Thread by @HinduTrad

“atheist” and “theist” in the Hindu praxis & framework are not “aastika” and “naastika”

The word आस्तिक comes from the verbal root अस् meaning “to exist, to be” — आस्तिक meaning “one who believes”

Logically, नास्तिक means “one who doesn’t believe”

Believe in what, you ask?

The belief in the supremacy of the vedas as the revealed word, the embodiment of knowledge & faith in the smṛti (recollection) in form of dharmaśastras as a valid source of dharma.

मनुस्मृति २.१०

श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो (That which is heard is recognized as the veda)

धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः (Verily then the recollection (smRti) are the dharmashastra)

मनुस्मृति २.११

Anyone who disregards these 2 sources (shruti and smriti) is to be excluded by cultured men (स: साधुभिः बहिष्कार्यः)

For he is a non-believer & defamer, disbeliever of the vedas (नास्तिको वेदनिन्दकः)

(vedanindakaH does not mean infidel btw)

Attached below is Medhatithi’s Commentary in English

So the person who follows the scriptures of the non-believers, buddhists, charvakas & who keeps doing things that are not permitted in vedas & smrit saying “so what? they’re not authoritative”

He should be cast out... by

Cast out by cultured men and excluded from performing acts such as officiating at sacrifices, teaching, honors etc. All acts fit for learned scholars, he should be excluded from. For only a fool & uncultured man can speak such polemic.

Further a clear short definition of nAstika is given—

नास्ति परलोकः (non-belief in a higher world) नास्ति दत्तम् (non belief in charity) नास्ति हुतम् (non-belief in sacririce, oblation)

इति नास्तिकः [Such is the naastika (non believer) ]

To conclude, the 4 fourfold means of knowing dharma are

1) Veda
2) Smriti
3) Practice of Cultured Men
4) What is agreeable to people

But in turn, all of these are based on the veda. The veda is what they all come from. So in case of any contradiction the shruti is right.