How important are the Vedas within multifaceted Hindu community compared to the Upanishads Ramayana and Mahabharata?

Answer 1

THE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE VEDAS: By Vedas, we mean 72, 000 mantras about imaginary gods, that divide Hindu society by any and all means. The reason for this misunderstanding about Vedas is the fact that we always interpret Vedas based on reasoning and not on logic i.e. we always look at the differences among the 72, 000 mantras and never at what is common to them.

VEDAS - THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR MANKIND:

When we study Vedas logically, we would realize that they are about the fundamental forces that govern our thoughts and actions, making Vedic knowledge of universal and eternal use to mankind.

According to Vedas facts are superior to beliefs and thus Brahman, the god of facts, is the supreme Hindu god.

THE SEVEN FORCES THE VEDAS DEAL WITH:

The Vedas deal with a supreme force called Brahman, which is made of seven forces, each of which we are familiar as a Hindu god.

They are,

1. Dreaming - Indra

2. Illusion - Shakti

3. Creativity - Brahma

4. Stabilization - Vishnu

5. Determination - Shiva

6. Status alteration - Shani

7. Compulsion - Yama.

The seven gods enable us to facilitate and retard our actions to theoretical limits.

Vedic gods Vishnu, Varuna, Mitra and Savitr all had futures of the Semi voluntary force that stabilized life and thus merged into a single god, Vishnu,

People, who interpret Vedas based on reasoning, may get a totally different idea about Hindu gods.

THE FOUR VARNAS:

The Varnas are meant to convert our chaotic life into eternally ideal life.

1. Shudra Varna - for chaotic conditions

2. Vaishya Varna - for tolerable conditions

3. Kshatriya Varna - for normal conditions

4. Brahmana Varna - for ideal conditions.

Thus, Varnas are not meant for exploitation of people

VEDIC EQUALITY:

According to Vedas the Shudras should have maximum freedom and as they move up, their freedom should reduce, until when they become one with Brahman, when their freedom would get abolished completely. Thus, the right to improve is the privilege of people at the bottom.

In marked contrast, in modernism, progress is the privilege of people at the top.

THE VEDAS, ABSOLUTE FREEDOM AND SUPREME KNOWLEDGE:

Vedas enable us to use our entire mind.

When the seven gods and four Varnas merge or co exist we would be one with the supreme Hindu god Brahman. Moksha is the freedom to merge or separate the seven gods and the four Varnas and use any one of them at will.

Brahman merges all our activities into a single activity. This enables us to consider infinite options in a moment. Brahman is the most reliable god and gives eternal bliss

THE UPANISHADS:

The Upanishads pay all the attention to Brahman. It considers either Shiva or Vishnu is the supreme Hindu god. This greatly simplifies Hinduism.

However, it keeps us at the mercy of fate because the other Hindu gods wouldn't be there to help us.

The Upanishads therefore, enable us to make our life great if we are ready to sacrifice our freedom and be ready to be at the mercy of fate. It also divides Hindu society into Shaivas, Vaishnavas, etc.

RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA:

In this, the two incarnations of Vishnu are the gods, Rama in Ramayana and Krishna in Mahabharata. These gods, like man use reasoning. This enables us to understand these manlike gods, which are believed to be historical persons.

Ramayana is the equivalent of Nirguna Brahman and Mahabharata of Saguna Brahman.

According to Mahabharata/ Bhagavadgita, Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is the supreme Hindu god.

Krishna, like human beings, uses reasoning.

ADVANTAGES OF REASONING:

1. Reasoning or Brahma thinking, is ideally suited for creativity because it divides life into infinite, independent activities and make the effect short lived.

2. For the same reasons, reasoning enables people of all classes to interact with each other, because the effect, good or bad is short lived.

3. Unlike in logic, we need not have to consider all options.

Thus, while the Vedas force people at the bottom to rise to the top, the Puranas just create an illusion that all are equal.

Thus, the Vedas are far superior to Upanishads, Ramayana and Mahabharata, even in a multifaceted Hindu community.