Research Article No.2025

Written by London swaminathan

Swami_48@yahoo.com

Date : 28  July 2014

Time uploaded in London : 16.19

Hindus stand out in understanding TIME, Working of MIND and Explaining DREAMS. Western scientists have not reached the level of Hindus In these fields. They still lag behind.

Dreams find a place in a Hindus’ everyday life. They knew about the REM sleep and the unavoidability of dreams. Brahmin Hindus pray to Sun thrice a day to kill the nightmares (Dus Swapna Nasanam). This shows how much they have understood about the dreams.

Adi Shankara, greatest philosopher of India, use dream hundreds of time in his hymns and commentaries. Mandukya Upanishad use it to explain the state of mind. Varahamihira, author of Brhat Samhita and several others before him dealt with the dreams. Hindus have several books interpreting dreams. Poets of Sangam Tamil literature even sing about the dreams of birds and animals. Tamil encyclopaedia Abidhana Chintamani has a summary of the interpretation of dreams over six pages. It is the summary of Sanskrit book on dreams attributed t Deva Guru Brhaspati. Like the dream of a dumb person is a popular simile used in Hindu literature.

FRANCE – CIRCA 2005: A stamp printed in France shows sleeping baby in a rose, circa 2005

Ten Bad Dreams in Vedic Literature

The meaning of dreams was an interesting part of Vedic literature. It is dealt with in various passages, including an Athrvan Parisista. The Rig Veda regards as ominous the making of a garland or neckband in a dream.

Ten dreams which presupposed death are recorded in Aitareya Aranyaka (3-2-4); they are

When a black man with black teeth kills you

When a boar kills you

When a wild cat springs on you

When one eats and spits out gold

When one drinks honey and eats lotus roots

When one goes to a village with asses or bears

When one drives south a black cow with a black calf

Wearing a garland of nard (Spikenard plant; Death of Jesus Christ is also associated with nard!)

If one has a dream one should wash one’s mouth.

Dreams in Rigveda:–2-28-10; 10-162-6; evil dreams – RV 2-28-10;

Atharvaveda :– 7-101-1; 10-3-6 (evil dreams)

Vajasaneyi Samhita :– 20-16

Satapata Brahmana:– 3-2-2-23

In classical Sanskrit literature we have several references to dreams.

Separate book on dream interpretation is attributed to Deva Guru Brhaspati.

Svapna is the Sanskrit word for dream. In Sanskrit hymn books there special slokas/hymns to avoid nightmares.

Sleeping Beauty Stamp of USA

My previous Research Articles on Dreams:

Role of Dreams in Tamil Saivite Literature (posted on July 4, 2013)

Do our Dreams have Meaning? (Posted on December 29, 2011)

God’s Note Book (posted on March 16, 2014)

STRANGE DREAMS, POSTED ON 27^TH JULY 2015.