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विश्व को ऋषी दयानन्द की देन – प्रा राजेंद्र जिज्ञासु

महर्षि दयानन्द जी का प्रादुर्भाव विश्व इतिहास की एक महत्वपूर्ण घटना है। महर्षि का बोध पर्व उससे भी कहीं अधिक महत्वपूर्ण  घटना है। आज पूरे विश्व में मानव के अधिकारों तथा मानव की गरिमा का मीड़िया में बहुत शोर मचाया जाता है। ऋषि के प्रादुर्भाव से पूर्व मानव के अस्तित्व का धर्म व दर्शन में महत्व ही क्या था?

बाइबिल की उत्पत्ति  की पुस्तक में आता है कि परमात्मा ने जीव, जन्तु, पक्षी, प्राणी पहले बनाये फिर उसने कहा, ‘‘Let us make man in our image’’ अब नये बाइबिल में श     द बदल गये हैं। अब हमें पढ़ने को मिलता है, ‘‘Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness.’’ अर्थात् परमात्मा ने कहा हम ‘पुरुष को’ (अब मानवों को) अपनी आकृति जैसा और अपने सरीखा बनायें। यह कार्य छठे दिन किया गया। मानव की इसमें गरिमा क्या रही? वह जीव-जन्तुओं से पीछे बनाया गया और क्यों बनाया गया? इसका उत्तर  ही नहीं।

इस्लाम में मनुष्य को बन्दः कहा जाता है और भक्ति को उपासना को बन्दगी कहा जाता है। बन्दः का अर्थ है दास और बन्दगी का अर्थ दासता, सेवा करना आदि। तो यहाँ भी मानव की गरिमा क्या हुई? अबादत का अर्थ भी बन्दगी-दासता ही है। हिन्दू तो जगत् को मिथ्या व ब्रह्म को-केवल ब्रह्म की सत्ता  को स्वीकार करते थे। कुछ आत्मा को अनादि भी मानते थे। सब कुछ अस्पष्ट था।

महर्षि दयानन्द जी ने सिंह गर्जना करके कहा कि ईश्वर, जीव तथा प्रकृति तीनों अनादि हैं। तीनों की सत्ता है। जीव की कर्म करने की स्वतन्त्रता का घोष करके ऋषि मानव की गरिमा पहली बार इस युग में संसार को बताई।

जहाँ कर्ता  है, वहीं क्रिया होगी और जहाँ क्रिया है वहाँ कर्ता को मानना पड़ता है। सूर्य, चन्द्र, तारे, ग्रह, उपग्रह सब गति करते हैं। गति देने वाले परमात्मा की सत्ता  तो स्वतः सिद्ध हो गई। उपादान कारण के बिना आज भी कुछ बनते नहीं देखा गया सो जगत् के उपादान कारण प्रकृति का अनादित्व भी सिद्ध हो गया। विज्ञान ऐसा ही मानता है। यह महर्षि दयानन्द की विश्व को बहुत बड़ी देन है।

मनुष्य की उत्पत्ति  की बात चली तो यह भी जान लें कि बाइबिल में आता है I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earch and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for fodd.  फिर लिखा है,  Trees that were pleasing to the eyes and good for food.

अर्थात् दो बार ईश्वर ने बाइबिल के अनुसार शाकाहार को मानव का पवित्र भोजन बताया व बनाया। यही वेदादेश है परन्तु ईसाई व मुसलमान ही मांसाहार व पशुहिंसा में अग्रणी हैं। ऋषि ने पेड़, पौधों, जलचर, नभचर व गाय आदि सब प्राणियों की मानव कल्याण व विश्व शान्ति के लिये सुरक्षा को आवश्यक बताया।

ऋषि बोध पर्व के दिन ऋषि के जन्म-जन्मान्तरों के संस्कार जाग उठे। उन्हें पता चला कि ईश्वर वह नहीं जिसे हम बनाते हैं। ईश्वर वह है जो सृष्टि का कर्ता  है। ईश्वर खाता नहीं, वह खिलाता है। वह भोक्ता नहीं भोग देता है। वह द्रष्टा है। कर्म फल का भोग करने वाला जीव है। सर सैयद अहमद ने लिखा कि शिवरात्रि के दिन दयानन्द जी को जो ज्ञान हुआ क्या वह इलहाम (ईश्वरीय ज्ञान) नहीं था? आत्मा को प्रभु की आवाज सुनाई न दे तो दोष किसका? ऋषि ने स्वयं लिखा है कि आत्मा में नित्य गूञ्जने वाली आपकी आवाज को प्रभु हम सुनते रहें। मन में भय, लज्जा और शङ्का जो दुष्कर्म, पाप करते समय मनुष्य के मन में उत्पन्न होती है, ऋषि ने इसे ईश्वर की आवाज बताया है। पश्चिम के विद्वान् ने भी इसी बात को इन शब्दों  में कहा है, there is a candle of the lord within us अर्थात् हमारे भीतर प्रभु की एक बत्ती  प्रकाश करती रहती है।

महर्षि दयानन्द अपनी काया से बलवान् थे, वे अपने मन व मस्तिष्क से बलवान् थे और अपने आत्मा से भी महान् व बलवान् थे। कोलकाता विश्वविद्यालय के एक पूर्व दार्शनिक विद्वान् डॉ. महेन्द्रनाथ जी ने अत्यन्त मार्मिक शब्दों  में लिखा है-  Strong is the epithet that can be applied in truth to Dayanand, strong in intellect strong in adventures strong in heart and strong and organizing forces. And his teachings through life and writings cab summed up in one word STRENGTH  अर्थात् बलवान् एक ऐसी उपाधि है जो दयानन्द पर ठीक-ठीक चरितार्थ होती है, विचारों में- मस्तिष्क से बलवान्, साहसिक कार्य के कारण बलवान्, हृदय से बलवान् तथा शक्तियों के गठन करने में बलवान् और उसके जीवन एवं साहित्य द्वारा उसकी शिक्षाओं को एक शब्द  में बताना है तो वह है ‘शक्ति’

इससे अधिक हम ऋषि की महानता पर क्या कहें? ऋषि ने अपने सन्देश, उपदेश व जीवन द्वारा मानव समाज को प्रकाश दिया और मृतकों में नवजीवन का संचार किया। उनके बोध पर्व पर हम उन्हें शत बार नमन करते हैं।

 

महर्षि दयानन्द दर्शन का विश्वव्यापी प्रभाव पढ़ने के लिए नीचे दी हुयी लिंक पर क्लिक करें

http://www.aryamantavya.in/impact-of-rishi-dayanand-on-world-phylosophy/

The Autobiography of Swami Dayanand Saraswati

It was in a Brahmin family of the Oudichya caste in a town belonging to the Raja of Morwee,in the province of kathiawar,that in the year of Samvat,1881,(1924 A. D.) I,now known as Dayanand Saraswati,was born.If I have from the first refrained from giving the names of my father and of the town in which my family resides, it is because I have been prevented from doing so by my duty. Had any of my relatives heard again of me, they would have sought me out. And then, once more fau to face with them, it would have become incumbent upon me to follow them home. I would have to touch money serve them, and attend to their winhea . And thus the holy work of the Reform, to which I have wedded my whole life, would have irretrievably suffered through my forced withdrawal from it.

 

Education

 

I was hardly five years of age when I began to study the Devanagari characters, and my parents and all the elders commenced training me in the ways and practices of my caste and family; making me learn by rote the long series of religious hymns, mantras, stanzas and commentaries. I was eight when I was invested with the sared Brahminical cord (triple thread ) , and taught gayatri sandhya with its practices, as abo Yajur Veda Sanhita preceded by the study of the Rudradhyaya. As my family belonged to the Shiva sect, their greatest aim was to get me initiated into its religious my steries; and thus I was early taught to worship the uncouth piece of clay representing Shivs’s emblem,known as the Parthiwa Lingam.But as there is a good deal of fasting and various hardships connected with this worship, and on the other hand I had the habit of taking early meals, my mother, fearing for my health opposed my daily practicing of it. My father sternly insisted upon its necessity, and this question finally became a source

of everlasting quarrels between them. Meanwhile I studied the Sanskrit grammar, learned the Vedas by heart and accompanied my father to the shrines, temples, and places of Shiva worship. His conversation ran invariably upon one topic; the highest devotion and reverence must be paid to Shiva, his worship being the most divine of all religions .I went on thus till I had reached my fourteenth year, when having learned by heart the whole of the Yajur Veda Sanhita, parts of other Vedas, of the Shabda

Rupavali and the grammar,my studies were completed.

 

Vigil

 

As my father’s was a banking house and he held moreover the office-hereditary

in my family -of a Jamadar, we were far from being poor, and things, so far, had gone very pleasantly. Wherever there was a Shiva puran to be read and explained, there my father was sure to take me along with him; and finally, unmindful of my mother’s remonstrance’s ,he imperatively demanded that I should begin practicing Parthiwa Puja. When the great day of gloom and fasting-called  Shivaratree-had arrived, this day following on the 13th of Vadi of Magh. My father regardless of the protest that my

strength might fail, commanded me to fast, adding that I had to be initiated on that night, into the sacred legend, and participate in that night’s long vigil in the temple of Shiva. Accordingly, I followed him along with other young men, who accompanied their parents. This vigil is divided into four parts, called prahars, consisting of three hours each. Having completed my task, namely, having set up for the first two prahars till the hour of midnight, I remarked that the Pujaris, or temple disservants and some of the

lay devotees, after having left the inner temple, had fallen asleep outside. Having been taught for years that by sleeping on that particular night, the worshipper lost all the good effect of his devotion, I tried to  refrain from drowsiness by bathing my eyes now and then with cold water. But my father was less fortunate. Unable to resist fatigue, he was the first to fall asleep, leaving me to watch alone. Reflections on Idolatry Thoughts upon thoughts crowded upon me, and one question arose after the other in my disturbed mind. Is it possible,-I asked myself- that this semblance of man, the idol of a personal God that I see bestriding his bull before me, and who, according to all religious accounts, walks about, eats, sleep s and drinks; who can hold a trident in this hands, beat upon his dumroo(drum); and pronounce curses upon men,-is it possible that he can be the Mahadeva, the great Deity, the same that is invoked as the Lord of Kailash, the Supreme Being and the Divine hero of all the stories we read of him in his Purans (Scriptures)? Unable to resist such thoughts any longer, I awoke my father, abruptly asking him to enlighten me to tell me whether this hideous emblem of Shiva in the temple was identical with the Mahadeva(GreatGod) of the scriptures, or something else.”Why do you ask it?” said my father. “Because, I answered, “I feel it impossible to reconcile the idea of an Omnipotent, living God, with this idol, which allows the mice to run over its body, and thus suffers its image tobe polluted without the slightest protest.” Then my father tried to explain to me that this stone representation of the Mahadeva of Kailash, having been consecrated by the holy Brahmins , became, in consequence, the God himself, and is worshipped as such; adding that as Shiva cannot be perceived personalty in this KaliYug the age of mental darkness, – we hence have the idol in which the Mahadeva of Kailash is worshipped by his votaries ;this kind of worship is pleasing to the great Deity as much as if , instead of the emblem , he were there himself . But the explanation fell short of satisfying me . I could not , young as I was, help suspecting misinterpretation and sophistry in all this . Feeling fain with hunger and fatigue , I begged to be allowed to go home . My father consented to it , and sent me away with a

sepoy , only reiterating once more his command that I should not eat . But when, once at home , I had, told my mother of my hunger , she fed me with sweetmeats , and I fell into a profound sleep. In the morning , decision my father returned and learned that I had broken my fast , he felt very angry . the tried to impress me with the enormity of my sin; but do what he could , I could not bring myself to believe that idol and Mahadeva were one and the same God , and therefore , could not comprehend why I should be made to fast for and worship the former. I had, however, to conceal my lack of faith, and bring forward as an excuse for abstaining from regular worship my ordinary study which really left me little or rather no time for anything else. In this I was strongly supported by my mother, and even by my uncle, who pleaded my cause so well that my father had to yield at last and allow me to devote my whole attention to my studies. In consequence of this, I extended them to “Nighantu”, “Nirukta ” “Purvamimansa”” , and other shastras

, as well as to “karmakand” or the ritual

 

 

Renunciation .

 

There were besides myself in the family two younger sisters and two brother, the youngest of whom was born when I was already sixteen . On one memorable night , as we were attending a nauteh festival at the house of a friend , a servant was dispatched after us from home , with the terrible news that my sister , a girl of fourteen , had been just taken ill with a mortal disease . Notwithstanding every medical assistance, my poor siter expired within four ghatikas after we had returned . It was my first bereavement, and the shock my heart received was great . while friend and relatives were sobbing and lamenting around me , I stood like one petrified , and plunged in a profound reverie . It resulted in a series of long and sad meditions upon the instability of human life . ‘Not ‘one of the beings that ever lived in this world could escape the cold

hand of death -I thought : I , too , may be snatched away at any time and die . whither , then shall I turn for an expedient to alleviate this human misery ,connected with our death bed ; where shall I find the assurance of , and means of attaining muktee , the final bliss ? It was there and then , that I came to the determination that I must find it , cost whatever it may , and thus save myself from the untold miseries of the dying moment of an unbeliever . The ultimate result of such meditations was to make me violently break and for our with the mummeries of external mortification and penances and the more to appreciate the inward efforts of the soul. But I kept my determination secret, and allowed no one to fathom my innermost thoughts. I was just eighteen then. Soon after, an uncle a very learned man and full of divine qualities,-one who had shown for  the greatest tenderness, and whose favourite I had been from my birth, expired also; his death leaving me in a state of utter dejection. and with a still profounder conviction settled in my mind that three was nothing worth living for or caring for in a worldly life.

 

Obstacles

Although I had never allowed my parents to perceive what was the real state of my mind, yet I had been imprudent enough to confess to friends how repulsive seemed to me even the idea of a married life. This was reported to my parents, and they immediately determined that I should be betrothed at once and the marriage

solemnity performed as soon as I should be twenty.

Having discover their intention, I did my utmost to thwart their plans. I caused my friends to intercede on my behalf, and they pleaded my cause so earnestly wilk my father that he promised to postpone my betrothal till the end of that year. I then began entreating him to send me to Benares, where I might complete my knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, and study astronomy and physics, until I had attained a full proficiency in these difficult sciences. But this time it was my mother who violently opposed my wishes. She declared that I should not go to Benares, as whatever I might feel inclined to study, could be learned at home as well as abroad ; that I knew enough as it was, and had to be married anyhow before the coming year; as young people through an excess of learning were apt to become too liberal and free sometimes in their ideas. I had no better success in that matter with my father. I for on the contrary no sooner had reiterated the favor begged of him, and asked that

 

 

my betrothal should be postponed until I had returned from Benares a scholar, proficient in arts and sciences, that my mother declared that in such a case she would not consent even to wait till the end of the year, but would see that my marriage was celebrated immediately. Perceiving, at last, that my persistence only made things worse, I desisted, and declared my self satisfied with being allowed to pursue my studies at home, provided I was allowed to go to an old friend, a learned pandit, who resided about six miles from our town in a village belonging to our jamadaree.Thither then, with my parent’s sanction, I proceeded, and placing myself under his tuition, continued for some time quietly with my study. But while there, I was again forced into a confession of the insurmountable aversion I had for marriage. This went home again. I was summoned back at once, and found upon returning that everything had been prepared for my marriage ceremony. I had entered upon my twenty-first year, and

so had no more excuses to offer. I now fully realized that I would neither lae allowed to pursue my studies any longer nor would my parents ever make themselves consenting parties to my celibacy. It was when driven to the last extremity that I resolved to place an eternal barrier between myself and marriage.

 

Flight

 

On an evening of the year samvant 1903, without letting any one this time into my confidence, I secretly left my home, as I hoped for ever. passing the first night in the vicinity of a village about eight miles from my home, I arose three hours before dawn, and before night had again set in. I had walked over thirty miles, carefully avoiding the public thoroughfare, villages, and localities, in which I might have been recognized. These precautions proved useful to me, as on the tired day after i had absconded, I learned from a government officer that a large party of men, including many horsemen were diligently roving about in search of a young man from the town of-who had fled from his home. I hastened further on to meet with other adventures. A party of begging Brahmins had kindly relieved me of all the money I had with me, and made me part even with my gold and silver ornaments, rings, bracelets, and other jewels, on  the plea that the more I gave away in charities, the more my self-denial would benefit me in the after-life. Thus, having parted with all I had, I hastend on to the place of residence of a learned scholar, a man named LaLa Bhagat, of whom I had much heard on my way from wandering sanyasis and Bairagees (religious mendicants). He lived in the town of Sayals, where I met with a Brahmachari who advised me to join at once their holy order, which I did. Joining the holy Order After initiating me into his order and conferring upon me the name of shuddha chaitanya, he made me exchange my clothes for the dress worn by them-areddish-yellow garment. From thence and in this new attire, I proceeded to the small principality of Kouthakangda situated near Ahmedabad, where , to my misfortune, I met with a bairagi a resident of a village in the vicinity of my native

town, and who was well acquainted with my family. His astonishment was as great as my perplexity. Having naturally enquired how I came to be there, and in such an attire, and learned of my desire to travel and see the world, he ridiculed my dress and blamed me for leaving my home for such an object. In my embarrassments he succeeded in getting himself informed of my future intentions.

I told him of my desire to join in the Mella of kartik, which was to be held that year at Siddhpore, and that I was on my way to it. Having parted with him, i proceeded immediately to that place, and took my abode in the temple of Mahadeva at Neelkantha, where dandi Swami and other Brahmacharis, already resided. For a time, i enjoyed their society unmolested visiting a number of learned scholars and professors of divinity who had come to the mella, and associating with a number of holy men.

 

Severance of Family Tie

 

Meanwhile the Bairagi whom I had met at Kouthakangda, had proved treacherous. He had despatched a letter to my family, informing them of my intentions and pointing to my whereabouts. In consequence of this, my father had come down to Siddhpore with his Sepoys, traced me step by step in the mella, learning something of me wherever I had sat among the learned pandits, and finally, one fine morning appeared suddenly before me. His wrath was terrible to behold. He reproached me violently, accusing me of bringing an eternal disgrace upon his family. No sooner had I met his glance, though knowing well that there would be no use in trying to resist him, I suddenly made up my mind how to act. Falling at his feet with joined hands, I entreated him in supplicating

tones to appease his anger. J had left the home through bad advice, I said; I felt miserable, and was just on the point of returning home, when he had prividentially

arrived; and now was willing to follow him home again. Notwith standing such humility, in a fit of rage he tore my yellow robe into shred, snatched at my tumba, and, wresting it violently from my hand, flung it far away; pouring upon my head at the same time a volley of bitter reproaches and going so far as to call me a matricide. Regardless of my promises to follow him, he gave me in the charge of his Sepoys, commanding them to watch me night and day, and never leave me out of their sight, for a moment.

 

Conversion to Vedant

 

But my determination was as firm as his own. I was bent on my purpose and closely watched for my opportunity of escaping. I found it on the same night. It was three in the morning ,and the sepoy, whose turn it was to watch me, believing me asleep fell asleep in his turn, All was still; and so softly rising and taking along with me a tumba full of water, I crept out and must have run over a mile before my absence was noticed. On my way, it espied a large tree, whose branches were overhanging the roof of a pagoda; on it I eagerly climbed, and, hiding myself among its thick foliage upon the dome, awaited what fate had in store me. About 4in the morning, I heard and saw through the apertures of the down, the sepoys enquiring after me. and making a diligent search for me inside as well as outside the temple. I held my breath and remained motionless, until

finally believing they were on the wrong track, my pursuers reluctantly retired. Fearing a new encounter, I remained concealed on the dome the whole day, and it was not till darkness, had again set in that, alighting, I fled in an opposite direction. More than ever I avoided the public thoroughfares, asking my way of people as rarely as I courel, unit had again reached Ahmedabad, whence I at once proceeded to Baroda. There I settled for some time; and at chetan Math (temple) I held several discoureses with Brahmanand and a number of Bramanand charis and Sanyasis upon the Vedant philosophy. It was Brahmchris and other holy men who established to my entire satisfaction that Brahm, the Deity, was no other than my own Self-my Ego, I am Brahm, a portion of Brahm ; Jiv (Soul) and Brahm, the deity being one and the same. Formerly, while studying Vedanta, I had come to this opinion to a certain extent, but now the

Important problem was solved and I gained the certainty that I was Brahm. Study of Vedant At baorda learning from a benares woman that a meeting of the most learned

scholars was to be held at a certain locality, I repaired thither at once; visiting a personage known as Satchidanand Paramhansa, with whom I was permitted to

discuss upon various scientific and metaphysical subjects. From him I learned

also, that there were a number of great Sanyasis and brahamacharis who resided

at chanoda kanyali. In consequence of this, I repaired to that place of sanctity on the Banks of the Nerbuddah, and there at last met for the first time with real Dikshits, or initiated Yogis, and such Sanyasis as Chidashrama and several other brahmacharis. After some discussion, I was place under the tuition of one Parmanand, and for several months ,studied “Vedantsar,” “Arya Harimihir Totak” Vedant paribhasa,” and other philosophical treatises. During this time, as a Brahmchari I had to prepare my own which proved a great impediment to my studies. To get rid of it, I therefore concluded to enter if possible into the 4th Order of the Sanyasis. Fearing, more over, to be known

under my own name, on account of my family’s pride and well aware that once

received in this order I was safe, I begged of a Dekkani pandit a, friend of mine, to intercede on my behalf with a Deiksheet-the most learned among them, that i might be initiated into that order at once. He refused, however, point blank to initiate me, urging my extreme youth. But I did not despair. Several months later, two holy men, a Swami and a Brahmachari, came from the Dekan, and took up their abode in a solitary, ruined building in the midst of a jungle, near Chanoda and about two miles distant from us. profoundly versed in the Vedant philosophy, my friend the Dekkaniy pandit, went to visit them, taking me along with him. A metaphysical discussion following brought them to

recognize in each other Diksheet of a vast learning. They informed us that they

had arrived from “Shringeri Math,” the principal convent of Shankaracharya, in  the south, and were on their way to Dwarka. To one of them Parnanand Saraswati, I got my Dekkani friend to recommend me particularly, and state, at the same of time. the object I was so desirous to attain and my difficulties. He told him  that I was a young  Brahmachari, who was very desirous to pursue his study in  metaphysics unimpeded; that I was quit free from any vice or bad habits for which fact he vouchsafed; and that, therefore, he believed me worthy of being accepted in this highest probation ary degree and initiated me into the 4th order of the Sanyasis; adding that thus I might be materially helped to free myself from all worldly obligations, and proceed untrammeled in the course of my metaphysical studies. But this Swami also declined at first. I was too young, he said. Besides, he was himself a Maharashtra, and so he advised me to appeal to a Gujrati Swami. It was only when fervently urged on by my friend, who reminded him that dekkani sanyasis can initiate even gowdas, and that there could extst no such objection in my case as I had been already accepted, and was one of the five Dravids that he consented. And on the third day following he consecrated me into the order, delivering unto me a Dand and naming me Dayanand Saraswati. By the order of my initiater and my proper desire. I had to lay aside the emblematical bamboo- the Dand, renouncing it for a while as the ceremonial performances connected with it, would only interfere with unimpeded progress of my studies.

 

TRAVELS Pursuit of Yoga

After the ceremony of initiation was over they left us, and proceeded to Dwarka, For some time I lived at Chanoda Kanyali as a simple Sanyasi. But upon hearing that at Vyasashram there lived a Swami. whom they called Yoganand, a man thoroughly versed in Yoga, to him I addressed myself as an humble student, and began learning from him the theory as well as some of the practical modes of the science of Yoga (or Yoga Vidya ) When my preliminary tuition was completed, I proceeded to Chhinour, as on the outskirts of this town lived Krishna Shastree, under whose guidance I perfected myself in the Sanskrit grammar. and returned to Chanoda where I remained for some time longer.

