Utility of the Saastras
Krishnan Iyer
We have of late been discussing the Utility of the Sastraas w.r.t. Sruti as Pramanaa in knowing the Brahman as
well as efficacy of the other works in our daily life. Saastras include Srutis ( Vedas ) , Smritis , Puranas and Vedangas.
The issue of Utility of the Saasatraas come into play , on Three Planes between Vyavaharaaik (Transacting World ) and the Paramarthika ( Absolute Level) . The Three Planes are :
– Primarily the import of the Srutis deal with the Paramaarthik level in indicating the absolute Relaity – the Brahman.
– At the Vyavahaarik level both Srutis and other works operate on two planes - Utility to the mankind and Utility to the individual.
Srutis being the Pramaana ( Pramaa Kaaranam – cause of or basis of knowledge ) is means to an end and not an end in itself . As far as the ultimate end is concerned Srutis are only indicative.
The major objective of Srutis is the purification of the inner instrument ( Antahkarana) and the purpose of Sastraas is to enable proper living within the ethical and moral framework of the society . While Sruti guides us in our Saadhdana , the saastras elucidate the approach to good living.
Purification of the mind and other components of the inner instrument is achieved by various saadhanas .We are all propelled by our vaasanas ( past impressions / resultant tendencies ) which are based on our past deeds ( Karma) and accordingly play to the vagaries of the Trigunaas ( Three qualities)
We have to continually fight these tendencies to both be eligible to contemplate on the Supreme as well lead a good life in accordance with the requirement of the society – living rightly for building a good society as well for our own refinement and advancement.
Hence the understanding of the saastras is inevitable for any individual as well as for the humanity as a whole.
There is no question here.
Coming back to study of Srutis – the Prasthaana Thrayee ie. the Brahma Sutra , the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita – work two pronged .On the one hand they continuously refine us preparing us for the understanding of the ultimate truth as well as direct us to lead a noble life .They restrain us from any misadventure. On the other hand they are indicators of the supreme reality.
Whatever is the utility of the Sruti for the mankind as a whole , the utility of the injunctions differ.The karma Kanda is not prescribed for the Gnyani or the Samnyasi , though Acharya has emphatically stated that they should not be left out by the enquirer / grahastha ( Household persons).The Smrithis & Saastras have absolute utility for them.
Of course neither have any utility for the Nasthika ( non believer in tradition )
A question also sprang up as to the utility of the Saastras for an enquirer( Jignyasu / Saadhaka ) ,if he were to have absolute faith in the supreme Reality . Then we have to validate the adjective faith here. If it an unshakable and exclusive faith in the Reality then there is no issue. The person has already mastered the four attainable qualities ( Saadhana Chathushtaya ).The point is that the purpose of the Saastras is just that – to reinforce that faith which comes along with the other desirable qualities. However , the vagaries of our mind will always fight against treading the noble path. Our trust / dependence on this world will always lead us the other way . Hence to attain that faith , faith in the scriptural injunctions and statements are required. These qualities are the ones that lead us beyond the Dvandva
( Pairs of opposites – Heat & Cold , attachment & aversion , fame & shame.
‘Having the belief in existence of the supreme reality’ is not our objective. That is only the beginning of the long road. The effort is to be directed to realize that ‘I am that divinity’. Having faith in him means duality .Duality will always give rise to pluarility . Pluarlity will always take you away from your true self. Only when you know that YOU ARE THAT , you would him in everything that is visible and beyond. That state is what is aimed for , though within the dualistic framework still in existence. Being a Dvandvatheetha ( crossed over the Dvandva ), You ARE that supreme.
P.G.KRISHNAN
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