This idea of sacrifice (yajna) is more important than might appear at first glance. The word Hindu is a slang expression, a nickname used to reference those people living on "the other side of the Indus river": the "Indhus" or Hindus. Hindu-ism is actually a vastly diverse accumulation of ancient and more recent religious beliefs and traditions and developments. The closest thing to an actual name this vast blanket of beliefs has is Santana Dharma or the (Quest for) Eternal Truth. Over the past untold thousands of years the Santana Dharma has evolved (or arguably devolved) from its original glory and global adherence.
The Pure Santana Dharma is the original and true religion. Generally speaking the various Hindu sects all believe that they are the modern version of the original, oldest extant and most authorized dharma (teachings). Call it human nature or religious piety. This belief is common to most Paths. A difference however is that Santana Dharmins does not hold this belief in exclusion to others. Everyone who is Questing for Truth are One in Santana Dharma! Sri Krsna spoke the Srimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at the dawn of our present age, circa 5561 B.C.E according to standard Indian calculations. Prior to that an elaborate and well defined system of sacrifices formed the heart of much of the religious practices of the world. We see the remnants of these traditions in cultures the world over.
Times change, ages shift and humanity moves on. By circa 5561 B.C.E the Terrans of Bhuloka (Earthlings) had lost much of their natural piety as the ravages of individual and collective Karma took its toll. The Marga (course of events) drove humanity into ever darker times until the One Truth that had once guided all life on earth was eventually forgotten.
Sri Krsna came to the Earth for various reasons, one of these was to restore the essence of the One Truth so humanity would, even in this dark age of Kali Yuga, be able to achieve spiritual release. Sri Krsna affirms this as follows:
The Blessed One said: I instructed this immutable yoga system to the sun god Vivasvan. He taught it to Manu and Manu taught it to Iksvaku.
Thus through disciplic succession the royal sages understood this knowledge, but with the passing of time the great yoga system was lost to this world, O Chastiser of Enemies.
Today that ancient yoga system is declared by Me unto you. Because you are My devotee and friend I will fully reveal this foremost of all mysteries (Bhagavad Gita 4:1-3).
Manu by the way rescued the earth by building an ark, loading animals onto it and thus became the father of all subsequent humans (the parallels to the much later accounts of Noah's Ark are obvious).
This revelation of eternal Truth is the goal of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Glorious Song of God. There are many many scriptures but in this single volume may be found everything needful for spiritual development and liberation. For this reason the Bhagavad Gita is often referred to as "The Bible of India." There is no scripture like the Gita!
In the following verses the Lord references the distant past and explains the role sacrifices once played in the earlier ages. He then candidly reveals that in this age, Kali Age, the system has been simplified due to Lord's mercy for we fallen living entities during this final age. The Grace of the Lord is our only hope.
Sacrifices are therefore critical! In subsequent verses and chapters the Lord will explain more about how we in Kali Yuga are to perform our sacrifices. In our fallen condition it is difficult to understand how two seemingly opposite things can be equally true and yet for those emerged in spiritual conscious this is easily understandable.
There is a common belief that all Hindus are polytheists. This belief is based on this poor fund of knowledge. What is called Hinduism is incredibly diverse, however a common understanding of most Hindus is:
Ekam Sat: Vipra Bahudha Vadante:Truth is one; sages call it by various names.
Of course what this means is a popular subject for debate by the various pundits! Here is one ancient way of understanding this important maxim. As we read in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.9.1:
"Then Vidaghdha, son of Shakala, asked him, "How many gods are there, O Yajnavalkya?" Yajnavalkya, ascertaining the number through a group of mantras known as the Nivid, replied, "As many as are mentioned in the Nivid of the gods: three hundred and three, and three thousand and three."
"Very good," said the son of Shakala, "and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Thirty-three."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Six."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Three."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Two."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"One and a half."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Ek" [which is to say, One].
Way back at the very beginning of Satya Yuga, the first age, Ek Devata: Ek Onkar (the One Source of All), established the various gods or devas as governors (or demigods) to oversee and manage the affairs of Bhuloka, our Earth.
Service is of vital importance because by service to others we serve God and by serving God we are rewarded with release from our karmic indebtedness. Those who seek their own well being, who turn away from others and who fail to show compassion invariably fall deeper and deeper into despair and karmic misery. All beings are called to serve in so many ways according to their natural proclivities. Among animals we see hierarchies clearly. We can also see them among humans and even among the devas. All beings ultimately serve the Ek Devata, the One. Some knowingly, others not. The goal of yoga is the development of intentional, heartfelt submission to the One as conceived.
In the earlier ages humans had direct contact with the devas in various ways. Back then no sane person would ever question God's existence. This peculiar state of affairs only exists in Kali Yuga, our Age of Confusion and Ignorance. The Vedas are filled with the exploits of gods and humanity. Scriptures like the Srimad Bhagavatam share many such accounts. The wonderful English translation and commentary of this and other Scriptures by my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami, can be read HERE.
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