Meeting there to Yogis-Jwalanand Pooree and Shivanand giree. I practiced Yoga with them also, and we all three held together many a dissertation upon the exalted science of Yoga; until finally, by their advice, a month after their departure, I went to meet them in the temple of Doodheshwar, near Ahmedabad at which place they had promised to me the final secret and modes of attaining Yoga Vidya. They kept their promise, and it is to them that I am indebted for the acquirement of the practical portion of that great science. Still later, it was divulged to me that there were many far higher and more learned Yogis than those I had hitherto met yet not the highest still – who resided on the peaks of the mountain of Aboo, in Rajputana. Thither then I travelled again, to visit such noted places of sanctity as the Alvada Bhawance and cthers; encountering, at last, those whom I so eagerly sought for, on the Peak of Bhawance Giree. And learning from them various other systems and modes of Yoga.It was in the year of Samvant 1911,that I first joined in the Kumbh Mella at Hardwar, where so

many sages and divine philosophers meet, often unperceived, together. So long as the Mella congregation of pilgrims lasted. I kept practicing that science in the solitude of the jungle of Chandee; and after the pilgrims had separated, I transferred myself to Rishikesh, where sometime in the company of good and pure Yogis and Sanyasis, oftener alone, I continued in the study and practice of yago visit to tehri After Passing a certain time in solitude, on the Rishikesh, a Brahmachari and two mountain ascetics joined me, and weall three went to Tehri. The place was full of ascetics and Raj(Royal)Pandits-so called on account of their great learning.One of them invited me to come and have dinner with him at his house. At the apointed hour he sent a man to conduct me safely to his place, and both the brahmachari and myself followed the messenger. But what was our dismay upon entering the house , to first see a brahmin

preparing and cutting meat, and then , proceeding further into the interior apartments

, to find a large company of pandits seated with a pyramid of flesh, rump-steaks, and dressed-up heads of animals before them! the master of the house cordially invited me in; but, with a few brief words-begging them to proceed with their good work and not to disturb themselves on my account, I left the house and returned to my own quarters . A few minutes later the beef eating pandit was at my side praying me to return , and trying to excuse himself by saying that it was on my account that the sumptuous viands had been prepared! I then firmly declared to him that it was all useless. They were carnivorous, fIesh-eating men. and myself a strict vegetarian, who felt sickened

at the very sight of meat. If he would insist upon providing me with food. He might do so by sending me a few provisions of grain and vegetables which my Brahmachari would prepare for me. This he promised to do, and then very much confused retired.

 

WamMarg or Indian Bacchanalianism

Staying at Tehri for some time, I inquired of the same Pandit about some books and learned treatises I wanted to get for my instruction; what books and manuscripts could be procured at the place. And where. He mentioned some works on Sanskrit grammar, classics, lexicography’s, books on astrology and the Tantras -or ritualistic. Finding that the latter were the only ones unknown to me. I asked him to procure the same for me. There upon the learned man brought to me several works upon this subject. But no sooner had I opened them an my eye fell upon such an amount of incredible obscenities

mistranslations, misinterpretations of text, and absurdity, that I felt Perfectly horrified. In this Ritual ,I found that incest was permitted with mothers, daughters, and sisters (of the shomerker’s cast); as well as among the pariash of the outcastes-and worship was performed in nude state. Spirituous liquors, fish and all kinds of animal food, and Moodra (exhibition of indecent images)were allowed, from brahmin down to Mang, and it was explicitly stated that all those five things of which the name cooences with the nasalm as for instance, Madya(in- toxic ting liquor) Meen (fish) Mands (flesh) Moodra, and Maithoon (coition) were so many means for reaching muktee (Salvation)

. By actually reading the whole contents of the Tantras I fully assured myself of the craft and viciousness of the authors of this disgusting literature which is regarded as Religious I left the place and wentto Shreenagar. Visit to Religious Places Taking up my quarters at a temple on Kedar Ghat, I used these Tantras as weapons against the local pandits, whenever there was an opportunity for discussion. While there, I became acquainted with a Sadhoo, named Ganga Giri, who by day never left his mountain where he resided in a jungle. Our acquaintance resulted in friendship as I soon learned how entirely worthy he was of respect. While together, we discussed Yoga and other sacred subjects, and through close questioning and answering became fully and mutsually satisfied that we were fit for each other. So attractive was his society for me, that  I stayed over two months with him, It was only at the expiration of this time, and when autumn was setting in that I, with my companions, the Brahmaphari and the two ascetics, left. Kedar Ghat for other Places. We visited Rudra Prayag and other cities, until we reached the shrine of Agasta Munee. Further to the north, there is a mountain peak known as the Shivapoorce (town of shiva) where I spent the four months of the cold season; when finally parting from the Brahmachari and the two ascetics, I proceeded back to Kedar, this time alone and unimpeded in my intentions, and reached Gupta kashee.

 

Search of Yogis (Clairvoyants)

I stayed but a few days there, and went thence to the Triyugee Narayan shrine, visiting on my way Gowree Koond tank and the cave of Bheemgoopha. Returning in a few days to Kedar, my favorite place of residnce, I there finally rested a number of ascetic Bramin worshippers -called pandas, and the devotees of the Temple of Kedar of the Jangam sect, -keeping me company until my previous companions, the Bramhchari with his two ascetics returned. I closely watched their ceremonies and doings and observed all that was going on with a determined object of learning all that was to be known about these sects. But once that my object was fulfilled, I felt a strong desire to visit the surrounding

mountains, with their eternal ice and glaciers, in quest of those true ascetics I had heard of, but as yet had never met them. I was determined, come what might, to ascertain whether some of them did or did not live there as rumored. But the tremendous difficulties of this mountainous journey and the excessive cold forced me, unhappily to first make inquires among the hill tribes and learn what they knew of such men. Everywhere I encountered either a profound ignorance upon the subject or a ridiculous superstition. Having wandered in vain for about twenty days ,disheartened I set raced my steps as tonally as before, my companions who had at first accompanied me, halving left me two days after we had started through dread of the great cold. I then ascended the Tunganath Peak. There, I found a temple full of idols and officiating priests, and

hastened to descend the peak the same day. before me were two paths, one leading west and the other south-west. I chose at random that which led towards the jungle, and ascended it. Soon after the path led me into a dense jungle with rugged rocks and dried-up waterless brooks. The path stopped abruptly there. Seeing myself thus arrested, I had to make my choice to either climb up still higher or descend. reflecting what a height there was to the summit, the tremendous difficulties of climbing that rough and steep hill, and that the height would come before I could ascend it , I concluded that to reach the summit that night was an impossibility. with much difficulty , however , catching at the grass and the bushes, I succeeded in attaining the higher bank of the

nala (the dry brook), and standing on a rock, surveyed the environs I saw nothing but tormented hillocks, highland, and a dense pathless jungle covering the whole where, no man could pass, Meanwhile the sun was rapidly descending towards the horizon. Darkness would soon set in and then without water or any means for Kindling a fire, what would be my position in the dreary solitude of that jungle.

Temptation of Priest craft

By dint of tremendous exertions though, and after an acute suffering from thorns, which tore my clothes to shreds, wounded my whole body, and lamed my feet I managed to Eros the jungle, and at last reached the foot of the hill and found myself on the highway. All was darkness around and over me, and I had to pick my way at random trying only to keep to the road. Finally I reached a cluster of huts, and learning from the people that that road led to Okhee Math, I directed my steps towards that place and passed the night there. In the morning feeling sufficiently rested and refreshed I returned to the Gupta Kashee whence I started the next day on my northward journey. But that journey attracted me , and soon again I repaired to Okhee math, under the pretext of examining that hermitage and over serving the way of living of its inmates .

There I had time to examine at leisure the doings of that famous and rich monastery , so full of pious pretence and a show of asceticism , The high priest (or chief Hermit ), called Mahant , tried hard to induce me to remain and live there with him becoming his disciple . He even held before me the prospect , which he thought quite dazzling , of inheriting some day his lacs of rupees , his splendor and power , and finally succeeding him in his Mahantship or supreme rank . I frankly answered him that had I ever craved any such riches  or glory , I would not have secretly left the house of my father , which was not less sumptuous or attractive than his monastery with all is riches . The object , which induced me to do away with all these worldly blessings , I added , “I find you neither strive for , nor possess the knowledge of . “He then enquired what

was that object for which I so strived . “that object , ” I answered , “is the secret knowledge , the vidya , or trlle erudition of a genuine yogi the mooktee , which is reached only by the purity of one’s soul , and certain attainments unattainable without it ; in the meanwhile , the performance of all the duties of man towards his fellow – men , and the elevation of humanity thereby . ” The Mahant remarked that it was very good , and asked me to remain with him for some time at least ; But I kept silent and returned no reply ; I had not yet found what I sought for . Rising on the following morning very early , I left this rich dwelling and went to Joshee math . there , in the company of Dakshnee or Maharashtra Shastrees and Sannyasis , the true ascetics of the 4th order ,

I rested for a while. Yogis at Joshi Math (Convent) At Joshee Math I met many Yogis and learned ascetic and, in a series of discussions, learnt more about Yoga-Vidya and parting with them went to Badrinarayan. The learned Rawaljee was at that time the chief priest of that temple; and I lived with him a few days, We held discussions upon the Vedas, and the “Darshanas,” Having enquired from him whether he knew of some

genuine Yogi in the neighborhood, I learnt, to my great regret, that there were none there at the time, but that he had heard that they were in the habit of visiting his temple at times. Then I resolved to make a thorough search for them throughout the country and especially in the hills, Further search of clairvoyoyants one morning at day break, I set on my journey; when, following along the foot of the mountains, i at last reached the banks of the Alaknanda river. I had no desire of crossing it, as I saw on its opposite bank the large village called “Mana.” Keeping, therefore, still to the foot of the hills, I directed my steps toward the jungle following the river course the hills and the road it self were thickly covered with snow and, with the greatest difficulty, I succeeded in reaching that spot where the Alaknanda is said to take its rise. But once there, finding myself surrounded by lofty hills on all sides, and being a stranger in the country, my progress, from that moment was greatly retarded. Very soon, the road ceased abruptly and I found no vestige of even a path. I was thus at a loss what to do next, but i determined finally to cross the river and enquire for my way. I was poorly and thinly clad, and the cold was intense and soon became into unbearable. Feeling hungry and thirsty, I tried to deceive my hunger by swallowing a piece of ice, but found no relief. I then began to ford the river. in some places it was very deep, in others shallow- not deeper than a cubit-but from eight to ten cubits wide. the river-bed was covered with small and fragmentary

bits of ice which wounded and cut my naked feet to bleed. very luckily the cold had quite benumbed them, and even large bleeding cracks left me insensible for a while, slipping on the ice more than once, I lost my footing and came nearly falling down and thus freezing to death on the spot .For should I have found myself prostrated on the ice , I realized that, benumbed as I was all over, I would find it very difficult to rise again. However, with great exertion, and after a terrible struggle, I managed to get safe enough on the other bank. Once there more dead than alive. I hastened to denude the whole upper part of my body; and, with all I had of clothes on me, to wrap my feet up to the knees and then exhausted, famished, unable to move. I stood waiting for help, and

knowing not whence it would come. At last, throwing a last look around me. I espied two hillmen, who came up and having greeted me with their “kashisamba” invited me to follow them to their home, where I would find food . Learning my trouble, they , moreover , promised to guide me to “sadpat” a very sacred place; but I refused their offers, for I could not walk, Not with standing their pressing invitation I remained firm and would not “take courage” ” and follow them as they wanted me; but, after telling them that I would rather die , refused even to listen to them. The idea had struck me that I had better return and prosecute my studies. The two men then left me and soon disappeared among the hills. Having rested, I proceeded on my way back. Stopping

for a few minutes at basudhara, a sacred bathing place, and passing by the neighborhood of managram, I reached badrinarayan at 8,o’ clock that evening.

Upon seeing me, the Rawaljee and his companions were much astonished and

enquired where I had been ever since the early morning . I then sincerely related

to them all that had happened to me. That night , after having restored my strength with a little food, I went to bed, but getting up early on the following morn, I took leave of the Rawaljee and set out on my journey back to Rampur. That evening. I reached the home of a hermit a great ascetic, and passed the night at his place. that man had the  reputation of one of the greatest sages living, and I had a long conversation with him upon religious subjects. More fortified than ever in my determination, I left him next morning, and after crossing hills, forests and having descended the chilkia ghattee, I arrived at last at rampur where I took up my quarters at the house of the celebrated ramgiri, so famous for the holiness and purity of his life. I found him a man of extraordinary habits. though. He never slept, but used to pass whole nights in holding conversations- very loud sometimes apparently with himself. Often, we heard loud

scream, then weeping, though there was no one in his room with him. Extremely surprised, I questioned his disciples and pupils and learnt from them that such was his habit, though no one could tell me what it meant. Seeking an interview with him, I learnt some time after, what it really was; and thus I was enable to get convinced that it was not true Yoga he practiced, but that he was only partially versed in it. it was not what I sought for.

Books on yoga and science

Leaving him I went to kasipur, and thence to Drona sagar, where I passed the whole winter. Thence again to Sambal through moradabad, when ,after crossing gurh mukteshwar I found myself again on the banks of the ganges. Besides other religions works. I had with me the “Shiva Sanhita” “Hat- pradipika” , “yoga-bij” and “Gherand sanhita”, which I used to study during my travels. some of these , books treated on the nari chalan and nari chakaras, (nervous system) giving very exhaustive descriptions of the same, which I could never grasp, and which finally made me doubt as to the correctness of these works. I had been for some time trying to remove my doubts, but had found as yet no opportunity. One day I chanced to meet a corpse floating down the river.

There was the opportunity and it remained with me to satisfy myself as to the correctness of the statements contained in the books about anatomy and man’s inner organs. Ridding myself of the books which I laid nearby and taking off my clothes, I resolutely entered the river and soon brought the dead body out and laid it on the shore. I then proceeded to cut it open with a large knife in the best manner I could. I took out and examined the kamal (the heart) and cutting it from the navel to the ribs, and a portion of the head and neck, I carefully examined and compared them with the descriptions in the books.

Finding they did not tally at all. I tore the books to pieces and threw them into the river after the corpse. from that time gradually I came to the conclusion that with the exception of the Vedas, upanishadas, patanjaly and sankhya, all other works upon science and Yoga were false. Having lingered for some time on the banks of the Ganga, I arrived next at Furrukhabad; when having passed sreenjeeram I was just interning Cawnpur by the road east of the canton went, the samvat year of 1912 (1855 A.C.) was completed.

 

Practice of Yoga

 

During the following five months, I visited many a place between Cawnpur and allahabad . In the beginning of Bhadrapad, I arrived at Mirzapur where I stopped for a month or so near the shine of Vindiachal Asooljee; and arriving at Benares in the early part of ashwin, I took my quarters in the cave ( At the confluence of the Buruna and the Ganges ) which then belonged to Bhumanand saraswati. There, I met with Kakaram, Rajaram and other Shastrees, But stopped there only twelve days and renewed my travels after what I sought for . It was at the shine of Durga-koho in chandalgarh, where I passed ten days. I left off eating rice altogether. And living but on milk I gave myself up entirely to the study of Yoga which I practiced night and day .

Frauds of Idolatry

Unfortunately, I got this time into the habit of using bhang, a strong narcotic leaf, and at times felt quite intoxicated with its effect. Once after leaving the temple, I come to a small village near Chandalgarh where by chance I met an attendant of mine of former days. On the other side of the village, and at some distance from it stood a shivalaya (A temple of shiva ) whither I proceeded to pass the night under its walks . While there under the influence of bhang. I fell fast a sleep and dreamed that night a strange dream. I thought I saw Mahadeo and his wife parvati. they where conversing together and I placing my clothes and books on its back, I sat and meditated; when suddenly happing to throw a look inside the stasue which was empty, I saw a man concealed inside . I extended my hand towards him, and must have terrified him, as jumping out of his hiding place, he took to his heels in the direction of the villege . then I crept into the statue in my turn and slept there for the rest of the night. In the morning and old womasn come and worshipped the Bull-god with myself inside . Iater on , she returned with offerings of “Gur” (molasses) and a pot of “Dahi” (curd milk ) which, making puja to me (whom she evidently mistook for the god himself ) she offered and desired me to

accept and eat. I did not disabuse her, but, being hungry . Ate it all . the curd being very sour proved a good antidote for the bhang and dispelled the sings of intoxication, which relieved me very much .

 

Forests of Nerbuddah

After this adventure, I continued my journey towards the hills and that place where the Nebuddah takes its rise. I never once asked my way, but went on travelling southward. Soon I found myself in a desolate spot covered thickly with jungles, with isolated huts appearing now and then among the bushes at irregular distances. At one of such places I drank a little milk and proceeded onward. But about half a mile farther, I came to a dead stop. The road had abruptly disappeared and there remained but the choice of narrow paths leading I knew not, where. I soon entered a dreary jungle of wild plum tree and very thick and huge grass with on signs of any path in it when suddenly I was faced

by a huge black bear. the beast growled ferociously, and rising on its hind legs, opened wide its mouth to devour me. I stood motionless for some time and then slowly raised my thin cane over him, and the bear ran away terrified. so loud was its roaring that the villagers whom I had just left, hearing it, ran to my assistance and soon appeared armed with large sticks and followed by their dogs. they tried hard to persuade me to return with them. If I proceeded any further, they said, I would have to encounter the greatest perils in the jungles which in those hills were the habitat of beats, buffaloes, elephants, tigers and other ferocious beasts. I asked them not to feel anxious for my safety, for I

was protected, I was anxious to see the sources of the Nerbuddah and would not change my mind for fear of any peril. Then seeing that their warnings were useless, they left me after having made me accept a stick- I immediately threw away.

Forest Life

On that day I travelled without stopping until it grew quite dusk. For many hours I had not perceived the slightest trace of human habitation around me. No village in the far off, not even a solitary hut, or a human being. But what my eyes met the most was a number of trees, twisted and broken, which had been uprooted by the wild elephants, and, felled by them to the ground further on I found myself in a dense and impenetrable jungle of plum trees and other prickly shrubs whence, at first I saw no means of  extricating myself. However, partly crawling on the belly, partly creeping on my knees, I conquered this new obstacle and after paying a heavy tribute with pieces of my clothes and even my own skin, bleeding and exhausted I got out of it. It had grown quite dark by

that time. but even this-if it impeded, did not arrest my progress onward, and I still proceeded. Until I found myself entirely hemmed in by lofty rocks and hills thickly grown over with a dense vegetation but with evident signs of being inhabited. Soon I perceived a few huts, surrounded by heaps of cowdung, a flock of goats grazing on the banks of a small stream of clear water and a few welcome lights glimmering between the crevices of the walls. Resolving to pass the night there, and go no further till the next morning, I took shelter at the foot of a large tree which overshadowed one of the huts. Having washed my bleeding feet my face and hands-in the stream, I had barely sat to tell my

prayers, when I was suddenly disturbed in my meditations by the loud sound of a tom-tom Shortly after, I saw a procession of men, woman and children, followed by their cows and goats emerging from the huts and preparing for a night religious festival. upon perceiving a stranger , they all gathering around me, and an old man came enquiring from whence I had appeared. I told them I had come from benares , and was on my pilgrimage to the Nerbudda sources,after which answer they all left me to my prayers and went further on . But in about half hour , came one of their headmen accompanied by two Hillman and sat by my side, He came as a delegate to invite me to their huts . but, as before, I refused the offer (for they were idolaters) He then ordered a large fire to be lit near me and appointed two men to watch over my safety the whole night.

Learning that I used milk for all food, the kind headmen asked for my “kamandalu” (a bowl) and brought it back to me full of milk, of which I drank a little that night. He then retired, leaving me under the protection of my two guards That night I soundly slept until dawn, when rising and having completed my devotions, I prepared myself for further events.” ( Here the auto biography ends. -T)

SOUL, MAGIC, GAMBLING & POLYGAMY ARE IN VEDAS ?

soul_body

SOUL, MAGIC, GAMBLING & POLYGAMY

Author : Pt Dharmadev Vidyamartand

Besides discussing the notions of transmigration of soul and theory of action, we will discuss in this chapter, whether there was magic, drinking, gambling, and polygamy during the Vedic Age.

TRANSMIGRATION OF SOUL

An impression is sought to have been created by the authors of the Vedic Age that the Vedic Aryas had neither definite knowledge of the transmigration of soul nor were they interested in its theoretical aspects.

For instance it is written in this book:-

“ As the Rigvedic Aryas were full of the “Joíe de viver” (joy of life), they were not particularly interested in the life after death, much less had they any special doctrines about it. We can, therefore , glean only a few notices of life beyond, that are scattered throughout the Rigveda. In our search for any reference implicit or explicit, to rebirth or transmigration, we come across only a few doubtful passages. According to R.V.1.164.30, the soul (Jivah) of the dead one moves in its own power; the immortal one having a common origin with the mortal one (the body). But this transmigration is not certain.”

“So we may conclude that only the germs of the conception of rebirth were there, and those developed either naturally or through the influence of ideas current among the original tribes with whom the Aryans came into contact”

But careful perusal of the text will show that there are clear references to soul and its transmigration in the Vedas.

In Rigvedas it is clearly stated that the soul which inhabits this ephemeral body, is eternal, permanent and true:

rig 6.9.4

(“Behold this (individual spirit) the first being which enjoys (consequence of his actions) as it is the immortal light placed within the mortal frame. That has manifested itself. This immortal soul is staying (in the body) while it seems growing with the growth of its body.”

The theory of rebirth also finds expression in the following mantra from the Rigveda:-

rebirth in rigveda

(May I have glance at the indestructible Lord of the sense organs (i.e. the individual soul) which ever walk, through the pathways of coming (birth) and departure (death); it traverses its path with its body and even without it and having covered itself with its actions (i.e. in accordance with its good and evil actions), it comes (takes birth) again and again in the various worlds.”

GOD AND SOUL

The relation of soul with God and difference between the two have been clearly enunciated in the following mantra:-

rig 1.64.20

(Like two birds, there are two spirits i.e. the finite and the Supreme which, knit with the bonds of friendship, reside on the same tree (of the material universe). One of the twain (i.e. the finite spirit)

enjoys the sweet ripe fruit (and also the bitter one) produced by his good or bad actions, whereas the other (i.e. the Supreme Spirit) simply looks all around without enjoying its fruitage.”

THE SOUL THROUGH THE AGES

There is clear description of the soul incarnating itself in different bodies according to one’s own actions:-

soul 1

“O individual soul! in accordance with thine actions, thou assumes the form of a woman and that of a man, sometimes thou becomes a virgin, thou walkest with the help of 21 staff when thy body becomes old and frail, thou takest birth again and again as thy face is turned towards all directions (in accordance with thy actions).

soul 2

(This individual soul, sometimes it becomes their father and sometimes their son too, and sometimes becomes their elder brother and sometimes it even becomes their younger brother. Verily, the one self of luminous soul dwelling within the mind, has taken birth before and verily it again enters the womb of the mother.)

soul 3

(O God of life, please give us eyes again in our future life and give us breath, in this world and confer on us all necessary objects of enjoyment; O most Gracious Being! May we see the rising sun for  a long time, be kind upon us and give us blessings,)

In the following mantra from Yajurveda (4. 1 5), a devotee plays to God for a good life in the birth to come:

yajurveda 4.15

(May I receive, through the grace of God, my mind again in future life, may I have life again, may I get breathe again, may my soul return again and may I be the possessor of eyes and ears again in future life; may Self Refulgent God, keep us safe from misfortune and dishonor.)

In Atharva Veda, the use of स उ जायते पुन: most certainly confirms the Vedic theory of transmigration of soul:

soul 4

(The individual soul wanders within the womb of mother and takes birth again and again in bodies of intelligent persons. It exists in past, present and future; when it becomes a father, it again enters into the body of a son with the powers of his actions.)

Reproduced below are two mantras from Atharveda in this connection:-

soul 5

(May the earth give us birth again and may the shining heavenly region and the atmosphere restore the same to us; may Soma, All Creating God, give us body again (after our death) and may the All Nourishing God, lead us on the path of peace and happiness.)

And also:-

soul 6.1

soul 6.2

(May I again receive my sense organs in my future life and may I receive my spirit, together with worldly possessions and knowledge Divine so that I may perform fire-offering on the altars and may ever attain prosperity.) `

THEORY OF ACTION

In Vedas there is a great emphasis on action and industry. lt is clearly mentioned in the vedas that one cannot achieve progress and prosperity through mere performance of yajnas, singing euologies to God or offering prayers to him.

The Vedic Age, however, seeks to create an impression that devotees have been instructed in the Vedas to seek more and more gifts from God by flattering songs and ritualistic sacrifices.

But this is not true. For instance, it is clearly mentioned in the Rigveda that God never befriends a person Who avoids hard work or industry :

rig 4.33.15

ln Yujurveda, there is clear instruction to desire a long life full of action:

soul in yajur

PRAYERS FOR PURITY

In Vedic Age, very serious allegation has been made against the Rishis :-

“Absence of evil is not what they pray for. Their supreme desire is to triumph over poverty and resistance”

In the 97th  hymn of the First mandala of the Rigveda, there are 8 mantras, each of which ends with अप न: शोशुचदघम (O God destroy our sins). Some of these mantras are reproduced below:-

prayer 1

(O God, may we become yours. Destroy our sins.)

prayer 2

(May with Thy mercy, O Omnipresent Lord, all our sins be destroyed -may we never commit sins again).

prayer 3

(Just as sea is crossed through ship, may we cross this miserable world through Thy Grace – May our sins be destroyed.)

POLYGAMY AND VEDAS

Of many misconceptions about the Vedas propagated by the authors of Vedic Age, one pertains to polygamy.

