– Hridaynarayan Dixit
Hindus have been famous all over the world for knowledge and philosophy. Knowledge has been a sacred subject here. With knowledge all secrets are unveiled. Religion is established by knowledge. Knowledge gives meaning, work and salvation. Hindu knowledge aspirants are the nationality. Flowers do not bloom on trees uprooted. Birds do not sing on such trees. In pursuance of the new education policy, UGC has described India’s knowledge tradition as a guide for students and teachers. A program has been made to connect India with the core. The goal of knowledge is not only to get information. Knowledge, science and philosophy have the security of world welfare.
There is a tradition of benevolent knowledge in India even before the creation of Rigveda. The study of molecules of gross and ultra-subtle substances has been going on since ancient times. Along with the visible world, the knowledge of the unmanifest has also been a favorite subject of the ancestors. From the first stage of knowledge till deep knowledge epistemology has also been happening. The Jnana Sukta (10.71) of the Rigveda mentions the same situation, `Substances are named in the initial state. This is the first stage of knowledge. Their faultless knowledge of the qualities of objects, religion etc. remains hidden in the cave of feeling and emerges from inner inspiration only. First the form, then the name of the form is common knowledge. After this virtue and religion.
The Vedic period is the Arunodaya period of knowledge philosophy. Curiosity and questions are powerful knowledge tools. This tradition of knowledge philosophy is the world’s first knowledge table in the four Vedic codes including Rigveda. Then there is the Upanishad philosophy in the later Vedic period. Then in 6 ancient philosophies, there is true philosophy with curiosity and logic. This knowledge tradition is respected in Buddha and Jain philosophies. Speech is the first tool to reveal knowledge. Grammar is the discipline of speech. In this tradition of knowledge, Panini has written the world’s first grammar. Before this Yaska writes Nirukta on the discipline of Vedic language. Patanjali writes Yogasutra and language discipline. Yoga science is international. London scholar L. Basham made a special mention of the Indian yogic science in ‘The Wonder That Was India’. Kautilya has written the world’s first Arthashastra. Acharya Vatsyayan wrote Kamasutra. Bharatamuni wrote the first Natyashastra. Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas were established in the form of medical science in this knowledge tradition.
Panini, Patanjali, Kautilya, Vatsyayana, Bharatamuni, Charaka, Sushruta, Aryabhatta, Varahamihir etc. all scholars mention their predecessors. He links his statement to the ancient wisdom tradition. Mathematics has special importance for the development of science. The Encyclopædia Britannica states that the number zero was probably invented by the Hindus. Zero and the place values ​​of zero were known in the Vedic period. The institution of marriage originated in the Vedic period itself. In ancient times all knowledge disciplines including song, music, painting and architecture were flourishing. But in the flow of time and circumstances, this tradition of knowledge got broken.
During the British rule, there were planned attacks on the Indian knowledge tradition. The influence of western knowledge and civilization increased. In the schools here, praise of the West and Indian knowledge were taught less. History has been distorted. The Vedas were called the songs of herders. Indian philosophy was called Udaan. British scholars and their supporting Indian scholars claimed that we Indians were not a nation before the British rule. The British made India a nation. Gandhiji has denied this. British power was calling India uncivilized. He described the British Parliament as the mother of the world parliamentary system. Gandhiji made sharp remarks against the British Parliament. Thousands of years before this there was a gathering in the Vedic period. There were committees. There was polity. The king was elected. Hindus were rich in knowledge, science and philosophy. There were studies of philosophy, mathematics and astrology in the ashrams.
European scholars also criticized Indian art and aesthetics. Bharatmuni had described drama as useful for the world in Natyashastra, ‘This drama will also be the doer of people’s entertainment in the world, imagining the stories of Vedas, Vidyas and history.’ Dramaturgy is a perfect art. Bharatmuni has said that all the worlds are imitated in this drama. Bharatmuni praised the acting side of the play. The Greek philosopher Plato did not pay attention to the acting side of drama. Bharatamuni also mentions the tradition of music and dance. Here there has been a tradition of dance along with arts like songs and music. Mahabharata and Ramayana are the prestigious epics of the world. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna learns song, music and dance while in exile. A flute player dancing deity like Shri Krishna is not found in any civilized culture of the world. Valmiki Ramayana mentions the dance in the city of Kishkindha. The tradition of knowledge starting from the Vedic period is also in cultural continuity in Mahabharata, Ramayana.
All arts had expanded in India during the Vedic period. Bharata has written in the Natyashastra that the text in the drama comes from the Rigveda. The song part is taken from Samveda and the rasas are taken from Atharvaveda. The names of Narad and Swati are there in Natyashastra. It is written about Swati that, ‘The idea of ​​making an instrument came to his mind after listening to the tune made by the drops of rain on the lotus leaves.’ Bharat has mentioned all the instruments related to drama and music. There is talk of song and music. All this is not found in Greek philosophy. The sages see the dawn before sunrise. It is said, ‘Ushas reveal beauty and beauty. It is always new. In Indian philosophy what is beautiful is truth and what is truth is Shiva. Socrates had described Sundar and Shiva as one. Plato said that the beautiful is absolute and complete. It is necessary for the beautiful to be moral. Philosopher Platinus described beauty as mysterious. Explaining the difference between European and Indian art, Yogi Arvind wrote, ‘The Western mind is in the trap of attraction of form. He is attached to her because of her beauty. In the Indian view form is the creation of the soul.
The sense of beauty brings concentration. Abhinav Gupta called it Beet Vighna Pratiti. Evidence of ancient Indian art is in the Rigveda. The seven notes of music are discussed. Samveda is the song of knowledge. There is a verse law in Yajurveda too. There is a whole world full of Atharvaveda. Esthetician KS Ramaswamy wrote in ‘Indian Aesthetics’, ‘India has thousands of years old knowledge tradition of aesthetics.’ In the Gita (chapter 4.1-3), Shri Krishna told Arjuna the tradition of knowledge, `This ancient knowledge I told to Vivasvan. Vivaswan to Manu. Manu told Ikshvaku. The sages have known this knowledge through tradition. This knowledge got destroyed in the course of time. O Arjuna, I am telling you the same ancient knowledge.’ All subjects of public interest should be included in the Indian knowledge tradition.
(The author is a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.)
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