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Introduction of Scriptures and Mantras

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These are the major Scriptures and Mantras which guides us with tools to understand all other scriptures and Mantras of the Hindu Pantheon.

4 Vedas

The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts that form the foundation of Hinduism, comprising four main collections: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Together, they encompass hymns, rituals, and profound philosophical insights, offering a comprehensive guide to spiritual and religious practices.

• Rigveda: Contains hymns dedicated to various deities, offering praises and invoking blessings.
• Samaveda: Focuses on musical chants used in rituals, emphasizing the importance of sound and melody in worship.
• Yajurveda: Provides prose mantras for ceremonial purposes, detailing the procedures for conducting rituals.
• Atharvaveda: Includes spells, charms, and philosophical hymns, reflecting a diverse range of content from practical to mystical.

All other scriptures are either part of or based on the Vedas. The 108 Upanishads explore the concepts found in the Vedas, focusing on meditation, morality, and the nature of reality. They delve into the idea of Brahman (the ultimate reality) and Atman (the soul). The 18 Puranas provide explanations of the Upanishads by narrating the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of gods, heroes, and sages, and folklore. There are also epics and shastras that offer profound insights into the spiritual and moral dimensions of life by expounding the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads and the puranas.

6 Vedangas

The Vedangas are a group of six auxiliary disciplines associated with the study and understanding of the Vedas. They are essential for interpreting the Vedic texts and performing rituals accurately. The six Vedangas are:

1. Shiksha (Phonetics): Focuses on the correct pronunciation and intonation of Vedic hymns, ensuring that the sounds are articulated precisely.
2. Chandas (Meter): Deals with the structure and patterns of Vedic verses, helping to maintain the rhythm and meter in the hymns.
3. Vyakarana (Grammar): Provides the rules for Sanskrit grammar, aiding in the proper construction and interpretation of Vedic texts.
4. Nirukta (Etymology): Explains the meanings of difficult Vedic words and terms, offering insights into their origins and usage.
5. Kalpa (Rituals): Describes the procedures for performing Vedic rituals, including guidelines for ceremonies and sacrifices.
6. Jyotisha (Astronomy): Involves the study of celestial bodies and their influence on rituals, helping to determine auspicious times for performing ceremonies.

Together, the Vedangas serve as essential tools for scholars and priests, enabling them to preserve the integrity of the Vedic tradition and perform rituals with precision. They provide the necessary framework for understanding the linguistic, metrical, grammatical, and astronomical aspects of the Vedas, ensuring that the sacred texts are interpreted and practiced correctly.

6 Dharma Shastras

The Dharma Shastras are ancient Hindu texts that provide guidelines on dharma (moral and ethical duties). Here are the six main Dharma Shastras:

1. Manu Smriti: Often considered the most authoritative, it covers various aspects of life including laws, duties, and social norms. It emphasizes the importance of following one’s dharma based on their varna (caste) and ashrama (stage of life).
2. Yajnavalkya Smriti: This text is known for its detailed legal and procedural guidelines. It addresses civil and criminal law, and also includes sections on rituals and duties.
3. Narada Smriti: Focuses primarily on legal matters, especially those related to property, inheritance, and family law. It provides a comprehensive look at judicial procedures and the role of judges.
4. Vishnu Smriti: This text combines religious duties with legal principles. It includes guidelines for rituals, penances, and the administration of justice.
5. Baudhayan Smriti: Known for its practical approach, it covers various aspects of daily life, including rituals, social duties, and ethical conduct. It also addresses the duties of different castes and stages of life.
6. Parashara Smriti: This text is unique in its focus on the Kali Yuga (the current age according to Hindu cosmology). It provides guidelines that are adapted to the moral and ethical challenges of this era.

These texts collectively offer a comprehensive framework for understanding and practicing dharma in various aspects of life. They emphasize the importance of duty, justice, and ethical conduct, guiding individuals to live a righteous and balanced life.