It is written in the Vedic Age:-

“The Rigveda certainly permits polygamy, though monogamy may have been the rule. Whether monogamy developed from polygamy in the Rigvedic Age as Zimmer thinks in “Altindísche Leben “, or whether polygamy is secondary as Weber believes in “Indische Studeíern” cannot be decided-Probably polygamy, though allowed, was practically confined to the “Rajanya” class. Polyandry is not referred to anywhere in the Rigveda.”

It may be stressed that monogamy is considered best in the Vedas. Some of the mantras indicating this ideal have also been referred in the Vedic Age which also acknowledges that monogamy was the rule though polygamy was allowed. For instance, in Rigvedas 1.124.32 and 1O.74.4  जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासा: means knowledge reveals itself to the scholars, just as a woman draped in her best attire, presents herself before her husband. It may also be mentioned here that the words जाया and पत्या are both singular in number and, therefore, clearly indicate monogamy.

In the following mantra from the Rigveda God has been compared to a “chaste woman” of a noble character :

rigvedic god

(He who is like the sun, the supporter of the universe, who abides on earth like a king with good friends, who is like heroes at home- and who is like the irreproachable Wife, beloved of her husband.)

In the following mantra from Rigveda, one of the four comparisons which have been made to express a devotee’s desire for God to turn to him is that of a husband for wife :-

rigveda god 1

“As kine turn to the Village, as warriors to their steeds, as loving milk-giving cows to their calves, a husband to the Wife, so may the Deity, the Upholder of the heavens, Lord of all Bliss, turn towards us”.

In the hymn about marriage in Rigveda (10.85.30) a bride is enjoined to work for the happiness and pleasure of her husband :-

rig 10.85.30

(Shining like the sun, oh, bride, full of tapas, ascend this chariot and go to thy husband”s home to add to His pleasure and happiness.)

In the following mantra, the bride has been blessed to live with her husband and never be separated :

rigveda god 2

(May you always live together happily in your home-may you lead a happy, prosperous married life.)

In the following mantra both husband and wife make a declaration that their hearts will be united with each other like water which is cool and peaceful.)

rigveda god 3

ln the following mantra, the Wife says to her husband :

rigveda god 4

(Establish me firmly in your heart. May our hearts be united.)

rigveda god 5

(May you be mine entirely. May you never even praise other women in my presence.) ‘

The following mantras may also be quoted in support of this Vedic ideal of polygamy :

rig 14.2.64

In these mantras also, there is an instruction to the couples to love each other like “chakva-chakvi ” (love birds) and use sweet words for each other.)

Because of a few similies in the Rigveda, the authors of the Vedic Age have tried to establish the existence of polygamy during the Vedic period which is very erroneous. A large number of quotations against polygamy in the vedas render such interpretations infructuous.

For instance, take the following mantra, in which a person, tortured by the worldly agonies, has been compared to a person annoyed or troubled by co-wives :-

cowives

And also in the following mantra, it is written that a person, having two wives, is pressed from both sides like a neighing horse driving a chariot which is pressed between two spokes :-

two spokes

While there is provision for only one marriage in the Vedas, in exceptional cases, “Niyoga” (temporary alliance of wife with a stranger), is permitted with a limited purpose.

GAMBLING/ DRINKING IN THE VEDIC PERIOD

Vedic Age describes dice playing as one of the principal amusements of the Vedic period. It says :-

“Dice was another amusement. The number of dice, the method of dice playing and the names of the throws are all described in detail in the various texts of this (Yajur Veda) period A ritual game of dice is played at the Agnyadheya and the Rajasuya  cennonies – so gambling is probably sought to be restricted by elevating racing and dicing to the rank of religious ceremonies.”

The book has, however, failed to mention where the details of dice playing have been given in Yajurveda. We cannot believe in what they say unless they produce some evidence in support of their contention. Such an evidence is impossible to produce. (because it is not there at all.)

Moreover there is another reason for not believing them because what they have said is quite contrary to the injunctions against gambling in the hymn l 0.34 of the Rigveda (which is entirely devoted to this subject). ln some of the mantras of this hymn, it is clearly stated that gambling bums the heart of a person like the charcoal which though apparently cool from outside, is potentially destructive.

lt is also said that the family members of a gambler-his parents, Wife, brother etc, also disown him when he runs into debt because of this game :

gambling 1

In the end there is clear instruction against gambling in the most unequivocal terms : अक्षौर्या दिव्य (O man, no gambling.)

A gambler is told that he would enjoy the blessings and pleasures of the family life only when he earns money by industry, by such work as agriculture :

agriculture

It there is a provision anywhere for gambling or dice playing on the occasion of some Yajnas, it should be considered only as an interpolation without the sanction or authority of the vedas; it is, therefore, unauthentic and without merit.

One might say that even a highly religious man like Yudhistira used to gamble. But does it go to prove that gambling is a meritorious thing? We may recall what Lord Krishna had told him: if he were in Dwaraka he would never have let him indulge in this game asserting that its consequences are disasterous :

mahabharat 5

mahabharat 6

In these shlokas he counts gambling among the four vices which destroy a man’s beauty and his wealth (the other three being women, hunting and drinking).

DRINKING

Vedas have clearly instructed against drinking in the same way as against gambling.

Among the seven vices (even one of which makes a man sinner) is also drinking :

drinking 1

Yaskacharya has described these seven vices as follows in Nírukta :

drinking 2

(Theft, corruption, killing of righteous persons, abortion, falshehood, repeating a bad action and drinking.)

In Rigveda there is a mantra which described how the men who drink do not feel ashamed even in undressing themselves and looking at each other in naked bodies.

drinking 3

Drinking and gambling have been described in Rigveda as actions which lead to अधर्म (unrighteousness).

drinking 4

In Atharva Veda (6.7O. 1) meat eating, drinking and gambling have been placed in the same category and described as condemnable and prohibited :-

drinking 5

It is alleged in the “Vedic Age” that the risis remained intoxicated under the influence of “soma” which was misunderstood as a kind of a liquor.

In fact, the word Soma सोम: which occurs in the following mantras stands for God, who is described as the producer of all herbs, water, firmament, earth, sky, fire, sun and air illuminator and Master of the whole universe and Omnipresent.

Addressing God a devotee says; “King of this entire Universe, O Lord, Thou who art, Omniscient and Knower of everything and Repository of all virtues and Father of all “devas° purify me :

drinking 6

Can even an idiot take the word “Soma ” for a herb or a medicine in this context? There is not an iota of doubt that this word has been used only for God because He alone is and can be Omnipresent, Omniscient and the Master of the universe.

While the word ‘Soma ‘ has been used for God, at times it is also meant to denote affectionate devotion to God which is coupled with the true knowledge of His attributes. For instance, in Rigveda’s 9.108.1, it is stated:

rig 9.108.1

Here ‘soma ` is described as spiritual intoxication induced by true devotion(इन्द्राय क्रतु वितभो ).

This spiritual intoxication is naturally different from the intoxication induced by liquor or drinks.

In Rigveda and Samveda, the word soma has been described thus :-

drinking 7

(This soma which is full of sweetness ( मधुमान) is purifier( पावक: ) inducer of virtues ( देवावी ) and destroyer of all impure sentiment’s ( अधं शंसहा )

lt is clear from the above that this soma is not used for simple liquor but Spiritual intoxication which results from devotion, knowledge and purification.

In the same Vedas, Soma has been invoked for purification, strength and intellects :

drinking 8

Such a description of the ordinary liquor, which pollutes the intellects, is quite incongruous.

The following mantra, which occurs both in the Rigveda as well as Samaveda, gives a very clear cut account of Soma :

drinking 9

(O, Soma, the Illuminater  and Purifier, Thou proclaim-est immortality for all.)

This mantra leaves in no doubt about the true meaning, rather nature, of Soma-which is a declaration of Conquest over death (i.e., immortality).

The following mantras, from Rigveda also confirms that besides God, the word “Soma` means spiritual intoxication :-

drinking 10

ln the above mantras the word `soma’ has been described as giver of Peace, purifier, born of Truth and embodiment of knowledge etc.

Hundreds of mantras can be quoted to prove that the meaning of the word ‘ Soma” as interpreted by contributors to the Vedic Age is completely wrong. Their contention that the Risis remained drunk all the times is, therefore, completely baseless.

||इति||

 

 

VEDAS : IS THERE CHARM AND MAGIC IN THEM?

black magic 1

VEDAS : IS THERE CHARM AND MAGIC IN THEM?

Author : Pt Dharmdev Vidyamartand

The authors of the Vedic Age following copiously their western masters have not only entertained wrong concepts about all the four Vedas, but their treatment of the Atharvaveda is Worse as they see in some of its hymns dealing with medicinal herbs charm and magic.

The Atharvaveda, in reality, deals with medicine as evident from Gopath’s येSथर्वाणस्तद भेषजं तदमृतम तद ब्रह्म or Tandya Mahabrahman’s भेषजं वै देवानामथर्वाण: ( अर्थात ऋषिणा दृष्टा मंत्रा: ) भैषज्यायैवारिष्टयै|

l References made in Atharvaveda to medicinal herbs, masmerism, hypnotism incantation are entirely scientific.

lt is really a matter of great ragret that such wrong concepts should be entertained by these scholars about Atharvaveda which is also known as ब्रह्मवेद :-

chatwaro

(The use of this word “ब्रह्मवेद:” for Atharvaveda is justified by a number of hymns which, besides dealing with medicines also deal with the science of God and soul. There is no indication in it of any “charm” and “magic”.)

Western scholars like Bloomfield and Whitney misconstrued different “manis” (which are actually medicinal herbs) for charms, amulets or sorceries. Even while translating mantras dealing with medicinal herbs, coronation and family harmony, they gave misinterpretation and misleading meanings to show that there is magic and charm in Atharvavedas.

Bloomfield in particular, gave such misleading captions as “Charm against Jaundice” to his translation of Atharvaveda`s 5.22 in which the reference is made to the cure of Takman (fever) through medicinal herbs.

“Charm with the Apamarg, a plant against sorcery, demons and enemies ” is the caption given by him to another mantra from the Atharvaveda in which there is mention of treatment of barreneness among women through the use of “Apamarga”

In Atharvaveda’s hymn 4.8, there is a beautiful description of a coronation ceremony. But unfonunately, Bloomfield’s caption for the hymn containing this mantra, is “Charm pertaining to Royalty

The hymn 3.3O of the Atharvaveda refers to family harmony, unity and mutual obligations and duties of the members of a family. Quoted below are three mantras from this hymn with Bloomfield”s own translation :

bloomfield 1

(Unity of heart and unity of mind, freedom of hatred do I procure for you. Do ye take delight in one another as a cow in her new born calf.)

bloomfield 2

(The son shall be devoted to his father, be of the same mind with his mother, the wife shall speak honied, sweet words to her husband.)

bloomfield 3

(The brother shall not hate the brother and the sister not the sister. Harmonious, devoted to the same purpose speak ye words in kindly spirit.)

It is very shocking to find that Bloomfield has given the heading of this hymn as “Charm To Secure Harmony” knowing fully well that these hymns only stresses the importance of friendliness, harmony, mutual love, co-operation and sweetness of temper. etc. among the family members.

Following Bloomfield, the authors of the Vedic Age commenting on this hymn write: “Of the same type but much more elevated in tone is the of quoted and justly celebrated charm for securing concord.”

In the hymns 7- 12 of Atharvaveda, there is a clear reference to सभा and समिति (which are the equivalents of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha of the Modem Age.) Given below are the first two mantras of this hymn with Bloomfield’s translation :

bloomfield 4

(May assembly and meeting, the two daughters of Prajapati, concurrently aid me! May he with whom I meet, co-operate With me! May I obey Father, speak agreeably to those assembled. We know thy name, O assembly, Mirth verily is thy name; may all those that sit assembled in thee, utter speech in harmony with me.”

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS :-

Here the word “नरिष्टा” should mean benevolent to the people ( नृ + इष्टा ) or that which does not allow people to suffer) With this exception, it may be said the translation is not bad. What is disgusting is the title given to it by this western scholar : “Charm to procure influence in the assembly.”

The authors of the Vedic Age not only incorporated the blunders committed by such western scholar in this respect but went a step further and expressed ideas which are thoroughly absurd and misleading.

For instance, under the head “Medicinal Charms”, they write :

“Quite a number of medicinal charms are included in the Atharvaveda. The chief malady that was sought to be treated magically is the Takman. From the symptoms described it is almost certain that it was nothing but malarial fever. The plant kusha is maintained as potent in fighting Takman, but whether as medicine or as amulet is not quite clean”

This is indeed very misleading statement. Not only for fever alone but also for several other diseases like impotence, barrenness, leprosy, T.B. urinary troubles etc., the Vedas have suggested

treatment through administration of such medicinal herbs as Apamarga, Kushtaa Preshni, Parni, Soma, Darbh.

Even for fever, the cure suggested in the hymns 5-4 and 19-39 of the Atharva Veda, is through oral administration of “kustha “ and not its use in the form of amulets. One fails to understand how the authors of the Vedic Age misunderstood this point. A few mantras from these hymns, with their English translation by Bloomfield himself, will show how misleading is their interpretation :

ath 5.4.1

(Thou that art born upon the mountains; as the most potent of plants, come hither, O kushtha, destroyer of the Takman to drive out from here, the Takman (fever).

It is clear here that Kushtha has been described as वीरूधामबलवतम: which is translated by Bloomfield as “the most potent of plants”.

bloomfield 5

(Pain in the head, affliction in the eyes and ailment of the body, all that shall the Kushtha heal a divinely powerful medicine.)

The expression “powerful remedy” was enough to remove the doubt whether Kushtha was a medicinal herb or an amulet. But the authors of the “Vedic Age” deliberately entertained the doubt to confuse the readers.

In the hymn 19.39, the adjective विश्वभेषज has been used for this herb at least five times. This word has been rightly translated by Bloomfield as “Universal remedy”. In mantra 4 of this hymn, this herb has been described as उतमो अस्योषधीनाम  :-

bloomfield 6

“Thou art the most superior to the plants as a steer among the cattle, as the tiger among the beasts of prey. Verily no harm shall suffer this person here for whom I bespeak these mom and eve, aye the entire day.”

It is thus clear from the above that instead of any sorcery or amulet, the reference is only to treatment of fever by administration of medicinal herb called “Kushtha”.

In this connection we want to draw the attention of our readers to a very ridiculous comment by the authors of the Vedic Age:

“It is interesting to note that in one hymn (5.22) Takman has been asked to seize the Shudra and the Dasi or to go away to Mujavats or to the Valhikas further beyond and the last verse, the author says quite maliciously that he is sending Takman to the Gandharis, Angas and Magadhas like one sending a treasure to a person.”

The mantras which form the basis of the above comment are as follows :

hymn 5.22

lt is obvious that the whole confusion in these mantras has arisen from the misunderstanding of the words दासी, शुद्रा, गंधारी, मुजवान, मग्ध” in the above mantras.

The word “दासी”’ used in one of the above mantras, is in fact a herb called “काकजंघा“. दासी and काकजंघा are synonymous as evident from the following from राजनिघुनट्टू.

rajnigantu

A lot of misunderstanding has been created by the authors of the “Vedic Age” by taking into account only the prevalent meaning of the words like dasa and shudra and ignoring their real meaning suitable in the context.

Just as the word dasi, so also the word shudra have been used in the above hymn for a medicinal herb-in this case for príyagulata प्रियंगुलता which is supposed to be good for curing fever.

vaidik shastra

About its power to cure fever, it is stated in Bhav Prakash Níghantu :

bhavprakash nighantu

After knowing the real meaning of the words dasi and sudra in this context, the meaning of the above quoted mantras will be as follows :

(O, disease, pervading the body like poisonous serpent and making the body lethargic, go away by the use of blossoming Desi herb.)

The sum and substance of this mantra is that the herb dasí also known as kakjanga wards off fever.

(O fever, which growest in the grassy and shady regions, go away by the use of sudra also known as priyangoo)

A repeated reference to different mantras in the Atharvaveda such as आंजन मणि(4.9),शंख मणि(4.9),वरण मणि(10.3), जांगिड मणि(2.4 ),पर्ण मणि (3.5 ), शतवार मणि  (19.36 ), etc. have led some scholars to think that there is charm or magic in the vedas. They misinterpret the Word मणि as a pearl only and feel that use of different pearls has been suggested in the AtharvaVeda for curing different diseases.

But the principal meaning of this word, as supported by Ayurvedic books, is a herb (destroyer of diseases). The word with three or four roots, has also other meanings.

According to the aphorism  सर्वधातुभ्य इन्  in the उपाधि कोष(4.118), the word मणि takes its existence from the root मणिशब्दे with इन् प्रत्यय. Thus the word मणि means a good orator or a leader :-

manati

Other roots of मणि are मनु ज्ञाने, (दिवादि:) मन स्तम्बे, मनु अवबोधने ( तनादि ) which respectively mean a man of knowledge, one who deserts the enemies or the diseases, or one who imparts knowledge to others.

For instance, in the following mantra, it is said that through the help of Sraktya mani, an intelligent person, like a Risi, gains victory over all armies and destroys all enemies :

sraktya mani 1

The use of the word sraktya mani for an intelligent person also occurs in another mantra in the Atharva Veda :

sraktya mani 2

(You are full of action, you are able to fight back your enemies, you can attack your rival)

When this meaning does not fit in the context, it should be taken to mean some herb or the medicine.

We shall briefly discuss the word मणि used in the context of medicines.

आंजनमणि, for instance, stands for a tablet made of antimony which removes many diseases.

It is clearly stated in the following mantra of the Atharvaveda (4.95) that आंजनमणि gives strength to a patient and is the medicine for हरितरोग (kind of a fever) The use of the word भेषजं {indicates

that this subject has connection with the science of medicine and not magic.

SHANKH MANI:

About शंखमणि it is stated in the Atharvaveda :

shankmani

(This conch shell, with a pearl, helps one recover from many diseases. May it help overcome the misery resulting from a sin or a disease.)

The word अंह: is generally used for sin but it also means disease as evident from the following etymology or derivation of this word as given in the Unadikosa.

unadikosh

 JANGIDMANI:

Jangidmani has been used in the Atharvaveda mainly for Soma. Commenting on Atharvaveda’s 1.9.34 Sayanacharya writes :

In Atharva Veda Brihat Sarvanukra Maní there is a reference to the herb in the following words :

jangidmani 1

It has also been described as a medicine or a herb elsewhere in the same book :

jangidmani 2

As the words चन्द्र and सोम are synonymous, all the names denoting chandra also stand for Soma.

jangidmani 3

This is confirmed by such quotations as the following from शुश्रुत चिकित्सा स्थान :-

jangidmani 4

Thus we see that Jangadmani is the same medicinal herb as Soma about whose benefits it is stated in the 19th chapter of the same book :

jangidmani 5

The use of words like औषधि भेषज  and विश्व भेषज for this herb also gives indication of its great usefulness in curing many incurable diseases.

PARNAMANI —- — SOMA

There is a reference to पर्णमणि in Atharvaveda’s 3.5. According to Satpath (6.5.l .1), Parna is another name for ‘ सोम (सोमो वै पर्ण: )  The relation between ‘सोम and पर्ण has been made clear in the following mantra from the same hymn :

parnmani 1

Jangdmani consists of tablets or globules of soma and Parnamani of only (soma) leave.

According to the first mantra of the same hymn, there is also reference to W: (water) andw (juice). Thus the Pamamani taken in the form of leaves, lengthens the life of a person and removes all diseases.

In eighth mantra of this hymn, the Parnamani is also called तनुपान (protector of the body and increaser of semen) :

parnmani 2

According to एष वै संवत्सरो य एष तपति(satpath),संवत्सर: means ‘sun° and, therefore, it has been suggested here by implication that “Parnamani’ should be taken to secure the splendor of the sun or its heat.

It is mentioned in the following mantra from the Atharva Veda (3.5.2) that regular use of Parnamani increases physical strength and makes a man very influential and wealthy :-

parnmani 3

In Susrat Chikitsa Shastra, it is said that one who regularly takes Parnamaní, increases his life and poison, burns and wounds do not cut short his life :

parnmani 4

SATAVARI MANI (RISHBHAK HERB)

In Atharva Veda (19.36.17), there is a reference to शतवार मणि  which is described as useful for killing all germs and giving splendor to the life :

shatwarmani 1

In the second mantra of the same hymn, it is said that it removes all small and big diseases :

shatwarmani 2

In the fifth mantra of this hymn, Rishabh ऋषभ as been given as a synonym for Satvar शतवार , a name which is mentioned in the books on Ayurveda also :-

shatwarmani 3

shatwarmani 4

In this very hymn, it is mentioned that rishabh or satvar mani cures such diseases as T.B. and also others connected with pregnancy. It is also good for giving strength to the reproductive organs.

In some hymns the words `रक्षांसि राक्षसो, गन्धर्व, अप्सरा do not stand for any ghost, “witch” etc. as generally misunderstood. They only denote different kinds of germs.

For instance, in the Kaushitak Brahmana, it is clearly written about रक्षांसि :-

shatwarmani 5

(The genns which sip blood of a person are called `रक्षांसि)

According to satpatha (10.53.20) अप्सरा: are those which live in rose plants etc :

shatwarmani 6

These almost invisible germs living in rose plants get into human body through the nose and cause many mental deseases. Says Satpath :

shatwarmani 7

(The insects, which fall for beautiful objects, and consume them, are called गन्धर्वा :

In the following mantra from Atharvavads, the word  पिशाचhas also been used for a deadly germ which eats away the flesh of a patient and causes wounds in his body :

shatwarmani 8

This usage of पिशाच’ for a deadly germ eating away the flesh of a person has also been supported by the derivation of the word given in शब्द कल्पदुम :

shatwarmani 9

Similar derivation of the word has also been given in vachaspatya brihadmídhana .

shatwarmani 10

Thus it can be said that `राक्षस, गन्धर्व, अप्सरा  etc are different varieties of gemis which can be killed through the persistent use of शतवार or ऋषभक मणि. They have no connection with the magic or charm.

VARAN MANI ( वरण मणि )

There is a description of वरणमणिin the Atharva veda’s hymn (10.3) In third mantra of this hymn the adjective used for varanmani  वरणमणि is visvabhaj विश्वभेषज: which means a medicine which removes all diseases :-

varanmani 1

In another mantra of the same hymn, it is described as वनस्पति a herb which is useful for many diseases:

varanmani 2

The word वनस्पति has also been used for वरणमणि in the mantra of this hymn :

varanmani 3

In the 11th mantra of the same hymn, there is an instruction to wear this herb in the form of an armour in combination with mica. It is believed that its touch with the human body is good for all cardiac diseases :-

varanmani 4

In the Ayurvedic books, this herb has been named as वरुण as evident from the Bhav Prakas Níghantu ( भावप्रकाश निघंटु) :

varanmani 5

In Níghantu Ratna (निघंटु रत्न) the herb, is considered effective in many diseases related to impurification of blood, urinary troubles.

It is believed that the use ofthis herb in the form of pills or its application on clothes is very useful.

KRITYA  AND ABHICHAR

The misunderstanding about the role of sorceries and incantation, as propounded in the Vedas, is also responsible for the belief entertained by some scholars that there is magic and charm in the Vedas. The truth is that both these things have use in Warfare and armament and have nothing to do with magic. Their use is Suggested mainly for defensive rather than offensive purposes.

Kritya is of two kinds. First अंगिरस:- which consists of explosive substances used to shatter the buildings and the second  is आसुरी which is made up of poisonous substances which are put in fire to destroy enemies :

kritya 1

According to Atharvaveda, the priests are asked to help the people to Ward off the ill effects of Krítya :

kritya 2

(May the priests do something to ward off the ill effects of violence by the enemies.)

At another place in Atharva Veda (21 .l8.5), a priest asserts :

kritya 3

(I ward off the evil effects of Krítya against cows or men.)

It is evident that it is on the basis of the Vedas that Kautalya Shastra laid down that the priests should impart full knowledge of Krítya and Abhichar to kings and their kinsmen :

kritya 4

Use of many Manis and herbs has been suggested in this connection. For instance in Atharva Veda (19. l 4.4) जांगिडमणि, सोम are stated as effective against Kritya :

kritya 5

This herb destroys the ill effects of kritya कृत्या and is useful in prolonging the life span of a person.

