Part 3 - The Vedic Religious System

The orthodox religion of ancient India is broadly divided under three heads: Vedism, Brāhmaṇism and the Hinduism.^[1] The Vedism and the Brāhmaṇism were the two stages of the sacrificial religion, while the Hinduism is the representation of the Smārta and Epic-Purāṇic religion. A great discussion on the Vedic religion is presented in the earlier chapter. Here, the Brāhmaṇical religion is discussed concisely. The Vedic religion was the ritualistic religion of the Āryans, where the natural forces were worshipped as the deities with the prayer and the sacrifices, followed with the offerings of food, meat, Soma, etc. The Brāhmaṇical religion was formulated following the Vedic tradition. It comprised the Śrauta and the Smārta elements. In the Brāhmaṇas, the simplest form of worshipping of the deities in the Saṃhitās became more expanded, and it became the religion of the masses of the people. The rules of the castes and the stages were strictly followed in the Brāhmaṇical religion.

The Brāhmaṇas were given the highest place of honour in the society and regarded as the highest commanding authority among the entire Āryans as they appeared from the mouth of the Vedapuruṣa.^[2]

The other classes, viz. the Kṣatriyas, the Vaiśyas and the Śūdras stood next to them. Among different duties they had to perform, their first and the foremost duty was the performing of the sacrifices, showing reverence towards the divinities. Such performances were done following the Vedas, i.e. Śruti and for that, they were called Śrauta. But gradually, in course of time, sections of thinkers occurred in the society, who questioned over the existence of the deity,^[3] regarded sacrifice as futile.^[4]

Such thinking contributed a lot to the growth and development of different religious thought, against the Brāhmaṇism. The elaborate system of sacrifice, which had been evolved and consolidated during the Brāhmaṇa period, which had come to be recognised almost as the hallmark of Vedic religious practice, became well-nigh extinct during the Upaniṣadic period. The profound philosophical speculations of the Upaniṣads have given way to a new ethical code. Thus, it is observed that long before the time of Manu, Śrauta rites became obsolete and finally, it was replaced with the tradition called Smārta.^[5]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide, Goyal, S.R., A Religious History of Ancient India, Vol. II, p.2

[2]:

cf., brāhmaṇoʹsya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kṛtaḥ/ ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṃ śūdro

[3]:

Ibid., 10.121

[4]:

Vide, Goyal, S.R., Op. cit., Vol. II, p.2

[5]:

Vide, Hazra, R.C., Op.cit., p. 194