Some Hindu scriptures

[sayak83]

There has been some interest in knowing some writings from Hinduism in other forums and threads. So I will try to post some selections with attractive translations (no thee and shalt) for a flavor. Other Hindus are free to post a few as well that moves them. Putting in the interfaith section so that people of other faiths can see and comment. Thanks

 

[sayak83]

Creation hymns from Rig Veda.

I will follow no chronology. But Rig Veda being the oldest scripture and creation narratives being of abiding interest, I will put some selections here. They all come from the 10th Canto.

Nasadiya Sukta (almost before the beginning)

There was neither non-existence nor existence then;
Neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond.
What stirred? Where? In whose protection?
Was there water, the bottomless deep?

There was neither death nor immortality then.
No distinguishing sign of night nor day.
That One breathed... winless... by its own impulse.
Other than That there was nothing beyond.

Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning.
With no distinguishing sign, all this was water.
The life force that was covered with emptiness,
That One arose by the power of heat (ardor).

Desire came upon the that One in the beginning.
That was the first seed of the mind.
Seers(poets) seeking in their heart with wisdom
Found the bond of existence in non-existence.

Their cord (the bond above of desire) was extended across.
Was there a below? Was there an above?
There were seed placers; there were powers.
There was impulse beneath; there was giving-force above.

Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it?
Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation.?
The gods came afterwards with the creation of this universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?

Whence this creation has arisen - perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not-
The One who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only he knows;
Yet perhaps He knows not.



The First Being (at the beginning) RV 10.121

1. The golden embryo (Hiranyagarbha) evolved in the beginning.
Born the lord of what came to be, he alone existed.
He supports the earth and the heaven here— –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

2. Who is the giver of breath, the giver of strength;
whose command all honor, whose command the gods honor;
whose shadow is immortality, whose shadow is death— –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

3. Who became king of the breathing, blinking, moving world—
just he alone by his greatness;
who is lord of the two-footed and four-footed creatures here— –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

4. Whose are these snow-covered mountains [=the Himalayas] in their greatness;
whose is the sea together with the world-stream, they say;
whose are these directions, whose (their) two arms [=the zenith and
nadir?]— –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

5. By whom the mighty heaven and earth were made firm;
by whom the sun was steadied, by whom the firmament;
who was the one measuring out the airy realm in the midspace— –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

6. Toward whom the two battle lines [=heaven and earth] looked, steadied with his help, though trembling in mind,
(those) upon which the risen sun radiates. –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

7. When the lofty waters came, pregnant with the embryo that is everything and giving birth to the fire, he arose from that as the one life's breath of the gods.
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

8. Who by his greatness surveyed the waters receiving (ritual) skill (as an embryo) and giving birth to the sacrifice;
who, the god over gods, alone existed.
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

9. Let him not do us harm—he who is the progenitor of earth or who,
with foundations that are real, engendered heaven,
and who engendered the gleaming, lofty waters. –
Who is the god to whom we should do homage with our oblation?

The Great Sacrifice (from One to Many) Purusasukta
1. The Man (Purusha or Being) has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet.
Having covered the earth on all sides, he extended ten fingers’ breadth beyond.

2. The Man alone is this whole (world): what has come into being and what is to be.
Moreover, he is master of immortality when he climbs beyond (this
world) through food.

3. So much is his greatness, but the Man is more than this:
a quarter of him is all living beings; three quarters are the immortal in heaven.

4. With his three quarters the Man rose upward, but a quarter of him
came to be here again.
From there he spread out in different directions toward what eats and what does not eat.

5. From him the Virāj (Ruler/God) was born; from the Virāj the Man.
Upon his birth, he reached beyond the earth from behind and also from in front.

6. When, with the Man as the offering, the gods extended the sacrifice,
spring was its melted butter, summer its firewood, autumn its offering.

7. On the ritual grass they consecrated that sacrifice, the Man, born at the beginning.
With him the gods sacrificed, (also) the Sādhyas and those who
were seers.

8. From that sacrifice, when it was offered in full, the clotted-butter
mixture was collected . And it was made into the animals: those of the air (and both) those that belong to the wilderness and those that belong to the village.

