HOLY SCRIPTURES

~PRESENTED BY : MS. MUSKAN MOHTA

~DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, JECRC UNIVERSITY, JAIPUR
~REGISTRATION NUMBER: 21BCON451 AND SECTION: K(AI & ML)(IBM)
Contents:
~INTRODUCTION TO BHAGAVAD GITA .
~ETERNAL MESSAGE.
~INTRODUCTION TO VEDANTA.
~VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY.
~INTRODUCTION TO PURUSHARTHAS.
A. WHAT IS PURUSHARTHAS.
B. DHARMA, MOKSHA, KAMA AND ARTHA.
~INTRODUCTION TO DHARMAS.
C. HINDUISM
D. MUSLIMS
E. BUDHISSM.
F. JAINISM.
G. CHRISTIANS.
INTRODUCTION
TO
BHAGAVAD
GITA
AND
VEDANTA
 BHAGAVAD GITA
« THE BHAGAVAD GITA (“SONG OF GOD” OR “SONG OF THE LORD”)[1]
IS AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS TEXTS OF HINDUISM AND EASILY THE
BEST KNOWN.
« THE GITA COMBINES THE CONCEPTS EXPRESSED IN THE CENTRAL TEXTS OF
HINDUISM – THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS.

« THE GITA IS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE WARRIOR-PRINCE ARJUNA AND THE GOD 

KRISHNA WHO IS SERVING AS HIS CHARIOTEER AT THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA
FOUGHT BETWEEN ARJUNA'S FAMILY AND ALLIES (THE PANDAVAS) AND THOSE OF
THE PRINCE DURYODHANA AND HIS FAMILY(THE KAURAVAS) AND THEIR ALLIES.

« THE KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS ARE RELATED AND THERE ARE MUTUAL FRIENDS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS FIGHTING ON BOTH SIDES FOR SUPREMACY OF RULE.
 MESSAGE
The message of Gita is: be a master, a master of life. And to become a master, certain
qualities of character must be developed .
1. The first quality is the quality of courage. “Uttishta Parantapa” says the Gita. The
universe challenges you to tremendous tasks, to adventures and responsibilities. You must
meet the challenge of the universe with courage. Be brave, be fearless.
2. The second great quality is the quality of simplicity. The way of wisdom is the way of
simple life. 
3. The third quality is the quality of sympathy. sympathy is the power of a new world, a
new civilization . In the political and economic chaos of the world today, sympathy has
the power to build that new civilization.
VEDANTA
~VEDANTA (DERIVED FROM VEDA , KNOWLEDGE;
ANTA, END), LITERALLY MEANS END OR
COMPLETION OF KNOWLEDGE.
~VEDA IS ALSO THE TERM THAT DESIGNATES THE
ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ( SHASTRAS ) OF INDIA ,
THE EARLIEST OF WHICH DATE TO CIRCA 1,500-
1,200 BCE.
~VEDANTA THEN , ALSO MEANS “END OF THE
VEDA,” AND IN THIS SENSE CAN REFER
TECHNICALLY TO THE FINAL SECTIONS OF THE
FOUR-FOLD VEDAS, THE SO-CALLED
UPANISHADS(600-300 BCE).
 VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY
~“VEDANTA” MOST COMMONLY REFERS TO ONE OF THE SIX SCHOOLS OF
ORTHODOX INDIAN DARSHANAS (VIEWPOINTS OF SEEING) THAT EMERGED
BETWEEN THE 7TH AND 8TH CENTURY CE.

~THIS WAS THE PERIOD OF AN IMPORTANT REVIVAL OF “DHARMA” IN INDIA IN

RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING PLURALISM OF TRADITIONS ROOTED IN THE
VEDAS AND OTHERS- BUDDHISM AND JAINISM- THAT WERE NOT.

~“DHARMA” HERE IS AN UMBRELLA TERM FOR A GREAT DIVERSITY OF

RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS THAT SHARE AN ALLEGIANCE TO THE VEDAS AS
AUTHORITIVE SCRIPTIVE.
VEDANTA FOCUSES ON THE PRASTHANA-TRAYA, THE
THREE-FOLD SCRIPTURAL CANON:

THE UPANISHADS (600-300 BCE)

BHAGAVAD GITA (CIRCA 200 BCE)
BRAHMA SUTRAS (CIRCA 200-100 BCE)
INTRODUCTION
TO
PURUSHARTHAS
 WHAT IS PURUSHARTHAS?
PEOPLE USUALLY ASK WHAT PURUSHARTHAS REFER TO AND WHAT THE
MEANING OF IT IS AND HOW IT IS ATTAINED?
BASICALLY, PURUSHARTHAS SERVE AS POINTERS IN LIFE AND ACT AS
STAGE-POSTS OF AWARENESS. IT POINTS TO THE GOALS IN LIFE THAT
HUMAN BEINGS NEED TO LIVE A LIFE OF MEANING.
OR
TO MAKE IT SIMPLE, IT MEANS YOU NEED A DESTINATION BEFORE YOU
BEGIN A JOURNEY OTHERWISE IT IS AN AIMLESS JOURNEY WITHOUT ANY
PURPOSE. THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS THAT LIFE BECOMES MEANINGLESS
WITHOUT PURUSHARTHAS.
 DHARMA – Orderly, Holistic Approach to Life