6 Darsan Shastras

The Shad Darshanas are the six classical schools of Hindu philosophy, each offering unique insights into the nature of reality, knowledge, and the path to spiritual liberation. Here’s a brief overview:

1. Nyaya: This school focuses on logic and epistemology. It emphasizes the importance of reasoning and debate to arrive at truth. The foundational text, the Nyaya Sutras, was written by Gautama. Nyaya philosophy is known for its detailed analysis of the means of knowledge (pramanas) and the process of logical inference.
2. Vaisheshika: Concerned with metaphysics, Vaisheshika categorizes the world into substances, qualities, actions, and more. The Vaisheshika Sutras, authored by Kanada, are central to this school. Vaisheshika philosophy explores the nature of atoms and the composition of the universe, providing a framework for understanding physical reality.
3. Sankhya: One of the oldest philosophical systems, Sankhya explains the universe through the dualism of Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter). It provides a detailed cosmology and is foundational to many other schools. Sankhya philosophy outlines the evolution of the universe from the interaction of these two principles.
4. Yoga: Focuses on the practice of meditation and physical postures to achieve spiritual liberation. The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali outline the eight limbs of yoga, including ethical guidelines, physical practices, and meditation techniques. Yoga philosophy emphasizes the control of the mind and body to attain self-realization.
5. Purva Mimamsa: Concentrates on the ritualistic aspects of the Vedas. It emphasizes the importance of performing Vedic rituals correctly to maintain cosmic order. The Mimamsa Sutras by Jaimini are key texts. Purva Mimamsa philosophy is known for its detailed interpretation of Vedic rituals and the power of mantras.
6. Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta): Explores the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads, focusing on the nature of Brahman (ultimate reality) and Atman (soul). It includes various sub-schools like Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism). Vedanta philosophy seeks to understand the relationship between the individual soul and the ultimate reality.

These schools collectively offer diverse perspectives on reality, knowledge, and the path to spiritual liberation. Each school has its own unique approach and contributions to Hindu philosophy, providing a rich tapestry of thought and practice.

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The Maha Vakyas – The Great Words

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The 64 Kala – The 64 Arts

1. Geeta vidya: singing.
2. Vadya vidya: playing on musical instruments.
3. Nritya vidya: dancing.
4. Natya vidya: theatricals.
5. Alekhya vidya: painting.
6. Viseshakacchedya vidya: painting the face and body with color.
7. Tandula-kusuma-bali-vikara: preparing offerings from rice and flowers.
8. Pushpastarana: making a covering of flowers for a bed.
9. Dasana-vasananga-raga: applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body.
10. Mani-bhumika-karma: making the groundwork of jewels.
11. Sayya-racana: covering the bed.
12. Udaka vadya: playing on music in water.
13. Udaka-ghata: splashing with water.
14. Citra-yoga: practically applying an admixture of colors.
15. Malya-grathana-vikalpa: designing a preparation of wreaths.
16. Sekharapida-yojana: practically setting the coronet on the head.
17. Nepathya-yoga: practically dressing in the tiring room.
18. Karnapatra-bhanga: decorating the tragus of the ear.
19. Sugandha-yukti: practical application of aromatics.
20. Bhushana-yojana: applying or setting ornaments.
21. Aindra-jala: juggling.
22. Kaucumara: a kind of art.
23. Hasta-laghava: sleight of hand.
24. Citra-sakapupa-bhakshya-vikara-kriya: preparing varieties of delicious food.
25. Panaka-rasa-ragasava-yojana: practically preparing palatable drinks and tinging draughts with red color.
26. Suci-vaya-karma: needleworks and weaving.
27. Sutra-krida: playing with thread.
28. Vina-damuraka-vadya: playing on vina- a stringed instrument and small two headed drum.
29. Prahelika: making and solving riddles.
30. Durvacaka-yoga: practicing language difficult to be answered by others.
31. Pustaka-vacana: reciting books.
32. Natikakhyayika-darsana: enacting short plays and anecdotes.
33. Kavya-samasya-purana: solving enigmatic verses.
34. Pattika-vetra-bana-vikalpa: designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows.
35. Tarku-karma: spinning by spindle.
36. Takshana: carpentry.
37. Vastu-vidya: Architecture.
38. Raupya-ratna-pariksha: testing silver and jewels.
39. Dhatu-vada: metallurgy.
40. Mani-raga jnana: tinging jewels.
41. Akara jnana: mineralogy.
42. Vrikshayur-veda-yoga: practicing medicine or medical treatment, by herbs.
43. Mesha-kukkuta-lavaka-yuddha-vidhi: knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds.
44. Suka-sarika-prapalana (pralapana): maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female cockatoos.
45. Utsadana: healing or cleaning a person with perfumes.
46. Kesa-marjana-kausala: combing hair.
47. Akshara-mushtika-kathana: talking with fingers.
48. Dharana-matrika: the use of amulets.
49. Desa-bhasha-jnana: knowing provincial dialects.
50. Nirmiti-jnana: knowing predictions by heavenly voice
51. Yantra-matrika: mechanics.
52. Mlecchita-kutarka-vikalpa: fabricating barbarous or foreign sophistry.
53. Samvacya: conversation.
54. Manasi kavya-kriya: flyting.
55. Kriya-vikalpa: designing a literary work or a medical remedy.
56. Chalitaka-yoga: practicing as a builder of shrines called after him.
57. Abhidhana-kosha-cchando-jnana: the use of lexicography and meters.
58. Vastra-gopana: concealment of cloths.
59. Dyuta-visesha: knowing specific gambling.
60. Akarsha-krida: playing with dice or magnet.
61. Balaka-kridanaka: making children’s toys.
62. Vainayiki vidya: enforcing discipline.
63. Vaijayiki vidya: gaining victory.
64. Vaitaliki vidya: awakening master with music at dawn.

