2023-08-17 01:53:29 by ambuda-bot
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OF CULTURE
GOVERNMENT
si
generally said that the Bhagavata is par
excellence the Purana which emphasises
the value of Bhakti (devotion) and Virakti
(detachment). Attractive stories are a
vehicle employed by the Hindu sages for
teaching morality and religion. The
author of the Bhagavata has largely
availed himself of this method.
FOREWORD
The sage Vyasa who had edited the
Vedas and composed the Mahabharata
did not attain serenity or happiness in
spite of the completion of his labours and
his immersion in philosophy and religion.
If there was any philosopher who could
have appreciated the truth of the Vedanta
philosophy and enjoyed intimacy with
the formless absolute (Nirguna Brahman),
it was Vyasa. He was told by Narada
that he could attain peace of mind and
happiness only by dwelling upon the
incarnations of Lord Vasudeva and
singing his glory.
The stories of the Deity and His
miraculous intervention to help His
votaries often read like fairy tales. They
are not, however, accepted by the
thoughtful at their face value. It is
pointed out by Sri Sankaracharya that
the object of myth and legend in the
Vedas is merely to lure the mind to the
truths of religion. The stories are treated
as mere Arthavada (eulogistic) and not as
facts. If, notwithstanding the progress
GOVERNMENT
si
generally said that the Bhagavata is par
excellence the Purana which emphasises
the value of Bhakti (devotion) and Virakti
(detachment). Attractive stories are a
vehicle employed by the Hindu sages for
teaching morality and religion. The
author of the Bhagavata has largely
availed himself of this method.
FOREWORD
The sage Vyasa who had edited the
Vedas and composed the Mahabharata
did not attain serenity or happiness in
spite of the completion of his labours and
his immersion in philosophy and religion.
If there was any philosopher who could
have appreciated the truth of the Vedanta
philosophy and enjoyed intimacy with
the formless absolute (Nirguna Brahman),
it was Vyasa. He was told by Narada
that he could attain peace of mind and
happiness only by dwelling upon the
incarnations of Lord Vasudeva and
singing his glory.
The stories of the Deity and His
miraculous intervention to help His
votaries often read like fairy tales. They
are not, however, accepted by the
thoughtful at their face value. It is
pointed out by Sri Sankaracharya that
the object of myth and legend in the
Vedas is merely to lure the mind to the
truths of religion. The stories are treated
as mere Arthavada (eulogistic) and not as
facts. If, notwithstanding the progress