The Mahabharta (Hope I'm spelling it right)

[RedDragon94]

Based on my interpretation of what I've read in the Gita the Mahabharta is the whole of the Scriptures in Sanatana Dharma. Correct?

How many different Scriptures are there in the repertoire (If you want to call it that) of Sanatana Dharma?

Which is your favorite?

 

[Vinayaka]

Sorry, not even close.

The Vedas are the main scripture for all, and there are tons of secondary scripture, including the two epic tales the Ramayana, and Mahabharata. Scriptures vary from sect to sect in terms of what's important, and the entire collection is incredibly vast.

Here's the wiki on it. Hindu texts - Wikipedia

The Gita itself is mainly a Vaishnavite scripture, but Smartas also hold it dear. For me personally, although I respect all scripture, it;s not part of my school so I've never read it, much less studied it.

 

[RedDragon94]

Sorry, not even close.

The Vedas are the main scripture for all, and there are tons of secondary scripture, including the two epic tales the Ramayana, and Mahabharata. Scriptures vary from sect to sect in terms of what's important, and the entire collection is incredibly vast.

Right, and I've already got the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita.

The Gita itself is mainly a Vaishnavite scripture, but Smartas also hold it dear. For me personally, although I respect all scripture, it;s not part of my school so I've never read it, much less studied it.

What about Saivites?

 

[Vinayaka]

What about Saivites?

Vedas, and Saiva Agamas mostly, but for Tamil Saiva Siddhanta, also the Tirumurai. I follow monistic Saiva Siddhanta, (a Saiva school) and the Tirumanthiram of Tirumular is the most important book, from that side.

So it gets quite complicated, and many individuals will give their own view, quite innocently believing they are speaking for all other Hindus. It's quite natural to assume that. Again, as with the other recent topic, I would encourage anyone to sort through it diligently.

 

[ratikala]

Namaskaram red dragon ji

Based on my interpretation of what I've read in the Gita the Mahabharta is the whole of the Scriptures in Sanatana Dharma. Correct?

Mahabarata is one of the great histories Maha meaning Great and Bharata is the old name for the entire Indian continenent them much larger that the India of today . Mahabarata is the great epic which gives the account of the family conflicts leading up to the great battle at Kurukshetra this was the war over seen by lord Krsna and describes the position of Bharata athe end of Dvaparayuga just before the onset of Kaliyuga , ...this is an important text for Vaisnavas although it is not the only one there are other histories contained in Bhagavatm which gives accounts of all the many incarnations of Visnu there is also the Ramayana loved by many Hindus , ....

Mahabarata is particularly favored because it contains the Bahgavad Gita, The Song of God , ....Krsna's Discourse given to Arjuna on the Battle feild , ...A Vaisnava treats this discourse as an entire code by which to live his lifa and understand his relationship to the Supreme .

How many different Scriptures are there in the repertoire (If you want to call it that) of Sanatana Dharma?

Manny many , ... as Vaisnava we were taught to use the term Sanatana Dharma and certainly veiw the the Gita as a tretise on Sanatana Dharma ...our eternal relidgious duties , ...not all Hindu associate them selves with Sanatana Dharma and have texts particular to their own traditions

Which is your favorite?

Mahabarata , ...although there are many other texts that I also adore

 

[Kirran]

The Vedas are the main scripture for all, and there are tons of secondary scripture, including the two epic tales the Ramayana, and Mahabharata. Scriptures vary from sect to sect in terms of what's important, and the entire collection is incredibly vast.

I'd quibble. For plenty of Hindus the Vedas aren't scripture, and for a much greater number they aren't relevant to life.

 

[Vinayaka]

I'd quibble. For plenty of Hindus the Vedas aren't scripture, and for a much greater number they aren't relevant to life.

Go ahead. But I'm curious. Who doesn't accept the authority of the Vedas?

 

[Kirran]

Go ahead. But I'm curious. Who doesn't accept the authority of the Vedas?

In particular plenty of tantrika groups don't I've found. And there's a lot of those

 

[Vinayaka]

In particular plenty of tantrika groups don't I've found. And there's a lot of those

Okay. And then there's the whole entire idea of how much the Vedas actually get used versus accepting them. We Saivites don't use them much.

But upon further reflection, I think a more insightful response to the OP would have been about how, in many ways, we're not a scripture based religion at all. That idea is one of many carryovers for explores from other paradigms.

