Ethical and Spiritual thought of ancient India
by Kaberi Sarkar | 1986 | 72,497 words
This essay studies the Ethical and Spiritual thought of ancient India as revealed in the Vedas, Puranas and Tantras. This work explores the discussion of God in Puuranic, Tantric, and Vedic hymns, portraying God as the creator, protector, and destroyer of the universe, and sometimes as the giver of ultimate salvation (moksha)....
5. Conclusion
CONCLUSION: 295 In this chapter, we have tried to give an outline picture of the philosophical thoughts, expressed in different hymns, composed by many preceptors and in various Tantric hymns beginning from vedic hymns. It is known from it that the devotees have realised their own god of worship to be the original cause of the entire universe, Since the vedic era. They have realised the supreme truth through any god of worship (upasya) and it can be done in all times. This, in brief, is the consequence of philosophisation, expressed in different hymns. So, as the hymns have been enriched in a proper combination of devotion, idea and unique poetic beauty, likewise, there are original ingredients or causes of very subtle analysis for intellectual and prudent persons. Therefore, devotee, thinker or philosopher, whoever he may be, each and every person will get sufficient materials for having joy according to their own thoughts from the literature of hymn and here lies the characteristics and importance of the literature of hymn. Sometimes it is found that common poetry deals out delight to the connoisseur by making itself free of abstruse philosophical thoughts, but such types of poetic composition are not greeted by persons of analytical mind to a greater extent. On the other hand, particular parts
296 of different poetic compositions, enriched with abstruse philosophical thought, create disturbances in having a taste of enjoyment or joy in the minds of scholars. These are found in the literature of hymn. As a sea possesses both beauty and sobriety the sea of hymns is likewise filled these two kinds of ideas. Although hymns are chiefly full of stating the greatness or eulogy of the god of worship, we find a subtle analysis of worldly thoughts and a highway of entering into a very subtle and joyful region (lokah) through this coarse (sthula) and seeming universe, prescribed nicely in these hymns. In this connection, we are tempted to state a subject of discussion of philosophy - that circles round God. Although there are divergence of views regarding the existence of god among different schools of philosophers, those who believe in god, have denied His existence on the basis of philosophical reasonings. So, it seems that a considerable part of philosophical theories is full of discussions regarding God. Here too, in many places of the literature of hymn God has been the object of discussion. Therefore, the discussion of god is highly needed in the stotra literature, Hence, we will make a brief discussion of the theories regarding God in stotra literature in the next chapter.