9. From this sacrifice, when it was offered in full, the verses and chants were born.
Meters were born from it. The sacrificial formula—from it that was born.

10. From it horses were born and whatever animals have teeth in both jaws.
Cows were born from it. From it were born goats and sheep.

11. When they apportioned the Man, into how many parts did they
arrange him?
What was his mouth? What his two arms? What are said to be his two thighs, his two feet?

12. The Brahman (priest, scholar) was his mouth.
The ruler was made his two arms.
As to his thighs—that is what the freeman was.
From his two feet the servant was born.

13. The moon was born from his mind.
From his eye the sun was born.
From his mouth Indra and Agni(Fire), from his breath Vāyu (Wind) was born.

14. From his navel was the midspace. From his head the heaven developed.
From his two feet the earth, and the directions from his ear.
Thus they arranged the worlds.

15. Its enclosing sticks were seven;
the kindling sticks were made three times seven,
when the gods, extending the sacrifice, bound the Man as the
(sacrificial) animal.

16. With the sacrifice the gods performed the sacrifice for the sacrifice: these were the first foundations (dharma),
These, its greatness, accompanied (it) to heaven’s vault, where the
ancient Sādhyas and the gods are.

 

[Ralphg]

Thank you very much. I got goose bumps.
I've been looking into old scriptures for a while now to find a connection to the 'painted pictures' (best call it 'visions' I guess, but they're put in their on purpose (strangely enough I've met a couple! of people that 'helped' putting them their) when I was young) I have in my head. If you don't mind I'm going to use these texts to put in my 'essay'(?..) because they explain those pictures perfectly.

I'll take out 1 sentence to give you an idea what kind of things you helped me with:
--> Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning.
In one vision there's - on the left side - a dark 'void'. 'They' (witches (in reality male and female 'master-hypnotists'), who where present during this 'ritual' explained that this 'void' could contain everything. The total 'void' itself is described as 'everywhere and always' - I've always thought that part of the 'room' (the entire vision is lengthy, there are several symbolic places, movements and texts but I'm lifting out this part now because it fits this sentence) - was totally reserved for, well, darkness (Not-being, devil, death, etc.). So during 'rondo's' (dutch (so far probably unknown) word for creating a circle of master-hypnotist with one in the middle who volunteered to 'open up' (the encircling hypnotists 'throw their mind' 'into' the middle and within the group a 'hypnotic bond' is created. I think the one in the middle is called 'the Salt' during the process) I've always tried to 'avoid' or 'attack' that area which caused lots of ..uhm.. disturbance.

Comparing the 15th line of the 3th text and the '1' in my signature... that's spooky. I don't know if I'm the only one alive right now but I was 'given' 'the right' to use the sentence: "1 is a stick".
(and what/where are those other 6 sticks?...and why a fri*king 6!...could someone please wright a nice story about let's say a beautifull princess (No, let's make that 3 princesses) and the number 6 because I kinda get tired off ending up on 'that half' every time....)

Same goes for the sentence 'Quart circle'. That's what I shout out (kinda unvoluntary) if a couple of 'them' (people who are known to these master-hypnotist practices, sometimes I call them Illuminati) startup a 'ritual' known as 'the marriage'. During this ritual than there's always one that follows me shouting 'quart circle' with the words; "It's kinda silly to want to protect the entire quart circle but if someone feels up to that task"..... and then usually I take a step forward.

Can you believe a have 'pictures' (and - maybe best call it - 'stole' a couple of 'dance-movements' during my lifetime) that fit about 95 % of these texts! Word for word they make absolute sense to me

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

There has been some interest in knowing some writings from Hinduism in other forums and threads. So I will try to post some selections with attractive translations (no thee and shalt) for a flavor. Other Hindus are free to post a few as well that moves them. Putting in the interfaith section so that people of other faiths can see and comment. Thanks

I am unfortunately not as well versed in Hinduism as I would like to be.

Do you know of any interlinear scriptures I can look at?

Interlinear meaning where it shows the original language, the literal translation, and the translation.