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The 24 Gurus of Dattatreya

1. Earth = Tolerance, Forgiveness, distribution
2. Air = Touch & feel everything but always remain undetached
3. Cloud = Vastness, emptiness
4. Water = Flow , egoless, continuity, purity
5. Agni = Focus at the highest level with full concentration
6. Moon = Impermanence, change,  which is the only permanent thing in the universe.
7. Sun= Oneness, nourishment
8. Pigeons = Detachment
9. Python (Ajgar) = Contentment
10. Honeybee = Unburden on anyone, act of begging to subdued your ego
11. Beekeepers= Never hoard anything
12. Eagle =  Altruistic, selfless.
13. Ocean = equipoise, Equilibrium, respect your boundaries
14. Patanga =  don’t become slave of your senses
15. Elephant = Control over Lust
16. Deer= Don’t be the slave of your likings.
17. Fish = Control over tongue, taste
18. Dancing Girl = abandon all hopes, be hopeless
19. Infant= Innocence, leave everything to your mother
20. Unmarried Girl = Peace
21. Snake= Homelessness, Identifyless
22. Fletcher= concentration
23. Spider = How to stay away from Trap of Maya
24. Caterpillar= Desireless

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Turiya: The Fourth State of Consciousness Beyond Waking, Dreaming, and Deep Sleep

In the profound landscape of Hindu philosophy, particularly within Advaita Vedanta, consciousness is described as having four states, known as avasthās. These are:

1. Jāgrat – the waking state
2. Svapna – the dream state
3. Suṣupti – the deep sleep state
4. Turiya – “the fourth” state, beyond the first three

Turiya (Sanskrit: तुरीय, meaning “the fourth”) is not just another state but the substratum and witness of the other three. It is not something that comes and goes like waking or dreaming—it is ever-present, like the sky behind passing clouds. Turiya is pure consciousness, untouched by the changing contents of the mind.

Turiya and the Self

While in waking (jāgrat) we experience the external world through the senses, and in dreaming (svapna) we experience the internal world of memories and imagination, and in deep sleep (suṣupti) we enter blankness or unconscious rest, Turiya transcends all these. It is awareness itself—steady, unchanging, and radiant.

Turiya is often described in the Mandukya Upanishad, a key text in the Vedantic tradition. There it is said:

“Turiya is not that which is conscious of the internal world, nor that which is conscious of the external world, nor that which is conscious of both; it is not a mass of consciousness. It is unseen, beyond empirical dealings, incomprehensible, unthinkable, indescribable. The essence of the Self, the cessation of phenomena, it is peace, it is bliss, it is the One without a second. This is the Self and this is to be realized.”

In simpler terms, Turiya is what you truly are beneath all labels, thoughts, identities, and roles. It is the observer of your mind, the silence between your thoughts, the presence that does not change, even as your life and experiences constantly do.

Shiva and Turiya

In the yogic tradition, Shiva is the embodiment of this Turiya state. He is not merely a deity but represents that inner silence, the awareness that watches but does not interfere. Yogis invoke Shiva not just for blessings but to awaken this silent witness within themselves. That’s why Shiva is often seen seated in deep meditation—symbolizing the one who abides in Turiya, untouched by the drama of the mind or the fluctuations of life.

Experiencing Turiya

Turiya is not a mystical state far from reach. It is already present in all of us. Moments of silence, deep meditation, or even a fleeting sense of being completely present (without judgment or distraction) are glimpses of Turiya. Unlike waking or dreaming, you don’t “do” Turiya—you rest as it.

Practices such as:

• Self-inquiry (Who am I?)
• Meditation on the breath or stillness
• Mantra chanting (especially “Om”)
• Mindfulness and silence

can gradually bring awareness of Turiya. Over time, the goal is not just to visit this state but to remain rooted in it, even while acting in the world—a state known as Sahaja Samadhi.

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Our Vehicle ~ Guru Parshurama

• Earth is the Chariot
• Vedas are the Horses
• Wind is the Driver
• Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati are the Armors

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