Akash Ajit Kumar (22010745)

Reflection#1 : Origins of Indian philosophical thought in the Rg Veda and traces of

shifts from Brahmanas to the Upanishads

Philosophy in India can be traced way back to the very first inhabitants along the Indus River,
who through pictographic script tried to establish concepts which are still to be deciphered.
From the literary point of view, which could be comprehensible to the community,
philosophy of religion as well as thought in India can be traced to the Rig Veda.
The Rig Veda is a large collection of hymns in praise of the deities, but also various
cosmological speculations in which the seeds of philosophical reasoning can be found.1 The
nasadiya sukta, which is part of the 10th mandala of the Rig Veda is concerned about
enquiries whether the universe originated from anything or nothing –2
नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं नासीद रजो नो वयोमापरो यत |
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम ||3

Then [at the time of creation], there was not [what is], non-existent nor [what is] existent:
there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it …
… Who really knows and who here can say it, whence it was born and whence flows this
creation? The Gods are later than this world’s production. Who knows then whence it first
came into being?
While the Rig Veda explores cosmology and morality it also emphasizes accountability to
revered deities, exemplified by hymns to Varuna, the highest ethical deity – 4
मो षु वरुण मर्न्मयं गर्हं राजन्नहं गमम |
मर्ळा सु क्षत्र मर्ळ य ||5

Let me not go to the House of Clay, O Varuṇa!    

Forgive, O gracious Lord, forgive!6
The Brahmanas on the other hand believed to developed in later part of the Vedic period,
prioritizes Vedic rituals, built on established practices. Despite their ritual focus, they subtly
introduce metaphysical concepts devoid of direct interpretation, fostering philosophical
depth. Eg. The phrase used repeatedly – Gods love the unseen (paroksa)
यजमान एतदु परो 'क्षमन्वरबधं भवति।'

The sacrificer must hold the victim, but he should do so in a mysterious way

1
Frazier J, ‘Philosophy and Religion in India, in Purushottama Bilimoria (ed) History of Indian Philosophy )1 st
edn. Routledge History of World Philosophies.
2
Ibid.
3
The Rig Veda Book 10: Hymn 129
4
Basham AL, The Wonder that was India, Vol 1 (14th Edn, Evergreen Encyclopedia)
5
The Rig Veda Book 7: Hymn 89
6
Basham AL (n 4).
Any kind of philosophy which could be extracted from these texts could be through
symbolism. Usually the act of sacrifice through a substitute (victim) was understood to be a
violent act that uses the death and destruction of a victim to create new life. The procedures
were similar to what was described in Purusa Sukta where Purusa sacrificed to create the
universe. Hence, through the prescriptions of Brahmanas, an act of everyday activity was
given a cosmological consequence.
Upanishads build upon Brahmanas, prioritizing philosophy over rituals.7 They emphasize the
unity of individual and universe, offering diverse interpretations of their intertwined nature.8
तत् त्वम् असि – you are that (universe), are the words of a father to a son. This remains the
leading theme in the Upanishads.9 The concept of Brahman is elaborated upon. Through this
concept the multifariousness and incoherence of the universe is explained away and reduced
to a single entity.10
A father’s words to his son about the nature of reality –
स य एषोऽणिमै तदात्म्यमिदं सर्वं तत्सत्यं स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वे तकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा
सोम्ये ति होवाच ॥11

‘You don’t perceive that the one Reality (sat) exists in your own body, my son, but it is truly
there. Everything which is has its being in that subtle essence. That is Reality! That is the
Soul! And you are that, Svetaketu!12
Thus, Ṛg Veda combined animism and cosmology, forming moral and cosmic order.
Brahmanas connected world to cosmology through rituals. Upanishads deepened philosophy,
centred on atman and brahman exploration.

7
Tull H, ‘Philosophy of the Brahmanas’ in Purushottama Bilimoria (ed) History of Indian Philosophy )1st edn.
Routledge History of World Philosophies
8
Basham AL (n 4)
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Chandogya Upanishad, 6.13.3.
12
Basham AL (n 4)