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Vedic Literatures
Based on the teachings of
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder Acharya – International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Based on the teachings of
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder Acharya – International Society for Krishna Consciousness
We inhabit aHUGE UNIVERSE
We are We are herehere
BangalorePopulation: over 6 million. One of the fastest growing cities
This huge temple complex is represented
as a dot on Bangalore map.
This huge temple complex is represented
as a dot on Bangalore map.
However, Bangalore
itself is a dot in map of
Karnataka
However, Bangalore
itself is a dot in map of
Karnataka
and Karnataka is
one of the many states
in India
India with population of One Billion is...
India with population of One Billion is...
... one of the many countries on the planet Earth.
Earth weighing 6x1021 Kg., is one of the many planets
in our solar system.
Sun, around which all the planets are orbiting is 14,00,000 times
bigger than Earth.
Astrophysicists point out
There are 2000 billion stars
like sun each having its own
family of planets
...all these billions of galaxies and trillions of stars comprise our
UNIVERSE
According to science...
How do we understandGOD who is ...
•Creator & maintainer of many such universes.
•Beyond this gigantic manifestation.
All methods of acquiring knowledge
can be broadly classified into two categories
Inductive (Ascending)
Trying to find the truth by one’s own
endeavor or speculation
Deductive (Descending)
To learn the truth by accepting an
authority & inquiring from him
How can an ant living in one corner of this classroom know
about...
What are the latest developments in Iraq?
The wars in the other side of the globe?
Who is President of
United States of
America ?
Arafat & ethnic
conflicts in Palestine
and Lebanon
Logically speaking ant can never know through its
own efforts through ASCENDING PROCESS of acquiring knowledge
Its tooooo... small & has limited sense
perception
Ground Reality...
Then how can we go about understanding GOD who is creator of infinite gigantic
UNIVERSES?
...but to accept the descending method of acquiring knowledge
We have no choice...
Accept an authority & learn the truth by inquiring submissively.
Lord Krishna inBhagavad-Gita mentions the process of acquiring
knowledge.
tad viddhi praëipätenaparipraçnena
sevayä
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a Spiritual Master
and inquire submissively
Who is that authority?
THE VEDIC LITERATURES
But aren’t the Vedas written by man !!!
NOThe Vedas are
apaurusah – they are not man-made
tene bramha hriday adi
kavaye
The Vedic knowledge was revealed by the Supreme Person, in the heart of the first created being, Brahma.
This Vedic wisdom came
down in disciplic
succession through aural
reception
The Vedas are also called as SHRUTIS or knowledge
received through aural reception.
Srimad Bhagavatam predicts about people in Kali-yuga
•mandäù — lazy;•sumanda-matayaù — misguided;
•manda-bhägyäù — unlucky;•hi upadrutäù — and above all disturbed
Today, we depend on modern gadgets to even remember details
of our near & dear ones
Therefore...
Vyäsadeva, a literary
incarnation of God, recorded all the Vedas in writing 5,000 years back for the benefit of
people inKali Yuga
What the world renowned personalities
say about the Vedic literatures ?
“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita, the only question left is how God created the universe. Everything else seems to be superfluous.”
Albert EinsteinPhysicist
“The balance of mind which few highly-
civilized individuals, such as Arjuna, the hero of Bhagavad-
gita, can maintain in action, is difficult for
most of us even as observers.”
T. S. EliotAmerican-English
Poet
“The deeper you dive into it, richer the
meaning you get...with every age, the important
words will carry new and expanding
meanings. But its central teachings will
not vary.”
Mahatma Gandhi
India’s Father of Nation
“Let the Gita be to you a mine of diamonds as it has been to me. Let it be your constant guide
and friend on life’s way. Let it light your path and dignify your
labour.”
Mahatma Gandhi
India’s Father of Nation
“It gives utterance to the aspirations of the pilgrims of all sects who seek to
tread the inner way to the city of God.”
Dr. S. Radhakrishnanformer President of India
“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonalphilosophy of the Bhagavad Gita,
in comparison with which ourmodern world and its literature
seem puny and trivial.”
Henry David Thoreau
The Vedas offer insight into
• Who am I ?
• Where have I come from ?
• Where do I go after death ?
• What is the purpose of my existence ?
• Who is God ?
• How am I related to God ?
Since, these questions deal with very fundamental
aspects of our existence, we can immensely benefit by daily studying these vedic
literatures & sharpening our Spiritual Intelligence ‘SQ’.
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