learnt Sanskrit during MANHATTAN PROJECT to understand the true meaning of Gita. He really shocked the world, when he quoted a couplet from Gita [Chapter 11:12] after witnessing the first Atomic Explosion in the state of New Mexico. Later when he addressed congress regarding ATOM BOMB he said Atom Bomb remind him of Lord Krishna who said in the Bhagavad Gita, I AM DEATH DEVOURER OF ALL.
E-----PURANAS - 18 are most important MAHABHAGAVATAM - is the most read important scripture of ISKCON[HAREKRISHNA ]Puranas are RELIGIOUS STORIES which expound truths. Just like the parables told by Jesus Christ, these stories are told to common folk to make them understand the higher truths of life. According to Jesus Christ MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE ARE REVEALED TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY AWAKE, BUT TO OTHERS THOSE MYSTERIES HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED IN PARABLES. On that Puranas are called the VEDAS of the Common folk, for they present the mysteries through myth and legend.
SIX puranas addressed to Lord Vishnu are 1-Vishnu Purana 2-Narada Purana 3-Srimad Bhavata Purana 4-Garuda Purna 5-Padma Purana 6-Varaha Purana
Six Puranas --addressed to Lord Siva are 1-Matsya Purana 2-Kurma Purana 3-Linga Purana 4-Vayu Purana 5-Skanda Purana 6-Agni Purana
SIX Puranas addressed to Lord Brahma are 1-Brahma Purana 2-Brahanda Purana 3-Brahma-Vaivasvata Puranaor Brahma-Vaivarta Purana 4-Markandeya Purana 5-Bhavishya Purana 6-Vamana Purana
Apart from that we have 22 minor Puranas They are ADITYA, ASCHARYA, AUSANSA, BHASKARA, DEVI, SAIVA, DURVASA, KALIKA, KALKI, KAPILA, MAHESVARA, MANAVA, MARICHI, NANd**eSVARA, NARADA, NARASIMHA, PARASARA, SAMBA, SANATHAKUMARA, SIVADHARMA, SURYA, SUTA-SAMHITA, USANAS, VARUNA, YUGA, VAYU, VRIHAN
F---AGAMAS ---SECTARIAN SCRIPTURES They are a group scriptures worshipping God in particular form and they describe detailed courses of disciple for the devotee. Like Upanishads there are many AGAMAS. They can be broadly divided into three sets of AGAMAS.
A----VAISHNAVA AGAMAS--worship God as LORD VISHNU
B----SAIVA AGAMAS------worship God as Lord Siva
C----SAKTI AGAMAS------worship God as Mother Goddess
Believe it or not there is no AGAMAS for Lord Brahma [God of creation]. Saivates have 28 Agamas and 108 Upa Agamas [minor agamas]. Saktiates recoganizes 77 agamas. I am not sure about the actual number of the Vaishna Agamas. Vaishanavates consider PANCHA RATRA AGAMAS as one of the most important agamas.
Each Agama consists of A--Philosophy B--mental discipline C--Rules for constructing temples D--Religious practices.