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Line 10: − + + + − + − − − − − our domestic, social and national ideals are copied from − the noble characters in the Ramayana and the − ma:-Iabharata. The great national heroes stand even − today as beacon-lights to guide and inspire the people of − the whole world. The lives of Rama, Bharata and − − − − − sweetness. The Ramayana is written in twenty-four − − The Mahabharata − The Mahabharata is the history of the Pandavas and − the Kauravas. It gives a description of the great war, the − Battle of Kurukshetra, which broke out between the − Kauravas and the Pandavas who were cousins and − descendants of the lunar race. The Mahabharata is an − encyclopaedia of Hindu Dharma. It is rightly called the − fifth Veda. There is really no theme in religion, − philosophy, mysticism and polity which this great epic − does not touch and expound. It contains very noble − moral teachings, useful lessons of all kinds, many − beautiful stories and episodes, discourses, sermons, − − − 40 − ALL ABOUT HINDUISM − − parables and dialogues which set forth the principles of morals and metaphysics. The Pandavas obtained victory through the grace of Lord Krishna. The Mahabharataig written in one hundred thousand verses by sro Krishnadvaipayana Vyasa. The Bhagavad-Gita The most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Gita. It is a marvellous dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battle-field, before the commencement of the great war. Bhagavan Sri Krishna the essentials of Hindu religion to Arjuna. became the charioteer of Arjuna. Sri Krishna explained Just as the Upanishads contain the cream of the Vedas,does the . The th Upanishads are the cows. Lord Krishna is Gita contain the cream of the Upanishadsecowherd. Arjuna is the calf. The Gita is the milk. The wise men are those who drink the milk of the Gita. The Gita is the most precious jewel of Hindu literature. It is a universal gospel. The Gita teaches the Yoga of Synthesis. It ranks high in the religious literature of the world. Arjuna saw before him his dear relatives and teachers in the battle-field. He fainted and refused to fight against them. Then Lord Krishna imparted knowledge of the Self to Arjuna and convinced him that it was his duty to fight regardless of consequences. Afterwards Arjuna gave up his Moha, or delusion. All his doubts were cleared. He fought against the Kauravas and achieved victory. Knowledge of Ancient Indian History and Culture The Mahabharata contains also the immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave to Yudhishthira, when he was lying on the bed of arrows. The whole Mahabharata forms an encyclopaedia of history, morals and religion unsurpassed by any other epic in the world. − + + − HINDU SCRIPTURES + + − 41 + − The Ramayana and the Mahabharata speak to us Clearly about the ancient India, about her people, her clestorns, her ways of living, her arts, her civilisation and cu_iture, her smanufactures, etc. If you read these two cuoi ,,s, you will come to know how great India once was, bi:ciLs'you will be inspired to make her great once more. No and country has produced so many great men, great °teachers, great Yogins, great Rishis, great prophets, cfreatsrn Acharyas, great kings, great heroes, great en, great patriots and great benefactors, as st7tate India. The more you know of India and Hinduism, the more you will honour and love it and the more thankful to the Lord you will be that you were born in India as a Hindu. Glory to India! Glory to Hinduism! Glory to the seers of the Upanishads! Glory, glory to Lord Krishna, the author of the Song Divine! − THE PURANAS − The Puranas are of the same class as the Itihasas. They have five characteristics (Pancha-Lakshanq viz., history, cosmology (with various symbolical illustrations of philosophical principles), secondary creation, genealogy of kings and of Manvantaras. All the Puranas belong to the class of Suhrit-Samhitas. Vyasa is the compiler of the Puranas from age to age; and for this age, he is Krishnadvaipayana, the son of Parasara. The Puranas were written to popularise the religion of the Vedas. They contain the essence of the Vedas. The aim of the Puranas is to impress on the minds of the masses the teachings of the Vedas and to generate in them devotion to God, through concrete examples, myths, stories, legends, lives of saints, kings and great men, allegories and chronicles of great historical events. The sages made use of these things to illustrate the eternal principles of religion. The Puranas were meant, not for the scholars, but for the ordinary people who
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== Ramayana and Mahabharata ==
== Ramayana and Mahabharata ==
The two well-known Itihasas (histories) are the epics (Mahakavyas), Ramayana and Mahabharata They are two very popular and useful Sastras of the Hindus. The Ramayana was written by the sage Valmiki, and the Mahabharata by Vyasa.
