Dharma Vahini - Post 26

Chapter XI. Three Eras

Swami explains about the 3 Eras - Vedic, Upanishadic & Puranic, in this chapter.

Swami writes, 

"The eras, classified according to the principles and practices of spiritual progress as laid down in the Hindu dharma, are three:

1. The Vedic era, during which great importance was laid on rituals (karma).

2. The Upanishadic era, when spiritual wisdom (jnana) was emphasized more than all else. 

3. The Puranic era, when devotion (bhakthi) was declared and described as all important.

The Vedic Age

Vedic literature consists of hymns (samhithas), Brahmanas, forest texts (Aranyakas), and Upanishads. 

Of these, the first three deal with actions (karma) and are known as Karma-kanda, and the last, the Upanishads, are concerned with spiritual wisdom (jnana) and are therefore called wisdom texts (Jnana-kanda).

The Upanishadic Age

Meanwhile, the Upanishad Age dawned. The Upanishads rejected material objectives as devoid of permanent value; they condemned them as inferior. In fact, the ritual portion (Karma-kanda) of the Vedas was transformed and revalued in the Upanishads as vehicles for the liberation of people from the bondage of birth and death and as vessels for crossing the ocean of worldly existence (samsara). The vision of the Upanishadic aspirant (sadhaka) breaks through this “external sensory objective world” and centres itself on the “inner world”. 

The Puranic Age

The seeds of devotion found scattered in the Vedic texts sprout in the Upanishads and begin to grow with many a blossomful branch in the Puranas.

Well, many are yet confused when it comes to deciding what exactly devotion (bhakthi) is, what the nature of the attitude called devotion is! 

It is impossible for anyone to demarcate what exactly devotion is and what it is not. Devotion has in finite facets. Only pure, tender, tolerant, calm and loving souls, the very cream of spiritual aspirants (sadhus), the swans (hamsas) sporting ever in the company of kindred devotees, can understand its purity and depth. Others will find it as difficult to discover devotion in a person as discovering softness in rock, coldness in fire, or sweetness in the margosa (neem) tree. Devotees hold the Lord dearer to themselves than life, and the Lord is attached to them in equal measure."

More on these 3 eras in next post!!

Love.