All spiritual ideas/concepts of Human beings find their source to Rig Veda, which is the earliest text on this subject. It is from Rig Veda the concept of Sanatana Dharma had emanated. (Rig Veda 3.3.1).
Sanatana Dharma comprises only the Core spiritual practices, aimed at cleansing a seeker’s mind, viz, following the path of TRUTH, fulfilling one’s Dharma/duties, etc, and finally attaining the SELF-REALISATION or WISDOM.
—-
If we keenly observe and brush aside the outward beliefs related Gods, religious texts and related rituals, pertaining to Jainism and Hinduism, we can find that at the core, both Jainism and Hinduism contain the same SPIRITUAL IDEAS.
A) Jainism, as it stands today, comprises it’s own rituals, texts, apart from the core SPIRITUAL PRACTICES.
B) Hinduism, as it stands today, comprises the following main aspects:
1) Various rituals, viz., on the occasions of child birth, children attaining adolescence, marriage, house warming/grihaprevesha, death in a family, etc., being laid down by many scriptures and are being followed by majority of Hindus.
These rituals may change from one area to another in India
2) Various religious texts, viz., Puranas, and related rituals being followed in Temples and in houses.
These texts and rituals may change from form of worship to another, ie., different texts and rituals for Shaivism, Shaketism, Vaishnavism, etc.
3) The core spiritual practices irrespective of the birth and brought up, viz., SELF-PURIFICATION/cleaning of one's own mind, speech and actions/karmas, turning one's mind inward and attaining the everlasting BLISS , so that the purpose of one's life can be understood.
—-
Both Jainism and Hinduism in the present state, might have evolved from the Rig Veda only.
In Rig Veda, conquering of one’s own weaknesses were described in esoteric sense, ie., elimination of Vrtra/Panis by Indra/Brihaspati, etc, and attaining of SELF REALISATION was described as conquering of swar, releasing of concealed cows/sun from a CAVE, etc.
—-
The Rig Vedic word for conquer is jita, the "dhatu"or the root of the word is ji (जि) indicating to conquer/to overcome/to surpass/to win/to restrain.
Consider the following Rik from Rig Veda.
Rig Veda 8.76.4
अयं ह येन वा इदं स्वर्मरुत्वता जितम् । इन्द्रेण सोमपीतये ॥
ayaṃ ha yena vā idaṃ svar marutvatā jitam | indreṇa somapītaye ||
English translation:
This is Indra, for sure, the soul blest with the energy of prana, by whom is won this light of heaven by the grace of divinity for the enjoyment of divine joy.
—
The word jina, from which Jainism had emanated, also means conquering or becoming victorious.
According to my understanding, some of the spiritual masters, who conquered their weaknesses and attained SELF-REALISATION, of Rig Vedic era might have established their own systems under the name of JAINISM.
The rituals, beliefs and texts pertaining to present day JAINISM might have evolved over a period of time.
However, the subsequent generations of JAINISM might have lost track of original Rig Vedic origins of their system.
No comments:
Post a Comment