[Advaita-l] Who Is the Ultimate GOD in Vedic dharma ?

[Ryan Armstrong]

Namaste

I have not read the Rig Veda completely, but commentaries state that Agni
has a pre-eminent role.
So is Agni also to be considered as the ultimate god?

Yours in Truth
Ryan

On 17 January 2018 at 15:19, Venkateswaran N E via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Namaste,
>
> The Indra-sahasranama of Kavya-kantha Ganapathi Muni, contains nAmAs of
> Indra culled from Vedas.
>
> Reading through the nAmAs clearly show that Lord Indra was as much Ishvara
> as Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu.
>
> As shrii Subbuji says, this is the Vedic scheme of Godhead.
>
>
> This sahasranAma is in Sanskritdocuments.org for those interested.
>
> Regards
> Venkateshwaran
>
> On 17-Jan-2018 5:55 PM, "D.V.N.Sarma డి.వి.ఎన్.శర్మ via Advaita-l" <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > Atleast in the beginning Indra was the most iportant of Vedic gods.
> >
> > regards,
> > Sarma.
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 5:33 PM, V Subrahmanian via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Dear Shrinivas,
> > >
> > > Your post represents the correct Vedantic view of Ultimate God. It is
> > > endorsed by Sri Sureshwaracharya in his Brihadaranyaka Vartika where he
> > > says: The One Ishwara alone is variously spoken of as Brahma, Vishnu,
> > > Shiva, Guru.  Sri Anandagiri in his commentary says that this is the
> > Vedic
> > > way of looking at it and if the puranas give the impression that the
> > > Trimurtis are different from each other, such is not the Vedic view.
> > >
> > > Taking Surya as the ultimate God is also correct. Some might not accept
> > > this since in their view Surya is a god who is born, etc. cannot be the
> > > Supreme. But Vedanta has a different take on this.  Surya is a Jnani as
> > > clearly stated Bhagavan in the BG: इमं विवस्वते योगं
> प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् |
> > > विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्षाकवेऽब्रवीत् || at the 4th Chapter start.
> > Even
> > > Indra is a Jnani and he is an Acharya for Brahmavidya in the
> Brahmasutra
> > > Pratardana adhikarana, from an upanishad. The Mundakopanishat  3.2.1
> > > teaches that a Jnani, when worshiped by a mumukshu for liberation, will
> > be
> > > blessed with that Great Purushartha.
> > >
> > > स वेदैतत्परमं ब्रह्म धाम यत्र विश्वं निहितं भाति शुभ्रम् ।
> > > उपासते पुरुषं ये ह्यकामास्ते शुक्रमेतदतिवर्तन्ति धीराः ॥ १ ॥
> > >  भाष्यम्
> > > <http://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/display/bhashya/
> > > Mundaka?page=3&id=MD_C03_S02_V01&hlBhashya=%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%
> > > A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D#
> > > bhashya-MD_C03_S02_V01>
> > > यस्मात् स वेद जानाति एतत् यथोक्तलक्षणं ब्रह्म परमं प्रकृष्टं धाम
> > > सर्वकामानामाश्रयमास्पदम् , यत्र यस्मिन्ब्रह्मणि धाम्नि विश्वं समस्तं
> जगत्
> > > निहितम् अर्पितम् , यच्च स्वेन ज्योतिषा भाति शुभ्रं शुद्धम् ,
> > > तमप्येवंविधमात्मज्ञं पुरुषं ये हि अकामाः विभूतितृष्णावर्जिता मुमुक्षवः
> > > सन्तः उपासते परमिव देवम् , ते शुक्रं नृबीजं यदेतत्प्रसिद्धं
> > > शरीरोपादानकारणम् अतिवर्तन्ति अतिगच्छन्ति धीराः बुद्धिमन्तः, न
> पुनर्योनिं
> > > प्रसर्पन्ति । ‘न पुनः क्व रतिं करोति’ ( ? ) इति श्रुतेः । अतस्तं
> > > पूजयेदित्यभिप्रायः ॥
> > >
> > > Shankara says above, giving the Brahma lakshanam as 'the abode of all
> > > desires, where all creation rests...and when a mumukshu worships a
> knower
> > > of Brahman as 'the Supreme God', *param iva devam*...will not return to
> > > samsara.
> > >
> > > In fact the very earlier mantra there says: He who longs for worldly
> > > wealth/position, etc. bhUti, by worshiping a Jnani, will accomplish all
> > > that. Thus a Jnani is Para Brahman, the Supreme God, that can bestow
> all
> > > purusharthas.  In this manner Subrahmanya, Surya, Ganapathi, Devi (Uma
> > > Haimavati who taught Brahmavidya to Indra in Kenopanishat), Shiva,
> > Vishnu,
> > > are all fit for the status of Supreme/Ultimate God. The above list
> covers
> > > both the Panchayatana Puja and the Shanmatha-s that are believed by
> many
> > as
> > > initiated by Shankara.  Nobody can object to this since the basis for
> > > treating all these deities as Brahman is well established on the
> > authority
> > > of the Veda.
> > >
> > > The vishishtadvaitin author of the Tamil book 'Sankararum Vainavamum',
> on
> > > page 11 objects that Surya, who has been depicted as someone who is
> > > 'afraid' of Brahman, keeps doing his duties of rising and setting
> without
> > > break in the Taittiriya Upanishad, cannot be Brahman. Such an objection