At another place in Atharva Veda (8.7. 1 0), herbs used against poinsonous substances, are also stated to be effective against sorceries (कृत्या) :-

kritya 6

It is made abundantly clear in Atharva Veda that if used against innocent persons, it brings about disastrous consequences and therefore, should never be used against them :

kritya 7

उन्मोचन(vomiting or purging) or प्रमोचन(countering the effects of poison by the intense use of ghee, honey etc is stated in the following mantra :

kritya 8

In  (Shusrut Kalpadum) (Chapter one Sloka 75-76) also the same remedy has been given to avert the ill effects of अभिचार :

kritya 9

There are many mantras in the Atharva Veda in which lie the seeds of modem therapy (including mesmerism) which is used to help patients in eliminating many mental and physical diseases. In the following mantra from Atharva Veda, a physician tells his patients about the healing power of his hand touch will cure him of the ailments :-

kritya 10

For curing mental diseases, the doctor first of all, tries to capture the heart  of the patient by repetition of the following mantras from Atharva Veda :

kritya 11

After gaining full control over the heart of the patient, the doctor suggests to him with full confidence that he would fully cure him of mental diseases like insanity, perplexity or confusion of mind :

kritya 12

To free a person from fever, etc., the doctor also suggests to the patients:

kritya 13

There are also mantras in the Vedas which are repeated with will and determination to remove sin, achieve success, overcome diseases, and to increase power.

For removing thought of sin :-

kritya 14

For achieving success: –

kritya 15

For overcoming diseases :

kritya 16

For increasing power :

kritya 17

It would however, be stupid to ‘suggest’ that any of the mantras relating to Kritya and Abhíchar have anything to do with charm or magic.

There is no charm or magic in such mantras.

VEDAS : IS THERE MONISM OR POLYTHEISM IN THEM?

Devas 1

VEDAS : IS THERE MONISM OR POLYTHEISM IN THEM?

Author : Pt Dharmdev Vidyamartand

 From the Book “Veda:The Myths and Reality” ( A reply to Vedic Age )

One of the subjects which has generated a lot of controversy among the scholars is whether the Vedas teach polytheism, henotheism, monism or monotheism.

Before discussing this question, however, let us discuss what these terms really mean. Polytheism means belief in the plurality of gods, each with a sphere of his own in the governance of the this universe. “In simple words, it means Worship of many gods or Gods.

By monism is meant “development of the universe from a monad or from a single element.

lt corresponds to what is generally called as the principle that nothing else except Brahma (God) or the Absolute exists.

The Henotheism denotes that each of several divinities is regarded as the Supreme-each in its sphere.

And monotheism is belief in the existence of only One God.

Westem scholars like Clayton have said that there is polytheism in the Vedas. Even Max Muller who saw in Rigveda”s hymn 10.121 an expression of One God, “expressed with such power and decision, that it will make us hesitate before we deny to the Aryans, an instinctive monotheism which, however, comes out with a rider : “This is one of the hymns which has always been suspected as modem by European interpreters”

Even while commenting on Rigveda’s “प्रजापते न त्व दे तानन्यो विश्वा जातानि परी ता बभूव” he says, “This is the last verse, into my mind,  most suspicious of all.”

lt is obvious that this suspicion has been raised deliberately by Max Muller and other western scholars as their study of the Vedas was biased and they were not willing to accept monotheism in the Vedas.

This is the reason why they have also created confusion while translating “कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम” as “to which God shall we offer worship”. ln fact they want to show that there are many gods and the devotee is wondering as to whom to Worship. (ln fact कस्मै देवाय is answered by “प्रजापति” as “क” stands for “प्रजापति” as clear from Satpath : “को हि प्रजापति अथवा प्रजापतिर्वक ”

Max Muller has, in fact, coined a new word “Hen0theism” to show the worship of many “single Gods” or a number of independent deities in the Vedas.

For instance in his book “Ancient Sanskrit Literature ” Max Muller writes :” Each Vedic poet seems to exalt the particular god to whom he happens to be singing, to a position of supremacy. It would be easy to find, in the numerous hymns of the Veda, passages in which almost every single god is represented as Supreme and Absolute. ln the first hymn of the Second Book of the Rigveda, Agni is called the Ruler of the universe, the Lord of men, the Wise King, the Father, the Brother, the Son, the friend of men, nay all the powers, and names of others are distinctly ascribed to Agni. Indra is celebrated as the strongest in the hymns as well as in the Brahmnas, and the burden of one of the songs of the Tenth book is ” विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तर “. (Indra is greater than all.) Of soma it is said that he was born great, and that he conquers everyone. He is called the king of the world, he has the power to prolong the life of men

and is the maker of heaven and earth; of Agni, of Surya, of lndra and Vishnu. ln the very next hymn, addressed to Varuna, it is the Varuna who is, to the mind of the poet, Supreme and Almighty.”

Clarifying this concept hynotheism A.C Clayton writes in the “Rigveda and Vedic Religion :-

“In his Writings Max Muller constantly referred to this and coined the word Hynotheism or Kathenotheism to express what he re-garded as a ‘peculiar character’ of the ancient Vedic religion.

It denotes that each of several divinities is regarded as highest. The one that was worshipped and that they, therefore, treated him as if he were absolutely being independent and Supreme, alone present to the mind of the worshipper.”

In effect, as pointed out by Dwij Das in his book “Rigveda Unveiled”, the Rishis have been reduced to the position of “sycophants or cowardly liars, who could call each single god, as the one Supreme Being, only to avert the wrath of that God. Knowing at the same time, that they are not telling the Truth.”

Clayton and a few other scholars, though denying monotheism in the Vedas, say that they regard this practice of glorifying one God exclusively as “a species of poetic licence by which a singer magnified the god whom he was invoking, rather than an evidence that the poet actually claimed that the god to whom he was at the moment referring was the superior of all others”

We, however, do not agree with Clayton and other scholars that such descriptions are due to poetic license either. We are not prepared to believe that there is any scope for such poetic licence in view of overwhelming evidence of monotheism in the Vedas. The Vedas teach monotheism or the Worship of one God in the purest form . They teach that God is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent Lord of the universe. He is absolutely formless and perfect.

The vedas declare :

vrun

Monotheism in the Vedas has not been stated more forcefully than in the following mantras from the Atharvaveda where God has been described as One and the only One. :

ath 13.4

(He (God) is called neither the second, nor the third, nor yet the fourth. He is called neither the fifth, nor the sixth, nor yet the seventh. He is neither the eighth, nor the ninth, nor yet the tenth.)

He takes care of all that breathes and of all that does not breathe. He has got all this conquering power, He is the one, one and the only one.

All these luminous forces of nature become one in Him. How emphatically the oneness of God has been asserted in such passages and how absurd and false is the view advocated by some prejudiced Western scholars that the Vedas teach polytheism.

We will give some more evidence of the Oneness of God in the Vedas.

In the हिरण्यगर्भ hymn, (in Regveda) consisting of 10 mantras, God has been described as प्रजापति and more than four times it is clearly stated that.

He is One and  the only One.

Following mantras from this hymn may be quoted to clarify this point :-

rig 10.121.1

(God who possesses all the luminous Worlds within Himself and exists from the very eternity, He is only One Manifest Lord of the created creatures. He is supporting this earth and this heaven. Unto that All-Blissful Divinity, we offer our humble worship.”)

atmada

(He who is the Giver of physical vigour and spiritual power, He whose order is carried out by all the luminous objects and by the enlightened beings, whose shelter is immortality and turning away from whom is death, unto that all blissful Divinity, we offer our humble Worship.)

pranato

(He who by the greatness of His power, is the Sole Ruler of living and lifeless objects existing in this world, He, who is the Lord of these bipeds and quadrupeds unto that All-Blissful Divinity, we offer our humble Worship.)

aapo

(When water in its subtler form, possessing mighty force within itself, became manifest, therein was held the Universal life force which of heat and energy, it was then the One Universal life force of all the luminous objects became manifest, unto that All blissful Divinity, we offer our humble Worship.)

Atharvaveda says. He, the only One is the Giver of joy, and should be worshipped: “एक एव नमस्य: सुशवा:”

Samveda also describes God as One एक इत्”:

vishwa

The Oneness of God has been poetically described in the following mantra from the Rigveda :-

rig 10.31.5

(He whose eyes go every where, who faces all sides, whose arms are here, there all around and whose feet in all directions–is the Only One Divine Being who has created all these heavens.)

God is proclaimed as ‘एक (one) and अन्तमानुष: (unparalled) in the following mantra from the Rigveda:-

rig 1.154.14

Addressing God as “अग्नि” Rigveda in the following mantras in its first hymn of the Second Mandela says:

rig 3 mantras

rig 2.1.7

indra

Just as a person is called brother, father, uncle, husband etc because of different relationships he bears to other members of the same family, so also God is described differently because of his different attributes.

He is called (Agni) when we remember him as an embodiment of knowledge and इन्द्र: (Indra) when we want to denote His vast wealth.

To denote his Omnipresence, we call him विष्णु(Vishnu) and to give an idea of His greatness, we described His as ब्रह्मा (Brahma).

By virtue of his Supremacy in knowledge, He is known as ब्रह्मणस्पति (Brahmanaspati). His purifying power entitles Him to be called वरुण (Varuna).

As he loves everyone He मित्र(Mitra) and as He isjust, He is अर्यमा (Aryaman).

He is रूद्र (Rudra) because He comes harsh on the wicked, द्रविणोद (Dravinoda) because He is Giver of wealth and strength, सोम: (Soma) because He has created roots and herbs etc. God is also described as ‘सोम (Soma), पुष(Pushan) and भग (Bhaga) as evident from the following mantras from Rigveda;

rig and soma

rig and soma 1

(O, Soma,Thou, “who hast created these herbs, this water and these cows”, Thou who art present in the entire firmament and removeth all darkness by Thy illumination, Thou, who art Creator of good intellect, Thou who art also Creator of firmament, sky, earth, fire, sun and air etc. Thou art (“Pusan”) because of Thy powers to strengthen and revive because Thou art worthy of our Worship. Thou art the Master of the whole universe and art present in all the Worlds.)

Several other mantras, can be quoted to show that अग्नि (Agni) ,आदित्य (Aditya) , वायु (Vayu) ,चन्द्रमा(Chandrama), शुक्र(Shukra) , आप (Aap) , प्रजापति (Prajapati) are all different names of the same One God and only denote His verious attributes.

For instance, take the following mantra from Yajurveda (32.1)

yajur32.1

(Here God has been described differently because of His different attributes : अग्नि(Agni) because He is embodiment of knowledge, आदित्य (Aditya) because. He is Eternal, वायु(Vayu) because He is the cause of all movement in the world (वा गति गन्धनयो: )-“चन्द्रमा” (Chandrama) because He is pleasing to everybody, ( चदी आल्हादे ) -“शुक्र (Shukra) because He is pure (शुनिरपूर्ति मावे) (ब्रह्मा) because He is the Greatest of all, CNN: (Apa) because He is Omnipresent and प्रजापति (Prajapati) because He looks after His subjects).

The mantras published by Max Muller from Rigveda’s 2.1 under the caption “Agni”, in fact, sing the glory of One God who has been described here as अग्नि (Agni)

agni

Can anyone believe that these adjectives have been used for simple fire? Thus Max Muller and his followers only betrayed their bias and partiality when without probing deep into the meaning of

these words, they played havoc with them.

Now the question arises 1 how can we reconcile the idea of One God with several references to 33 devas (gods) in the Vedas ?

A lot of misunderstanding results from the Western scholars who have taken ‘ ‘देव’ ‘ as “God” everywhere.

देव, according to Yaskacharya, the celebrated author of Nirukta (Vedic Philology) means one who confers some advantage upon us, can illumine things i.e. explain or throw light upon them, and one who is the source of light :-

nirukta 7.15

The word देव (Deva) with its root  a comprehensive term covering brave men, devotees of God, learned persons, Brahmins,                objects like sun, moon, fire, electricity.

Following are some of the meanings of देव occuring in the Satpath Brahman :

satpat brahman

satpat brahman 1

THE 33 DEVAS

There is reference to 33 devas in the Vedas at several place. For instance, a clear reference has been made to them in Rigveda’s 1.45/27, 8/28/1,88/30/2 and Yajurveda’s 20/26 etc.

There is also reference to the 33 devas in Satpath and other Brahmins (which are commentaries on the Vedas).

Satpata says that : there are 33 Devas which manifest the glory of God. Of them are 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Aditya, lndra and Prajapati. The eight Vasus are (1) Agni or fire (2) earth (3) air (4) superterrestrial space (5) sun (6) moon (7) atmosphere (8) stars.

These are called Vasus (abodes) because in them resides all that lives, moves or exists.

The eleven Rudras are the ten pranas (vital forces) enlivening the human frame and the eleventh is the Atma or the soul. lndra is all pervading. Prajapati  is Yajna.

The 12 Adityas are the twelve solar months making the course of time. They are called Adityas as, by their cyclic motion, they produce changes in all objects.

Thus it is clear that calling sun, moon, earth, fire earth etc as ‘devas ‘, the Vedic religion cannot be described as Polytheistic.

It is, however, clearly stated in Rigveda that God is the Supreme Lord of all the devas :

devas

(God is the One Life and Lord of all devas and, therefore, we worship Him, who is Giver of all happiness, peace and bliss.)

father

Dependence of devas on God has been brought out by the Vedas in several mantras.

For instance in Atharvaveda, after describing God as महद यक्षम(the Most Venerable Supreme Being), it is Stated that devas live around God as the creepers around a tree :  around

ARE DEVAS IMMORTAL ?

ARE THEY PROOF OF POLYTHEISM

Some of the western scholars, on the basis of the portrayal of 33 devas in satpath, assert that it is a clear cut evidence of polytheism in the Vedas.

To contradict this view, first of all, let us be clear that ‘devas’ as described in the Vedas, do not necessarily only stand for gods.

The word  देव(deva) which has its root as दिनु (Dinu) is a comprehensive term covering the attributes of God; sometimes they stand for devotees of God and also learned persons; they also denote objects of Nature like Sun, Moon, Fire etc.

While Devas have been described as immortal in the Vedas; it has been clarified that they derive this immortality from God. This idea also occurs in Brahmanas and Upnishadas. ln Rigveda, for instance, it is stated that God alone bestows immortality on the devas :

devebhyo

In Yajurveda (32.l0) also, it is said that the devas live in the protection of God :

bandurjanita

To God turn all devas after emancipation to enjoy the everlasting bliss.

lt has been clearly stated in the Rigveda that the learned and the wise describe the One existing God in many ways.

But despite this truth, Agni, Indra, Mitra, Varuna etc have come to be considered as separate gods. It will, therefore, be fruitful to know the significance of these words to remove the mist surrounding them. We will also discuss what have come to be known as dual gods like मरुत: etc.

From the spiritual point of view, अग्नि stands for God who is also called as यमा, मातरिश्वा,इन्द्र, वरुण as stated in the following mantra from the Rigveda :

rig 1.164.46

From the social point of view, the word अग्नि (‘Agni”) denotes agni 1

There are many mantras in the Vedas in which Agni has been used in the sense of an enlightened leader,

For instance, in the following mantra from the Rigveda, अग्नि: (for whom the adjectives used are ऋषि (seer), पवमान: (purifier) पांचजन्य: (dedicated to the welfare of the society) is requested to dispel all ignorance by his discourse :

rig 9.66.20

The adjectives used as होता, पुरोहित(Knower of the rites of the Yajnas (priest), in the following mantra from the also leaves us in no doubt that the word अग्नि: has been used for an enlightened leader :

agni 2

The same impression is confinned by the use of such adjectives as शुचिव्रतत  (who firmly observes the sacred vow) कवि: (sage or poet) for ‘Agni’ in the following mantra :

agni 3

 INDRA :-

The word इन्द्र primarily stands for God as it has been derived from the root “इदी परमैश्वर्य”.

It also stands for “soul° as it possesses great power being the master of the sages.

From the social point of view, the word ‘E’ stands for the king or president, or the commander in-chief-of the Anny (सेना इन्द्राणी-इन्द्र:-सेनापति: ).

There is no room for doubt that the word Ef: has been used for God in several mantras in the Vedas in which He has been described as the Creator of the Universe and Bestower of happiness.

ln the following mantra, for instance, which occurs in Samaveda, Rigveda and Atharvaveda, God, described as “Indra” has been requested to fill us with knowledge in the same way as a father does to his son :

indra 1

In the following mantra from Rigveda, God addressing Indra (soul) tells about the power inherent in it :

indra 1

(March forward and use your power, None can stop Thy thunderbolt. Everyone is subdued by Thy strength.)

lndra (soul) is made to describe its own power in the following mantra from Rigveda:

indra 3

(I can face one enemy (lust) and anger), I can also face three enemies (lust, anger and greed) etc.; I will crush all my enemies like husk in the granery.)

The use of word इन्द्र for king is undeniable in the following mantras from the Rigvedic Sukta in which इन्द्र  has been described as स्वस्तिदा(engaged in welfare of others), वृषा(showerer of happiness on others) अभयं कर: (inspirer of fearless in others) :

indra 4

Likewise रूद्र according to Swami Dayanand, stands for the just God who makes the wicked persons weep (रोदयति दुष्टान दंड प्रदानेनेति न्यायकारी परमेश्वर: ), a great hero who makes the enemies cry (रोदयति शत्रून इति रुद्रो महावीर:) the judge who inflicts heavy  penalty on the wicked (रोदयति दुष्टान इति रुद्रो न्यायधीश:), the preceptor who imparts knowledge to others (रुत ज्ञानं राति-ददातिती रूद्र: उपदेशक: ), the germ which generates diseases (राति-ददातिती रुद्रो रोगुत्पादक: कृमि:) a doctor who removes the sufferings of others (रुत दुखं द्रावयतिती रुद्रो वैद्य: ).

Referring to Swami Dayanad”s view that all the gods mentioned in the Rigveda are simply variant names for one God, Dr. Griesward in his book “The Religion ofthe Rigveda” says : “This process of reduction from multiplicity to unity would have been easier if there had been no dual gods or group gods mentioned in the Rigveda”

But the correct study of What he has described as the dual gods or group gods like अग्नोजिमौ, अश्विनौ, मरुत: will reveal that these words, like other devas, have several meanings and do not stand for any particular god or gods as such.

Dr. Griesward’s remark that monotheistic interpretation of the Rigveda on the part of Swami Dayanand is “wild” and “unscientific” is also very surprising in view of the massive evidence we have given to support monotheism in the Vedas.

The quotations given earlier in this chapter are enough to support the existence of monotheism in the Vedas. Swami Dayananda, therefore, did nothing which was purely imaginative or unscientific.

Let us examine some words which have been mistaken by westem scholars as dual gods.

agni 4

agni 5

The similar meanings of अग्नीषोमौ are also found in Aitteriya, Satpath Brahamanas etc. For instance:

satpat brahman 2

Following are some of the meanings of “इन्द्राग्नी” :-

rig 1.109.6

Some of the meanings of अश्विनौ are given below-

rig 5.73.2

Swami Dayanand has at several places interpreted  अश्विनौ as . This definition of अध्यापकोउपदेशकौ is substantiated by the second and third mantra of Rigveda”s I-120 in which the adjective विद्वांसौ has been used for  अश्विनौwho have been requested to impart knowledge.

rig 1.120

As मरुत figures prominently among the so- called group gods, examination of this word is very necessary. HW: does not denote God.

maruto

In ताण्डय महाब्राह्मण, मरुत: has been described as मरुत रश्मय: (l.4.l25) and in Aitareya as ( आपो वा मरुत: )(6.2O)

In Nighantu मरुत: reads as पदनामसु which stands for monsoons.

Swami Dayanand has given the following meanings of the word मरुत: in course of his commentary on the Vedas:-

vayayv

No scholar can dismiss Swami Dayanand”s interpretations of the word मरुत: to be a pure fabrication of his mind. As it is clear from the above, the word has not been used for God. Some of the synonyms used for this word in the Vedas, are =नर:, मर्या, मानुष: etc. .

In Rigveda for instance, at many places (particularly l.39.3,8.20.lO,l.64.l0,10.86.8,8.552, the word नर: has been used for मरुत:

ln the following mantra, for example, words नर: and मर्य: have been used for मरुतो देवता :-

maruto 1

The word गृहमेघास: (householder) has been used for TRE: in the following mantra from Rigveda (7.59.l0) :-

rig 7.59.10

The synonym for मरुत: in this mantra from Atharvaveda given below (7.773) is मनुषास: (thoughtful men) :-

maruto 2

ln a number of mantras in the Rigveda (see for instance 5.53.3,5.59.6,5.6,4,7.56.l,l.77.l)the word मर्या: has been used for मरुत: which means the ‘mortal men’. Sayanacharya has also, at some places, in his Commentary written मनुषरूपा वा मरुत: (see Rig. 10.83) While commenting on the two mantras from the Rigveda (8.89) Sayanacharya has described ITR-T: as persons who speak less ( मित भाषिण:)and who Worship God( स्तोतार: ).

Much before Sayanacharya, Samveda commentator Madhava, who belongs to the Sixth century, has also while explaining (प्र व इन्द्राय बृहते) say हे ( मरुत:) मदोया ऋत्विज:).

Bharata Swami while explaining  बृहदिन्द्रय गायत मरुतो वृत्रहन्तमम writes मरुत:- स्तोतर: महत रुवन्तिती मरुत: The mantras बृहदिन्द्राय गायत also occurs in Yajurveda (20.30) Both Bharat Swami and Mahidhara give the same meaning of the Word मरुत:

MAXMULLER AND MARUTA

While Maxmuller has given the meaning ofमरुत: as (Storm gods) in his translation of hymns relating to them, at places he deviates from his usual meaning and uses the word in the sense of नरा: (men).

For instance, while translating the following mantra from the Rigveda (1.393), he uses “O ye men” for Maruti :

marauti

(When Ye overthrow what is firm, O ye men)

In the following mantra from Rigveda (1 .85.8), also Maxmuller describes Maruta as “men terible to behold”

rig 1.85.8

The word “men” has also been used for Maruta in his translation of the following mantra from Rigveda

rig 8.20.16

(He, oh men, whose libations ye want to enjoy, that mighty one, O shakers, will obtain your favour with brilliant riches etc.)

Thus it is clear from the above that though there is description of many devas in the Vedas and they denote different meanings there is only One God who is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent.

The existence of many devas in other words, does not interfere with the concept of One God.

THE VEDAS AND THE MONISTIC PHILOSOPHY

We must, however, clarify that though there is monotheism in the Vedas, there is no enunciation of monistic philosophy in them.

The whole relationship between God and soul has been clearly defined in the following mantra from the Rigveda (where both of them have been described as two birds sitting on the same tree):

dwa suparna

In the above mantra, it is stated that जीवात्मा (soul) and परमात्मा (God) are two birds who are friendly to each other. Both of them are enternal and are sitting, as though on the tree of matter. One of them (soul) is to reap the fruits ofpast action and the other just looks on. Elaborating this, says Mundakakopanishad :-

m upnishad 3.1.2

On the same tree sits जीवात्मा (soul) immersed and deluded account of his ignorance and helplessness. But, when he sees the other, the Lord, who is worshipped by all and His glory, he becomes freed from sorrow. This shows the difference between God and soul.

While God is all-pervading, the soul is not, while God is Onmiscient, the Soul is not, and therefore, the soul is a prey to grief and sorrow. While God is Omnnipotent, the soul ‘s power is limited. Their relationship is that of the father and the son, the master and the servant, the King and his subject, the adorable and the adored.

Says the Taitteriya Upanishada :

t upnishad 1

(God is the embodiment of Bliss. The soul enjoys Bliss only by attaining Him.)

The above quotations from the Upanishadas (which are at many places only the Explanation of the Vedic mantras or expression in different words of what is contained in the Vedas) show that in the mantra “हा सुपर्णा” the reference is to God and soul and not (intellect) and जीवात्मा (soul)

That God and soul are different is also evident from the following mantra which occurs in Rigveda and Yajurveda :

babhuva

God, who is Creater of all Worlds, is different from them and yet within them. People do not know about it because their mind is clouded by ignorance.

The same idea finds expression in Satpath Brahmana :-

satpat brahman 14.6.7

God is one who is present in the soul and yet who is different. It is God which controls the soul)

The same supremacy of God over soul has been established in the mantra given below in which God has been described as अद्भुत(wonderful)  प्रियम( very loving) and काम्भम्(worthy of the soul’s adulation) :

yaju 32.15

In the following mantra, God has been described as   भुज्य: सखा(a worthy friend) of soul thus clearly establishing their mutual relationship.

ln the following mantra, it is stated that the only way (soul) to seek salvation is to know God who is  (Full of lustre) (Great) and  (Beyond darkness) :-

yaju 31.18

We may also quote another mantra from the Rigveda (8. l 6.6) which totally contradicts the monistic philosophy whose basic tenet is:-brahma satya

Brahma alone is सत्य (true) and the whole creation is मिथ्या(false) and that the जीवात्मा (soul) is not different from Brahma.

The true relationship between the (soul) and (God) and (matter) indicated in the following mantra falsifies the dictum (God alone is real, the world is illusory)

tamu

In this mantra it is stated that :

(a) We should offer our prayers only to God

(b) All objects like sun, moon etc are inferior to God because they are all inanimate and lifeless.