Dharma is maintained as the first Purusharthas in the scriptures, which lead us to have a disciplined and
orderly life, by using the right method to live a peaceful and satisfying life. As man is a social animal, he
has to follow rules and restrictions so that he does not hurt others, while leading his own life.
It means that we have to love, care and be compassionate towards others. Only if we live life according to
the Dharma can we truly enjoy Artha and Kama. If Dharma is the common regulator, Moksha or liberation
is the common aim, though difficult to attain.
KAMA – SATISFACTION IN LIFE
MONEY DOES PROVIDE YOU WITH THINGS THAT YOU LONG FOR. IT GIVE YOU COMFORT,
SATISFACTION, FULFILLS YOUR DESIRES AND EVEN YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS YOUR
FAMILY. THE NEXT PURUSHARTHA IS KAMA, TO FULFILL YOUR DESIRE. BUT WAIT, DESIRES NEVER
END, WHEN ONE IS ACHIEVED, THE SECOND ONE COMES UP.
THEREFORE, CONTROL OF THE MIND AND DESIRE IS NECESSARY. OTHERWISE ATTAINING ARTHA
AND KAMA ARE A WASTE IF YOU ARE NOT ENJOYING WHAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR.
 ARTHA – Wealth
Artha is one of the Purusharthas and relates to the financial aspect or the economical status of humans,
which is important for all. It gives us comfortable feeling.
Desperation leads us to a destructive or imbalanced life. Money can be earned through hard work. If you
earn lots of it, then new insecurities will stand in front of you and you will then have the problem to protect
your money.
Put a stop to the whole thing when you feel you are secure enough. After all does money give you
everything you have worked for? The task of Artha remains and hopefully progresses to gaining that which
is beyond the material level which makes us safe and secure.
MOKSHA – LIBERATION IN LIFE
THIS IS THE FOURTH PURUSHARTHA AND LEADS ONE TO LIBERATION. THIS CAN BE
ACHIEVED ONLY BY RIGHT LIVING AND RIGHT THINKING AND IS ATTAINED IN LIFE ITSELF
AND NOT AFTER DEATH. SO WHAT DOES MOKSHA MEAN? IT IS THE FREEDOM FROM SENSE
OF FEAR, INSECURITY, UNHAPPINESS, WHICH IS ONLY ACHIEVED WHEN MAN DISCOVERS
THAT HE IS FREE FROM ALL KINDS OF LIMITATIONS LIKE SPACE AND TIME. IT IS ULTIMATE
SENSE OF SECURITY THAT LEADS TO MOKSHA.
 INTRODUCTION TO DHARMAS
DHARMA IS A KEY CONCEPT WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS IN INDIAN RELIGIONS,
RELIGIONS, SUCH AS HINDU,MUSLIM,CHRISTIAN,BODH,JAIN AND OTHERS.

1.HINDUISM
HINDUISM IS NOT ONLY A RELIGION BUT ALSO A WAY OF LIFE. HINDUISM IS
KNOWN TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE GOD AND IS WIDELY PRACTICED IN SOUTH ASIA MAINLY IN INDIA AND NEPAL.
HINDUISM IS THE OLDEST RELIGION IN THE WORLD, AND HINDUS REFER TO IT AS SANĀTANA DHARMAN, "THE
ETERNAL TRADITION," OR THE "ETERNAL WAY,“[2] . HINDUISM HAS ROOTS IN INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION.
HINDUISM AS A RELIGION STARTED TO DEVELOP BETWEEN 500 BCE AND 300 BCE[3], AFTER THE VEDIC PERIOD
 (1500 BCE TO 500 BCE)[3][4]. HINDUISM CONTAINS A MAJOR SCRIPTURES IN HINDUISM INCLUDE THE VEDAS AND 
UPANISHADS, THE BHAGAVAD GITA, AND THE AGAMAS[5][6].
THERE ARE 4 GOALS OR AIMS OF HUMAN LIFE, NAMELY DHARMA, ARTHA , MOKSHA ,KARMA[7][8] . SOME HINDUS
LEAVE THEIR SOCIAL WORLD AND BECOME SANYASI TO ACHIEVE MOKSHA[9]. HINDUISM PRESCRIBES THE
ETERNAL DUTIES, SUCH AS HONESTY, NON-VIOLENCE, PATIENCE, SELF-RESTRAINT, AND COMPASSION, AMONG
OTHERS[10]. THE FOUR LARGEST SECTS OF HINDUISM ARE THE VAISHNAVISM, SHAIVISM, SHAKTISM AND 
SMARTISM[11].
 2. MUSLIMS
MUSLIMS ARE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW OR PRACTICE ISLAM, AN ABRAHAMIC
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION. THE WORD “MUSLIM” DERIVES FROM ARABIC AND
MEANS “SUBMITTER (TO GOD)”[12].
MUSLIMS CONSIDER THE QURAN. QURAN CONTAINS THE SET OF MORALS AND
SOME JUDICIAL DECISIONS WHICH ARE LEADING FACTOR FOR THE HUMAN
BEING. MUSLIM IS THE COMPLETE AND UNIVERSAL METHOD OF A FAITH IN THE
GOD AS IT WAS THE FINAL REVELATION OF GOD.

3. CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIANS CONSIDER THE BIBLE. CHRISTIANS GENERALLY BELIEVE JESUS TO
BE THE SON OF GOD. IT IS A ABRAHAMIC MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION, MEANING IT
HAS ONLY ONE GOD[13].  IT EMERGES FROM THE ROOT OF JUDAISM. IT IS BASED
ON THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
TO MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF HIS TIME JESUS WAS A PREACHER, TEACHER,
HEALER, AND PROPHET FROM ANCIENT JUDEA. HOWEVER, HIS DISCIPLES
BELIEVED HIM TO BE MUCH MORE THAN THAT: THEY BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS
GOD'S ONE AND ONLY SON WHO WAS SENT DOWN TO EARTH TO DIE ON A CROSS
FOR THEIR SINS.
 4.BUDDHISM
BUDDHISM IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST RELIGIONS AND
ORIGINATED 2,500 YEARS AGO IN INDIA. BUDDHISTS BELIEVE THAT
THE HUMAN LIFE IS ONE OF SUFFERING, AND THAT MEDITATION,
SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL LABOR, AND GOOD BEHAVIOR ARE THE
WAYS TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT, OR NIRVANA, IT IS POSSIBLE TO
ESCAPE THIS CYCLE FOREVER.[16[[17[[18]
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO REACH THIS
STATE OF ENLIGHTENMENT AND WAS, AND IS STILL TODAY, KNOWN
AS THE BUDDHA.
BUDDHISTS DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANY KIND OF DEITY OR GOD,
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SUPERNATURAL FIGURES WHO CAN HELP OR
HINDER PEOPLE ON THE PATH TOWARDS ENLIGHTENMENT. THERE
ARE TWO MAIN GROUPS OF BUDDHISM: MAHAYANA BUDDHISM AND
THERAVADA BUDDHISM.
 5. JAINISM
JAINISM IS A RELIGION ORIGINALLY FROM INDIA [14]THAT TEACHES
THAT "ALL THE EVENTS IN THE UNIVERSE ARE SELF-CAUSED,
RANDOM, FIXED AND ARE INDEPENDENT OF PREVIOUS EVENTS OR
EXTERNAL CAUSES OR GOD": JAIN PHILOSOPHY IS THE OLDEST
PHILOSOPHY OF INDIA THAT DISTINGUISHES BODY (MATTER) FROM
THE SOUL (CONSCIOUSNESS) COMPLETELY[15].
 IT TEACHES THAT THE UNIVERSE IS ETERNAL AND THAT EVERY
LIVING BEING HAS A SOUL WHICH HAS THE POWER TO BECOME ALL-
KNOWING (OBSERVER OF ALL THE RANDOM EVENTS).
A SOUL WHICH HAS WON OVER ITS INNER ENEMIES LIKE
ATTACHMENT, GREED, PRIDE, ETC. IS CALLED JINA WHICH MEANS 
CONQUEROR OR VICTOR (OVER IGNORANCE). THE HOLY BOOK OF
JAINISM IS PRAVACHANSARA.
 REFERENCES:
1. DAVIS, RICHARD H. (2014), THE 'BHAGAVAD GITA': A BIOGRAPHY, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.
2.  KNOTT 1998, PP. 5, QUOTE: "MANY DESCRIBE HINDUISM AS SANATANA DHARMA, THE ETERNAL TRADITION OR
RELIGION. THIS REFERS TO THE IDEA THAT ITS ORIGINS LIE BEYOND HUMAN HISTORY".
3.  BOWKER 2000; HARVEY 2001.
4. HILTEBEITEL 2007.
5. LARSON 2009.
6. ZAEHNER, R. C. (1992). HINDU SCRIPTURES. PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE.
7.  KLOSTERMAIER, KLAUS (2007). A SURVEY OF HINDUISM (3RD ED.). STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS.
8. FRAZIER, JESSICA; FLOOD, GAVIN (2011). THE CONTINUUM COMPANION TO HINDU STUDIES. LONDON:
CONTINUUM.
9. BILIMORIA, ED. (2007). INDIAN ETHICS: CLASSICAL TRADITIONS AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES. P. 103. SEE
ALSO KOLLER, JOHN (1968). "PURUṢĀRTHA AS HUMAN AIMS". PHILOSOPHY EAST AND WEST. 
10. SANATANA DHARMA | HINDUISM .ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA.
11. LIPNER, JULIUS (2009). HINDUS: THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. LIBRARY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND
PRACTICES.
12. "Muslim". etymonline.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
13. "MONOTHEISM". CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. RETRIEVED 2008-10-01
14. JONES 2005, P. 4764.
15. "DRAVYA - JAINISM", ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
16. GETHIN (1998), PP. 27–28, 73–74.
17. HARVEY (2013), P. 99.
18. POWERS (2007), PP. 392–393, 415.
THANKS
AND
QUERIES