The Idea of India
Tuesday, 12. June 2007 - 6:44 PM
In a previous post, I had pondered aloud about the idea of India.
In two words, each consisting of exactly two syllables, the idea of India is: Rta and Dharma.
This idea has still prevented India from exploding into bits.
12. June 2007 - 7:02 PM
Sandeep,
Doesn’t Dharma follow from Rta ??
12. June 2007 - 7:39 PM
Gaurav,
Very perceptive. It does but I mentioned it separately for a specific reason. Since you’ve gotten this far, it shouldn’t be hard for you to think why I kept them separate.
12. June 2007 - 7:54 PM
Ok since my knowledge of hindu philosophy is strictly rudimentary, is there supposed to be some sort of duality here (paralleling Brahman and Ishwar for example) ?
12. June 2007 - 7:59 PM
Gaurav,
There’s absolutely no duality at all. If you’ve understood Rta, then its relationship with Dharma should be easy to understand.
12. June 2007 - 8:15 PM
Sandeep
AFAIK
Rta = Cosmic order (roughly speaking)
Dharma = The correct action to be persued upon (depending on the context).
Now the notion that a correct way exists and should be followed presupposes order or balance which must be maintained. So Dharma follows from Rta. Now I am not sure about the reason, but to hazard a wild guess, does it have to something with big picture ??
12. June 2007 - 8:26 PM
Gaurav,
Amazing deduction. You’re right. Rta=Cosmic Order as in “related to the entire cosmos,” in the macrocosmic sense. Dharma=Rta in the human world.
There you go!
12. June 2007 - 8:50 PM
Hmmm,
Speaking for myself, I have always been partial to Nasadiya Sukta, specifically the last lines.
PS. My knowledge is insignificant, but my ignorance is boundless
12. June 2007 - 9:17 PM
Sandeep,
One of my comment has attained spamhood
12. June 2007 - 9:54 PM
Gaurav,
Rescued your comment!
I love Nasadiya Sukta but as your Wikipedia link shows, it has been horribly misinterpreted to mean a one-size-fits-all sukta: from atheists to agnostics to everybody.
I hope to post something on the Nasadiya when my damn work gives me breathing time
13. June 2007 - 11:41 AM
Gaurav/Sandeep,
Perhaps the incorrect conclusions in the wiki entry are due to the first reference in the notes (Wendy-You-know-who). I think someone should edit it.
Also, clean and crisp explanation of Rta and Dharma. Thanks:)
24. June 2007 - 12:33 PM
Hello Sandeep/Gaurav,
I would use aghamarsha-suktam — among many others — to say that it is rta and satya that are the idea of India (with Dharma following rta accordingly).
Regards,