Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism 12

schools within Vai•æavism, Ÿaivism or Ÿäktism would narrate in great

detail the specific teachings on God and creation, human life and

salvation, heavens and hells, commandments and prohibitions.

Each saƒpradäya exercises fairly strict control over doctrines taught

and practices permitted and reprimands of ‘heretics’ or even excommu-

nications of non-conformers are not unheard of. Since popular Hinduism

is concerned with the worship of images in temples, much of the

teaching of most Hindu schools is focused on the proper (sectarian)

way of ritual.

Philosophies of Hinduism

India has never known the division between philosophy and theology

that has characterized much of modern Western intellectual history.

This has had two consequences that distinguish Hinduism from current

biblical religions. First, it makes it appear natural for Hindus of an

enquiring bent to analyse and investigate philosophically the teachings

of their traditions. Second, it allows professional philosophers to deal

with ultimate issues in a meaningful way.

Among the philosophies of Hinduism several take the Veda as a

basis, considering their task not the creation of new truths but the inter-

pretation of revealed texts. Thus (Pürva) Mïmäƒsä investigates the

injunctions of the Veda relating to ritual; it does not question them but

attempts to get at their precise structure and meaning.

Vedänta (also called Uttara Mïmäƒsä) is essentially a reflection on

the Upani•ads, presupposing that what the Upani•ads say is true and

that they contain a truth that could not be obtained through unaided

human reason. The task the Vedäntins set themselves is not to question

or dissect the truth of Upani•adic utterances but to make sure that they

are properly understood.

When Hindu scholars debate matters of religion the point is not to

argue for or against the content of a scriptural statement but to ascer-

tain whether an assertion is scriptural. Once that is done, there is no

further discussion possible.

Hindu philosophical systems, although called darÿanas(‘theories’),

are not mere abstract verbal constructs concerning God, world and

humankind but intellectual and ethical endeavours to realize the meaning

of life. Among the qualifications required for beginning philosophical

study is the earnest desire to find liberation from the sufferings of saƒsära,

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