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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Shraddha is considered as one of the highest virtues. It is a gift of the Supreme. It always bears fruits which carry over to the next life. The highest quality of shraddha is that of a devotee. From interpersonal perspective, shraddha is an emotion one has for another person, a deity or shastra (scriptural text or instructions in such texts that guide human behaviour). Shraddha reflects the basic nature of people. Absence of shraddha causes all efforts to go in vain.<ref name=":4" />

The term Shraddha is explained in Apte's Sanskrit dictionary with the following words: <blockquote>"to believe, put faith in, trust, respect, revere or desire something"</blockquote>It also refers to,

* a state of calmness or composure of the mind

* a firm belief in divine revelation<ref name=":0">Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), The Practical Sanskrit English Dictionary, Poona: Shiralkar & Co., See: [https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7285627_000/page/n1075/mode/2up Shraddha].</ref><ref name=":4" />

Simply put, Shraddha is an emotion one has for a deity or shastra (any scriptural text or injunctions that guide human behaviour).<ref name=":4" /> It is the ability or quality to believe in what one does not see and its reward is in seeing what was believed in.<ref name=":17">K.V.Anantharaman (2010), Siva Gita A Critical Study. See: [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/295754/14/15_appendix.pdf Faith (Glossary)]</ref> It is infact, considered as one of the highest virtues; a gift of the Supreme Being that always bears fruits which carry over to the next life as well.

Shraddha (faith) is to believe in what you do not see and the reward is in seeing what you believed.<ref>K.V.Anantharaman (2010), Siva Gita A Critical Study. See: [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/295754/14/15_appendix.pdf Faith (Glossary)]</ref>

The highest quality of shraddha is said to be that of a devotee.<ref name=":4" /> It reflects the firm conviction of a bhakta that all of one’s obligations will be fulfilled by adhering to the path of bhakti.<ref>Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja (2010), Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Vrndavana: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/9-brhad-bhagavatamrta-canto-2-volume-1/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref> And by accumulating pious devotional activities over many births or by associating with a pure bhakta, one's Shraddha in the statements of Shastras is awakened. And hence, Shraddha is referred to as the first manifestation of the creeper of devotion.<ref>Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (2003), Sri Bhajana Rahasya, Vrindavan: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/3-bhajana-rahasya/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref><ref>Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja (2015), Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Vrindavana: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/32-bhagavad-gita/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref>

Shraddha is the rudimentary stage of Bhakti. (Sri Shandilya Bhakti Sutras book)<ref name=":15" />

Also, it is said that Shraddha reflects the basic nature of people. And an absence of Shraddha causes all efforts to go in vain. The Bhagavad Gita, in Chapter 17 (Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga), explains this indigenous concept of Shraddha with respect to the three gunas (quality or innate tendencies) of Samkhya darshana or philosophy namely, Sattva, rajas and tamas; an understanding of which enriches in general, the understanding of bharatiya adhyatmata or spirituality.<ref name=":4" />

shraddha (श्रद्धा) refers to:—Faith; the firm conviction that all of one’s obligations will be fulfilled by performing kṛṣṇa-bhakti.<ref>Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja (2010), Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Vrndavana: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/9-brhad-bhagavatamrta-canto-2-volume-1/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref>

== भगवद्गीतायां श्रद्धा ॥ Shraddha in Bhagavad Gita ==

 

The term Shraddha appears 17 times in 15 verses across eight chapters in the Bhagavad Gita. The verses being, 3.31, 4.39, 6.37, 6.47, 7.21 (twice), 7.22, 9.23, 12.2, 12.20, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 (twice), 17.13, 17.17 and 18.71. While Ashraddha, the opposite of shraddha, occurs 4 times across 3 chapters which are, 4.40, 9.3, 17.13 (as a compound word) and 17.28. An analysis of these 19 verses from the Bhagavad Gita bring forth the different facets of the concept of Shraddha that highlights the importance of this construct in understanding Bharatiya worldview and psychology.<ref name=":4" />

shraddha (श्रद्धा) refers to:—Faith in the statements of the ''śāstras'' which is awakened after accumulating pious devotional credits over many births.<ref>Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (2003), Sri Bhajana Rahasya, Vrindavan: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/3-bhajana-rahasya/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref>

 

shraddha (श्रद्धा) refers to “faith in the statements of scripture awakened when one has accumulated pious devotional activities over many births or by the association and mercy of a pure Vaiṣṇava; the first manifestation of the creeper of devotion. The inner essence of the seed of ''shraddha'' is the conception implanted within the disciple’s heart to serve Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in a particular capacity”.<ref>Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja (2015), Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Vrindavana: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. See: [https://www.purebhakti.com/resources/ebooks-magazines/bhakti-books/english/32-bhagavad-gita/file Sraddha (Glossary)]</ref>

 

 

It is hoped that explication of the indigenous construct, shraddha, will also enrich our understanding of adhyatma or spirituality.

