Have you ever heard this phrase?
"Because it is said so in the shAstras!"
Whenever someone wants to quote scriptural
authority, this phrase is used.
Why should I fast on Ekadashis - "Because
the shastras say so"
Why should I wash my feet after I come back
home - "Because the shastras say so"
Why should I not drink water immediately after
a meal - "Because the shastras say so"
But this phrase is usually used in such a
generic sense, that it loses all value of
providing a reference.
If only one mentions which shAstra says so,
and what does it actually say, there is a
possibility of going into why it says so,
and if, and how to apply it in our daily lives.
But for that to happen, we need to first have
atleast a basic understanding of what the
shAstras are!
So in this video, let us learn what the word
shAstra actually means, how many shastras
exist, and across what topics.
At the end of this video, let us also look
at some of the most pertinent questions like,
"Do shAstras stay relevant across all-time?"
and also "How rigid or flexible are these
shAstras"
Please make sure to watch until the end of
the video, to get the complete perspective.
The sanskrit word shAstra, comes from the
root sound, 'shAs' which means a rule, or
an instruction.
This is the basis for words like "shAsana",
which means "ruling", and "shastA", which
means a "ruler"
A shAstra is a set of rules, and basic principles
which govern any given subject.
A set of basic-principles on cooking is "pAka-shAstra",
a set of guidelines on conducting "sexual
desire" is "kAma-shAstra" a set of rules on
building inhabitations, is "vAstu shAstra"
and so on...
The most important thing to remember, is that
a shAstra is not just one text.
Some texts might have the word shAstra in
their name itself, but in general the word
applies to the entire field of study.
For example, under vAstu shAstra, there are
texts like vishwakarma vAstushAstra, shilpa-prakAsha,
maya-mata and many other such texts...
under kAmashAstra, there are texts like vatsyAyana's
kAmasUtra, ananga-ranga, rati-rahasya and
so on ...
under nATya shAstra, there is bharata's nATyashAstra,
nRtyaratnAvaLI, abhinaya darpaNa and many
such texts...
In jyotisha shAstra, there is bRhat-parAshara-horA-shAstra,
phala-dIpikA, jAtaka-chandrikA and so on...
In yoga shAstra, of course there are texts
like the yoga-vAsiSTham, yoga sUtras of patanjali,
hathayoga pradIpikA and so on...
Under tantra shAstra, there are guiding-texts
like parashurAma-kalpa-sUtras, yoginI-tantra,
meru-tantra and so on...
I've just listed a few such shAstras for example,
but this list goes on and on and on..
Are you wondering how on earth, did so many,
and such diverse fields of study pop up in
sanskrit?
In ancient times, due to the geographical
protection provided by the himAlayas, and
the Indian ocean, the land of bhArat stayed
relatively safe from external invasions for
a long period of time.
This resulted in the flourishing of arts,
sciences, and finer pursuits of life, beyond
the basic concerns of building muscle and
might for safety and survival.
We had to pay a heavy price for this eventually,
but this unhampered blossoming of finer aspects
of culture lead to the birth of thousands
of profound texts on hundreds of such shAstras,
across an extremely diverse range of topics
from mathematics, astronomy, architecture
and arts to the sciences of unlocking human
potential through the fields of Agama, yoga
and tantra.
Not only are the revelations contained within
these texts extremely insightful, the way
in which these concepts are conveyed too,
is extremely poetic.
Even those subjects one might usually perceive
as dry and logical, like mathematical calculations
and formulae are expressed in intricate forms
of poetry.
Summing up, a set of texts that cover the
very foundational guiding principles of any
topic, are given the name of shAstra.
This is why the phrase "It is said so in the
shAstras" is used in such a generic sense,
but it is always a good idea, to mention to
the actual shAstra being referred to, and
quote the principles mentioned in it, when
attributing something as being said by the
shAstas.
Now, do all the shAstras stay relevant across
all-time?
Of course not!
With changing societal structures, many instructions
of the shAstras that deal with the functioning
of the outside world, could be either impractical
or not-applicable in the current times.
However, shAstras dealing with internal aspects
of well-being like yoga, tantra, and Agama,
remain unchanged as long as the human physiology
itself remains unchanged.
This is why it is important to understand
the context and the purpose behind the prescriptions
made by the shAstras.
The next question...
Are the rules mentioned in a shAstra, the
be-all and end-all of a subject?
Definitely not!
For someone who is starting their study of
the subject, they are essential rules to be
adhered to.
However, for someone who is firmly established
in the subject, these principles are only
a framework to build on top of!
In conclusion, the ancient sages of bhArat,
in their profound states of perception, passed
on their knowledge, in the form of shAstras,
or guiding principles, for us to follow and
benefit from.
The choice is left to us of course, if we
want follow them, or let them go.
The least we can do is atleast experiment
with these principles to test their effects
for ourselves, lest we end up being sold the
same information packaged in fancy new names!
I hope that you now have a clear understanding
of what shAstras are.
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See you in the next video, namaskaram
