Vedic Philosophy

The Vedas (Sanskrit: “knowledge”), the most sacred books of Hinduism and the oldest literature of India, represent the religious thought and activity of the Indo-European-speaking peoples who entered South Asia in the 2nd millennium B.C., although they probably also reflect the influence of the indigenous people of the area. The Vedic texts presumably date from between 1500 and 500 B.C. This literature was preserved for centuries by an oral tradition.

In its narrowest sense, the term Veda applies to four collections of hymns (samhita): Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. These hymns and verses, addressed to various deities, were chanted during sacrificial rituals. In a wider sense, Veda refers to both these hymns and the materials that accreted around them to form four books with four parts. For each of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva, there are not only hymns, but also Brahmanas – prose texts that explain and illustrate the significance of the ritual.

Several scholars – Indian and Europeans – have endeavoured to present to the world expositions of Indian philosophies but surely no one has done better than Har Narayan who, being himself a Vedantin, is qualified to give such information as will enable readers to fully appreciate the subject.

The work is probably the most comprehensive, and successful, attempt at succinctly explaining the general philosophy of Aum (v¨e). It contains many precious extracts from the Upanishads, simply and accurately rendered.

This book remains the best effort yet on Vedic Philosophy in general and on the ancient Aryan mysterious Monosyllable – Aum in particular.