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15 3 The Meaning of Samskriti 3
15 3 The Meaning of Samskriti 3
SWAMI HARSHANANDA
Samskriti and Culture food articles like rice and sugar are prakriti,
Let us first understand what we mean whereas a delicious pudding prepared out of
by the word ‘culture.’ Since it is being widely them is samskriti. On the other hand, if the
used as the equivalent of the Sanskrit term block of stone is broken into chips, or the gold
samskriti, it is lump reduced to powder, or the food articles
better to study get putrefied, they become vikriti.
this word first, The English word ‘culture’ is derived
its connotations from the Latin term cult or cultus, meaning,
and impli- ‘tilling, care, refinement and worship.’ In sum,
cations. The it means cultivating and refining a thing to
verbal root kr such an extent that its end-product evokes our
(to do) can give admiration and respect. This is practically the
rise to several same as samskriti of the Sanskrit language.
nouns when The word ‘cultivation,’ also derived from
associated with the same Latin root, as generally applied to the
certain prefixes. cultivation of crops from the earth, involves
Out of these, several processes such as tilling and preparing
three words the ground, sowing the seeds, watering
have a direct and manuring as also removing the weeds
bearing on our and destroying harmful insects. This will
subject: prakriti ultimately result in reaping a good crop. This
(basic matter word also fits in very well with the concept of
or condition), samskriti.
samskrti (re- Another expression current in the
fined matter or condition) and vikrti (modified Sanskrit language is samskara. It refers to the
or decayed matter or condition). process of cultivating, preparing or refining
These can be explained further with (though the word samskara also means an
suitable examples: A block of stone is prakriti, impression on the mind which any action one
the basic raw material. When it is sculptured does). The abstract quality in the end product
into a beautiful image, it becomes samskriti. of refinement is called samskriti. But very
Hence, a lump of gold is prakriti; an elegant often the two words are used as if they are
ornament made out of it is samskriti. Raw identical.
A senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order, the author is the Adyaksha of Ramakrishna Math, Basavanagudi,
Bangalore. He is a versatile speaker and a prolific writer having several publications in English, Kannada, and
Sanskrit to his credit. His monumental work A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism was published in 2008. o
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society for the very reason that he is a cultured If the elite could learn about these truths
and refined individual! by getting training in the gurukulas (forest
academies), the masses were educated by the
Basis of Culture wise elders of the society through such popular
In the Upanishads—the canonical texts of devices as harikathas (musical discourses
Vedanta—we sometimes come across the basic with ethico-religious themes), devotional
question, ‘What is that by knowing which, music, folklore, folksongs and folk-dramas,
everything else is known?’ In a similar vein, recitation of mythological works and so on. In
we can ask, ‘What is that by possessing which, the modern context, we can make very good
culture can be possessed automatically?’ use of the various technical devices like the
The answer as given by our Rishis, our wise radio, the television and the films to propagate
ancestors, is ‘spiritual wisdom.’ (And it should the eternal values taught by our sages, much
be remembered that this spiritual wisdom, in more effectively, instead of abusing them and
the ultimate analysis, evolves out of spiritual degrading the entire society.
experience and not out of book-learning!) That an ideal civilization-cum-culture can
This question may be asked from another throw up an ideal person has been proved by
angle too: ‘In what way does advancement the sage Valmiki in his celebrated work, the
of culture (or samskriti) lead to spiritual Ramayana. Apart from Sri Rama, the principal
evolution culminating in mature spiritual hero, we come across a galaxy of great persons
wisdom?’ A corollary from this question is: such as Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman,
‘What is the basic norm referring to which the Vibhishana, Sita, Sumitra and Mandodari, as
evolution of cultural values is estimated?’ also the sages like Vasishtha, Agastya and Atri.
The answer is ‘moksa’ or emancipation Though adhyatmavidya—or, to put
through atmajnana or Self-realization. This it in the modern lan g uage, religion and
itself is adhyatmavidya or the science of the Self philosophy—has been the primary basis of
within. This is the norm for evaluation, nay, Indian culture, all other aspects of life here
the final goal of life itself. And this point of and now, that contribute to the attainment
view of our ancient leaders, the Rishis of yore, of peace and joy, have also been given their
has stood the test of time! due place. For instance: social values; political
institutions including the judiciary; economic
Training in Culture ideas; educational system; physical, chemical,
The great Rishis have advised us to biological and health sciences; engineering
follow the path of satya (truth that brings about sciences; arts like music, dance, drama,
the welfare of all) and dharma (righteousness) drawing, painting and sculpture, and so on.
which are eternal values. For this they have It will be not only interesting and
given us two parallel paths: pravritti (activism) fascinating but also rewarding to undertake a
and nivritti (restraint). The ultimate goal of life panoramic study of all these facets of Indian
can be reached by starting with the first and culture. Such an attempt can boost our self-
passing through the second, they being two confidence and self-image on the one hand
phases and faces of life here. It is also possible and, on the other, further inspire us to do
to have a balanced combination of these two even better, and usher in a new ‘cultured
and reach the same (final) goal. humanity’. o
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