What are Holy Vedas?
The word Veda has its origin
from the root word “vid” that denotes “vidya” or knowledge. Vedas are the scriptures that contain divine
knowledge. This divine knowledge has been classified into four, which are Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda.
How did Vedas come into being?
Vedas are god granted divine
nectar that quenches the human thirst for wisdom. During the most ancient times, the regions
surrounding Trivishtapam, modern day
Tibet, was blessed with nature’s bounty where men could invest all their time
to explore the intrigues and mysteries of our universe. Vedas are the compilation of wisdom passed
over by generations of Maharshis, sages or seers, who devoted their lives in
the service of God, to be the light bearers for future generations and for the betterment
of humanity. The divine revelations were
first received by four Maharshis – Agni, Vayu, Aditya, and Angiras.
Maharshi
|
Veda
|
No of Manthras
|
Subject
|
Agni
|
Rig
|
10,522
|
Jnanam
|
Vayu
|
Yagur
|
1975
|
Karma
|
Aditya
|
Sama
|
1875
|
Upasana
|
Angiras
|
Atharva
|
5977
|
Vignyanam
|
Bramha, mastered the Vedas
under the tutelage of these revered rishis and the four heads attributed to
Lord Bramha is symbolic of his mastery over the four Holy Vedas. “Chathvaro vedah mukha yasya iti chaturmukha” Shwethashwetharopanishad exhorts us to “seek
refuge in that god, who created Bramha who was tutored by the great sages Agni,
Vayu, Aditya, and Angiras.”
Vedas were compiled in prachapathya vak, the mother of all
languages. For generations, the wisdom
of Vedas were passed down orally as scripts evolved only much later. Pioneering western Indologists and linguists could
not comprehend the antiquity of the Vedic era as it was found to conflict with
the long held notions of European cultural antiquity on which was based the claims
of European superiority. Renaissance era
church taught that the world came into being in 4000 BC, before which there was
only darkness. Therefore all available
human activity and history had to be truncated to dates after 4000 BC. For this reason, Europeans who explored and
researched vedic texts initially dated its antiquity to be 248 to 800 BC, later
as reality dawn extended it farther to 2000 BC, later to 5000 BC, and concluded
that .... “We could not hope to be able
to lay down any terminousquo, whether the vedic hymns were composed in 1000 or
2000 or 3000 BC. No power on earth could
ever fix.”
Here one must attempt to
comprehend the complexity with which the Vedas have been complied. Vedas are composed of manthra bhagam, which
forms the samhita, which forms the sooktam, then adhyayam, anuvakam, vargam,
kandam, and then mandalam/asthakam with each unit having discrete etymological sects
and that this complex work was complied centuries before sanskrit script came
into being and were recorded in written form and the fact that the first
version of the Vedas have been passed down through centuries without any need for
amendments.
What is the antiquity of the Vedas?
The Vedas are known to have
been passed down by oral form (vaymozhi)
from generation to generation with inordinate fidelity. Modern linguists have attempted to date the
Vedas only based on the antiquity of documented textual forms of the Vedas and
have been clueless on how to date such a complex text factoring its sheer
volume running into 20,349 mantras in total, the complexity and
interrelationship of the mantras, grammatical rules, elaborate mnemonics, systematic
arrangement of chandas (refer below),
incorporating a host of strict chanting rules (11 methods).... all compiled
into perfection before even scripts came into being.
A literary or textual form set
in only in post-Vedic times, after the rise of Buddhism in the Maurya period,
perhaps earliest in the Kanva recension of the Yajurveda about the 1st century
BCE.
The oral tradition of the
Vedas (Śrauta) consists of several pathas, "recitations" or ways of
chanting the Vedic mantras. Such traditions of Vedic chant are often considered
the oldest unbroken oral tradition in existence.
A pathin is a scholar who has
mastered the pathas. Thus, a
ghanapaathin has learnt the chanting of the scripture up to the advanced stage
of ghana. The Ghanapatha or the
"Bell" mode of chanting is so called because the words are repeated
back and forth in a bell shape. The
sonority natural to Vedic chanting is enhanced in Ghana. In Jatapatha, the words are braided together,
so to speak, and recited back and forth.
The samhita, pada and krama
pathas can be described as the natural recitation styles or prakrutipathas. The
remaining 8 modes of chanting are classified as complex recitation styles or
Vikrutipathas as they involve reversing of the word order. The backward
chanting of words does not alter the meanings in the Vedic language
These extraordinary retention
techniques guaranteed the most perfect canon not just in terms of unaltered
word order but also in terms of sound. That
these methods have been effective, is testified to by the preservation of the
most ancient Indian religious text, the Ṛigveda.
