puranas: ancient glory -...

PURANAS: ANCIENT GLORY

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown DATE: SATURDAY, 24TH JANUARY 2015

CONTENT Recap of the Last Topic

Legends of the Gods and Avatars

Ancient Origins

Discussion

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

RECAP OF THE LAST TOPIC

The Upanishads 1. How can we benefit from studying the Upanishads?

It helps us apply the wisdom of the Vedas into our daily living and delve deeper into ourselves to enable self realisation.

2. How is the message of the Upanishads still relevant?

The wisdom from the Upanishads is of universal values which are applicable to all living conditions regardless of the Yugas. It gives wisdom to a person on how to conduct oneself in life.

3. What is the most important knowledge?

Atmavidya (Knowledge of the soul)


RECAP OF THE LAST TOPIC

The Upanishads 4. How has the Upanishads evolved from the Vedas?

Although the Vedic rituals of the karmakanda (path of action) contributed to the attainment of worldly happiness, they could not solve the problems of the human need for self- knowledge. Consequently, sages retired to places of solitude to secure greater insights. In silent contemplation they delved into the mysteries of the mind and human nature. There they discovered the divine source within themselves. This came to form the Upanishads.

5. Is the message of the Upanishads different from what Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches?

No, it is the same.


LEGENDS OF THE GODS AND AVATARS

Puranas means ancient or without a known beginning.

Epics that relate stories about divine incarnations, Gods and heroes of ancient India.

Synonomous to Old Testament.

Recount revelations and spiritual victories of India’s patriarchs, providing historical records while conveying the culture’s religious values.



The Puranas deal with historical incidents, of creation and evolution. The incidents are so chosen and narrated that they provide illustrations of basic philosophical truths. The Puranas were composed to expound the teachings of the Veda and Vedanta to the common man through interesting mythological and legendary tales.

- Sathya Sai Vahini , p.82



Convey both spiritual and social values.

Vedas usually belonged to priestly class

Puranic legends belong to all

Vedas require strict obedience to rules of pronounciation and ceremonial performances

Upanishads more intellectual meeting requirements of forest dwelling ascetics.

It is easier grasp Puranas.



Since the common people cannot understand and practice the teachings of the Veda, subsidiary literature has been created later in the form of Puranas – mythological treatises and itihasaas – epics, so that even the lay people can practice karma (correct action), upaasana (devotion) and jnana (wisdom).

- Indian Culture and Spirituality, pp. 164-165



Legends of Divine Incarnations form the most popular component of Puranic writings:

Ramayana – Sage Valmiki

Mahabharatha – Sage Vyasa

From Mahabharata came the Bhagavad Gita.

It even states the birth and passing of Krishna

Birth – 20th July 3227BC at 3am

Passing – Midnight 18th Feb 3102 – 124yrs old



Puranas contain number of characteristics which sets them apart from other Indian Literature.

The sage Suka, son of Vyasa, described 10 attributes in the Bhagavata Purana.




No. Attribute Description

1. Sarga Stories descrbing the origin of creation and earthly kingdoms

2. Visarga Detailing the proliferation of the various creatures and beings of the Earth

3. Sthanam Delineating the limits and Divine rules by which being lives

4. Poshana Explaining how the Lord fosters and guides his devotees

5. Manvanthara Relating the Chronology of the eras and of the lineages of man

6. Oothi Detailing the consequences of action and the reasons for events

7. Isanukatha Describing the glory and might of God

8. Nirodha Describing how the eras end with the absorption of beings back into God

9. Mukthi Explaining the path of human liberation and the means to it

10. Asraya Describing the aid granted by the Lord to his devotees, His grace enabling devotees to achieve liberation

ANCIENT ORIGINS Events described in Puranas

occurred thousands of years ago.

They have been repeated in oral traditions.

Accurately tracing origins is difficult.


ANCIENT ORIGINS Rama is believed to have lived

approximately 10,000 years.

Krishna is believed to have lived approximately 5,000 years ago.

Authorship to Ramayana was ascribed to Sage Valmiki who until his spiritual conversion was a highway robber.


ANCIENT ORIGINS Valmiki is said to have composed the Ramayana and taught it first to the twin children of Rama, who later sang the whole epic before the divine hero, their father, in open durbar (court).

- Sathya Sai Speaks 7, p.150


ANCIENT ORIGINS Sage Vyasa recorded stories from Krishna’s life in the

Bhagavata and Mahabharata.

Legends of Rama was already being enjoyed at that time. .

Flag of Hanuman was flown from Arjuna’s chariot.

Vyasa organised the Vedas into four collections known today.

His yearning for devotion spurred him on to transcribe the 18 Puranas, including Harivamsa, Matsya, Vayu, Vishnu and Markandeya Puranas.

He recognised the need for instructional stories that could help ordinary people overcome moral obstacles in life.


ANCIENT ORIGINS He (Vyasa) composed also the 18 Puranas, on the various nama-rupas of the same Godhead, Puranas which are textbooks and illustrative descriptions of moral codes, historical episodes, philosophical principles, and social ideals. Vyasa sought to bring home, through the Puranas, the need for mastering the egotistic impulses.

- Sathya Sai Speaks 4, pp. 42-43


ANCIENT ORIGINS Even with his great knowledge of the Vedas, Vyasa

remained unfulfilled until he recorded the Puranas.

Devotion adds meaning and bliss to life as dry scholarship cannot.

Personal relationship that one attains with the Lord through his forms endows life with sweetness.


ANCIENT ORIGINS Then when Vyasa was sunk in sadness, in spite of all this knowledge and scholarship and teaching, Narada advised him to sing the glory of the personalised aspect of Godhead, to awaken the emotions and guide them godward through bhakthi. That gave him and the world great joy and peace for Vyasa who then wrote the Bhagavata.



ANCIENT ORIGINS Valmiki and Vyasa composed the

epics out of compassion for those travelling the difficult road to God.

They were moved by their brothers and sisters on the path.

They recognised that knowing God through His name and form offers great comfort to seekers.


ANCIENT ORIGINS Vyasa and Valmiki underwent a long process of asceticism and study, as well as experience of spiritual bliss and thus lifted themselves up to heights of rishihood, before they composed the epics and texts bearing their names. The question may be asked, “Why should they compose poetry, however prompted them?” The answer is; “They were overcome with compassion for fellow pilgrims struggling along the path they had traversed; they were full of agony at the plight of fellow beings, who were sweltering in the heat of worldly attachments.”



DISCUSSION 1. Are the Puranas essential reading for

devotees?

2. What significance do Puranas hold in our life?

3. Why did Sage Vyasa develop the Puranas?

4. What teachings of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, or Bhagavata can apply to life in the world currently?


REFERENCE BOOK:

Pathways to God Volume II/ Jonathan Roof/ Pgs 43 - 48


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