(c) We should Worship that God with humility and devotion (नमोमि गीर्भि: )

lt would also be wrong to presume that though the attributes of the world are visible, they appear to be so out of ignorance. This would be quite contrary to the teachings of the Vedas. For instance, in the following mantra from the Rigveda (2.15.1) not only God has been described as महतासत्यस्य: (true) but even His करणानि(Creations) are stated as महानि सत्या: (true)

rig 2.15.1

The same idea has been clarified in Rigveda”s 4.17.6 :

rig 4.17.6

lt is stated here that all objects created by विश्वे सोमा: (God) are सत्रा अभवन: (true)

Even in Rigveda’s 10.55.6., it is stated that all the objects are सत्यम इत् (true) न मोघम (not false or useless) :-

rig 10.55.6

In Yajurveda’s 40.8 also, it is clearly stated that God created this universe for the benefit of the mankind with truthfulness or reality :

yaju 40.8

“This universe is not only true but it is different from Him.”

This idea occurs at several places in the vedas. For instance, it is stated in the following mantra from the Rigveda (1.4.14) that God is only One (11:63: ) and He has created this world (विश्वम) separately from Him (अन्यत) But because He is Omnipresent (मानुषक्), all this Creation is permeated by Him. There is no place where He is not present :-

na yasya

The existence of God, separate from His creation, has also been mentioned in the following mantra from Rigveda (1.151.1) (which is also repeated in Samveda) :-

rig 1.151.1

(i.e. God created this Universe which is separate from Him.)

|| इति ||

VEDAS & Interpolation

interpolation in vedas

VEDAS & Interpolation

Author : Pt Dharmadev Vidyamartand

Authors of the Vedic Age have asserted that several parts of Vedas are no more than later additions or interpolations.

Asserting that the tenth Mandala is manifestly an earlier addition, they argue in favor of their contention that: (1) the language of this mandala is different from that of other mandalas. (2) the content of this mandala with such philosophic hymns as श्रद्धा,दान and नासदीय is also different from that of others.

Some western scholars also hold the view that the entire Kandas 15,17,18,19 and 20 have been interpolated in Atharva Veda. Even the whole of Atharva Veda was composed leter and added to the Vedas.

They say in Yajurveda also, only तैतिरीय सहिंता or कृष्ण यजुर्वेद is ancient, the वाजसनेय सहिंता which is also known as शुक्ल यजुर्वेद is comparatively modern.

In their opinion the whole of Samaveda has been stolen from the Rigveda; there is nothing original or new in it. Likewise there are many other parts of the Vedas which the authors of the “Vedic Age” have tried to show as later additions or interpolations.

IS 10th  MANDALA AN INTERPOLATION?

Describing the 10th Mandala as “Atharvedic in character” the authors of the Vedic Age claim:

“That the Tenth mandala is later in origin than the first nine, is, however, perfectly certain from the evidence of the language”

But illustrations given by these authors to prove their contention are highly illogical and irrational.

It is a common observation that at times one and the same author uses two different styles on two occasions in accordance with the subject he is dealing with. Sometime his language appears to be difficult and at the other very simple. Vedas were revealed for the benefit of the mankind including both the intellectuals and ordinary persons. This is the reason why in some mantras like the विश्वानि देव सवितर्दुरितानि परासुव, the language is so lucid and simple while in others, it is so abstruse and difficult.

The modernity or antiquity of a passage cannot be determined by the presence or absence of particular words. But the authors of the Vedic Age have asserted that some of the words used in the 10th mandala of Rigveda such as  लोक, मोघ, विसर्ग, गुप् do not occur in the Vedas except in the interpolated portions or Balhilya Hymns. They have no evidence to show what is interpolated and what is not. The distinction made by them is imaginary.

THE WORD “लोक “

Besides in the previous Mandals, the word ‘लोक” occurs at several places in the Rigveda; for instance, it is there in 1.93.6, 2.30.6; 3.2.9; 4.17.17; 5.4.11; 6.23.3; 7; 6.47.8; 6.73.2; 7.20.2; 7.33.5; 7.60.9; 7.84.2; 7.99.4; 8.100.12; 9.92.6; ‘लोका:’ Rig. 9.113.9; ‘लोके’ Rig. 329.8; 5.1.6; 9113.72;

Even the authors of the “Vedic Age’ do not consider these portions to be interpolated and, therefore, it is surprising how they included this word among those which, according to them, occur only in the 10th  Mandala or the interpolated portions.

The word मोघम also occurs, (besides the l0th Mandala,) in the following mantras from the Seventh Mandala :-

rig 7.104.15

The word `विसर्ग also occurs in the 103th hymn of the seventh Mandala of Rigveda तप्ता धर्मा अश्नुवते विसर्गम ln the 10th  Mandala also, this word occurs though only once.

Proving modernity of l0th  Mandala on the basis of the occurrence of the word विजय as done by the authors of the “Vedic Age`, is simply absurd as the word, in its various forms, occurs many a time in Rigveda.

For instance the word  विजय has been used in Rigveda 2. 1 9.9 in यस्मान्न ऋते विजयन्ते जनास:

lt occurs in other forms in the following places :-

mantras

About the word सोम the authors of the Vedic Age say that while it occurs 50 times in the Ninth Mandala, it is used only once in the 1Oth  Mandala.

ls it important for this word to occur many times there even if it be not needed in the context? We fail to understand how the existence of separate subjects in different Mandalas and use of different words accordingly go to prove modernity? The authors of the “Vedic Age” have said that the words सर्व, भगवान, प्राण, हृदय etc. mostly, though not exclusively, occur in the Tenth Mandala. If they also occur in the other Mandalas, how do they, even according to their theory, show the modernity of the Tenth Mandala ?

We consider Vedas to be the Voice of God and therefore, the words used there are inevitable and indispensable:

vaisheshik darshan 1

We have absolutely no business to ask why particular words did not occur in this or that Mandala. It will be only impertinence on our part to raise this question. Even the ordinary writers know that the use of words changes in harmony with the content of a write up.

We can give many illustrations to show how one writer has resorted to different styles in different books in keeping with the spirit, the temper and the mood of their content.

For instance, it is well-known that the language of Panini`s अष्टाध्यायी is different from his जाम्बवती विजय महाकाव्य. There is also a lot of difference between the language of Jaimini”s Mimansa and his “Brahmana”.

The language of Katyana’s श्रौतसूत्र and स्मृति also varies widely.

Among the modem writers also Sri Aurobindo’s ‘Life Divíne ‘ differs very much from his “Basis of Yaga ” in respect of language.

We do not think that it matters very much if words like पृत्सु, गिवर्ण:, विचर्षनि:, वीती do not occur in the Tenth Mandala even when they are frequent in the preceding Mandalas. As we have pointed out earlier, it is not at all important to use the same words everywhere. What great difference does it make after all if instead of ` विचर्षनि the word प्रचेता or विश्ववेदा: has been used in the Tenth Mandala ?

The word ‘ विचर्षनि is also not to be found in the Seventh Mandala. Does it prove the modernity of this Mandala also on this count?

In fact the whole bogey of interpolation in the Vedas was raised by Western scholars like Macdonald. They raised this issue because they could not imagine that ”barbarous” people could express their thoughts so clearly on the spiritual, philosophical and psychological subjects as found in such hymns as हिरण्यगर्भ सूक्त,नासदीय सूक्त,श्रद्धा सूक्त, मन्युसुक्तादी.

The Western scholars, in fact, stressed the distinction of language to prove that the l0th  mandala is an appendix of the Rigveda. They have contended that the language and the content of the mantras contained in the mandala are different from those of preceding mandala. We, however, beg to differ with their view.

The seers of many hymns of the Tenth mandala and those of the first and several others are the same. Only the scholars who are impartial and objective can decide on how is this in keeping with the belief of those who advocate the theory of appendix?

As pointed out earlier, the Western evolutionists and the Christian scholars, were greatly surprised to note enunciation of the theory of monotheism and other philosophical concepts in such hymns as हिरण्यगर्भ सूक्त.

In their perception the entire hymns containing such concept was “modem.”

But they fail to see that the idea of the oneness of God occurs in many other mandalas. For instance, this idea of monotheism is also expressed in the first, second and the fourth manandalas.

Even the concept of monotheism found in the Tenth Mandala has been earlier expressed in the Second mandala. Dr. Macdonald, who is one of the advocates of the theory of interpolation of the l0th  mandala in Rigveda, has contradicted himself in regard to this issue.

For instance, while, on the one hand, he has tried to show that the Tenth mandala was added later and, therefore, considered it to be modern comparatively, on the other, he maintains “Nevertheless, the supplements collected in it (Tenth mandala) appear for the most part to be older than the additions which occur in earlier books.”

Thus he demolishes his own argument regarding interpolation (in the Tenth mandala) on the basis of the distinctions in language. We may also mention here that some of the Rishis of the Tenth Mandala as for instance, Aditi…. Janshayane, Vaivastan, Yama Vaivaswat, Yami Vaivaswat Yama Yami etc. are very ancient-almost contemporaries of Manu Vaivasta.

ls it not ridiculous to call a hymn to be of recent origin or modem when its Rishis who revealed them are so ancient?

The word नत्युoccurs three times in the First mandala, two times in the Fourth, two times in the Fifth and Sixth, four times in the Seventh and one time in the Ninth mandala.

विश्वदेवा: is the ‘devata’ (subject matter) of three hymns of the First Mandala, two of the Sixth and Ninth mandalas, and of three hymns of the Tenth Mandala.

The word उषसalso occurs 32 times in the First mandala, nine times in the Second mandala, 16 times in the Third, 27 times in the Fourth, 9 times in the Fifth, 14 times in the Sixth, 29 times in 14, two times in the Eighth mandala, 8 times in the Ninth and 23 times in the Tenth mandala.

lt is, therefore, illogical to prove the modernity of 10th mandala on the basis of such words.

In अनुवाकानुक्रमणी and चरण व्यूह it is stated :-

mantra 2

(There are 64 chapters and 18 Mandalas in Rigveda)

It is because of its comprising 10 mandalas that Rigveda has been described as दाशतयी by Yaskaracharya in his Nirukta.

We will now discuss the Balkhilya hymns.

ARE BALKHILYA HYMN S INTERPOLATED?

Eleven hymns in the Eighth mandale of Rigveda– from 49 to 59-are called बालखिल्य सूक्त named after their preacher Balkhilya.

Some Western scholars and their followers like the authors of the Vedic Age hold the opinion that these hymns were later added in the Eighth Mandala. Not only that, they have even made some contradictory statements in regard to theses hymns.

After showing its distinction from other mandalas, the authors of the “Vedic Age” write about the Eight mandala:-

“This peculiarity of the Eighth mandala does suggest-by no means proves, that the Eighth mandala was subjoined at a later date to the kernal constituted by the family mandalas. But there is positive reason to believe that there was a time when the Eighth mandala was actually considered to be the last in the Samhita, for why else, should the Balkhilya hymns be thrust into the Eigth mandala and not added after the Tenth.”

This whole chain of arguments seems to be incongruous. First of all, the authors themselves have given only suggestion or indication but no proof that this mandala was added later. Then why to state this uncertain thing as a fact? Moreover to say that the Rigveda ended definitely with the Eighth mandala demolishes the argument that it was added later on – and it also presupposes that the Balkhilya hymns were interpolated, the fact which itself has not been proved by any strong evidence.

One of the arguments advanced in support of the theory of interpolation of Balkhilya Sukta is the existence of the following in the Aiterya Brahmana :-

aitreya brahman

Explaining it, writes Sayanacharya:-

sayancharya commentary

(i.e. there was a Rishi called Balakhilya whose 8 hymns were compiled in a book called “बालखिल्य”.

It appears that some of the hymns, which Rishi Balkilya popularized, were compiled and were available in the form of a booklet, possibly with explanation just as some such hymns of the Rigveda संगठन सूक्त ( Rig. 10.191) स्वराज्य सूक्त (1.80),शिवसंकल्पमंड ( Yaju. 34.10 ) were separately available. This does not show any evidence of any interpolation but only popularity of these particular hymns.

lt may be stressed here that the portion, from which the above sentence has been quoted from Taittireya Brahmana, is itself considered interpolated as stated in the chapter on “AncientSanskrít

literature ” in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Therefore, a doubtful and interpolated statement cannot be given as evidence of interpolation of the Balkhilya Hymns.

These hymns which are not different from others in respect of their language or content were also included by Max Muller in his European edition of the Rigveda.

Referring to the antiquity of these hymns, Wintenitz writes in his book “A History of Indian Literature :-

“The word khilya means ‘supplement’ and this name in itself indicated that there are texts which were collected and added to the Samhita only after the latter had already been concluded; this does not exclude the possibility that some of these khilyas are of no less antiquity than the hymns of the Rigveda Samhita, but for some reason unknown to us, were not included in the collection.”

While we do not agree even with the sentiments expressed by Wintenitz (because we do not see any difference in these hymns from 49th  and others in Rigveda), his remark on their antiquity, however, deserves the attention of the readers.

Winternitz has also acknowledged that these hymns, available in the form of a hand written manuscript, are found at the end of the book.

lt was very improper on the part of Griffith to take out these hymns from the middle of the Eighth mandala and to publish them at its end. He had no right to do so. lt will not be proper to call them

interpolations only because they are preceded with अथ and ended with इति.  It seems that “अथ “, “इति” were added to them when they were compiled separately for the benefit of the the common man.

The Aryas had made arrangements since the beginning to preserve the Vedas in their purest form leaving no scope for interpolations. One of such arrangements was devising eight forms of their recitation known as :-

जटा पाठ (Jata path), माला पाठ (Mala path), शिक्षा पाठ (Shiksha path), लेखा पाठ (Lekha path), ध्वजा पाठ (Dhwaja path),दंड पाठ (Dand path), रथ पाठ (Rath path), धन पाठ(Dhan path) I

In view of the prevalance of these different modes of recitation, it was difficult to make any addition without their immediate detection.

Another devise to preserve the accuracy of the text of the Vedic mantras was to prepare many indices of the number of metres, of words and the seers and devatas (subject matter) of different mantras.

KRISHANA YAJURVEDA VS SHUKLA YAJUREDA

The authors of the Vedic Age have advanced the view that कृष्ण यजुर्वेद{ (Black Yajurveda) is more ancient than than  शुक्ल यजुर्वेद(White Yajuweda.)

The Black Yajurveda consists of the original mantras and the Brahmanas (which consist of explanatory notes and commentaries of the text of the mantras).

The Vedic Age authors are of the view that the mantras and the Brahmanas (which were separate in the White Yajurveda) were mixed up in the Black Yajurveda at a later date.

These authors say that listing the first words of the White Yajurveda in the Black Yajurveda might give the impression that the White Yajurveda represents the original tradition of which the Black Yajurveda (with all its variation) is a later version.

But, they assert, “Truth should rather be just the opposite, it is hardly possible that the mantras and Brahmnas kept separate in the white Yajurveda tradition, should have got mixed up at a later date.”

They hold the view therefore, that the Black Yajurveda is older than the White Yajurveda.

Despite whatever these authors might say, we are clear that Brahmanas (which are explanatory data and commentaries on the text) cannot come before the text.

The very definition of the Brahmana (given below), presupposes the existence of the text before the commentaty.

brahman commentary

Vedic commentator Patanjali’s assertion along with Swami Dayananda’s explanation go to prove beyond doubt that the Brahmanas were written and added afterwards:

patanjali 1patanjali 2

(The explanatory notes by learned Brahamins and Risis, added to the Vedas for elucidation of the Vedic hymns, are called Brahrnanas. Because of the mixture of the mantras and the explanatory notes, the Taitteriya Samhita is considered of later origin. To consider a Brahmana to be more ancient than the original text, is illogical.

It is a matter of great regret that the authors of the Vedic Age failed to see this small matter and committed the blunder of imagining  the White Yajurveda as of later date than the Black Yajurveda.

 

ATHARVAVEDA : WAS IT WRITTEN AFTERWARDS?

Western scholars like Bloomfield hold the view that Atharvaveda was composed much later than the other three Vedas. ln fact, they do not regard it as a Veda at all.

Perhaps such scholars formed this view on the basis of the use of the word त्रयीविद्या, which they thought denoted the existence of three Vedas.

But the fact is that this word actually denotes three subjects that the Vedas deal with – knowledge, action and devotion and the three styles ‘साम (musical) ऋक्(metrical) and यजु (prose).

Says Mimansa Shastra :

mimansa 1

(i.e., where there is metrical composition, it is called  ऋक्where there is music, it is साम and the rest is यजु. (prose)

In his introduction to `सर्वानुक्रमणी’, Sadguru Darshan, following Mimansa, has rightly observcd :-

mimansa 2

(Though there are four Vedas, they have been divided into three categories on the basis of metre, music and prose.)

Bloomfield and many other Western scholars believe Rigveda to be the original Veda. Other Vedas are supposed by them to have been composed with mantras from the Rigveda with a few more additions. But this belief is also wrong. Many mantras from this Veda (which is considered to be the most ancient) give evidence of the existence of the four Vedas.

In the following mantra from Rigveda itself, it is clear that there are four and not three Vedas :-

rigveda 21

ln this mantra a devotee offers prayers for his protection through एकया (Rigveda) द्वितियया (Yajurveda), तिस्रूभि: (Samveda) चतुस्रुभि: (Atharveda).

This mantra is repeated in Yajurveda (20,43) and also in Samaveda (mantra 36 and 1554). The word अथर्वा means a person with equilibrium of mind who is well-versed in the knowledge of the Atharvaveda                    .

The word अथर्वा or अंगिरा occurs in many mantras in the Rigveda.

For instance :

rig 1.83.5

 

rig 10.21.5

Thus there is no doubt that Atharvaveda is as ancient and authentic as Rigveda.

The same is also true of the Yajurveda and the Samveda because they have also been mentioned in the above mantras.

Besides Vedas, there is also clear reference to the Atharvaveda in other Scriptures.

For instance, the importance of the repetition of the mantras from the Atharvaveda has been stressed in Kanva Samhita :

atharva 1

Many such quotations can be given from scriptures to prove the authenticity and antiquity of the Atharvaveda. However those given above are, for the time being, sufficient to show how absurd are the views of Bloomfield and others on this subject.

INTERPOLATIONS IN ATI-IARVA VEDA

On the one hand Bloomfield and his followers like the authors of the ‘Vedic Age”, regard Atharva Veda to be modem and on the other, they try to show that l5th , 17th , l9th  and 2Oth  Kandas were later additions. They have advanced very strange arguments in support of their contention, Their main argument is that some of these Kandas are absent in the Paíppalada recension. But their argument becomes weak in view of the fact that some of these kandas (which they say were interpolated) are present in this recension. Only a few mantras have been omitted.

Absence of some mantras in these recensions does not go to prove that they were added later or are unauthentic.

But without taking this into account, the authors of the “Vedic Age” blindly follow Bloomfield when they write :-

“Of the 20 Kandas of the Atharva Veda, the last one is manifestly a later addition manufactured almost wholly out of the borrowings from the Rigveda to serve as a manual for the priest called Brahmanacchamsin who had a definite though minor role to play at the Soma sacrifice. Moreover, the Kuntapa Suktas of this kanda are without any Pada Patha and nothing parallel to them can be found in the Paíppalada recension – showing that they had been given a place in this late kanda of the Samhita at a very late date.

“In fact, the 19’“ Kanda ends with significant prayer which strongly suggests that the Samhita, at one time, was considered to end with it.”

But how can the fact that many mantras in the 20th  Kanda of the Atharva Veda had been taken from the Rigveda, prove the modernity of the former? On the other hand, it should only show antiquity of these mantras because the authors regard Rigveda to be oldest of all the Vedas!

lt is also wrong to presume that the 20” Kanda was added only to emphasise the role of a priest because the kanda contains many other important hymns such as इन्द्र सूक्त and स्वराज्य सूक्त. etc.

Even where there is repetition of some mantras from other Vedas in this Kanda, they serve some definite purpose.

On the repetition of mantras in different Vedas, Swami Dayananda writes in his “Introduction to Rígveda: ”

“By the Rig verses, we define objects, by the Yaju verses we apply them to use and by the same verses in Sama, we sing them.”

What Swami Dayanand observes becomes clear when we examine the following mantra which occurs in all the four Vedas :

shano devir

When the mantra occurs in the Rigveda, it deals particularly with the properties of water; In Yajurveda, its application is for achmana (sipping of water). It is to be taken for God in Samaveda, which mainly deals with devotion and contemplation.

In Atharvaveda the utility of water for different technical purposes is stressed. lt also symbolises peace of which women are embodiment.

The last mantra of the 19″‘ kanda (which the authors of the Vedic Age consider to be indicative of the end of the Atharvaveda) is as follows :-

atharva 2

(We are putting the veda in the bag from which we had taken it out for preservation and safety etc.)

There is nothing to indicate the end of this Veda in the above mantra. This can as well denote the end of a particular chapter or a Kanda, in this case, of the conclusion of the 19” Kanda.

But most ridiculous is their remark which again seems to have been influenced by Bloomfield.

“But there are reasons to believe that the 19th  kanda itself is a late compilation, for its hymns, though found in the Paippalada recension, are scattered throughout that text.”

This cuts at the root of their presumption that the Atharvaveda ends at the 19th  kanda. If it is a late compilation, how could it be taken to mark the end of Atharva Veda?

Then it also falsifies their assumption that this hymn is not present in the Paippalada recension because they have themselves admitted that “these hymns, though found in the Paippalada recension, are scattered throught that text.”

As we have pointed out that in such recension, it is quite natural to find change in the order of the mantras. The new order is guided by the special purpose of such compilations.

SAMA VEDA : ITS SEPARATE EXISTENCE

The authors of the Vedic Age hold the wrong notion that most of the mantras contained in Samaveda had been taken from Rigveda and that it has no separate existence. If it were so, there would have been no specific reference of Samaveds and its psalms at many places in Rigveda itself as for instances, in the following mantras-

samveda 11

(In these mantras, there is a clear mention of one who sings the songs of the Sama Veda.)

The following mantra, mentions the hymns of the Sama Veda side by side with Rigveda :-

rigveda 22

ln the mantra given below the word  सामगा has been used for one who sings the hymns of the Sama Veda and separately for the knower

of the Atharva Veda thus clearly pointing out to the separate existence of the two :

atharva 3

There is an injunction for singing the hymns of Sama Veda to glorify God in the following mantras :

samveda 12

इति

 

 

 

National Planning in Rig Veda

national planning

National Planning in Rig Veda

By Subodh Kumar

Email- subodh1934@gmail.com

If one were to identify the problems being faced by our Nation today and list out in order of priority, the tasks facing us, following would be considered as a reasonable blue print for future action:

1.  Education System Overhaul to teach future generations to grow in to responsible, fearless, confident, energetic, self motivated,  honest good citizens in the service of society and  provide Good teachers and mind motivators.

2.  Water conservation and rain water harvesting.

  1. Measures to control Global Warming and repair of damaged ozone
  2. cover.( to avert Natural disasters like Tsunami and Draughts)

5   Sustainable disposal of Sanitation, Sewage and Pollution

6   Organic Agriculture, for healthy disease, poverty free society

7   Honesty and transparency in public life, underpinning the role of

Teachers, Governments, leaders and the media, for educating

Cultivation of proper non exploitative mental attitudes in

Society

7.  Eradicate Corruptions and Parallel Economy.

8.  Bio technology research to work on systems in a cow, which converts

Fodder (uneatable agriculture waste) to probiotic nutrition for     Humans, and maintains soil health.

9.  Promote transparency economy and check on ‘Black money’

10. Tackle the socially deviant behaviour

It may come as a big surprise that this agenda is found given in the same order of priority as the actions of the Prime Minister of the Country, and in this chronological order, are the subject explained in Rig Veda 2.14..

 

RigVeda 2-14  Rishi-Gritsamda Devta-Indra

Sub: Adhwaryu   

Introductory note: –  The term Adhwaryu has traditionally, come to designate a person responsible for making arrangements for carrying out a Karmakand Yagna.

According to Monier Williams, Adhwaryu is a person,

  1. who measures the ground. First of all he has to make the project note for all the facilities, which will be required for the Yagna. They could range in sizes from small agnihotra to a large community Yagnas. Obviously he has to first survey the required size of. Land. Then only he can proceed to acquire, level and make it fit for the Yagna.
  2.  He has to build the altar. For the building of altar he has to have command on civil engineering /architectural skills to specify and estimate the quality and quantity of construction material like bricks and mortar from which the altar will be made. He must have materials management skills to arrange for delivery at the Yagna site. He should also have civil construction skills to carry out the construction of the Altar.
  3. He has to prepare the sacrificial vessels and implements.  This means, he also has to specify correct materials of which these implements will be made of. He has to specify the design of these vessels and the implements, which will be required for the specific Yagna. This means he should also have engineering skills involving material science and fabrication techniques.
  4.  He has to fetch wood and water. Thus he also has to make an estimate of the quantities, which will be required for the Yagna, and ensure proper quality and quantity of fuel wood and water to be available at hand. He should have knowledge and awareness about natural resources.
  5.  He has to light the fire. He is also expected to know the art of creating a sustainable fire. An engineer to develop sustainable source of Energy.
  6.  He has to bring the animals for the Yagna. Thus he has to be a practicing veterinarian to know and care for the various animals. And their role in society.- and so on.