Tantras - Wikipedia

 

[Kirran]

Okay. And then there's the whole entire idea of how much the Vedas actually get used versus accepting them. We Saivites don't use them much.

But upon further reflection, I think a more insightful response to the OP would have been about how, in many ways, we're not a scripture based religion at all. That idea is one of many carryovers for explores from other paradigms.

Yes, that's another good distinction to make. Very few Hindus really seem to do anything with the Vedas. A fair amount of people do go into the Upanishads to some extent, seeing them in various different ways, but hardly anybody but old-school Brahmins go into the Samhitas etc.

True! A religion has one god, one book, one creed etc is an Abrahamic paradigm being carried over. Isn't applicable to the Indian spirituo-cultural complex I guess.

 

[Vinayaka]

And I really don't know where in terms of any paradigm our OP is asking from.

 

[Kirran]

I wonder if some get frustrated when trying to learn about Hinduism as they keep having nothing to grab hold of! So diverse.

Personal spiritual exploration is probably best done without preconceptions.

 

[Vinayaka]

I wonder if some get frustrated when trying to learn about Hinduism as they keep having nothing to grab hold of! So diverse.

Personal spiritual exploration is probably best done without preconceptions.

Yes, that subconscious mind can be quite the barrier. Lots of false assumptions. Take how we think of a country for example, versus what it's like when you go there. I read on Indiamike how some people didn't leave the airport ... just took a look outside, and then walked back in to purchase a ticket for home.

 

[Kirran]

I rated it Funny, but it's sad as well.

 

[Vinayaka]

I rated it Funny, but it's sad as well.

You and I both get it though because we've been there. That place can be a real shocker. Some parts of Africa would be too.

 

[RedDragon94]

And I really don't know where in terms of any paradigm our OP is asking from.

True! A religion has one god, one book, one creed etc is an Abrahamic paradigm being carried over. Isn't applicable to the Indian spirituo-cultural complex I guess.

I come from a Judeo-Christian background.

Although my western Christian upbringing does have its effects on me I cannot shake the feeling (or paradigm) that God is in everything.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The Gita itself is mainly a Vaishnavite scripture, but Smartas also hold it dear. For me personally, although I respect all scripture, it;s not part of my school so I've never read it, much less studied it.

I would say give it a reading (but you know what is best for you, I highly respect your views). Some of it is advaita which would go smoothly with Shaiva Siddhantas.

Based on my interpretation of what I've read in the Gita the Mahabharta is the whole of the Scriptures in Sanatana Dharma. Correct?
How many different Scriptures are there in the repertoire (If you want to call it that) of Sanatana Dharma?
Which is your favorite?

We spell it as 'Mahābhārata'. If you do not insist on diacritical marks, it is Mahabharata. Not even close (as Vinayaka said). I would say Upanishad and Gita are important for Hindu philosophy. I have my own particular views on things, so do not go by any scripture. However, I love Bhagavat Purana and Rama Charit Manas (composed in a local language, Awadhi, though English translations are freely available) the most.

Although my western Christian upbringing does have its effects on me I cannot shake the feeling (or paradigm) that God is in everything.

Ha ha! That is one of the great debates in Hinduism - whether 'God is in every thing' or 'God is everything'? Of course, it does not include the debate 'whether there is a God or not'? Really, there are no questions that Hinduism has not discussed threadbare.

 

[Kirran]

@RedDragon94 - that idea is not quite so foreign to Christianity as some might have you believe!

 

[ratikala]

Namaskaram Ji

Although my western Christian upbringing does have its effects on me I cannot shake the feeling (or paradigm) that God is in everything.

there is no need to shake this feeling , Krsna in the Gita confirms thisto be so , .....


Chapter 13, Verse 16 - 18
The Supreme Truth exists both internally and externally, in the moving and nonmoving. He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all.

Although the Supersoul appears to be divided, He is never divided. He is situated as one. Although He is the maintainer of every living entity, it is to be understood that He devours and develops all.

He is the source of light in all luminous objects. He is beyond the darkness of matter and is unmanifested. He is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, and He is the goal of knowledge. He is situated in everyone's heart.

 

[Vinayaka]

I come from a Judeo-Christian background.

Although my western Christian upbringing does have its effects on me I cannot shake the feeling (or paradigm) that God is in everything.

Sometimes people get the wrong address. Besides that, as Kirran insinuated, the Judeo-Christian paradigm also has wide variations, and degrees of attachments. Every individual has a unique karmic pattern.