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Neverthelelcal concept and the
SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HINDU
RELIGIOUS TREATISES. (N B.:--This note was not written by the author, but was first included in the 1923 edition of the Marathi text, which was published after the death of the author in 1920.-Trans.).
Among the treatises, on which the Hindu Religion is based. the Vedas are the most superior and the most ancient, from the point of view of importance and chronology; and the Samhitās, the Brāhmanas, and the Upanisads are included in them. The Karma-Kānda, consisting of Yajñas and Yāgas (religious sacrifices ), and the Jñāna-Kānda, consisting of Metaphysical conceptions, both spring from this triad. Nevertheless, the Upanisadic treatises form the basis of the Jñāna-Kānda. The social relations, included in the Hindu religion, are regulated according to the Smrti texts; but these are based on the Grhya-Sūtras. There are many Sūtra-treatises besides the Grhya-Sūtras; but they have nothing to do with Ethics; and deal only with the various Metaphysical speculations started in order to solve the Riddle of the Universe These Metaphysical speculations, are called tha Sad-Darsanas. The Nyāya-Sūtras of Gautama, the Vaiseśika-Sūtras, the PūrvaMimāṁsā-Sūtras of Jaimini, the Vedānta-Sūtras or the BrahmaSūtras of Bādarāyana, the Yoga-Sūtras of Pātañjali etc., are included in the Şad-Darsanas. But there are many Sūtratreatises, besides the Sad-Darsanas; and the Pānini-Sūtras, the Sandilya-Sūtras, the Nārada-Sūtras etc., are included among them. The Purānas came into existence, when the ancient Vedic religion, which did not contain idol-worship, and which was purely Metaphysical in its aspect, was changed, and the worshipping of deities came into vogue. The Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa are not Purāņas, but are historical treatises. The various Gītās are included in the Purānas. This subject matter has been discussed in the GītāRahasya as occasion arose; but this information has been given below in the form of a list, in order that readers should. have complete information about them collected in one place :(1) THE VEDAS AND THE ŚRUTI TREATISES:The Samhitās (i, e., the collection of Karma-Kānda
Rcās or Mantras ) ... The Brāhmaṇas (Aranyakas) ... Yajna-Kāņdā The Upanişads
(Jñāna-Kānda ).
OT