 

[Ralphg]

(and what/where are those other 6 sticks?...and why a fri*king 6!...could someone please wright a nice story about let's say a beautifull princess (No, let's make that 3 princesses) and the number 6 because I kinda get tired off ending up on 'that half' every time....)

....well........hmpf.....that looked funny for about a whole hour!..........I.......already knew I'm perfectly capable to chew my own foot.

First one to come up with a nice story about The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale gets a frubal!!

 

[sayak83]

I am unfortunately not as well versed in Hinduism as I would like to be.

Do you know of any interlinear scriptures I can look at?

Interlinear meaning where it shows the original language, the literal translation, and the translation.

Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (Suny Series in Cultural Perspectives): Winthrop Sargeant, Navin and Pratima Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology Christopher Key Chapple, Huston Smith: 9781438428420: Amazon.com: Books

For Rig Veda finding one is near impossible. But if you are rich
The Rigveda: 3-Volume Set (South Asia Research): Stephanie W. Jamison, Joel P. Brereton: 9780199370184: Amazon.com: Books

Here is an upanisad.
Canto I

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (Suny Series in Cultural Perspectives): Winthrop Sargeant, Navin and Pratima Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology Christopher Key Chapple, Huston Smith: 9781438428420: Amazon.com: Books

For Rig Veda finding one is near impossible. But if you are rich
The Rigveda: 3-Volume Set (South Asia Research): Stephanie W. Jamison, Joel P. Brereton: 9780199370184: Amazon.com: Books

Here is an upanisad.
Canto I

Thank you for the Upanisad, I am afraid I am a college student so I cannot afford the other two at the moment. I will put a request for them with the school library, the staff and I are good friends.

 

[Aupmanyav]

@CogentPhilosopher, you do not have to spend even a cent/penny to read Hindu scriptures (Original language, transliteration and literal translation) for most. All important ones are available on internet, Google, Sacred-texts.com and Archives.org, and the translation. Of course, it means spending on broad-band which is cheap in India but perhaps not so in other countries. Apart from BhagawadGita, go for the older Upanishads first (Main Upanishads - Mukhya Upanishads). Read about the six Hindu philosophical streams at Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia.

Do not go for Vedas now, except for a few popular hymns. One needs to know the history of Aryans, their locales, their occupation, to understand what the writers are saying and why. In case you need help, just put in a post or PM.

 

[sayak83]

@CogentPhilosopher, you do not have to spend even a cent/penny to read Hindu scriptures (Original language, transliteration and literal translation) for most. All important ones are available on internet, Google, Sacred-texts.com and Archives.org, and the translation. Of course, it means spending on broad-band which is cheap in India but perhaps not so in other countries. Apart from BhagawadGita, go for the older Upanishads first (Main Upanishads - Mukhya Upanishads). Read about the six Hindu philosophical streams at Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia.

Do not go for Vedas now, except for a few popular hymns. One needs to know the history of Aryans, their locales, their occupation, to understand what the writers are saying and why. In case you need help, just put in a post or PM.

He is looking for an interlinear edition. That's difficult to get.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Is sacred-texts.com Griffiths transliteration/translation not 'interlinear'? Similar transliteration/translation is available for many of Hindu scriptures. Another example is Vedabase BhagawadGita.

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

@CogentPhilosopher, you do not have to spend even a cent/penny to read Hindu scriptures (Original language, transliteration and literal translation) for most. All important ones are available on internet, Google, Sacred-texts.com and Archives.org, and the translation. Of course, it means spending on broad-band which is cheap in India but perhaps not so in other countries. Apart from BhagawadGita, go for the older Upanishads first (Main Upanishads - Mukhya Upanishads). Read about the six Hindu philosophical streams at Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia.

Do not go for Vedas now, except for a few popular hymns. One needs to know the history of Aryans, their locales, their occupation, to understand what the writers are saying and why. In case you need help, just put in a post or PM.

I know of a lot of the history of the Aryans but to put it frankly the context of when a religion was formed would not really matter if it truly came from gods.

 

[sayak83]

Is sacred-texts.com Griffiths transliteration/translation not 'interlinear'? Similar transliteration/translation is available for many of Hindu scriptures. Another example is Vedabase BhagawadGita.