> > > stems from not knowing the purport of that mantra there. Shankara has
> > > explained that the very statement of creation, cosmic management, etc.
> is
> > > taught by the Shruti only with a view to teach the Nirguna Brahman that
> > is
> > > beyond words and thought. So it is wrong to imagine that the deities
> such
> > > as vayu, surya, agni, yama, varuna, etc. are literally under fear of
> > > Brahman. It only means that the cosmos functions in a certain order.
> The
> > > Jnani Surya can always continue in a portfolio as Adhikarika Purusha,
> > just
> > > as Jnani Yama was in the Nachiketas Brahma vidya.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > subbu
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 12:18 PM, Shrinivas Gadkari via Advaita-l <
> > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Namaste,
> > > >
> > > > Over the last several months, we have seen many posts
> > > > on this forum showcasing Shiva as the Ultimate GOD in
> > > > Vedic dharma. I understand that most of these posts
> > > > were largely motivated by a desire to counter posts
> > > > in other forums where Vishnu is showcased at the
> > > > Ultimate GOD in the Vedic dharma. I would like to
> > > > present a view point wherein these differences can be
> > > > easily resolved.
> > > >
> > > > To begin with, please do not comment by saying "brahma
> > > > which is non dual is the only reality and hence the
> > > > only GOD". We all are well aware of this "para tattva".
> > > >
> > > > These type of discussions certainly fall in the realm
> > > > of dvaita - advaita. That is, that realm of vyavahAra
> > > > where knowledge and working of para tattva is integrated
> > > > with the knowledge and workings of other tattva-s.
> > > >
> > > > While there is enough evidence in our Puranas that
> > > > glorify viSNu or shiva or gaNapati or any other deity,
> > > > as the Ultimate GOD, there is also equally compelling
> > > > evidence to start thinking that none of these are the
> > > > Ultimate GOD.
> > > >
> > > > Who then in the Vedic dharma is the Ultimate GOD?
> > > >
> > > > Here is my understanding:
> > > > - The "Adi-puruSa" who is glorified in the puruSa sUkta is the
> > > >   most promising candidate for the Ultimate GOD of Vedic dharma.
> > > > - Very likely, this is the uttama puruSa of gitA chapter 15.
> > > > - Even bhAgavatam clarifies in Book 1, Chapter 3, Shloka 1,
> > > >   (and indirectly at other places) that puruSa is the original
> > > >   avatAra of bhagavAn (the GOD of bhAgavatam). And all other
> > > >   avatAra-s of bhagavAn are parts of this puruSa avatAra.
> > > > - brahmA, viSNu, shiva, gaNapati are major avatAra-s of this
> > > >   puruSa avatAra.
> > > >
> > > > For sake of completeness, upAsanA texts of the any specific deity
> > > > include a reference to puruSa avatAra as the supreme form of their
> > > > chosen deity (which is not incorrect), and also the source of
> > > > "other" deities (this is also not incorrect).
> > > >
> > > > For example, a vaiSNava text would use a term like "mahA viSNu"
> > > > to refer to the puruSa avatAra, and go on to say that brahmA,
> > > > and shiva are parts of "mahAviSNu". On the other hand a shaiva
> > > > text would use a term like "sadAshiva" or "paramashiva" to refer
> > > > to puruSa avatAra, and go on to say that brahmA, and viSNu are parts
> > > > of "sadAshiva" or "paramashiva". Note that, in principle this is
> > > > accurate, however for most of the people, these statements can be
> > > > the primary source of misunderstanding or confusion.
> > > >
> > > > With regards,
> > > > Shrinivas Gadkari
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> > > > http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe or change your options:
> > > > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> > > >
> > > > For assistance, contact:
> > > > listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> > > http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe or change your options:
> > > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> > >
> > > For assistance, contact:
> > > listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> > http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
> >
> > To unsubscribe or change your options:
> > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> >
> > For assistance, contact:
> > listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
>
> To unsubscribe or change your options:
> http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
>
> For assistance, contact:
> listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
>



-- 
Regards

Ryan Armstrong
+27 82 852 7787
ryanarm at gmail.com