Similar methods were used for memorizing
mathematical texts, whose transmission remained exclusively oral until the end
of the Vedic period
The various pathas or
recitation styles are designed to allow the complete and perfect memorization
of the text and its pronunciation, including the Vedic pitch accent. Eleven
such ways of reciting the Vedas were designed - Samhita, Pada, Krama, Jata,
Maalaa, Sikha, Rekha, Dhwaja, Danda, Rathaa, Ghana, of which Ghana is usually
considered the most difficult.
The students are first taught
to memorize the Vedas using simpler methods like continuous recitation (samhita
patha), word by word recitation (pada patha) in which compounds (sandhi) are
dissolved and krama patha (words are arranged in the pattern of ab bc cd...);
before teaching them the eight complex recitation styles.
If one assumes that there must
have been many redactions before the final version, the antiquity of even the
most coarse draft of this work would push back the date of origin by at least a
1000 years before the final version of the oral form came into being.
If one goes by the dating of
none other than Max Muller, the dates mentioned are as below:
Chips from a German Workshop
|
Page 11 -1500 BC-1200 BC
|
Chips from a German Workshop
|
Page 13 – 1100 BC – 1200 BC
|
Rig Veda Vol.IV – Preface
|
1650 BC
|
Science of Mythology Vol II
|
Page 428 – 1200 BC
|
History of Ancient Sanskrit
Literature
|
Page 248 – 800 BC
|
History of Ancient Sanskrit
Literature
|
Page 253 – 1000 – 800 BC
|
Six Systems of Philosophy
|
Page 94 – 2000 or 5000 BC
|
Max Muller then goes on to
say.... “We could not hope to be able to lay down any terminousquo, whther the
vedic hymns were composed in 1000 or 2000 or 3000 BC. No power on earth could ever fix.” (Gilford Lectures, page 18). “But it is greaer service to confess our
ignorance than to decieve ourselves and others by producing dates which are no
dates.” (History of Sanskrit Literature – Dr. Winternits).
What is Nikhandu and Niruktham?
Nikhandu and Niruktam are
texts compiled by Yaska Muni.
Niruktam is the manual that
aids you in correctly interpreting Vedic sanskrit describing the rules on what
meaning a sylabel would take based on the etymological structure of the mantra. Nikhandu complies the different meanings of
individual sanskrit words in the mantras.
Or in other words niruktam emphasizes on the alphabetic or phonetic
significance, where as nikhandu emphasizes on meaning of words. Nikhandu is the first dictionary of humanity. Mastery of both niruktam and nikandu is
therefore necessary to prevent “arthabramsham,” a common anomaly seen when
vedas are attempted to be interpreted based on Nikhandu alone.
The order of vedic mantras
have been so compiled adhering to “vikyathipadam”
to prevent any future amendments to the vedic mantras.
Who is Prajapathi?
It is God, who is alluded to by
the title of Prajapathi, because he is the Lord of creation. This title is attributed by Vedas to cognate with
the divinity of Creator.
Please note, fundamentalist satanic missionaries are attempting to hijack this concept to give credence to prophets mentioned in their scriptures, which is a naked attempt at shameless inculturation attempts to mask the hollowness of their fallen religion.
Please note, fundamentalist satanic missionaries are attempting to hijack this concept to give credence to prophets mentioned in their scriptures, which is a naked attempt at shameless inculturation attempts to mask the hollowness of their fallen religion.
What are the bhoothas? Are they
demons?
Bhoothas are nothing, but
elements.
There are two types of
bhootas, which are sukshma and shtula.
Ø Shukshma
bhootas are roopam(form), rasam(taste),
gandham(smell), sparsham(touch), and shabdam(sound).
Ø Sthoola
bhootas are askash(space), vayu(air), agni (fire), jalam(water), and bhoomi(earth).
What are Vedangam, Upangam, Upavedam?
They are subordinate to the
Vedas. It contains vedic philosophy, on
how to operate in the views of Vedic seers.