 

In Canto 17, shraddha is defined with respect to the three gunas (quality or innate tendencies) of sāmkhya darśana or philosophy.<ref name=":4" />

 

 

 

Meaning, trust in Śāstra and in the words of Guru with truthful behavior performed with śrअddhā intern helps in the understanding of reality and the gain of desired results or objects. (https://sanatanadhara.com/bhakthi/)

 

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary<ref name=":0">Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), The Practical Sanskrit English Dictionary, Poona: Shiralkar & Co., See: [https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7285627_000/page/n1075/mode/2up Shraddha].</ref>

 

1) To confide, believe, put faith in (with acc. of thing); कः श्रद्धास्यति भूतार्थम् (''kaḥ śraddhāsyati bhūtārtham'') Mk.3.24; कामिन्यः श्रदधुरनार्जवं नरेषु (''kāminyaḥ śradadhuranārjavaṃ nareṣu'') Śi.8.11;9.69; U.7.6; श्रद्दधे त्रिदशगोप- मात्रके दाहशक्तिमिव कृष्णवर्त्मनि (''śraddadhe tridaśagopa- mātrake dāhaśaktimiva kṛṣṇavartmani'') R.11.42.

 

shraddha (श्रद्धा).—

 

1) Trust, faith, belief, confidence.

 

2) Belief in divine revelation, religious faith; श्रद्धा वित्तं विधिश्चेति त्रितयं तत्समागतम् (''śraddhā vittaṃ vidhiśceti tritayaṃ tatsamāgatam'') Ś.7.29; R.2.16; अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगात् चलितमानसः (''ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāt calitamānasaḥ'') Bg.6.37;7.21;17.3.

 

3) Sedateness, composure of mind.

 

4) Intimacy, familiarity.

 

5) Respect, reverence.

 

6) Strong or vehement desire; तथापि वैचित्र्य- रहस्यलुब्धाः श्रद्धां विधास्यन्ति सचेतसोऽत्र (''tathāpi vaicitrya- rahasyalubdhāḥ śraddhāṃ vidhāsyanti sacetaso'tra'') Vikr.1.13; युद्धश्रद्धा- पुलकित इव प्राप्तसख्यः करेण (''yuddhaśraddhā- pulakita iva prāptasakhyaḥ kareṇa'') Mu.6.18.<ref name=":0" />

 

 

The term is derived from two Sanskrit roots: ''shrat'' meaning "truth," "heart" or "faithfulness," and ''dha'', meaning "to direct one’s mind toward." (Yogapedia https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5360/shraddha)

 

The two Samskrt dictionaries by Monier-William and Apte provide the following meaning of the word shraddha: faith, trust, confidence, trustfulness, faithfulness, belief, wish, desire, willingly, gladly, curiosity (śraddhā mākhyāhinastāvat or just satisfy our curiosity and tell us), purity, respect, reverence, calmness or composure of mind, to consent, assent to, approve and welcome (with na, ‘to disapprove’).<ref name=":4" />

== Types of Shraddha ==

== Types of Shraddha ==

=== Deriving the meaning of the construct of shraddha from the Bhagavad-Gītā. ===

=== Deriving the meaning of the construct of shraddha from the Bhagavad-Gītā. ===

17.17   

 

3.31, 4.39, 6.37, 6.47, 7.21 (twice), 7.22, 9.23, 12.2, 12.20, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 (twice), 17.13, 17.17, 18.71  

 

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१७॥<ref name=":5" />

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः । अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ॥१७.१७॥<ref name=":5" />

=== shraddha: Not finding faults ===

=== shraddha: Not finding faults ===

In the concluding verse of the Canto (12.20) another quality that is highlighted is that devotees who worship Krsna by surrendering to him with deep shraddha, and follow the dharmika or pious and nectar-like (amrta-like) instructions meticulously are dearest to Him. Such instructions refer to what is stated in śāstras or scriptures. What is meant here is that it is not enough to have shraddha for a person or deity but an individual needs to have it also in śāstra (or scriptural text) that guide human behaviour.

In the concluding verse of the Canto (12.20) another quality that is highlighted is that devotees who worship Krsna by surrendering to him with deep shraddha, and follow the dharmika or pious and nectar-like (amrta-like) instructions meticulously are dearest to Him. Such instructions refer to what is stated in śāstras or scriptures. What is meant here is that it is not enough to have shraddha for a person or deity but an individual needs to have it also in śāstra (or scriptural text) that guide human behaviour.

=== shraddha shapes a person ===

=== shraddha shapes a person ===

धीः श्रीः कान्तिः क्षमा शान्तिः श्रद्धा मेधा धृतिः स्मृतिः ॥ ५४ ॥<ref>Devi Bhagavata, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5]</ref>

धीः श्रीः कान्तिः क्षमा शान्तिः श्रद्धा मेधा धृतिः स्मृतिः ॥ ५४ ॥<ref>Devi Bhagavata, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5]</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

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