Considering that the Yagnas happened to be often very large community based activities, it is reasonable to submit that to day an Adhwaryu, will be a highly trained and skilled General Manager CEO, Educator, Engineer, Veterinarian, a Materials Manager, an Environmentalist, a Multidiscipline well educated project Manager. In fact an Adhwaryu acts as the Prime Minister presiding over the activities and the planning of the YAGYA. Running of the Nation is also a Yagna. Indeed Adhwaryu has been translated as a Prime Minister in many writings.

 

Rig Vedic interpretations available to day, from Sayan/ MaxMuller to later day Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Shri Damodar Satawlekarji, Swami Satya Prakash Saraswati and Shri Aurobindo , give very deep poetical interpretations of  this Sukta. Wilson and Griffith also make significant addition to the vast scholarship.  However with the traditional concepts which see the role of an Adhwaryu as limited to only the Karmakand Yagna, the full significance of this Rigvedic Sukta remains at best, spiritually and poetically masked.

But the same RigVedic Sukta lays bare its entire context, when the full life sized concepts behind terms like Adhwaryu, Indra, Soma are given interpretations like Swami Dayanand and Yogi Aurobindo.

 

(This interpretation is based largely on the RigVed Bhashya of Swami Dayanand Saraswati)

RV2.14

इस सूक्त की विशेषता और महत्व.

Significance of this VED Sookt

(Subodh Kumar)

Shows most modern scientific civilized social concepts from Rig Ved

  1. 1.  This sookt  is addressed to Adhwaryu . He is one who adopts nonviolent-(Democratic) strategies for implementing all projects , but operates on war footing – Always highly charged in his actions.
  2. 2.  The Sookt  sets out to describe the duties of a King/governor of a nation. And sets down topics in order of priorities for governance/life style for a sustainable prosperous welfare state.
  3. 3.  It Starts with Global warming and Ozone layer protection.
  4. 4.  Proceeds to define roles of a good governance – Education, Social welfare rehabilitation after natural calamities,  Rain water Harvesting,  Food safety & security, IPM ( integrated Pest Management) dealing with hoarders and black marketers, Responsible media.
  5. 5.  Maharshi Dayanand’s incisively modern interpretations are very clearly evident here.  He just only falls short of by a hair breadth in making use of modern scientific terminology in Vedas.    

 

  1. ऋषि: =   गृत्समद (आङ्गिरस: शौनहोत्र: पश्चाद्) भार्गव: शौनक: , प्रथम में

भार्गव: शौनक: था , भार्गव: भृगु पुत्र होने से भार्गव कहलाया था अर्थात खूब तपस्वी था, और ‘शौनक:’ = ( शुन्‌ गतौ) खूब क्रिया शील था .  जो पश्चाद्‌  बना, गृत्समद: = ‘गृणाति इति गृत्स:’ ‘माद्यतीति मद:’=प्रभु की स्तुति करता है, सदैव प्रसन्न रहता है ।आंगिरस=अंगों की शक्ति से सम्पन्न है, । शौनहोत्र: = (शौनं सुखं जुहोति) लोक सुख के लिए अपने सुख की आहुति देता है । 

  1. देवता:- इन्द्र: = जन कल्याण हेतु कर्मठ सदैव विजयी उत्साहपूर्ण क्रियाशील देवत्वधारण किये  हुवा व्यक्तित्व   

छन्द- त्रिष्टुप्

            Rigveda 2-14 (STAFF FUNCTIONS)

1.First Priority

सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता

उत्तम शिक्षा व्यवस्था

Creation of excellent education system to provide the society with self motivated ,creative talent for its all round welfare and progress.

( महर्षि दयानंद अन्वयार्थ आधारित ) O Managers (Adhvayavo)! Provide (Sinchata) for Entrepreneurship (Indraya) sufficient (Bharat) knowledge (Somam) and exhilarating (Maddham) resource- that motivates one in single minded pursuit like a blind person- (Andhah) from well cultivated -filled vessels- resources stores (Amatrabhi).

That (Asya=Indra=Entrepreneurship) is empowered (Veerah) and always (Sadam) having a temperament  of being desirous (Kami) of consumption (Peetim)

(of Soma=knowledge & Maddham anna= exhilarating resource).  by performing action -Yajna (Juhota) to this provider of  benefits (Vrashne) by the active persons. These -benefits- (Eshah)  he (Entrepreneur=Indra) desired (Vashti).

  1. समाज में सोम के विस्तार प्रसार के लिए उच्चतम शिक्षा प्राप्त कराने हेतु गुरुकुल,उत्तम शिक्षक गण और अनुसंधान की सुविधान की सुविधाएं  उपलब्ध कराओ.

अध्वर्यवो भरतेन्द्राय सोममामत्रेभि: सिञ्चतामद्यमन्ध: ।

कामी हि वीर: सदमस्य पीतिं जुहोत वृष्णे तदिदेष वष्टि ।। 2.14.1.

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे (अध्वर्यव: ) अपने को यज्ञ कर्म की चाहना करने वाले मनुष्यो ! तुम जो (एष: ) यह (कामी) कामना करने के स्वभाव वाला (वीर:) वीर ( वृष्णे) बल बढ़ाने के लिए (अस्य)  इस सोम रस के (पीतिम्‌) पान को (वष्टि) चाहता है, (तत्‌ इत्‌) उसे (सदम्‌) पाने योग्य सोम (हि) को निश्चय से तुम (जुहोत) ग्रहण करो (इन्द्राय) और परमैश्वर्य  के लिए (अमत्रेभि:) उत्तम पात्रों से (मद्यम्‌) हर्ष देने वाले  (अन्ध: ) अन्न को तथा (सोमम्‌) सोम रस को (सिञ्चत) सींचो और बल को (आ, भरत) पुष्ट करो ॥1॥

परमैश्वर्य, अन्न, सुख, साधनोंं, बल, पौरुष की कामना  करने के स्वभाव  की वृद्धि के लिए उत्तम शिक्षा देने और उत्तम शिक्षक गण तैयार करने की औरअनुसंधान की व्यवस्था करो ।

Adhvaryus should provide good appropriate Soma – knowledge and technology in good measure for the Indras for self  motivation of individuals to ensure   achievement of abundance and prosperity, by good  nutrition, health and peace for the land and  those living off it. Adhvaryus – Govt./Establishment should create knowledge institutions to develop Motivated , creative minds and mental attitudes by creating and developing knowledge  enabling institutions, schools, colleges for education , training of students and teachers.

द्वितीय प्राथमिकता

उत्तम जल संरक्षण नीति

  1. 2.   अध्वर्यवो यो अपो वव्रिवांसंवृत्रं जघानाशन्येव वृक्षम् ।

तस्मा एतं भरत तद्वशायँएष इन्द्रो अर्हति पीतिमस्य ।। 2.14.2

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) अपने को अहिंसा की इच्छा करने  वालो ! (य: ) जो सूर्य (वब्रिवांसं ) आवरणकरने वाले (वृत्रम्‌) मेघ को (अशन्येव) बिजुली के समान(वृक्षम्‌) वृक्षको (जघान) मारता है अर्थात दहशक्ति से भस्मकरदेता है और (आप: )  जलों को वर्षाता तथा जो (एष: )  यह (इन्द्र: )

ऐश्वर्यवान्‌जन (अस्य) सोमलतादि रस के (पीतिम्‌) पीने को (अर्हति) योग्य होता है इस कारण (तद्वशाय) उन उन पदार्थों को कामना करनेवाले के लिए  (यतम्‌) उक्त पदार्थ द्वय को धारण करो  अर्थात्‌ उन के गुणों को अपने मन में निश्चित करो ॥2॥

वर्षा के जल सब से उत्तम जल होता है. इस  के संग्रह और सदुपयोग की व्यवस्था द्वारा जैविक  कृषि की उत्तम व्यवस्था करो.

Harness those waters of rains, which are released by the actions of lightening, that strikes the trees and sets them on fire. Thus work for the creation of bounties of fertilized soil by rich biomass feeds and prosperity of vegetation, as the gifts provided by Indra.

(All the futuristic strategies are for conservation of our water resources. Rain water harvesting is the most significant item on not only Global level, but is of utmost importance for India, particularly, when it is realized that the total water requirements of entire India are just about 5% of the total rain fall in our coastal regions. And almost 100% of that rainfall just flows in to the sea.)

  1. तृतीय प्राथमिकता

पर्यावरण संरक्षण  वन सम्पदा का महत्व    

अध्वर्यवो यो दृभीकं जघान यो गा उदाजदप हि वलं व: ।

तस्मा एतमन्तरिक्षे न वातमिन्द्रं सोमैरोर्णतजूर्णवस्त्रै: ।। 2.14.3

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) यज्ञ संपादन करने  वाले  जनों ! (य: ) जो (दृभीकम्‌) भयङ्कर प्राणी को (जघान्‌) मारता है किस को कि (य: ) जो (गा: ) गौओं को (उदाजत्‌) विविध प्रकार से फैंके अर्थात  उठाय उठाय पटके और मारे और (बलम्‌) बल को (अप, व: ) अपवरण करें रोकें ( तस्मै) उस के लिए (हि) ही (एतम्‌) इस यज्ञ को (अन्तरिक्षे) अन्तरिक्ष में (वातम्‌) पवन के ( न) समान वा(इन्द्रम्‌) मेघों के धारण करने  वाले सूर्य को (वस्त्रै: ) वस्त्रों से (जू: ) बुड्ढे के(न) समान(सोमै: ) ओषधियों वा ऐश्वर्यों से (आ, उर्णुत्‌)  |  आच्छादित  करो अर्थात्‌ अपने यज्ञ धूम से सूर्य को  ढापो.

हमारी पृथ्वी पर एक पुराने वस्त्र  का आवरण है,( यह आवरण घने  बादलों जैसा होता है. इस मे छिद्र नहीं होने चाहियें , यह नीचे दिए चित्र से स्पष्ट हो जाएगा ) इस आवरण के द्वारा हि  पृथ्वी पर ओषधि वनस्पति  अन्न इत्यादि सम्भव हो पाए  हैं ।  परंतु इस आवरण  के छिद्रो के कारण अंतरिक्ष मे पवन और मेघों द्वारा ऐसे विनाशकारी बलशाली उत्पात होते  है  जो गौओं और सब नगरीय व्यवस्थाओं को  बार  बार  उठा उठा कर पटक देते हैं इस  आवरण के छिद्रों को यज्ञादि कार्यों से ढको. ( वेदो का स्पष्ट संकेत सुनामी जैसी प्राकृतिक आपदाओं की ओर है, जो पर्यावरण के संरक्षण पर ध्यान न देने के  कारण विश्वस्तर पर जलवायु का तपमान बढने  से उत्पन्न हो रहा है ।)

This phenomenon mentioned in Vedas was discovered by modern science only in 1985, as described below.

Joe Farman, ozone hole discoverer, dies at 82

Farman not only revealed the atmospheric leak above Antarctica in 1985, but also helped coax humanity into rallying against a global environmental threat.

Mon, May 20 2013 at 2:42 PM

A 3-D image of the ozone hole over Antarctica, produced with a mapping spectrometer.

Joe Farman, a British scientist who discovered manmade damage to Earth’s ozone layer in the 1980s, has died at age 82. On top of exposing the leak, Farman also helped set the stage for the 1987 Montreal Protocol, an ozone-saving treaty that showed humanity can right environmental wrongs without economic collapse, even on a global scale.

Farman studied natural sciences at England’s Corpus Christi College, then served in the British Army and worked for an aircraft company before he found his calling. He answered an ad in 1956 seeking scientists to work in Antarctica, and soon joined what’s now known asthe British Antarctic Survey. Then, after 30 years of dogged and often unappreciated research, he published one of the most important scientific papers of the 20th century.

The sky is failing

Scientists had already begun to grasp the complex nature of ozone — a pollutant at ground level but a life-saving shield in the atmosphere — and even knew it may be vulnerable to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals used in aerosol sprays and refrigeration systems. But with no solid evidence that CFCs were actually hurting the ozone layer, there seemed little urgency to rein in their widespread use around the world.

The ozone layer begins roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

Farman left Antarctica in 1959 to take a management role in England, but he continued to oversee the survey’s ozone research through the 1960s and ’70s. This work came under fire in the early ’80s amid budget cuts, though, and the New York Times reports Farman’s superiors mocked his insistence that decades of ozone data would be useful. But Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher eventually came to the British Antarctic Survey’s rescue, the Guardian points out, as the former chemist saw its scientific potential as well as its strategic importance in Britain’s struggle with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Then, in 1982, Farman’s career-defining breakthrough began. Using an outdated spectrometer to measure ozone levels, he initially thought his instrument must be broken. He was seeing a dramatic drop in Antarctic ozone, and since not even NASA satellites had detected this, he ordered new equipment. But the new one also “went haywire,” as he described it, and he began to realize he was on to something. Along with co-authors Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin, he published a groundbreaking study in 1985 that shocked the world and launched a new era of international eco-politics.

The 1985 study showed a 40 percent drop in ozone above Antarctica, creating a soft spot in the ozone layer — not literally a hole — that let in ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This not only embarrassed NASA and other scientists who had missed the leak, but also sparked a frenzy to minimize its effects on public health. According to calculations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the excess UV exposure could trigger 40 million cases of skin cancer and 800,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. alone.

Spectrometer images show the ozone hole grow during the 1980s and ’90s. Dark blue indicates the thinnest ozone, while light blue, green and yellow represent progressively thicker layers. (Images: NASA)

Ozone defense

Many environmental crises of the ’60s and ’70s were mostly local — like toxic waste dumping and wildlife declines — but the ozone hole represented a serious danger to life across the planet. And despite chemical industry protests that phasing out CFCs would cripple economic growth, the unprecedented rehab effort proved them wrong.

Leaders from around the world met in Montreal in September 1987, eventually producing a treaty to curtail CFCs called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Eventually ratified by all 197 members of the United Nations, the Montreal Protocol has undergone several revisions in the past 25 years but is still widely considered a model for environmental treaties of all kinds. Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has called it “perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date.”

The Montreal Protocol has also had pitfalls, though: CFCs were sometimes replaced with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which later turned out to be heat-trapping greenhouse gases even more potent than carbon dioxide. But safer alternatives also emerged, and despite some missteps, the treaty is expected to help Earth’s ozone layer fully recover by 2080. That’s far from a quick fix, but according to the Guardian, “without the work of Farman the effects could have been catastrophic.”

The treaty also remains a beacon to world leaders and diplomats trying to strike a meaningful global pact on climate change. Carbon-emitting fossil fuels are much more deeply embedded in the economy than CFCs were, but the Montreal Protocol at least serves as a precedent demonstrating how humanity can tackle a broad environmental threat by banding together and following scientists’ advice.

An animation of projected ozone over North America if the Montreal Protocol had failed.

Although several scientists won a Nobel Prize for their work on CFCs, Farman never received that honor. He was granted many other scientific awards, though, including the U.K. Polar Medal, the Society of Chemical Industry’s environmental medal, the Appleton (formerly Chree) medal and prize, and membership in the United Nations Global 500 honor roll. He conducted research in Antarctica until his retirement in 1990, and remained active well into his later years, the Guardian reports, growing his own vegetables at home and biking to work until he suffered a stroke in February.

Farman died May 11 in Cambridge, England, according to a statement released by the British Antarctic Survey. He is survived by Paula, his wife of 42 years.

“Joe was an excellent physicist and his work changed the way that we view the natural world,” says Alan Rodger, interim director of the British Antarctic Survey, in a press release. “After making the discovery of the ozone hole he became an energetic ambassador for our planet. Our thoughts are with his wife, Paula.”

ओज़ोन आवरण के छिद्र को समझने के लिए  चित्र

Ozone cover representation  with   hole in it

Exercise control over natural calamities like the violent storms, which with immense forces, play havocs like demons tossing all cattle and life in to air and smashing on to the ground, which cause great upheavals by disrupting life and property.  These are brought about by the holes in the protective garment, which covers the earth in the space. These holes are like holes in a worn out old garment. Heal and repair the holes in the covering, by actions of rain making clouds and atmosphere helped by green vegetation and herbs by grace of Indra.

Quoted thankfully from “the secret life of GERMS” by Philip M. Tierno)

(According to modern science during the period of formation of Earth’s History, intense volcanic activity was producing oxygen by releasing it from Earth’s interior. In the primordial soup, ancient blue green algae lived by photosynthesis, and also produced Oxygen. Over the course of perhaps three  billion years, the Oxygen produced by algae and the Oxygen spewed by the volcanoes changed the Earth’s atmosphere , creating an Oxygen blanket that allowed higher life forms to evolve from germs. Oxygen in upper atmosphere came in contact with UV (Ultra Violet) Rays and electrical discharges. This converted Oxygen in upper atmosphere in to ozone that can more strongly absorb UV rays. In this way Earth’s Ozone layer was formed.  If land dwelling organisms had to face the full force of Sun’s UV rays, all life on Earth would have eventually destroyed. This Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere prevents this by acting as a protective shield.)1

Earth’s Atmosphere

The total global environment consists of four major realms: a gaseous atmosphere, liquid hydrosphere, solid lithosphere, and living biosphere.

From space, Earth’s atmosphere looks like a blue sphere  with gaseous envelopes ..  This fragile, nearly transparent envelope of gases supplies the air that we breathe each day. It also regulates the global temperature and filters out dangerous levels of solar radiation. In recent years, scientific research has shown that the chemical composition of the atmosphere is changing because of both natural and human induced causes. There is growing concern over the impact of human activities. Mankind may be increasing levels of heat absorbing gases, thereby contributing to global warming and destroying ozone, the fragile atmospheric ingredient that shields the planet from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Ozone and the Atmosphere

Earth is an extraordinary planet. Complex interactions between the land, oceans, and atmosphere created conditions that are favorable for life. One species, man, has managed to alter the environment on a global scale. In order to fully comprehend the impact of our actions, we must view the planet as a whole and understand the relationship between its basic components; land, water, and air.

This web site discusses the chemical composition and evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, focusing on the protective layer of ozone in the stratosphere. The destructive properties of troposphere ozone are also presented. Diagrams and animation sequences are used to visually depict the delicate structure of the ozone molecule and the chemical reactions involved in its formation and destruction. Ozone destroying pollutants were first identified in 1973.Since that time there has been a considerable amount of controversy surrounding the subject of ozone depletion. More than 20 years of ozone-related scientific studies, international meetings, and global industrial agreements are summarized in the last section of this site.

Historical Atmosphere

Earth is believed to have formed about 5 billion years ago. In the first 500 million years a dense atmosphere emerged from the vapor and gases that were expelled during degassing of the planet’s interior. These gases may have consisted of hydrogen (H2), water vapor, methane (CH4), and carbon oxides. Prior to 3.5 billion years ago the atmosphere probably consisted of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), water (H2O), nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen.

The hydrosphere was formed 4 billion years ago from the condensation of water vapour, resulting in oceans of water in which sedimentation occurred.

The most important feature of the ancient environment was the absence of free oxygen. Evidence of such an anaerobic reducing atmosphere is hidden in early rock formations that contain many elements, such as iron and uranium, in their reduced states. Elements in this state are not found in the rocks of mid-Precambrian and younger ages, less than 3 billion years old

Formation of the Ozone Layer

One billion years ago, early aquatic organisms called blue-green algae began using energy from the Sun to split molecules of H2O and CO2 and recombine them into organic compounds and molecular oxygen (O2).This solar energy conversion process is known as photosynthesis. Some of the photo synthetically created oxygen combined with organic carbon to recreate CO2 molecules. The remaining oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, touching off a massive ecological disaster with respect to early existing anaerobic organisms.As oxygen in the atmosphere increased, CO2 decreased.

High in the atmosphere, some oxygen (O2) molecules absorbed energy from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and split to form single oxygen atoms. These with remaining oxygen (O2) to form ozone (O3) molecules, are very effective at absorbing UV rays. The thin layer of ozone that surrounds Earth acts as a shield, protecting the planet from irradiation by UV light.

The amount of ozone required to shield Earth from biologically lethal UV radiation, wavelengths from 200 to 300 nanometers (nm), is believed to have been in existence 600 million years ago. At this time, the oxygen level was approximately 10% of its present atmospheric concentration. Prior to this period, life was restricted to the ocean. The presence of ozone enabled organisms to develop and live on the land. Ozone played a significant role in the evolution of life on Earth, and allows life as we presently know it to exist.

Present Day Atmosphere

The atmosphere we breathe is a relatively stable mixture of several hundred types of gases from different origins. This gaseous envelope surrounds the planet and revolves with it. It has a mass of about 5.15 x 10E15 tons held to the planet by gravitational attraction. The proportions of gases, excluding water vapor, are nearly uniform up to approximately 80 kilometers (km) above Earth’s surface. The major components of this region, by volume, are oxygen (21%), nitrogen (78%), and argon (0.93%).Small amounts of other gases are also present. These remaining trace gases exist in such small quantities that they are measured in terms of a mixing ratio. This ratio is defined as the number of molecules of the trace gas divided by the total number of molecules present in the volume sampled. For example, O3, CO2, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are measured in parts per million by volume (ppmv), parts per billion by volume (ppbv) or parts per trillion by volume (pptv).

Atmospheric temperature and chemistry are believed to be controlled by the trace gases.There is increasing evidence that the percentages of environmentally significant trace gases are changing because of both natural and human factors. Examples of man-made gases are the chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11 and CFC-12 and halons. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane (CH4) are produced by the burning of fossil fuels, expelled from living and dead biomass, and released by the metabolic processes of microorganisms in the soil, wetlands, and oceans of our planet.

4. ओज़ोन आवरण के संरक्षण  में वन सम्पदा  और जीवन शैलि का मह्त्व

Veda is clearly referring to the green house gases causing the damage to Ozone    

अध्वर्यवो य उरणं जघान नव चख्वांसंनवतिं च बाहून् ।

यो अर्बुदमव नीचा बबाधे तमिन्द्र सोमस्य भृथेहिनोत ।। 2.14.4

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: )  सब के प्रिय चरणों  को करने वाले विद्वानों ! तुम (य: ) जो जन (उरुणम्‌) आच्छादन करने वाले (चख्वांसम्‌) मारने वाले के प्रति  मारने  वाले को ( जघान्‌) मारे और ( नव, नवितम्‌) न्यन्यानवे (बाहून्‌) बाहुओं के समान सहाय करने वालों को (च) भी मारे (य: ) जो (अर्बुदम्‌ ) दश क्रोड़ (नीचा) नीचों को (अव, बबाधे) बिलोता है (तम्‌) उस (इन्द्रम्‌) बिजुलीके समान सेनापति को (सोमस्य) ऐश्वर्य के (भृथे) धारण करने माइं (हिनोत्‌) प्रेरणा देओ॥4॥

इस आच्छादन को क्षति पहुंचाने वाले सीमित श्रेणियों के तत्वों पर नियंत्रण करो ,तथा इस आवरण की सुरक्षा करने वाले असंख्य वनस्पतियों और व्यवस्थित जीवनशैलि की आवश्यकता को युद्ध स्तर पर एक कुशल सेनापति की तरह कार्यान्वित करो  ( वनसम्पदा का संरक्षण और वृक्षारोपण का महत्व और सात्विक जीवन शैलि को अपना कर ही ऐसा होगा. ) पर्यावरण में व्यवस्था ठीक होने से वर्षा यथा समय होगी, आंधी तूफान तंग नहीं करेंगे.

Agents causing damage to Ozone layer (limited in No) .

ओज़ोन आवरण नष्ट करने वाले भिन्न भिन्न श्रेणी के कार्य.

Ozone layer protecting actions are in very large numbers, starting with saving forest cover, tree plantation and change in human life style to more simple living habits as shown in diagram here.

ओज़ोन आवरण की रक्षा करने वाले असंख्य स्वप्रेरित वनस्पति वृक्षारोपण से ले कर सादा जीवनशैलि कितने  असंख्य हैं । जैसा इस मानचित्र से दिखाया गया है.

This protective garment is like the fleece of a sheep. There are trillions of hands on the ground, which supports the actions to prevent damage to this garment (in the space) and to keep it in good repair like new. These trillions of hands-ting with promotion of  green cover on ground- to a change in human life style to simpler plain living habits , brings orderliness in environments  with  greenery and controlled atmospheric disturbances to disarm the attackers of the fleece like protective cover. Like a good leader of armies, motivate these ‘GREEN’ actions on the lands to bring prosperity to all.

(The scientific evidence clearly indicates that reduced green cover causes increased levels of carbon dioxide in our air are enhancing the global greenhouse effect and throwing the Earth’s energy equation out of balance. That means more energy for storms in all seasons, for more extreme weather, for more droughts and floods, for changing climate patterns. We’re heading into uncharted territory and we need to reverse course and bring CO2 back to 350 ppm or our children and grandchildren will scorn our selfish stupidity. It is long past time for us to take action.)

On this subject reference to such remedial actions is also given in Yajurveda3.45  as ;

पर्यावरण सुरक्षा पर यजुर्वेद 3.45  में भी निम्न उपदेश प्राप्त होता है.

 Yaju Veda 3-45 Environmental Repair

यद्ग्रामे यदर्ण्ये यत्सभायां यदिनन्द्रिये यदेनश्चकृमा वयमिदं तदवयजामहे स्वाहा।। यजु  345।।

Whatever wrong actions we have done in habitations, forests, and in communities, we want to rectify that wrong.

5. जमाखोरों काले धन के व्यापारियों ,भ्रष्ट  तत्वों को नष्ट कर के  दरिद्रता  दुर्भिक्ष से मुक्त समाज स्थापित करो

Take strong action against the corrupt, hoarders  & black marketers to eradicate poverty and prevent famines and starvation deaths.

अध्वर्यवो य: स्वश्नं जघान य: शुष्णमशुषं यो व्यंसम्।

य: पिप्रुं नमुचिं यो रुधिक्रां तस्मा इन्द्रायान्धसो जुहोत ।। 2.14.5

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) अपने को यज्ञ कर्म की चाहना करने वाले वा )  सब के प्रिय चरणों  को करने वालो  ! तुम (य: )  जो जन सूर्य जैसे(स्वश्णम्‌) सुन्दर मेघ को वैसे शत्रु को (जघान्‌) मारता है वा (य: ) जो (शुष्णम्‌)  सूखे पदार्थ को (अशुषम्‌) गीला वा (य: ) जो (व्यंसम्‌) शत्रु को निर्भुज करता वा (य: ) जो (नमुचिम्‌) अधर्मात्मा (पिप्रुम्‌) प्रजापालक अर्थात्‌ राजाको वा (य: ) जो ( रुधिक्राम्‌) राज्य व्यवहारो को रोकने वलों को निरन्तर गिराता है (तस्मै) उस ( इन्द्राय) सूर्य के समान सेनापति के लिये (अन्धस: )अन्न (जुहोत्‌) देओ ॥5॥

पिप्रुम वे स्वार्थी जन जो केवल अपना ही पेट भरते हैं , और नमुचि – कर न देने वाला,दुर्भिक्ष कालिक मेघ के समान प्रजा के निमित्त कुछ भी सुख न देने वाला क्षमाके अयोग्य होते हैं ।  उन्हें किसी भी अवस्थामें (रुधिक्रा)  राज्य शासन दण्ड व्यवस्था द्वारा क्षमा नहीं करना चाहिए.

Oh men desirous of positive roles, deal like the sun, which hunts down even the beautiful clouds to shed the rains, which wet the earth to disarm the enemies such as  draught, by bringing wetness. With pipram पिप्रुम  the selfish ones’ who only fill their own belly, the namuchiनमुची  being  those who do not help in times of social distress such as famines should never be pardoned, by rudhikra रुधिक्रा the stern law enforcement  agency should deal sternly  to ensure equitable justice  food and nutrition for all.

6. आपदाओं के उपरान्त युद्धस्तरीय पुनर्वास योजना  

Rehabilitation of society on war footing

अध्वर्यवो य: शतं शम्बरस्य पुरो बिभेदाश्मनेव पूर्वी:।

यो वर्चिन: शतमिन्द्रो सहस्रमवावपद्  भरता सोममस्मै ।। 2.14.6

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे ( अध्वर्यव: ) युद्धरूप यज्ञ को सिद्ध करने वालो!  तुम लोगों में से (य: ) जो (शम्बर्स्य) जिस से स्वीकार किया जाता उस मेघ के (शतम्‌) सौ (पुर: ) पुरों को जैसे घोड़ों को (अश्मनैव: ) पत्थर से वैसे (विभेद) छिन्न भिन्न करता है (य: ) जो (इन्द्र: ) ऐश्वर्यवान्‌  ( वर्चिन्: ) प्रदीप्त अपने सर्व बल से दैदीप्यमान राजा के (शतम्‌) सौ और (सहस्रम्‌) हज़ार (पूर्वी: ) पहले हुइ प्रजाओं को (अपावपत्‌) नीचा करता है (अस्मै) इस सेनेश के लिए (सोमम्‌) ऐश्वर्यको (भरत) धारण करो ॥6॥

(सुदूर भूतकाल के समय से)  जो आवरण  उपयुक्त समय पर वर्षा इत्यादि की व्यवस्था प्रदान करता है उस आवरण की क्षति  से उत्पन्न प्राकृतिक आपदाओं द्वारा आए संकट एवं विनाश  को तत्काल  युद्धस्तर पर निदान करने  की व्यवस्था स्थापित करें ।

Like the mobilization on war footing, when the clouds were destroyed to smithereens of rain drops by the forces of Indra to bring bounties of plenty to the people, get activated to restore the earlier prosperity, of abundance for all.

7. सातवीं प्राथमिकता. 7th Priority  

खाद्य सुरक्षा और गुणवत्ता

Food Safety & Security

7. Food Safety and Security (This is a very clear directive on what the modern agriculture science is involved with, Organic agriculture, better Seeds & IPM- Integrated pest management)  

अध्वर्यवो य: शतमा सहस्रं भूभ्या उपस्थेऽवपज्जघन्वान् ।

कुत्सस्यायोरतिथिग्वस्य वीरान् न्यावृणग् भरता सोममस्मै ।। 2.14.7

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ- हे (अध्वर्यव: ) युद्ध-यज्ञरूप सिद्धि के करने  वाले  जनो ! तुम (य: )  जो सूर्य के समान (भूम्या: )  भूमि के (उपस्थे ) ऊपर (  शतम्‌) सेकड़ों वा ( सहस्रम्‌) सहस्रों वीरों को (आ, अपवत्‌) बोता अर्थात गिरा देता दुष्टों को (जघन्वान्‌ ) मारता  वा (अतिथिग्वस्य) अतिथियों को प्राप्त होने वाले (आयो:) और प्राप्त हुए (कुत्सस्य) बाण आदि फैंकने वाले प्रजापति के (वीरान्‌) शत्रु बलों को व्याप्त होते वीरों को (नि,आवृणक्‌) निरंतर वर्जता है (अस्मै) इस के लिए (सोमम्‌) ऐश्वर्य को (भरत) पुष्टकरो ॥7॥

कृषक एक योद्धा के समान  उर्वरक भूमि में  जो अन्नोत्पादन  के लिए प्रयत्न   करता है, उसे सहस्रों खड़ पतवार, कीटाणु इत्यादि शत्रु नष्ट करने के प्रयास करते हैं. इन से निपटने के लिए उत्तम वीर स्थापित करो.

( इस विषय को जैविक खेती में अत्यंतमहत्वपूर्ण स्थान दिया जाता है.गौ माता के गोबर मूत्र इत्यादि से भूमि मे कृषि उत्पादन और जैविक खड़ पतवार कीट नियंत्रण विषय एकीकृत ( समन्वित) कीट प्रबंधन के नाम से आधुनिक कृषि विज्ञान का एक महत्वपूर्ण अनुसंधान का काम है )

Along with the innumerable crops being cultivated by the farmers for feeding the nation, the guests and dependents, innumerable enemies in the form of weeds, pests, etc also get in to the land. The Adhwaryus should work on war footing to provide sustainable herbal/organic remedies to help the growth of healthy agriculture crops to ensure health and prosperity to the people.

(Modern agriculture science calls it IPM –Integrated Pest Management.)

  1. अपव्यय निषेध एवं प्रतीकार

Stop wasteful expenditure of public money

 

अध्वर्यवो यन्नर: कामयाध्वे श्रुष्टी वहन्तो नशथातदिन्द्रे ।

गभस्तिपूतंभरत श्रुतायेन्द्राय सोमं यज्यवोजुहोत ।।2.14.8

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) सब  का हित  चाहने वाले (नर: ) नायक मनुष्यो !  तुम (यत्‌) जिस राज्य या धन को (श्रुष्टी) शीघ्र (वहन्त: ) प्राप्त करते हुए (कामयाध्वे) उस की कामना करो ( नशथ)  वा छिपाओ (तत्‌) उस (गभस्तिपूतम्‌) किरणों वा बाहुओं से पवित्र करे हुए  को (इन्द्रे) सभापति के निमित्त (भरत) धारण करो । हे ( यज्यव: ) सङ्ग करनेवाले जनों ! तुम   (श्रुताय)जिस का प्रशंसित श्रुति विषय है उस (इन्द्राय)सभापति के लिये(सोमम्‌) ओषधियों के रस को वा ऐश्वर्य को (जुहोत्‌) ग्रहण करो ॥8॥

सामाजिक संसाधनों एवं धन का अनावश्यक, अनुपयोगी, अनुत्तरदायी, अनुत्पादक उपयोग रोकने एवं उन्हें समाजोपयोगी पशंसा योग्य उपयोग के लिये बचाने की व्यवस्था करें ।

Stop wasteful expenditure of public money and save it for use in praise worthy social welfare projects.

  1. राज्य के हित में किन विषयों को गोपनीय रखना है, इस पर अधिकारी वर्ग संयम स्वनियंत्रण और मर्यादा का पालन करना चाहिए

Official Secrets Action /Importance

राज्याधिकारी वर्ग को राज्य हित में गोपनीयता का पालन करना चाहिए

For the leaders and persons holding senior policy making responsibilities, when some strategies for public good are being contemplated, the deliberations should be held confidential, till they are totally worked out. It is only for the well thought out plans to be made available for general public to debate and consider sustainability.

9. प्रदूषण नियंत्रण

Pollution Control

(Waste water treatment strategy suggested by Yajurved 17.6 by root zone treatment, and energy crops similar to what NASA scientists have proposed )

अध्वर्यव: कत्तर्ना  श्रुष्टिमस्मै वनेनिपूतंवनउन्नयध्वम् ।

जुषाणो हस्त्यमभि वावशे व इन्द्राय सोमं मदिरंजुहोत ।। 2.14.9

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) पुरुषार्थी जनों ! तुम (अस्मै) इस सभापति के लिये (वने) किरणों में (श्रुष्टिम्‌) शीघ्र (निपूतम्‌) निर न्तर पवित्र और दुर्गंध वा प्रमादपन से रहित पदार्थ (कर्त्तन) करो (वने) और किरणों में (उन्नयध्वम्‌) उत्कर्ष देओ जो (हस्त्यम्‌) हस्तों में उत्तम हुए पदार्थ को (जुषाण: ) प्रीति करता वा सेवन करता हुआ (मदिरम्‌) आनन्द देने वाली (सोमम्‌) सोमलतादिरस को ( अभि,वावशे) प्रत्यक्ष चाहता (तस्मै) उस सभापति के लिए और (व: ) तुम लोगोंको (इ न्द्राय) ऐश्वर्यवान जन के लिए उक्त पदार्थ को (जुहोत्‌) देओ.॥9॥

वैज्ञानिक विद्वतजन दुर्गंधित प्रदूषित जलों को सूर्य की किरणों द्वारा, लताओं इत्यादि के द्वारा दुर्गंध रहित और प्रदूषणमुक्त करें ।

It is for the technically knowledgeable community and the establishment to decide and implement, the handling of sewage, pollution and foul smell creating situations, by using solar photo remediation, natural vegetative filtration and the winning of the desirable components out of the system by the strategy of using wetlands and lagoons, for making the waste disposal a pleasant, acceptable and sustainable activity.

इस विषय पर यजुर्वेद 17.6 में निम्न  विस्तृत  उपदेश मिलता है. जो इस विषय को विस्तार पूर्वक  बताता है.

On this subject very detailed directive is given in  Yajurved  and  is  placed below .

“उपज्मन्नुप वेतसेऽवतर नदीष्वा । अग्ने पित्तमपामसि मण्डूकि

ताभिरागहि सेमं नो यज्ञं पावकावर्णं शिवं कृधि।। Yajurved 17।6।।

अग्ने पित्तं आपसि—— pitta and agni i.e. fever in water is

polluted water

मण्डूकि ताभिरागहि—–marine life like frogs & fish family,

get at that

उपज्मन्नुप  वेतसेऽवतर नदीष्वा —-growing plants of cane reed

family which are secondary crops ( crops not fit for direct human

consumption, but use as biomass and if fit cattle fodder etc.) in the

beds of streams of such water .

सा इमं अस्माभि यज्ञं पावकवर्णं शिव: भव —–may provide us

with means to purify the polluted water for our welfare.

Modern Science researches initiated by NASA in USA finally developed the most environments friendly process to treat pollutes waters called grey waters by process almost identical to what this Ved Mantra has prescribed.

The grey water is fist led in to wet lands with plenty of marine life to digest the organic pollutants. Next this water is led in to lagoons in which reed family of plants purify this water by photo remediation, subsequently this water is led through lagoons with ‘energy crops’. These are special plant species that harvest specific variety of heavy metal pollutants like ‘Lead’, ‘Cadmium’ , mercury and Magnesium  etc.

This happens to be the most recent modern strategy to treat

sewage and polluted waters The Polluted water is run in to ponds

with frogs, fish like marine life, and then this marine life treated

water is run in to streams. On the beds of these streams plants of cane

& reed family are grown. The final run off water is clean water.

This technology has been known as ‘root zone treatment’ and

was first promoted by NASA scientists, and is described in his book

“Growing Clean Waters” by the NASA scientist Dr Wolverton.

Modern science is also growing special plants in polluted waters, for harvesting to extract specific minerals 

  1. गो दुग्ध खाद्यान्न की पौष्टिकता

Probiotics and Prebiotics. 

अध्वर्यव: पयसोधर्यथा गो: सोमेभिरीं पृणता भोजमिन्द्रम् ।

वेदाहमस्य निभृतं म एतद् दित्सन्तंभूयोयजतश्चिकेत ।। 2.14.10

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: ) बड़ी बड़ी ओषधियों को सिद्ध करने वाले जनो ! तुम (यथा) जैसे (गो: ) गौ के (पयसा) दूध से (ऊध: ) ऐन बरा होता है वैसे (सोमेभि: ) खाई हुइ सोमादि ओषधियों के साथ (ईम्‌) जलको पी के (पृणत) तृप्त होवो जैसे (भोजम्‌) भोजन करनेवाले (इ न्द्रम्‌) ऐश्वर्यवानको (अहम्‌) मैं (व्द) जानूं (अस्य) इस की (निभृतम्‌) निश्चित पुष्टिको  जानूं वैसे इस विषय को (भूय:: )  बार  बार  जो (चिकेत) जाने उस को तृप्त करो ॥10॥

वनस्पतियों ,ओषधियों और गो दुग्ध जल के पौष्टिक तत्वो को अनुसंधान द्वारा अधिक  गुणों से  परिपूर्ण करो. इन विषयों पर अनुसंधान  अविरल गति से चलता रहे ।

It is a subject of continuous study to learn from the processes taking place in a cow and her udders, how while feeding on herbal greens and water, she provides the immensely medicinally, nutritionally beneficial milk for the humanity.

 11. पारदर्शिता से धनोपार्जन और जीवन शैलि को महत्व दो

Clear role of society and media for the development of transparency and proper mental attitudes in society is stressed in this mantra.

 अध्वर्यवो यो दिव्यस्य वस्वोय: पार्थिवस्यक्षम्यस्यराजा ।

तमूर्दरंन पृणता यवेनेन्द्रं सोमेभिस्तदपो वो अस्तु ।। 2.14.11

महर्षि दयानंद पदार्थ – हे! (अध्वर्यव: )राजसम्बन्धी विद्वानजनों ! (य: ) जो (दिव्यस्य ) प्रकाश में उत्पन्न  हुए  (वस्व: ) धन को वा (य: ) जो (पार्थिवस्य) पृथिवी मे विदित (क्षम्यस्य) सहनशीलता में उत्तम उस के बीच (व: ) तुम्हारे लिए  ( राजा)  राजा  (अस्तु) हो. (तम्‌) उस  (इन्द्रम्‌ ) ऐश्वर्यवान को (यवेन्) यव अन्न से जैसे(ऊर्दरम्‌) मटका को वा डिहरा को (न) वैसे) (सोमेभि: ) सोमादि ओषधियों से पृणत) पूरो परि पूर्ण  करो (तत्‌) उस (अप: ) कर्म को प्राप्त हू ॥11॥

प्रकृति से कृषि से जैविक अन्न से,ओषदि युक्त वनस्पतियों पारदर्शिता और सहनशीलता की शिक्षा का उपदेश ग्रहण करो और सब से बिना स्वार्थ के बांटो ।

It is the responsibility of the establishment to allow the wealth created in the nation by transparently open like in broad day light, methods of learning, such as from nature’s resources like agriculture.  Promote in the society the mental attitudes, for acceptance of only this mode of honest livelihood.

12. इस प्रकार एक सम्पन्न वैभव शाली राष्ट्र निर्माण करो

Immense bounties of nature always flow on us for welfare health and wealth of all, by the continuous pursuits of knowledge based transparent activities by our well-meaning gifted people.

अस्मभ्यं तद् वसो दानाय राध: समर्थयस्व बहु ते वसव्यम् ।

इन्द्र यच्चित्रं श्रवस्या अनु द्यून् बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीरा: ।। 2.14.12

हे (वसो) धन देने वाले (इन्द्र)  परमैश्वर्ययुक्त ! (सुवीर:)  सु न्दर वीरों  वाले हम लोग जो (ते) तुम्हारा (बहु) बहुत ( चित्रम्‌) अद्‌भुत (वसव्यम्‌) पृथिवी आदि वसुओंसेसिद्ध हुए ( बृहत्‌ ) बहुत (राध: ) समृद्धि करने वाले धन को (श्रवस्या: ) अन्नों के लिए हित करने वाली पृथिवीके  बीच (अनु द्यून्‌) प्रति दिन (विदथे ) विज्ञान रूपी संग्राम यज्ञ में (वदेम) कहें  उस को हमारे लिए देने को आप (समर्थयस्य ) समर्थ करो ॥12॥

इस प्रकार एक अद्‌भुत सम्पन्न वैभव शाली राष्ट्र निर्माण करो ।

In this manner, create a prosperous welfare nation.

 ( It is for paucity of space that the detailed method and reasoning to arrive at the above Vedic interpretations have not been provided here.)

 

 

NO VIOLENCE IN YAJNAS

Sunplus

NO VIOLENCE IN YAJNAS

Writer : Pt Dharmadev Vidyamartand 

Importance of Yajnas has been stressed in several places in the Vedas. Yajna is even considered a way to Worship and realise God :-

rig 10.90.16

(When truthful and enlightened persons worship God through Yajnas, they attain salvation which is freedom from sorrow.)

The Word “यज्ञ” has its origin in the root (“Yaj”) ”यज” which means :

(1) Worship of God by enlightened persons (Devapuja)

(2) Unity (Sangatikarana)

(3) Charity (Dana)

Thus, “Yajna” epitomises all our duties towards God, to our superiors, equals and inferiors. This is the reason why Yajna is considered the noblest of all human acts. How a man, who does not perform Yajna, goes on degrading himself, is mentioned in Rigveda (l0.94.6)-and Atharvaveda (20.94.6) :

atharvaveda 2

(Those who do not ride the boat of Yajna, become abominable and impure and their character keeps on deteriorating.)

It is matter of great shame that such yajnas, which are the means of worshipping God and attaining salvation, have been misinterpreted and misconceived by our own, medieval masters, no less by western scholars and, their modern followers who assert in their commentaries of the vedas that there are references here to sacrifice of sheep, goats, horses, buffaloes in the course of such yajnas.

For instance, one of the contributors to the Vedic Age, writes while discussing Apri Hymns,

“Scarcely less debased than the Dana Stutís are the Apri hymns, manufactured artificially for employment in animal sacrifices …. . . There is no reason to doubt that these hymns were actually used at the animal sacrifices as the tradition maintains”

Another contributor referring to the Kausika Sutra (XIII,I-6) says that it prescribes a magic rite in which portions of the bodies of some animals and human beings, such as of a lion and a tiger, a ksatriya and a Brahmacharin are to be eaten to acquire certain power ; not totemism but same sacramental communion, is hinted at.”

While detailed discussion on this issue will form a huge treatise, it will suffice here to suggest a few points to remove such misconceived notions about the yajnas.

To begin with, we must stress that the word  ‘अध्वर’ (Adhvara) occurs as a synonym or as an adjective for “यज्ञ ” (Yajna) at several places in all the four Vedas.

The author of the Nirukta, a book on philology, Yaskaracharya, gives the etymology of the word “Adhvara ” thus :- mantra

nirukt 2.7

(“Adhvara” is the name of Yajna which means free from any violence).

Given below are some of the mantras from all the four Vedas in which the word “Adhvara” has been used in relation to Yajnas :-

RIGVEDA :-

(1)rig 1.1.4

-Rig. 1.1.4

(Thou, O Lord, art present only in the Yajnas, which are free from violence. Only such Yajnas are acceptable to the truthful learned persons).

(2)rig 1.1.8

-Rig. 1.1.8

(In this mantra also God’s presence only in violence-free actions is stressed)

(3)rig 1.14.21

-Rig. 1.14.21

(Using the word “Adhvara” for Yajna, the Wise have been requested to keep the Yajna “violence-free”.)

(4)rig 1.128.4

-Rig. 1.128.4

(It is stated in this mantra that God and the wise enjoin upon people to perform Yajnas free from violence.,)

(5)rig 1.19.1

-Rig. 1.19.1

(The blessings of God and the priests have been invoked in this mantra for the success of a Yajna free from violence, always.)

YAJURVEDA :-

Yajurveda is also full of mantras where not only the adjective “Adhvara” has been used for Yajnas, but also we are taught against violence of all kind including the violence against animals. For instance, this mantra indirectly rules out all violence in our dealings with the outside world:-

yajurveda 36.18

(Oh God, the Dispeller of darkness, may everyone look upon me with friendly eyes, may I look upon everyone (not human beings alone) with love and friendship, may we look upon each other with love and friendship.)

Describing Yajna as the noblest of acts in Yajurveda (101), people have been asked to protect the animals (पशुन्पाही) In Yajurveda (6-1 1) also there is a teaching for the married couple-pashun paaipasun trayetham.

In Yajurveda 14.8 it is said ….. द्विपादव चतुष्पात पाहि l (O man thou protect bipeds and quadrupeds)

‘ Likewise in more than 43 mantras in this Veda, the word Adhvara has been used either as an adjective of yajna or its synonym.

SAMAVEDA:

There are also many references to Yajna as “Adhvara” in Samaveda.

Note for instances the followings :-

samveda 7

(In this mantra scholars have been invited to attend the Yajna which is ‘चारु'(beautifi-because it is adhvara (non-violent).

samveda 8

(Using the word Agní(अग्नि) for God, it is said that He encourages non-violent Yajnas “adhvaranam”.

samveda 9

In this mantra also describing Yajna as “adhvara” people are enjoined to Worship God.

There is clear instruction against violence, particularly animal sacrifice, in the following mantra :-

samveda 10

It is prayed in this mantra: May we not indulge in any violent act, nor others tempt us to do so.

ATHARVAVEDA :-

Likewise in Atharvaveda, there are many mantras in which the word “adhvara” has been used for Yajnas. For instance :-

atharva 5

In fact the misconception about the injunction of animal sacrifice in the Vedas takes its root from the misinterpretation of the word medha ( मेधा ); a synonym of यज्ञ which is used as a suffix to many words such as अजमेध(Ajmedha),गोमेध (Gomedha) , पुरूषमेध (Purushmedha), अश्वमेध (Aswamedha) etc,

These words, however, do not stand for sacrifices of horses, cows, human beings etc as will be shown in the following pages.

The Sanskrit root of the word मेधMedha is मेध्रुमMedhra which means :

(1) to sharpen the intellectual faculty

(2) to promote unity or love among people

(3) or to practice violence.

There is no reason why it should be taken only in the last sense, particularly in relation to Yajnas, in which there is strong emphasis on non-violence in all the Vedas.

It may be noted here that Purush Medha (पुरूषमेध ), Purush Yajna ( पुरूषमेध ) and nriyajna (नृयज्ञ ) are synonyms.

In Manusmriti, नृयज्ञ  nriyajna has been explained as hospitality नृयज्ञोSतिथिपूजनम (Manu 3-70).

Taking the second meaning of the root Medhra. ( मेधृ )the word नृमेध (nrimedha) would mean uniting people for noble deeds and inspiring love and unity among them.

Nriyajna (नृयज्ञ ), Purush medha (पुरूषमेध ), are also Rishis of the following mantra from the Samveda :-

sam 1

That the meaning of such words as अजमेध, and अश्वमेध are different from what they are understood by western scholars is also clear from their references in Brahmanas and Mahabharata etc.

For instance in Shatpath it is stated that the word Asva अश्व: also stands for the seminal energy :

“राष्ट्रं वा अश्वमेध:| वीर्यं वा अश्व||”

Increasing the energy or power of the citizens of the nation or proper administration of the state)

अज is also the name of a kind of paddy which at one time as a rule was poured into the Yajnas.

For instance, we read in Mahabharata (Santiparva):-

shantiparv

When in ancient literature people are asked to offer Aja ( अज ) in the Yajnas, it does not mean they should sactifice a goat, but pour seeds of lentil of the same name.

The similar sentiment has been expressed by Vishnu Sharma in his Panchatantra (Kakoliyam):

panchtantra

Those who perform animal sacrifice for Yajnas are fools. They do not understand the proper meaning of the Vedas. ln “अजैर्यज्ञेशुयष्टव्यम” in the Vedas, the word Aja should be understood to mean “ Vrthi”, a particular variety of old paddy and not sacrifice of goats.

In “स्याद्वादमंजरी ”, a famous book in Jain literature, the word अज been taken to mean only paddy and never a goat.

jain book

(While the ignorant misinterpret the word अज as a goat, the learned understand by it only different varieties of paddy.)

lt has been clearly stated at several places in the Mahabharata that there is no mention in the Vedas of meat eating drinking, or animal sacrifices. The Yajnas marred by violence are contrary to the spirit of the Vedas and against the human laws of Manu. The yajnas with animal sacrifice were propagated by rogues, atheists, grabbers, usurpurs. Such Yajnas, in fact, are sinful and against religion.

Given below are two slokas from Mahabharata (Shantiparva) which will drive home this point :-

shantiparv 1

(It is stated in these verses that persons, who have spoken of animal sacrifice in Yajnas are stupid, atheists and are devoid of all knowledge about the injunctions of the shastras.)

Manu, the law giver, had stressed the importance of non- violence in all actions. Those who indulge in violence, do so on their own accord. Their actions have no sanction of Manu. Nor do their actions have the approval of the Vedas. All the religions preach non-violence and give it the highest priority in life. Only wicked persons started the tradition of meat eating, drinking and using other intoxicants. They were motivated by egoism, attachment and greed in starting this tradition. The Brahmans see the Omnipresent God in the Yajnas and offer oblations of milk or milk products in the sacrificial fire.

It is clear from the above that animal sacrifice in the Yajnas was started only by the wicked. And since it is not in harmony with the spirit of the vedas, any reference to it in Sravsutras, Grthyaasutras, Brahmanas, Smrítis or other religious books should be taken as an interpolation.

That the import of such material in the original ancient literature was not a new phenomenon has been stated by the famous dualist Acharya Madhvacharya in the following words in Mahabharata :

mahabharat 2

(Some wicked ones import foreign material into original books, some hide a few portions, others alter due to the laziness or do it deliberately. Thus even when these ancient books are not destroyed, they are distorted beyond measure)

The ancient Rishis were totally against animal sacrifice in the Yajnas. For instance, it is stated in Mahabharata (Aswamedha parva) that:

mahabharat 3

mahabharat 4

(When the Rishis saw the poor animals (brought for sacrifice in the Yajnas,) they were deeply touched, “There is no mention of animal sacrifice anywhere. This will only destroy your religion. You should perform Yajnas in accordance with the instruction, given in the Vedas for greater benefit.)”, they told the priest.

No wonder Risis, who have been described in Nirukta as “those who realise the real spirit of Dharma”, considered animal sacrifice contrary to the spirit of the Vedas.

At another place in the Shantiparava in Mahabharata, it is said :-

shantiparv 2

Certainly animal sacrifice is not sanctioned by the Vedas. The Yajna is always non-violent and should be performed that way. If one goes to heaven by killing animals or shedding their blood, what is then the way to hell?

ASVAMEDHA YAJ NAS AND NON-VIOLENCE

lt is generally held by Western Scholars and their zealous followers that horses were sacrificed in Asvamedha Yajna.

But the description of such a Yajna performed by king Vasu as found in the Mahabharata, does not bear out testemony to this abominable practice.

तस्य यज्ञो महानासीदश्वमेधो महात्मन: |

bruhaspati

(lt is stated in these verses that the Yajna was officiated by great sages and saints including three sons of the Prajapati and Kapila, Katha, Titeri and Kanva etc. This Yajna was very pious and sacred and no animal was sacrificed in it a all. The priests of this Yajna, who included authors of the Katha Samhita, Taittiriya Samhita, and Kanva Samhita, performed it in the non-violent way.

There seems to be some reference to animal sacrifice in “Taitteriya Samhita” which were added or interpolated to it only later.

EXHIBITION OF ANIMALS IN THE YAJ NAS

The root Medhra ( मेध्रू ) from which the Sanskrit word Medha (मेध )has been made also means Sangalnana(संगमन) This is borne out by the description of Asvamedh Yajna recorded in Mahabharata

(Aswamedha parva). For instance, in the following description, there is clear indication of an exhibition of different varieties of birds and animals being organised at the time of the Asvamedha :-

ashvamedha 1

ashvamedha 2

The misinterpretation of the words Alambha( आल्मभ ), Sanjapana (संज्ञपन) and Avadana ( अवदान ) was also responsible for creating confusion relating to the issue of animal sacrifiee in the Yajnas.

The following mantra from Yajurveda, is often quoted to suggest the evidence of the animal sacrifice :

animal sacrifice

The word alambha ( आलंभ ) in this mantra has been wrongly interpreted to mean sacrifice here of elephants for the Welfare of the Prajapati ( प्रजापति ) ; in fact, alambhana does not mean “to kill” but “to acquire”.

(The word Alambha आलंभ has its root in  आंगपूर्वक लाभ which means to acquire, to embrace etc.)

For instance, see the use of this Word in the second sense in the following mantra :

animal sacrifice 1

(Here it is prohibited for the Brahmacharins to look or to embrace women (स्त्रीणां च प्रेक्षणालम्भम ).

In the second chapter ofपारस्कर गृह्सुत्र word occurs in this sense where the Acharya touching the heart of a Brahmacharin says :

animal sacrifice 2

(The bridegroom should lift his hand above the right shoulder of the bride and touch her heart.)

Here the commentators like Jai Rama and Hari Rama have interpreted the Word आलभते as सप्रूशति  (touches)

ln the following injunction again from Paraskara Grihsutra the word alabhate has been used for “touching” :

 

ln Yajurveda there is a reference to acquire particular birds for specialized study and not for any wayward killing :

yajurveda 24.20

THE CORRECT MEANING OF SANGYAPANA( संज्ञापन )

The word संज्ञापन (Sanjyapanam) used at many places in Brahmanas and Shraut Sutras is generally taken to mean “killing instantaneously”. But this is grossly incorrect and only betrays the ignorance leading to its misinterpretation.

lt is clear from the use of this word in the following mantra that it means “to inculcate knowledge” or “to unite” :-

atharva 6.10.94.95

(The mantra means that your bodies should be united, you should take physical exercises unitedly, your minds and your souls should be united. May God, the Repository of Knowledge, always keep you united etc.)

In Satpath also there is a passage where the word has been used in the second sense of making one realise or making it known to others :-

shatpat 1

(In this mantra, the power of the tongue, to make the other one know what is in the mind, is stressed.)

MISINTERPRETATION OF THE WORD ASWAMEDHA

It is assened in the Vedic Age that “Animal sacrifices” are indicated in the Apri Suktas and the horse sacrifice (Asva Medha) was undoubtedly performed”.

But the fact is that there is not the slightest reference to the animal sacrifices in these hymns. This is only the result of their ignorance and illusion.

The word अश्वमेध during the Vedic period was used in the sense of “administration of the state” or “increasing the strength of the state” as clear from  ‘राष्ट्रं वे अश्वमेध: (Satpath 13- 1-6) or वीर्यं वा अश्व: But there is no evidence whatsoever of the sacrifice of horses in the Yajnas performed during that period.

In the following mantra which used to be recited at the time of the Asvamedha Yajna, there is no reference to animal sacrifice at all :

ashvamedha 3

ashvamedha 4

(It is mentioned in these mantras that the horses should be properly trained and full knowledge acquired about their behavior, food and drinking habits etc. People have also been asked in these mantras to look after the horses property.)

In all the mantras of this hymn, there are similar instructions. In the end also, prayers are offered for giving us cows, horses, strong progeny and wealth :-

hymn 1

No doubt some of the Indian scholars like Sayanancharya, Uvvate and Mahidhar and foreign scholars following them like Prof Max Muller, Griffith and Wilson, have misinterpreted some of the Vedic mantras occurring in this hymn to suggest that there is a mention rather an injunction of animal sacrifice in the Vedas. While in reality, it is only the figment of their own mind with no truth in it at all. There is not only complete absence of any instruction for animal sacrifice in the Vedas, but there is clear provision for punishment of those who indulge in this practice even negligence, towards these dumb creatures.

Two of the mantras have been thoroughly misunderstood in this regard, the first one being as follows :

hymn 2

Sayanacharya, along with his Indian and foreign follower has given a very absurd meaning of this mantra. According to him the mantra means as follows :-

“Those who see the boiled flesh of horses and praise the smell of their bodies, let the labour of such persons be ours”.

According to Swami Dayanand, however, the mantra means :

“Drive away from us those who beg the flesh or horses or consider them worthy of sacrifice.”

The word Vajinam(वाजिनम) also means a “brave person”. Thus the mantra can also mean that the brave person, who is also well- versed in the art of cooking protects his country and brings wealth to it.

The second mantra, which is ofien misunderstood by scholars, is given below :

hymn 3

Saynacharya, and Mahidhar have played havoc while interpreting this mantra in the following way:

“Let not an iota of thy flesh may fall to the ground, O horse, may the gods, desirous of it, receive it.”

Compare it with the rendering of this mantra with the one given by Dayanand in the following words :

“O Ye men, you should get the affected limbs cured by doctors because the medicine given by them is beneficial for health.”

Killing of animals has been prohibited in many mantras in the Vedas. For instance, take the following :

hymn 4

(Don’t kill the horses.)

In Yajurveda’s 25.43 also, the words, ‘मा स्वाधितिस्तन्त्र आतिष्ठिपत् ‘ clearly instruct against killing of animals :

hymn 5

hymn 6

Some orthodox scholars went to the extent of imagining that those animals, which are sacrificed in fire, go to heaven. The misconceptions in this regard seemed to have sprung from the following mantra from the Rigveda (1 .162.21) (which also occurs in Yajurveda (25.44) :

yajurveda 25.44

Commenting on this Sayanachalya writes :

sayancharya 1

(Those shall not die O horse, because offered to gods, thou must achieve the divinity and thus share their immortality.)

The correct meaning of this mantra, however, is “Just as a man travels comfortably in a chariot moved by fire, water and air, so the soul, which is fully enlightened through self-knowledge and free from the fear of death or violence, attains the divine bliss)”

Misinterpretation of such Vedic mantras was usually motivated by self-interest greed and ignorance.

Now we will critically examine some of the misconceptions about the sacrifice of cows and beef-eating’s.

Clayton, in his book, “The Rigveda and Vedic Religion” writes:

“At one sacrifice, probably a very unusual sacrifice, performed once in five years, called the “Pancha Sharadiya Sava, seventeen young cows were offered. Bullocks, buffaloes and deer were also sacrificed, sometime in large numbers. The White Yajurveda mentions 327 domestic animals, including oxen, milch cows, that are to be offered along with the horse at the greater Horse- Sacrifice”

The basis of Clyton’s conclusion seems to be “Rajendra Pal’s book entitled “lndo Aryans ate meat and drank wine”.

Most of the foreign writers have upheld this view and authors of the Vedic Age have almost copied it.

While describing the customs and traditions of the marriage ceremonies during the Vedic Age, they have written:

“The guests are entertained with the flesh of cows killed on the occasion (of marriage).”

This statement made by them is highly erroneous because cows have been described in the Vedas at several places as ‘Aghnya’ (अघ्नया ) and Aditi( अदिति ) which means “not to be killed under any circumstances” Some of the mantras in which the word Aghnya (अघ्नया ) has been used for the cow are as follows :

cow 1

(hi this mantra cows, addressed as Aghnya अघ्न्या have been enjoined to keep themselves healthy by use of pure water and green grass so that we, who drink their milk, may be endowed with Dharma, knowledge and wealth”

cow 2

(In this mantra also, where again the word अघ्न्या has been used for cows, it is stated that this animal is responsible for our health and prosperity.)

cow 3

cow 4

(In this mantra, the milk of the cow has been compared with the fight of God.)

cow 5

(Describing the devotee, who is a man of action, it is stated that he gets up before the dawn, entertains noble thoughts and drinks the milk of the cow which should never be killed.)

cow 6

(In this mantra also the adjective for Dhenunaam (धेनूनाम) is Aghnyanam अघ्न्यानाम [which is very significant)

There is also clear instruction in Rigveda. 101.15 against the slaughter of cow which has been described as a mother :-

rigveda 101.15

(Don”t kill the cow which is like the mother, the daughter, and the sister to the learned Brahmacharins.)

The word Aghnya  अघ्न्या has also been used for the cow in the Atharvaveda :-

atharvaveda 3

(I remove all your jealousies and prejudices and unite your hearts. May you love each other as a cow loves her new born calf.)

The following mantra from the Atharvaveda also extols the qualities for which the cow is universally loved and revered :

atharvaveda 4

(In this mantra, the milk of the cow, for whom again the adjective Aghnya(अघ्न्या) has been used, is considered of special benefit to the children.)

aghanya 1

(In this mantra use of the milk of the cow, has been suggested for the learned persons endowed with great intellects.)

cow 7

(In this mantra, the Veda has gone to the extent of suggesting the use of cow’s milk for removal of sins :

The penalty of death has been suggested for those who kill the cows :

penalty

Also the similar punishment is suggested for even stealing her milk :

penalty 1

In accordance with the spirit of these mantras, Manu, the law giver, has said :

penalty 2

The Vedic Age tries to reconcile the epithet “Aghnya” used for cows with the eating of bullock’s beef saying that (I) the flesh of the ox, rather than that of the cow, was eaten. (ii) the flesh of the cow (if at all) was eaten on special occasions like a sacrifice or at a reception of guests. (m) only barren cows ( वशा:) were sacrificed.

But this explanation given by them is unacceptable. We must make it clear that the epithet aghnya (अघ्न्या) repeatedly used for cows is also used for the oxen.

For instance Aghnya has been used for the oxen in the following mantras :

yajurveda 12.73

(While commenting on this Sayanacharya has written in his Kanvasamhita (chapter-13) :

atharvaveda 9.4.17

(In this mantra an ox has been described as “not to be killed” (अघ्न्य:).

The suggestion that the flesh of the cow was eaten on special occasions is also ridiculous.

We have earlier shown that in the entire Vedic literature the word “Adhvara” (non-violent) has been used for the Yajnas. To imagine that meat eating was pennitted on such occasions is beyond our apprehension.

The Brahmanas have clearly stated that meat eating is one of the things which renders the Y ajnas ineffective and, therefore, should be avoided at least during their performance :

brahman 1

(Eat not the meat nor thou indulge in sexual gratification during the performance of the Yajna.)

Similar injunction has been given in Tandaya Maha Brahmana :

brahman 2

(A person performing Yajna should neither eat meat nor indulge in sexual intercouse. lf he does, Yajna becomes fruitless and yields no results.)

lt has also been stated in Vedic Age that the cows were killed and their flesh served to please the guests. The following mantra is quoted to prove this practice :

vedic age 1

It is also stated in the Vedic Age that the beef was served to guests on the occasion of marriages.

Late K.L. Munshi in his book “Lopamudra” says that guests अतिथिग्व (atithigva) was considered a respectable term which stood for a person who served beef to his guests. It is important to remove the misconception about such words as अतिथिग्व (atithigva) and  अतिथिनिर्गा: (atithi-nirga) for गा: in Rigveda

(10.86.3) has been explained by commentators like Sayanacharya as सततं गच्छन्ती: (the root: अत-सातत्य) i.e., ever on the move.

Even the word गा: has been defined as water (साधुनयनादिगुणयुक्ता: अप:). Even if we take the word अतिथि instead of (अतिथिनी ) it means the cows which are brought near to the guests (अतिथिभ्यो नीयन्ते)and are finally offered to them. There is no reference to their killing which would be in direct violation of the

spirit of the Vedas in which the words Agnya अघ्न्या, and Aditi अदिति have been used. The word अतिथिग्न Atithi-gna does not mean a person who offers beef to the guests as wrongly misunderstood by K.L. Munshi. It stands for a person who goes close to the guests for their service as pointed by Saynacharya and Maharshi Dayanand. Even the famous Sanskrit English Dictionary by Monior Williams gives the meaning of this word अतिथिग्न (atithigna) as: “To whom guests should go.”

Bloomfield has also defined this word as “presenting cows to the guests”

It is pointed by some authors that the word “गोघ्न (Goghna) is used for guests in accordance with the aphorism of Astadhyayi “दाशगोघ्नौ सप्रदाने”. Actually, the word ` गोघ्न (goghna) is nowhere used in the Vedas for guests. When it is used as in the following mantra from Rigveda, it is used in the sense of “keep off ”:

rig 1

( The killer of the cow is a mean fellow; keep away from him.)

Even in ancient literature, when this word occurs in regard to a guest, it means “A person to whom a cow is offered” and “for whom sweet words are spoken.”

The word गोघ्न’goghna’ is derived from the हन्(Han) which means ‘हिंसा (violence) and गति (movement). The word Stands for ज्ञान (knowledge) `गमन (movement) and (acceptance). Thus goghna  गोघ्न is one who is requested to accept the cow. In Atharvaveda, husband is given the instruction :-

atharvaveda 5

(Strengthing your body with the semen, O husband, go to your Wife.)

In this Saynacharya and other Vedic commentators have interpreted the word जा as गच्छ because no sane person can take it to mean to kill.

In Shatpath (1.4.1.2.1) it is stated :-

In this also, the performer of the Yajnas is stated to be desirous of meeting or accepting God and not killing Him.

Therefore Sayanacharya has rightly explained the word “जिघान्सति’ ‘ as ‘प्राप्तुमिच्छति ” _ Many such examples can be multiplied.

Therefore, the word गोघ्न means गौ: हन्यते प्राप्यते यस्मै’. (who is made to accept the cow.)

It is also wrong to say that there is a provision for the killing of the barren cows vasa( वशा: ) in the Vedas.

The word उक्षा and वशा in the following mantra, in particular, stand for oxen and barren cows :-

rig 8.43.11

Actually उक्षा stands for the medicinal herb which is also known as सोम, or “सूर्य`ऋषममetc.

Famous Vedic commentator Sayanacharya has at several places used the word उक्षा to denote सोम. For instance while commenting on Rigveda’srig 2 he writes :

rig 3

Monior Williams has given the similar meaning in his Sanskrit- English Dictionary :-

Uksa, name of Soma (as sprinkling or scattering small drops) name of the Maruts-of the sun and Agni-one of eight medicaments Risbhak.” Some scholars hold the view that the word ETSTT (vasa) in the Vedas stands for the barren cow who was sacrifised in the Yajnas. lt is a very erroneous and misleading statement. Actually this word, used in wider context, means the controlling power of God, the controlling power of the soul which holds under its sway the mind, the intellect and the senses. There are many other meanings of this word, but surely it cannot be interpreted as “barren cows`. We thoroughly studies the hymn where this word occurs but nowhere did we find anything to support the above contention, It is, therefore, quite ridiculous to hold the view that in Atharvaveda 10/10, there is

a reference to the sacrifice of the barren cows. Take for instance the following mantra from this hymn :

atharvaveda 10.10.4

The word  सहस्त्रधारांcannot be used in regard to a barren cow or any cow, for that matter.

The word apparently applies to the controlling power of God about whom, it is said in the Atharvaveda (10.190) :

atharvaveda 10.190

वशा has been used here in the following mantra from the Atharvaveda as the “law of God” or “the controlling power” :

atharvaveda 1.10.1

Besides the controlling power of God, the word also stands for earth or a piece of land as in :

atharvaveda 6

In both the hymns (10.10.2 and 10.10.30) of Athaiyaverda, there is reference to giving or taking of “वशा” :

atharvaveda 7

atharvaveda 8

This word also means a good housewife who keeps her children well under control:-

atharvaveda 20.103.15

Though the Word has been thus used in different contexts, its principal usage is in medicine. lt is also called “भेदा”.

bheda 1

The benefits of taking this medicament have been described thus in ‘गुणनिघंटु” :

nighantu

(It means that Meda is useful for cold, bite, heat, pain, cough etc.)

In Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monior Williams also the words like एकड, वशा, अष्टपदिका, भेद been used for herbs or drugs :-

वशा-Premna Spinosa and Lorgibolia

अष्टपादिका-The plant Vallaiis Dichotoman Wall.

भेद:-A species of Medicinal plant.

Thus we have seen that it is incongrous and ridiculous to see in Atharvaveda hymns any reference to the barren cows and their sacrifice in the fire. About the word Go-megha गोमेघ it may be said that the word गौ has many meanings. When it is used in the context of speech गो मेघ will mean application of mind with speech, i.e. uttering words with great discretion or using words with accuracy in accordance with the rules of the grammar etc.)

In one of the passages Vedic Age wrongly assumes that there is an instruction to the couple to eat rice mixed with meat or the meat of oxen if they desired the birth of a child well-versed in the scriptures. As shown earlier, the word has been defined in the Sanskrit English Dictionary by Apte and Monior Williams, both as सोम and ऋषभक as the Tishabha. Thus the couple here have been instructed to take medicaments like सोम and ऋषभक and not meat of the oxen etc. as misunderstood.

In सुश्रुत (Chapter two) meat has been totally prohibited for a pregnant woman. It is even believed that its consumption may lead to abortion :

sushrut 2

When meat has been thus prohibited for a pregnant woman, it appears to be highly improbable that there could be any such instruction as supposedly given to the couple.

There is also a reference in the Vedas to consumption of क्षीरौदन,दध्योदन,उदौदन etc for the pregnant woman. Therefore the view expressed by some scholars that an instruction for the couple to take rice mixed with a particular variety of pulse known as UN, seems quite in harmony with the spirit of the Vedas.

There is also a suggestion for taking this particular variety of pulse for women in the following passage from शुश्रुत:

sushrut 1

( Here husband has been advised to take ghee and rice with a glass of milk and the wife to take the above mentioned variety of ‘माष (pulse) (before going to bed.)

At another place it is written :-

sushrut 4

For healthy child the husband should take ghee with milk and the wife oil and माष (a variety of pulse)

lt is clear from the above that the correct reading in the text is `मांषौदनम Some self-interested persons wrongly misspelt it as  and it became popular that way gradually.

However, if one insists on its correct reading as ` मांषौदनम  may be mentioned that, according to the derivation of the word given in Nirukat, it means anything which one likes to take with relish and taste :

nirukt 1

Thus it will be seen that any milk preparation like “kheer”, “rabaree` etc. will also fall in the category of the word’मांस.

In Charak Samhita, a standard book of Aurvedic medicines, the pith of a mango has been described as HTH and its stone as अस्थि.

The soft eatable portion of date has been named at some places in this ancient book as खर्जूरमांस Therefore it is erroneous to interpret the word मांस as “meat” wherever it occurs because of its wider usage as shown above. ‘

In Shatpat Brahmana the word ‘मांस orपरमान्न for instance, has been used for milk and rice preparation called ‘खीर.

shatpat 2

Taitteriya Samhita indicates wider usage of the word मांस to cover curd, honey and com etc. (see 232.8)

In Taitteriya Samhita मांस has been used even for गुग्गुलु(which has been prescribed in the Vedas for killing germs of such fatal diseases as tuberculois.

tatreiya sahinta

In the mantra given below, the word `मांस should be taken as “milk” and not meat :-

hymn 7

In this mantra, it is stated the couple should not take cow’s milk and delicious things like खीर until and the unless venerable guest has been served first.

A reputed scholar of Sanskrit Sampurand has said in his Commentary on Rigveda’s Purush Sukta that Yajna is not complete without a sacrifice but this sacrifice is to be not of animals but animal passions like falsehood, greed, sex ego, attachment etc. We full agree with him.