The root of Indian philosophy can be easily traced in the ancient Vedas The ancient Upanishads are the earliest surviving records of Indian literature The Upanishads are the primary source of Indian philosophy which teach mysticism and spiritualism. The Upanishads are a compilation of the Hindu sacred texts that were brought to India by the Indian king Bharatpuris, about 600 B.C. during his expedition through Indus Valley. The Upanishads form an important part of Hindu religious history and are the foundation of Hindu philosophy. The Upanishads introduce the concept of Sattva or detachment, and kriya or desire. Sattva is the positive energy of the universe, whereas kriya is the negative energy.
Indian metaphysics The Upanishads define four elements – yama (loving kindness), niyama (restraint), samsara (meditation) and rajas (observances). According to the ancient Indian philosophy, all these four elements are necessary for a human being to achieve his perfection. In the Indian metaphysics, these elements have a direct connection with human psychological and physical well being and are considered as the primary constituents of the human being.
Root of Indian philosophy The Upanishads define the relationship between the kundalini and the human body The concept of kundalini is a type of mysticism According to the theory of the Upanishads, the kundalini arises from the Muladhara Chakra. It is said that the first seed of fire is the kundalini which starts from a single cell and grows up towards the human body till it reaches the crown. The theory of Upanishads describes the five organs of the body as the major constituent of the personality of an individual. The theory of the Upanishads describes the human being as an entity that was produced out of the combination of these organs.
The theory of karma According to the Indian philosophy, every action has its corresponding reaction or consequence. The word karma literally means “actions” or “repentance”. Karma can be traced back to the beginning of time. This thought is based on the premise that an individual is responsible for his actions or “rewards” in this life. A person can receive all the good and bad “rewards” according to his actions or abstention from actions according to the “punishment” that he has received in the previous births.
The influence of Vedas The classical texts of India like the Upanishads and the Puranas have given birth to a body of classical Hindu philosophy, which is known as the Vedas. The influence of Vedas is immense. A large number of sastras are based on the works of the Vedas. The classical Upanishads were composed in the India language. Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas
The influence of Sanskrit The classical texts of the Upanishads and the Puranas contain many references to the influence of Sanskrit. Sanskrit was spoken by the demigods of the Indus Valley Civilization. Sanskrit was the language of cowboys and adventurers who roamed in the country around the tenth century. Later the Upanishads were translated into English by John Milton. The British invasion of India initiated the usage of English language in the Indian languages.
The Role of cowboys The charm of cowboys and their gallant warriors is embedded deep in the history of Indian philosophy. In the early period, the gallant warriors would depict their prowess by wearing the frilled braids. A well-known poem given by the brahmin Upanayi says, “The brain of Bharat is my king, with brahmin’s code the arrow of my bow.”
The Role of Aryan The concept of ‘Aryan’ refers to the original race of mankind. It is an important concept in Indian religion and it is believed that the demigods, also called the ‘father of aryan’ were responsible for the creation of human beings. The idea of creation is embedded deep in the Indian philosophy. Aryan is considered to be the father of all the races of the earth. The bharat is one of the most important parts of the Indian religion and the concept of Bharat has inspired many a song and story.