soumya srajan: Universe and self – via Advaita Vedanta-II

By Soumya Srajan

November 13. 2011

Some History – a tribute to Rsihis, Tirthankars and Monks who built adviata model of universe

It is difficult to decide when did all this development start. Several sramaṇa movements are known to have existed before the 6th century BCE dating back to Indus valley civilization.These have influenced both the Astika (those who depended on Vedas to develop philosophies) and the Nastika (those who did not depend on Vedas) traditions of Indian philosophy. Philsophies like Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaishika, Mimamsa (and also Vedanta) are considered Astika traditions while Jainism, Buddhism, Caravaka are considered to be in Nastika traditions.

Final theory of Advaita Vedanta has come much after these, so all these schools. Over all it must have been influenced by all these ancient philosophies. Vedas themselves are supposed to have been formally scripted (so called samhitas) by Veda Vyasa, who lived in the period of Mahabharata. He seems to have lived around 3100 BCE. Some of the Jain Tirthankars lived much earlier. Only for 23rd and 24th Tirthankars Parshva Nath and Mahavir Swami one can fix dates when they lived. Parsava Nath is supposed to have lived around 800 BCE. There are statues found in ruins of Indus valley civilization which seems to be of the first Jain Tirthankar Rishabh Dev. He is also considered to be an avatar of Vishnu.

Along the Banks of Saraswati River

There is very little doubt that people who are supposed to have "written" Vedas lived along the banks of Saraswati river (Vedas were not really written initially, they were the shrutis, some thing you only heard, so not in written format, many of those hymns of Vedas from shrutis are still used in our rituals).

There are hymns in Vedas which praise Saraswati river a lot and there are also hymns which have sentiments like "oh! Saraswati, why are you deceiving us."

Remote sensing device from outer space solves the mystery behind hymns of Rigveda

For a long time Saraswati was considered by Western histroians and many Indians influenced by them to be a mythological river which did not really exist. But with recent remote sensing devices this view was shown to be false (first one was on a french satellite, we must be perhaps only country who prefer to not analyze our own history properly in the name of secularism. Though now some historians from USA, India and other countries also explore path and drying up of Saraswati.

Now it is more or less considered, a certainly that Saraswati was one of the largest rivers of India (Yamuna and Satlaj merged in Saraswati) between 6000 BC to 3500 BC. In Mahabharta it is mentioned that Saraswati had already dried up. So most likely Vedas may have originated in this period between 6000 BC to 3500 BC ). now some historians from USA, India and other countries also explore path and drying up of Saraswati. Now it is more or less considered, a certainly that Saraswati was one of the largest rivers of India (Yamuna and Satlaj merged in Saraswati) between 6000 BC to 3500 BC. In Mahabharta it is mentioned that Saraswati had already dried up. So most likely Vedas may have originated in this period between 6000 BC to 3500 BC ).

It is interesting to note that people were a bit puzzled earlier, why was it mentioned in Rig Veda "oh! Saraswati, why are you deceiving us." Now that mystery has been solved by these remote sensing devices from outer space and given meaning to these hymns.

The river Saraswati had started drying up because of geological changes in areas covered by Himalays and Shivalik. That must have caused problems to these very highly evolved cultures, who gave us so developed philosophic and scientific ideas.

Tradition of remaining nameless

One can not really identify all those who contributed to these developments in Hindu, Jain or Buddhist philosophies. A common tradition in India is not to put your name on your writings and architecture. People devoted all they did to God or Guru. It may be interesting to note than while they may have devoted all to God, there is not really any conclusive talk of God at all, in the philosophy or rituals resulting from these philosophies. Even the philosophers (Rishis) of Mimamasa School, which emphasized very ritualistic conduct, based on hymns of Vedas argued that "there was no need to postulate a maker for the world, just as there was no need for an author to compose the Vedas or a God to validate the rituals."

Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions about knowledge

Many today consider in ritualistic aspects that Vedas were written by God, perhaps because of such traditions. In this connection it may be interesting to note that according to Hindu and Jain philosophies, any knowledge is there eternally. Jain tradition is also that human being cyclically learn the knowledge as new one and then again, it is forgotten and this cycles continues eternally. Buddhist tradition also has similar aspects. In Buddhism, a Buddhist era starts with a Buddha and ends when his teachings are forgotten and there are many Buddhas who have existed in this world in different eras.

Guru Vandana

While we are starting to study model of universe, let us pay in Indian style and tradition our respects to all Rishis, Tirthankars, Monks since that ancient times to present times, who have given us an opportunity to learn and understand some basic ideas about universe via this model initially created by them.

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया ।
चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who has opened the eyes blinded by darkness of ignorance with the collyrium-stick of knowledge.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुरेव परंब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the direct Parabrahma, the Supreme Reality

त्सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजित पदाम्बुजः ।

वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्यो यः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, whose lotus feet are radient with (the luster of) the crest jewel of all Srutis and who is the sun that causes the Vendanta Lotus (knowledge) to bloosom.