Vedic Literatures

Based on the teachings of

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder Acharya – International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Based on the teachings of

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder Acharya – International Society for Krishna Consciousness

We inhabit aHUGE UNIVERSE

We are We are herehere

BangalorePopulation: over 6 million. One of the fastest growing cities

This huge temple complex is represented

as a dot on Bangalore map.

This huge temple complex is represented

as a dot on Bangalore map.

However, Bangalore

itself is a dot in map of

Karnataka

However, Bangalore

itself is a dot in map of

Karnataka

and Karnataka is

one of the many states

in India

India with population of One Billion is...

India with population of One Billion is...

... one of the many countries on the planet Earth.

Earth weighing 6x1021 Kg., is one of the many planets

in our solar system.

Sun, around which all the planets are orbiting is 14,00,000 times

bigger than Earth.

Astrophysicists point out

There are 2000 billion stars

like sun each having its own

family of planets

...all these billions of galaxies and trillions of stars comprise our

UNIVERSE

According to science...

How do we understandGOD who is ...

•Creator & maintainer of many such universes.

•Beyond this gigantic manifestation.

All methods of acquiring knowledge

can be broadly classified into two categories

Inductive (Ascending)

Trying to find the truth by one’s own

endeavor or speculation

Deductive (Descending)

To learn the truth by accepting an

authority & inquiring from him

How can an ant living in one corner of this classroom know

about...

What are the latest developments in Iraq?

The wars in the other side of the globe?

Who is President of

United States of

America ?

Arafat & ethnic

conflicts in Palestine

and Lebanon

Logically speaking ant can never know through its

own efforts through ASCENDING PROCESS of acquiring knowledge

Its tooooo... small & has limited sense

perception

Ground Reality...

Then how can we go about understanding GOD who is creator of infinite gigantic

UNIVERSES?

...but to accept the descending method of acquiring knowledge

We have no choice...

Accept an authority & learn the truth by inquiring submissively.

Lord Krishna inBhagavad-Gita mentions the process of acquiring

knowledge.

tad viddhi praëipätenaparipraçnena

sevayä

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a Spiritual Master

and inquire submissively

Who is that authority?

THE VEDIC LITERATURES

But aren’t the Vedas written by man !!!

NOThe Vedas are

apaurusah – they are not man-made

tene bramha hriday adi

kavaye

The Vedic knowledge was revealed by the Supreme Person, in the heart of the first created being, Brahma.

This Vedic wisdom came

down in disciplic

succession through aural

reception

The Vedas are also called as SHRUTIS or knowledge

received through aural reception.

Srimad Bhagavatam predicts about people in Kali-yuga

•mandäù — lazy;•sumanda-matayaù — misguided;

•manda-bhägyäù — unlucky;•hi upadrutäù — and above all disturbed

Today, we depend on modern gadgets to even remember details

of our near & dear ones

Therefore...

Vyäsadeva, a literary

incarnation of God, recorded all the Vedas in writing 5,000 years back for the benefit of

people inKali Yuga

What the world renowned personalities

say about the Vedic literatures ?

“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita, the only question left is how God created the universe. Everything else seems to be superfluous.”

Albert EinsteinPhysicist

“The balance of mind which few highly-

civilized individuals, such as Arjuna, the hero of Bhagavad-

gita, can maintain in action, is difficult for

most of us even as observers.”

T. S. EliotAmerican-English

Poet

“The deeper you dive into it, richer the

meaning you get...with every age, the important

words will carry new and expanding

meanings. But its central teachings will

not vary.”

Mahatma Gandhi

India’s Father of Nation

“Let the Gita be to you a mine of diamonds as it has been to me. Let it be your constant guide

and friend on life’s way. Let it light your path and dignify your

labour.”

Mahatma Gandhi

India’s Father of Nation

“It gives utterance to the aspirations of the pilgrims of all sects who seek to

tread the inner way to the city of God.”

Dr. S. Radhakrishnanformer President of India

“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonalphilosophy of the Bhagavad Gita,

in comparison with which ourmodern world and its literature

seem puny and trivial.”

Henry David Thoreau

The Vedas offer insight into

• Who am I ?

• Where have I come from ?

• Where do I go after death ?

• What is the purpose of my existence ?

• Who is God ?

• How am I related to God ?

Since, these questions deal with very fundamental

aspects of our existence, we can immensely benefit by daily studying these vedic

literatures & sharpening our Spiritual Intelligence ‘SQ’.