Sharuka Shanmugalingam

Professor Sharma
Religion 200
9 October 2020

Essay #1: Karma In the Vedic Samhitas and in the

early Upanishads

Sharuka Shanmugalingam
REL200
Sharuka Shanmugalingam
Professor Sharma
Religion 200
9 October 2020

Karma plays a big role in the concept of Hinduism. Karma in ​Sanskrit​ translated as

“action” which evolves reincarnation or rebirth. Philosophies and views of Karma have been

changing throughout the years of the religion. However, the basic concept of it has stayed

the same. Karma denotes the cycle of action and consequence, meaning a positive action

will lead to positive things happening in your life and negative actions will lead to negative

things in your life. The Karma principle is seen in stages of Early Upanishads and Vedic

Samhitas and later. The definition of it may be similar in both times, moreover, there are

many differences. These differences help tell the story of the Hindu religion of how Karma is

portrayed in Upanishads and the Vedas and the theory of how an afterlife is the explanation

of suffering that is brought into humans or the worlds.

The one and only existing Vedic information are known as the Vedas. Vedas was

created ten centuries ago and have slowly passed down from generation to generation from

the 15th century BCE and 5th century BCE. An Archaic ​Sanskrit​ is where the writings of

Vedas were created which have four parts that are referred to as Veda. The older the

writing, the more significant and important they are. The earliest one is called the ​Rigveda

and it includes 1000 hymns that refer to different deities. Rigveda is known to help the

high-class families who were looking after the sacred literature. The ​Yajurveda​ has prose

formulas and verses which correspond with different rites. The ​Samaveda​ contains specific

verses transferred from the Rigveda. They have musical notations in them that are supposed

to help in the playing of sacred songs. The latest one is the ​Atharvaveda​ which has

incantations and magic spells. Every Veda includes a body of prose writing which is known

as ​Brahmanas​. Brahmanas describe ceremonial aspects of the writing, the origin and

significance of the sacrificial rites for what Vedas was created. The Aranyakas and

Upanishads describe and explain the symbolism of more complicated rites and hypothesize
Sharuka Shanmugalingam
Professor Sharma
Religion 200
9 October 2020
on the nature of the universe and humanity’s connection with it. These concepts and

theories are what defines what the early Vedic ​Samhitas​ are and how they are proposed.

There are similarities and differences when it comes to the understanding of Karma in the

Vedas and the Upanishads. Karma is known as an important thought in Hinduism, where

numerous Hindus will have a solid belief in. In fact, both Karmas define the life of the

afterlife. When talking about these two concepts, they both portray their own meanings to

each ancient. Karma is known as simple to ritual and sacrificial action whereas, in

Upanishads, Karma becomes a rule of circumstances depending on your actions. However,

in the Upanishads, it believes in reincarnation or rebirth considers karma as a principle of the

law of nature. Therefore, when looking at the similarities and differences, both Karmas have

their own way of an afterlife whether it is sacrificial or a reincarnation.

The theory of Karma helps provoke and explain how the human afterlife is in Upanishads

and the Vedic Samhitas. Karma, Sanskrit (act) is known as a rebirth aka ​Samsara,​ which is

a shared religious belief in India. It can also be conceived as a good or bad action that is

made upon by humans thus why we are born into lives with injustice and suffering that are

caused by previous sins. The doctrine of karma helps release Moksha from the cycle of birth

and death which also gives two concepts on how it gives the ability of motivation to live in

moral life and the existence of evil. Even though when looking at the Vedic definition of the

afterlife, it mentions how actions can lead you to have a happier afterlife even though there

isn’t quite more information based on why people are put in the position of suffering. As the

concept of Karma is believed to help and understand the human afterlife, it explains a moral

as to why humans are involved to be suffered in human life.

Sharuka Shanmugalingam
Professor Sharma
Religion 200
9 October 2020

The understanding of Karma in the Vedas and Upandaidhasad is a big concept in

Hinduism. They both portray a different concept such as the afterlife and​ a ritual-based

action in both ancients. Karma in the Vedas is known as sacrificial acts whereas Upanishads

are known ​to be more ritualistic actions. As human beings, we have many questions about

life as a human and Karma is one of the cornerstones in answering our questions. It is to be

believed that activity in a previous life is the cause of someone being born into their specific

bodies ultimately giving an explanation for suffering. Karma is originally a term that comes

from Sanskrit that shows an answer to a lot of life questions in an ethical manner.
Sharuka Shanmugalingam
Professor Sharma
Religion 200
9 October 2020

Reference:​

- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Vedic Religion.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 July 2017,

www.britannica.com/topic/Vedic-religion​.

- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Religion.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 May 2020, ​www.britannica.com/topic/religion.​

- Davids, Gabriel. “Difference Between Vedas and Upanishads.” Difference Between

Similar Terms and Objects, 16 Apr. 2018,

www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/religion-miscellaneous/difference-betwee

n-vedas-and-upanishads/​.

- Buitenen, J.A.B. van, and Brian K. Smith. “Karma, Samsara, and Moksha.”

Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Aug. 2019,

www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism/Karma-samsara-and-moksha​.

- (Sharma, Week 2 Vedic literature and culture)

- (Sharma, Week 2 Vedic History)