I have always had concerns over many of the translations and presentations of the narakas. These seem to be much...
I have always had concerns over many of the translations and presentations of the narakas. These seem to be much more oriented toward a Christian view than a Hindu view. Additionally, it appears to go against the foundation of Hinduism, and brings in major philosophical issues and conflicts.
why so? one needs to suffer for the wrong doings through narakas and enjoy for one's good deeds. what can be more justified?
ReplyDeleteVasudevan, if one examines the imagery of the Puranic texts, it appears more akin to some Christian dogma than Hindu. In fact, the entire concept of Yama and Chitrgupta is more akin to Christian concepts, which makes one wonder if Christian ideologies modified an existing concept within Hinduism during the medieval period. This is clearly evident in the Bhavishya Purana, as even the style of writing changes in key areas. Likewise the naraka concept seems in conflict with many of the Hindu views of the soul, for example in the Yoga Sutras the soul (Purusha) is viewed as complete and experiences no suffering or action of karma. The same would be true within the Samkhya system. If one loses this imagery of the Puranas, and examines the patalas, as lower chakras, which is supported in yoga texts, then karma becomes the ruling principle and one is born into the world with specific karmas that may include challenges of various types of suffering, or one might be born with a more tamasic mind, as an example. If Chitragupta becomes the latent impressions within the mind then this would make additional sense, and would be harmonious with the law of karma as well. This would fit the overall Hindu philosophy much more than the handful of Puranic imagery that appears to deviate from the concept of the perfection of the soul.
ReplyDeleteYogi Baba Prem ji has pointed an important thing. Many things need to be understood when we read our puranas. Please note that 99% of the Hindus go with Purana, that too a distorted with many interpolations from the original. There are lot of similes and exaggerated things in Puranas - this is to make it interesting in one hand and also to convey complex concepts. The thing need to be noted is that the concept is not simplified because that is the truth - but the characters portraying the concept is modified with special non-imaginable abilities - which appear to defy the physical laws of the world. For example -in Navaratram in Durgaashtami day Sri. Durga fought with Raktabeeja and whenever 1 drop of his blood falls in the earth 100s Raktabeejas will come from that, so she keep digesting the blood so that Raktabeeja is killed - what this stands for is that - Raktabeeja is thought in our mind - so if we tried kill one, from that many many thoughts will arise - so we need to digest - digest here means not killing the thought and strengthening it so that many thoughts arise from it - this entire thing can be experienced in dhyaana (meditation). Same way the 9th day it is celebrated as the day of Saraswati - finally the buddhi could also be a hindrance to moksha - thus that is also sacrificed in atma. On the 10th day is there a Devi ? - none - Devi (shakti) is merged into Shiva (the atma) - thats why it is just Vijayadashami and the 10 day is not 10th night - here night represents - tamas or ajnaana (ignorance) - so winning over the mind is what is the actual tatva. Here mind is the Mahisha (byson) very powerful and not easy to win over - extraordinary shakti - valor, buddhi, etc all need to be combined to win over it. How many people tell the story like this - such tatva is behind every single purana story. The story of Subramanya going around the world for jnana and Ganesh achieving with out going anywhere and seeing Shiva - shakti as one in the form of Arunachala - meaning Prakriti and Purusha as one and attains jnaana - this is part of Arunachala mahatmyam originally in Skaanda purana. Later Subramanya contemplates and realizes this and gives up all his possessions and does tapas and he also attains. People have made this into a fight for a mango etc. Same way the word swarga in shastra means moksha, (enlightenment) - naraka means rebirth. The Chitragupta etc. I need to check - but there is no evidence for these things in shastras, neither in Itihasa - may be there in upa-puranas - so when we tell these things, we need to be very careful - best is to know for sure and then tell these stories.
ReplyDeleteIn simple words metaphors in Puranas shouldn't be taken literally - but this is what is happening now not in some corners but widely everywhere.
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately 99‰ of us take purana either granted or ignore as myth. Fresh thinking must start with the young mind. Good point.
ReplyDeleteOur education system is with the hands of appeasement, and can't expect the system to change. Instead a revolution should start within every human being about true God. Just not believing what somebody told, but to experience the true God. The concept of trinity, brahma Vishnu and Shiva is also one such topic rarely understood. Likewise, the concept of God itself is mostly mistaken. Eventhough there exists clear teachings about one and only Paramatma, we seldom listen to such noble thoughts. How can we expect a logical understanding if one is not even having ears to learn the higher truth?
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