The two well-known Itihasas (histories) are the epics (Mahakavyas), Ramayana and Mahabharata They are two very popular and useful Sastras of the Hindus. The Ramayana was written by the sage Valmiki, and the Mahabharata by Vyasa.<ref name=":0" />
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata speak to us Clearly about the ancient India, about her people, her customs, her ways of living, her arts, her civilisation and culture, her manufactures, etc.
=== Ramayana ===
=== Ramayana ===
The Ramayana, the Adi-Kavya or the first epic poem, relates the story of Sri Rama, the ideal man. It is the history of the family of the solar race descended from Ishvaku, in which was born Sri [[Rama|Ramachandra]], the Avatara of Lord Vishnu, and his three brothers. The ideal characters such as Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Sri Hanuman that we find in Ramayana firmly establish Hindu Dharma in our minds. The story of the birth of Rama and his brothers, their education and marriages, the exile of Sri Rama, the carrying off and recovery of Sita, his wife, the destruction of Ravana, the Rakshasa King of Lanka, and the reign of Sri Rama, are described in detail in Ramayana. How a man should behave towards his superiors, equals and inferiors, how a king
The Ramayana, the Adi-Kavya or the first epic poem, relates the story of Sri Rama, the ideal man. It is the history of the family of the solar race descended from Ishvaku, in which was born Sri [[Rama|Ramachandra]], the Avatara of Lord Vishnu, and his three brothers. The ideal characters such as Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Sri Hanuman that we find in Ramayana firmly establish Hindu Dharma in our minds. The story of the birth of Rama and his brothers, their education and marriages, the exile of Sri Rama, the carrying off and recovery of Sita, his wife, the destruction of Ravana, the Rakshasa King of Lanka, and the reign of Sri Rama, are described in detail in Ramayana. How a man should behave towards his superiors, equals and inferiors, how a king ought to rule his kingdom, how a man should lead his life in this world, how he can obtain his release, freedom and perfection, may be learnt from this epic. The Ramayana gives a vivid picture of Indian life. The lives of Rama, Bharata and Lakshmana provide a model of fraternal affection and mutual service. Sri Hanuman stands as an ideal unique Karma Yogin. The life of Sita is regarded as the most perfect example of womanly fidelity, chastity and affection. The Ramayana is written in twenty-four thousand verses by Sri Valmiki.<ref name=":0" />
ought to rule his kingdom, how a man should lead his life
in this world, how he can obtain his release, freedom and
perfection, may be learnt from this excellent epic. The
Ramayana gives a vivid picture of Indian life. Even today
Lakshmana provide a model of fraternal affection and
mutual service. Sri Hanuman stands as an ideal unique
Karma Yogin. The life of Sita is regarded as the most
perfect example of womanly fidelity, chastity and
thousand verses by Sri Valmiki.
=== The Mahabharata ===
The Mahabharata is the history of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It gives a description of the great war, the Battle of Kurukshetra, which broke out between the Kauravas and the Pandavas who were cousins and descendants of the lunar race. The Mahabharata is an encyclopaedia of Hindu Dharma. It is also called the fifth Veda. There is really no theme in religion, philosophy, mysticism and polity which this great epic does not touch and expound. It contains very noble moral teachings, useful lessons of all kinds, many beautiful stories and episodes, discourses, sermons, parables and dialogues which set forth the principles of morals and metaphysics. The Mahabharata contains also the immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave to Yudhishthira, when he was lying on the bed of arrows. The whole Mahabharata forms an encyclopaedia of history, morals and religion unsurpassed by any other epic in the world. The Pandavas obtained victory through the grace of Lord Krishna. The Mahabharata is written in one hundred thousand verses by Sri Krishnadvaipayana Vyasa.<ref name=":0" />
==== The Bhagavad-Gita ====
The most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Gita. It is a marvellous dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield, before the commencement of the great war. Bhagavan Sri Krishna became the charioteer of Arjuna. Sri Krishna explained the essentials of Dharma to Arjuna. Just as the Upanishads contain the cream of the Vedas, so does the Gita contain the cream of the Upanishads.<ref name=":0" />
Arjuna saw his dear relatives and teachers, before him, in the battle-field. He fainted and refused to fight against them. Then Lord Krishna imparted knowledge of the Self to Arjuna and convinced him that it was his duty to fight regardless of consequences. Afterwards Arjuna gave up his Moha, or delusion. All his doubts were cleared. He fought against the Kauravas and achieved victory.<ref name=":0" />