World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 868

Holistic approach is the speciality of the Vedic religion from the beginning of its history. This holistic attitude is beautifully expressed in many hymns of Vedas, passages of Upanişads, Epics, Bhagavadgitā, Smrtis and other sacred and secular literature of Vedic culture. The Vedic Religion always upholds the unity of all existence in the universe. The Vedas reflect the vibrance of an encompassing world view which looks upon all objects in the universe - living and so called non-living objects as being rooted in and pervaded by the one Divine power which is rescognized as Pure Consciousness by the ancient seers (Rsis). Rgvedic conception one Supreme Reality of God behind all changing phenomena of the universe is the basis for this holistic approach of the Vedic culture. Several statements of Rgveda such as "The reality or the God is one, but wise call it by different names [Ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti1.164.46]; The real essence of the God is one' (Rgveda.III.55.); 'He is the custodian of Rta [truth or moral order], the binding Soul of the universe, the unity-in-difference in the cosmic and the moral order (Rgvada, X 190-1); 'We offer sacrifice to the ultimate Lord of the Universe, who runs through the every particle of universe blissful and indescribable' (Rgveda X. 121.) and so on are the best examples of holistic attitude. Nāsadiyasūkta (hymn of Origination) of Rgveda traces the Single source of the whole universe. This hymn states that before origination of this universe), neither death nor immortality, no sign of day and night divider, but That one' (Tadekam] breathed calmly, self sustained; naught else beyond it lay Nāsdāsinno sadāsīt tadānīm nāsidrajo no vyoma paro yat. Kimāvarīvah kuha kasya śarmannambhah kimāsīt gahanam gabhīram. Na mrturāsīdamrtam na tarhi na ratryā anha asit praketah Ānīdavātam svadhayā tadekam tasmāddhyāyanna parah kiñcanäsa.
(Rgveda.X.129.1-2] This hymn of origination gives us the concept of the Indeterminate Absolute.For the first time in the human history, a statement is made here by the seer of the Vedas about the one beyond the categories of thought--- the primary cause of all. The indscribable is the ground of all names and forms, the support of all the creation. The reality underlying all existence, all changing phenomena, the Primal one, From which everything originates, cannot be described, either as existent or as nonexistent. This hymn also states that, creation is concerned, there is no external agency, and everything in the universe is spontaneous outcome of this Divine, suprasensible, Impersonal Absolute. This conception is wholly impersonal. Again, the epithet'that one' (tadekam), suggests that, there is nothing beyond that unitary principle.
In the Vedic religion, the ultimate Reality or pure Consciousness
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