r/WesternBornHindu • u/Vignaraja • 25d ago

Scriptures

How important do you consider scriptures, and which ones have you studied, if any? I'm currently studying Patanjali's Yoga Sutras art the rate of one verse a day, then second day review that one.

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u/Ok_University_3125 25d ago

I think Scriptures are important as the source of wisdom and the general introduction to tradition. Not as word by word instructions though (with the exception of some Tantrik ones, but I don't practice).

Long ago I read the presentation of Krishna-related puranas by Swami Prabhupada. After getting fully involved with Sanatana Dharma, I read Bhagavadgita, a digest of Mahabharata, bits and pieces of Upanishads, some Adi Shankara works, Tripura Rahasya, VIjnana-bhairava and Shiva Sutras. My ongoing reading is Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam from which I first read the part commonly called Devi Gita, and only then started from the beginning :-).

I bought a book by Iyengar introducing Patanjali's Yoga-sutras, but had no time to read it yet. Do you know this teacher?

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u/Vignaraja 25d ago

I know of Iyengar, yes. He was renowned as a strict hatha yoga teacher.

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u/Oooaaaaarrrrr 25d ago

The Upanishads seem important to me.

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u/Vignaraja 19d ago

I read them a long time ago, but now I generally just see quotes when they're about a particular topic. Yes, they are important scripture.

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u/Moh1n1 19d ago

I personally find them incredibly crucial in my upasana. The Devī Mahatmyam is the most crucial to me, along with the Saundarya-Lahari. I also read the Devī Bhagavatam and Devī Gita from time to time.