History of world religions. Vedic cult. Upanishads (most important)

Lecture notes, cheat sheets
Free library / Directory / Lecture notes, cheat sheets

History of world religions. Vedic cult. Upanishads (most important)

Lecture notes, cheat sheets

Table of contents (expand)

18. Vedic cult. Upanishads

The basis of the Vedic cult is the sacrifice, through which the follower of the Vedas appeals to the gods in order to ensure the fulfillment of his desires. The sacrifice is omnipotent, and if it is correctly brought, then a positive result is ensured, because the principle "I give so that you give" works in the Vedic ritual.

Important in this regard is the hymn in which the primordial being Purusha appears, which the gods sacrificed and from whose body parts the earth and sky arise. The sun, the moon, plants and animals, people and, finally, social classes (varnas), ritual objects, as well as the hymns themselves.

In the later Vedic texts (Brahmanas) there is a statement about the origin and emergence of the world. In some places, old provisions are being developed about water as the primary substance, on the basis of which individual elements, gods and the whole world arise. The process of genesis is often accompanied by speculation about the influence of Prajapati, who is understood as an abstract creative force that stimulates the process of the emergence of the world, and his image is devoid of anthropomorphic features. The Brahmins are primarily practical guides for the Vedic ritual; cult practice and related mythological expositions are their main content.

The Upanishads (literally: "to sit near" - to sit near the teacher to listen to his exposition of the content of these texts) form the completion of the Vedic literature. In general, the Old Indian tradition has 108 of them, today about 300 different Upanishads are known.

In the Upanishads, the entire complex of Vedic ideology, in particular the absolutization of the victim and its all-pervading power, is subject to revision. The dominant place in the Upanishads is occupied, first of all, by a new interpretation of the phenomena of the world, according to which the universal principle acts as the fundamental principle of being - an impersonal being (brahma), which is also identified with the spiritual essence of each individual (atman). An inseparable part of this teaching is the concept of the cycle of life (samsara) and the closely related law of retribution (karma).

Here is a peculiar attempt to explain the property and social differences in society as a consequence of the ethical result of the activity of each individual in past lives. Thus, one who acts in accordance with existing norms can, according to the Upanishads, prepare for himself a better lot in some of the future lives.

The cycle of life is eternal, and everything in the world obeys it. The Upanishads are basically an idealistic teaching, however, it is not holistic in this basis, since it contains views close to materialism.

Authors: Pankin S.F., Mortova E.A.

<< Back: Vedic Literature. Religion of the Vedas

>> Forward: Jainism

We recommend interesting articles Section Lecture notes, cheat sheets:

▪ General electronics and electrical engineering. Crib

▪ Banking law. Crib

▪ Study of control systems. Lecture notes

See other articles Section Lecture notes, cheat sheets.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Solidification of bulk substances 30.04.2024

There are quite a few mysteries in the world of science, and one of them is the strange behavior of bulk materials. They may behave like a solid but suddenly turn into a flowing liquid. This phenomenon has attracted the attention of many researchers, and we may finally be getting closer to solving this mystery.

Imagine sand in an hourglass. It usually flows freely, but in some cases its particles begin to get stuck, turning from liquid to solid. This transition has important implications for many areas, from drug production to construction. Researchers from the USA have attempted to describe this phenomenon and come closer to understanding it.

In the study, the scientists conducted simulations in the laboratory using data from bags of polystyrene beads. They found that the vibrations within these sets had specific frequencies, meaning that only certain types of vibrations could travel through the material.

The results obtained represent an important step in understanding the physics of bulk materials. They make it possible not only to explain the static properties, but also the vibrational behavior of such materials. This opens up new prospects for the application of this knowledge in various fields of science and technology.

Studying the behavior of bulk solids as they approach the sticking point is an important step in understanding the physics of these materials. The data obtained will help expand our knowledge about their properties and possible applications in various fields of science and technology.

Other interesting news:

▪ When boarding a flight, show a working gadget

▪ Manual navigator

▪ Driving school for rats

▪ Twilight of the Universe

▪ There is no star formation at the center of the Milky Way

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site Microphones, radio microphones. Article selection

▪ article Lamentation on the Rivers of Babylon. Popular expression

▪ article Since when have women competed in the Olympics? Detailed answer

▪ article Harg shrubby. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Two designs with touch control. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article AC voltage sensor for 250 V. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews