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The Philosophy of the Vedas
The Sanskrit term 'Veda' literally means 'knowledge', specifically the knowledge which is transcendental to the contamination of three modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance) –
knowledge descending from the pure spiritual plane, originating from the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Such knowledge can release one from suffering in the clutches of the material world, and re-establish one in his
constitutional position of being an eternal loving servitor of Sri Krishna. Compiled 5,000 years ago by the great sage Srila Vyasadeva, originally the 'Vedas' were one. He divided them into four (Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva), summarised them in the 'Vedanta-sutra', and wrote a commentary on that entitled 'Srimad Bhagavatam' - or the Science of God. His epic history of ancient India the 'Mahabharata', is considered the fifth Veda, and the crown-jewel within that is 'Bhagavad Gita' – Krishna's instructions to His disciple Arjuna on the process of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. He also compiled the 'Puranas', or histories, and 108 'Upanisads' further explaining transcendental knowledge.
Many supplementary literatures (smrti sastras) have also been compiled by great scholars in the disciplic-succession, such as Rupa Goswami's 'Nectar of Devotion' and 'Caitanya Caritamrita' by Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami, which are considered to be equally authoritative. Srila Prabhupada has translated the topmost of such books into English, and added commentaries to assist in the understanding of such great works. As well as writing many smaller introductory books, he considered the essence of Krishna Consciousness to be contained in the four books displayed opposite. |
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