Vedas and Upanishads
Be sure you have the chronology that I
handed out so that you can refer to it as
we read various texts.
Vedic Thought and Deities
The Vedic texts are very ancient and
began as an oral tradition. They have a
ritual orientation and help to give life
meaning. The recitation of the texts is
meant to join all being together and to
renew life with sacred energy.
Vedic Thought and Deities
The various deities in the text symbolize
fundamental powers of existence. Agni
symbolizes the power of fire in both its creative
and destructive aspects. 1/3rd of the Vedic
hymns are related to this. Indra is the lord of
the thunderbolt and symbolizes the courage and
strength needed to protect families and
communities. Vac is the goddess of speech and
communication. Varna is the king of the gods
and is custodian of rita (order).
Schools of Hindu Philosophy
We are looking the these Vedic texts to
have some understanding of the texts
which form the foundation for Indian
philosophical thought. The texts are rich
and worth your reading at some point in
your life.
Many of the Schools of Indian Philosophy
are grounded in these texts
Schools of Indian Philosophy
See page 1 of your textbook
Sāmkhya
Yoga
Nyāya
Vaiśeşika
Mīmāmsā
Vedānta
The Creation Hymn
Look at the Creation Hymn from the Rig Veda on pages
6-7 of your text. Notice that the hymn begins with a
question about what was prior to existence and non-
existence. As humans, our conceptual thought can think
only in these categories. Yet, the question pushes us to
try to experience something that is prior and that cannot
be expressed by language. The closest the hymn comes
is to name this “that one.” The hymn uses the language
of paradox to try to point to that which is prior, but ends
by reaffirming that knowledge cannot go beyond
existence and non-existence. Notice the search for
wholeness and unity.
Hymn of Man
Look also on page 8 at verse #12 in the Hymn
of Man. This is about creation by means of
sacrifice of primordial man. The verse is
important because it sets the theoretical
conception of society as divided into four varna
(classes, but literally colors). These are the
brahmin—sometimes you will find Brāhamanas-
(priests and intellectuals), the kshatriyas
(warriors), the vaishya (people), and the shudra
(servants). The Aryans would have constituted
the first three groups.
The Upanishads
The Upanishads, while also very ancient
texts, are more philosophical. They
explain principles and supply reasons. As
you look at the examples in the textbook,
think about two questions and two terms.
Look for these in the texts.
The Upanishads
What is the nature of ultimate reality? The texts
name that Brahman. Brahman is that which is
ultimate and unlimited, beyond thought, and
cannot be conceived by thought.
Note the distinctions
Brahman—Ultimate Reality
Brahma—manifestation of Brahman
Brahmin—the highest class
The Upanishads
What am I, the ultimate self? The texts name
that ātman. Human knowledge focuses on
objects, but knowledge of ātman is different.
How do we know ourselves as self? Notice on
page 20, in verse 6, the claim that ātman is
Brahman. Also look at how the various texts
suggest that there are layers of self that we
must work through to experience ultimate self.
The Chandogya Upanishad is particularly
focused on this.
Layers of self
Matter
Life
Awareness
Understanding
Bliss