No its not. An interlinear translation has to have the original Sanskrit, then word for word rendering of the each verse and then the final composite in English, along with concordance on where in the text the same word has appeared to provide context of usage, along with related words with the same root. Such things are available usually for Bible online, but is rare to find in others outside of expensive books.

 

[sayak83]

Thank you very much. I got goose bumps.
I've been looking into old scriptures for a while now to find a connection to the 'painted pictures' (best call it 'visions' I guess, but they're put in their on purpose (strangely enough I've met a couple! of people that 'helped' putting them their) when I was young) I have in my head. If you don't mind I'm going to use these texts to put in my 'essay'(?..) because they explain those pictures perfectly.

I'll take out 1 sentence to give you an idea what kind of things you helped me with:
--> Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning.
In one vision there's - on the left side - a dark 'void'. 'They' (witches (in reality male and female 'master-hypnotists'), who where present during this 'ritual' explained that this 'void' could contain everything. The total 'void' itself is described as 'everywhere and always' - I've always thought that part of the 'room' (the entire vision is lengthy, there are several symbolic places, movements and texts but I'm lifting out this part now because it fits this sentence) - was totally reserved for, well, darkness (Not-being, devil, death, etc.). So during 'rondo's' (dutch (so far probably unknown) word for creating a circle of master-hypnotist with one in the middle who volunteered to 'open up' (the encircling hypnotists 'throw their mind' 'into' the middle and within the group a 'hypnotic bond' is created. I think the one in the middle is called 'the Salt' during the process) I've always tried to 'avoid' or 'attack' that area which caused lots of ..uhm.. disturbance.

Comparing the 15th line of the 3th text and the '1' in my signature... that's spooky. I don't know if I'm the only one alive right now but I was 'given' 'the right' to use the sentence: "1 is a stick".
(and what/where are those other 6 sticks?...and why a fri*king 6!...could someone please wright a nice story about let's say a beautifull princess (No, let's make that 3 princesses) and the number 6 because I kinda get tired off ending up on 'that half' every time....)

Same goes for the sentence 'Quart circle'. That's what I shout out (kinda unvoluntary) if a couple of 'them' (people who are known to these master-hypnotist practices, sometimes I call them Illuminati) startup a 'ritual' known as 'the marriage'. During this ritual than there's always one that follows me shouting 'quart circle' with the words; "It's kinda silly to want to protect the entire quart circle but if someone feels up to that task"..... and then usually I take a step forward.

Can you believe a have 'pictures' (and - maybe best call it - 'stole' a couple of 'dance-movements' during my lifetime) that fit about 95 % of these texts! Word for word they make absolute sense to me

I did not quite get what you are saying here, but if it helps you, you are welcome.

 

[sayak83]

To Fire(Agni)
The god of Fire holds a special place in Hinduism, past and present. He is considered the primary priest in every Hindu ritual and worship, who acts as witness and the carrier of prayers and oblation up in the heavens to the Gods. Thus through fire (Agni) the connection between the subtle world of the gods and the material world is maintained, as he tempers the matter and send its finest essence up while also providing heat and light to humans. The various roles of Agni (God of Fire) are sung by the seer below (RV 1.31) as he invokes the sacred fire to establish himself during an oblation ritual.

1. You, Agni, the first Aṅgiras, the seer, the god, became a kindly comrade of the gods.
Under your commandment were born the sage poets working with their know-how—the Maruts with glinting spears.

2. You, Agni, first and best of the Aṅgirases, as sage poet you tend to the commandment of the gods, extending to all creation, wise Lord.

3. You, Agni—first became manifest to Mātariśvan;
with a display of your good resolve you appeared to Vivasvant.
The two world-halves trembled at the choice of (you as) the Priest of sacrifice. But You tolerated the burden; you sacrificed to the great ones, o good one.

4. You, Agni, made heaven bellow for Manu, for Purūravas; for him of good action, you act (even) better, when through your swelling in your two parents [=the kindling sticks] you are set free.
They [=priests] have led you here to the east, then again to the west.

