Wednesday, August 6, 2014

What does the Vedas teach us?

I need not tell you that the Vedas play an important status in Hinduism.  What does the Vedic literature tell us?  What is the meaning of Veda?  Why is it given so much importance?  What is the knowledge which the Vedic literature provides us? 

The word 'Veda' means 'book of knowledge'.   

The Vedas describes the three modes of nature.

1. Saatvik or Satvaguna - mode of goodness
2. Rajasvik or Rajoguna - mode of passsion
3. Thamasik or Thamoguna - mode of ignorance

Nowadays, people have a mix of all these modes of nature.  Prominent among them being the mode of ignorance.  

The book of knowledge, Veda is meant to teach us our true identity.  It is intended to make us understand and realize our true self - the identity of the spirit soul.  Vedas want to bring some rules and regulations in the life of the people.  By these rules and regulations one can control the three modes of nature.

Bhagavad Gita is considered the essence of all the Vedas.  In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna to rise above the Vedas.  Why does Krishna asks his friend like this?  

Krishna wanted Arjuna to grow higher than the Vedas and rise above the control of the three modes of nature.  It means one should understand his spiritual identity and should not be taken away by the material possessions which are due to the effect of the three modes of nature.  This is possible only through Bhakthi Yoga.

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