Religion

HINDU SCRIPTURES

  • The VEDAS ( Four in number- Rig Veda, Yajur Veda,  Sama Veda, Veda.)

  • The BRAHMANAS, (They are the  prose commentaries on the  Four  Vedas,)

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  • The ARANYAKAS, (Subsidiary texts relating to the Vedas

  • The PURANAS, (Thirty Six texts in number,)

  • The  UPANISHADS, (108 texts in number, They are the Hindu 
    Philosophical   works- Most inspiring texts.)

  • The SASTRAS ( OR SMRITIS) works  regulating various aspects of 
    religious  and  secular life.

  • The SUTRAS: ( Or FORMULAS)  These are the books dealing on 
    various  of   sacrifices and religious performances.

  • The ITIHASAS ( Or Legends) These are Ramayana and Mahabharata

All these books together constitute as the Religious Scriptures of the HINDUS. They were the works of many sages, Scholarly commentators, and compilers spread over a long period covering centuries. Several of them (Vedas in particular,) were in oral traditions handed down from one generation to another. Many of these books were given a written shape only during the period of the GUPTAS. Most of them are said to be Divinely inspired. Of course they contain contradictions, interpolations, dubious and self-centered interpretations by persons who wrote commentaries on these works

THE  WISDOM OF YUDHISHTRA

 ( From  MAHA BHARAT   ‘Aranya Parva’.: Questions from the invisible YAKSHA and replies by the ELDEST of PANDAVAS namely YUDHISHTIRA.)  

  • What makes the Sunshine?
    ANS: Brahma, the Creator of the Universe.  

  • What saves a man from danger?
    ANS: Courage.  

  • How does a man gain wisdom?
    ANS: By keeping company with the wise.  

  • How does a man become a Brahmin?
    ANS: By good conduct, which is higher than all learning and more than all wealth.  

  • What weighs more than The Sun, The Moon, The Stars and The Earth?
    ANS: A Mother's words weigh more than The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, and The Earth.

  • What is higher than the vault of heaven?
    ANS: A Father.

  • What is swifter than the wind?
    ANS: The Mind.

  • What outnumbers the Stars?
    ANS: By the thoughts of man.

  • What bears a man company on a journey?
    ANS: The caravan.

  • Who is his companion at Home?
    ANS: His Wife.

  • Who is the friend of the sick?
    ANS: The physician.

  • Who is the friend of the dying?
    ANS: 'Grace,' is their friend.

  • What is the greatest of enemies?
    ANS:  'Anger' which ruins all.

  • What is the worst of sicknesses?
    ANS: 'Greed,' for it has no end.

  • Who is good?
    ANS: He who loves all living beings.

  • Who is bad?
    ANS: He whose heart knows no compassion.

  • What is the path that leads to Heaven?
    ANS: Truthfulness.

  • What makes a man happy?
    ANS: His own good deeds.

  • When is a man loved?
    ANS: When he is without vanity.

  • What is the greatest of all wonders?
    ANS: That a man sees others die daily, yet wishes to live forever.

NOTE: 

This selection from Mahabharat, is from vanavasa parva. The five brothers were thirsty and sent the last one to search and fetch water. Near a pond, when Sahadev was about to fill the pitcher, some unseen phenomena describing himself as YAKSHA, made it clear that he could draw water only by answering his questions. Sahadev ignored and died by drinking the prohibited water. Then others were sent one after another who met the same fate due to the same arrogance. Last came the eldest, YUDHISHTRA. 

He answered all  the questions and was given permission with a bonus boon of reviving the life of any one of the dead brothers, lying there on the tank bound. Yudhishtra requested the youngest Sahadev's life. When questioned on his wisdom for selecting his stepbrother and not his own, Yudhishtra said that he was still alive for his mother's consolation. Whereas his stepmother would be happy with her youngest son. For this fair mindedness on the part of the eldest one, Lord Yama, who happened to be that invisible Yaksha, revived all the dead brothers and permitted them to use the water.