5. You, Agni, a bringer of prosperity, should be celebrated by the
(priest) who holds up the offering spoon, who knows his way around the poured offering - you who, throughout your single lifetime, seek to attract the (divine) clans at the beginning (of the sacrifice).

6. You, Agni, in fellowship at the ceremony safely bring the man
on the twisting turns (of the ritual “racecourse”) to the end, o unbounded one, you who—at the contest of champions, at the crucial turn, when the stake (is set)—even with just a few you smash the greater in the clash.

7. You, Agni, establish that mortal in highest immortality for fame day after day, you who, yourself thirsting, create sustenance for both breeds [=men and gods] and a pleasurable meal here for the patron.

8. You, Agni—for us to win the stakes, make our bard glorious while you are being praised. Might we bring to fulfillment the (ritual) act through a new (poetic) song. O Heaven and Earth, along with the gods—help us.

9. You, Agni, in the lap of your two parents (the kindling sticks) , the god wakeful among the gods, o faultless one—
become body-creator [=father] and (fatherly) solicitude for our bard.
You, lovely one, have strewn every good thing here.

10. You, Agni, are (fatherly) solicitude, you are a father to us. You are creator of vitality; we are your kin. Riches in hundreds, in thousands converge on you, the heroic protector of the commandment, o undeceivable one.

11. You, Agni, did the gods create as the first Āyu for Āyu, as the clanlord of Nahuṣa. (first ancestors).
Iḍā (Goddess of learning) they created as instructress of mankind: so that the son [=Agni] is born of a father as trifling as me [=sacrifi cer].

12. You, god Agni—along with your protectors, watch over our benefactors and ourselves, o you to be extolled.
You are the guardian over the lineage of offspring and cattle,
unblinkingly watchful in accord with your nature.

13. You, Agni, are kindled as intimate protector, four-eyed, for the
worshipful one who lacks even a quiver, you who, with the bestowed oblation, for nourishment safe from wolves even for the weak, win this mental spell (for him) with your mind.

14. You, Agni, (are kindled as protector) for the cantor chanting far
and wide. What is the highest legacy worth seeking—that you win
(for him).
Even of the feeble you are called (fatherly) solicitude and father. You
instruct the simple, (instruct) the quarters, as the one who knows better.

15. You, Agni, like (well-)stitched armor, protect all around the man whose priestly gift has been proffered.
Whoever (as host), serving sweet food, provides a comfortable place for you in his dwelling, performing the sacrifice, he gains the very
measure of heaven.

16. This (ritual) breach of ours, Agni—make it forgotten; make us forget this way which we have come on from afar.
You are friend, father, solicitude for those offering soma (ritual extract) , a whirling creator of seers for mortals.

17. As (you did) for Manu(first man) , o Agni, as for Aṅgiras, o Aṅgiras, as for Yayāti, as (you did) earlier, o flame, drive here to your seat; convey hither the heavenly folk; make them sit on the ritual grass and, you, perform sacrifice to the beloved.

18. Through this sacred verse, o Agni, keep growing fierce—the one
that we have made for you by skill or by knowledge. And lead us forth toward a better state; join us with your benevolence
conferring prizes.

 

[Aupmanyav]

.. the context of when a religion was formed would not really matter if it truly came from gods.

Ah, you think religions truly come from Gods!

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

Ah, you think religions truly come from Gods!

No.....

I was saying that IF a religion came from any sort of deity or deities it should not matter what culture they came in.

 

[Aupmanyav]

IMHO, Hinduism is product of the Hindu society. The society created Gods and Goddesses and not the other way round.

 

[sayak83]

IMHO, Hinduism is product of the Hindu society. The society created Gods and Goddesses and not the other way round.

It would be at least useful to say that "in my opinion", since most Hindus do not believe the way you do. Categorical statements are jarring Aup, specifically in a tradition as diverse as Hinduism.

 

[Vinayaka]

It would be at least useful to say that "in my opinion", since most Hindus do not believe the way you do. Categorical statements are jarring Aup, specifically in a tradition as diverse as Hinduism.

Do you know what IMHO means?

 

[sayak83]

Do you know what IMHO means?

Oops sorry @Aupmanyav, my ignorance of Internet abbreviations caught up to me. Apologies