Vedangam
|
Upangam
|
Upavedam
|
|
Shiksha
|
Panini’s
Slokathmaka Paniniya Shiksha (Pronunciation/Chanting)
|
Mimamsa (Purva)
|
Ayurveda (Rig&Atharv)
|
Kalpam
|
Srautha,
Grihya, Dharma sutras
|
Vaisheshika Darshanam
|
Dhanurveda (Yaj)
|
Vyakaranam
|
Panini’s
ashtadhyayi & Patanjali’s Mahabhashyam (Grammar)
|
Nyaya Darshanam
|
Gandharvaveda (Sam)
|
Niruktham
|
Yaska
Maharshi (Etymology)
|
Yoga Darshanam
|
Arthaveda (Atharv)
|
Chandas
|
Pingala
Maharshi’s Chandasutra
|
Sankya Darshanam
|
|
Jyothisham
|
Suryasiddhantam,
khagloashastram, bijaganitham, nakshatrashastram
|
Mimamsa (Uthara) Vedanta
Darshanam
|
|
What are the Shadd Darshanas?
They are the 6 shastras that gives
details about topics ranging from the origins of the world to that of matters
pertaining decoding human spiritual mysteries.
The list of Maharshis who complied the darshanas and the respective
subjects covered in each darshana are given below:
Name
|
Rishi
|
Subject
|
Mimamsa (Purva)
|
Jaimini Maharshi
|
|
Vaisheshika Darshanam
|
Kanada Muni
|
|
Nyaya Darshanam
|
Gauthama Muni
|
|
Yoga Darshanam
|
Pathanjali Ashtanga Yogam
|
Adyayam 1
Adyayam 2
Adyayam 3
Adyayam 4
|
Sankya Darshanam
|
Kapila Muni
|
|
Vedanta Darshanam (Uthara Mimamsa)
|
Badrayan Vyasan
|
What are Bramhanam, Upanishad, Puranas, and Ithihasas?
These are scriptures that
followed the Holy Veda samhitas. All
vedas and veda shakhas have brahmanas which are interpretations of revered Maharshis
like Yagyavalkya and Utharan composed for helping layman understand the Vedas.
Bramhanam
Bramhan means the ultimate
truth, and one that interprets the bramhan are the bramhanas. Bramhanas are the derivations or definitions
of the veda mantras which are in codified form.
Sage Sayanan says in Thaithreya Samhita thus.. “ethad
vai bramhanam somya pitya pitaye ithi mantrasya vyakhyane ruptwad bramhane.”
Similar definition of the bramhanas are
given also by Panini as in “tasya vyakhyn ith cha vyakhyathavya namnah”
Ashtadhyayi 4.3.66
Bramhanas
|
Vedas
|
Ithreya
|
Rig
|
Shathapatha
|
Yajur
|
Samam/Thandyamahabramhanam
|
Sama
|
Gopatham
|
Atharva
|
Upanishad
The word upanishad is
constructed from three words, upa=close to, ni=commitment, sad=be seated and
would mean the wisdom gained being seated close to the guru. Upanishads are their brief commentaries that
is best learned from the guru. The role
of a teacher to help understand the upanishads better is given paramount
importance, “acharya dhy vidya didhita
sadhishtam prapyathithi” Chandogyopanishad 4.9.3 and “tadvignyanartham sa gurumevabhigatchathe....” Mundokopanishad 1.2.12.
Over the years the number of
upanishads have swelled to 1008 in total, but only the first 11 have a
continuum of being taught way back to the ancient times and they are mentioned
in the Muktikopanishad 1.30 as “isha-kena-kata-prashna-mandu-mandukyathithiri
ithriyam cha chandogyam brihadaranyakam thatha..” apart from the shwethashwetharopanishad.
Puranas
Puranas are the mythical
expositions of spiritual concepts, attributing the myths and legends to the
Devatas or deities. These are the most
latest texts in Indian mythology, which revolve around individuals in mortal
and immortal form, who supposedly possessed divine powers and enacted divine
endeavors which had moral lessons that common man could imbibe. The Puranic literature wove
with the Bhakti movement in India, and both Dvaita and Advaita scholars have
commented on the underlying Vedanta themes in the Maha Puranas.
The Puranas are the Indian
equivalent of the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc.
Aaranyakam
The Aranyakas,
"wilderness texts" or "forest treaties", were composed by
people who meditated in the woods as recluses and are the third part of the
Vedas. The texts contain discussions and interpretations of ceremonies, from
ritualisitic to symbolic meta-ritualistic points of view. It is frequently read in secondary
literature.
What is chandas?
Chandamsi chadnath (niruktham
7.12) means once that envelops.
Wisdom becomes known to us
through words, and words are formed by alphabets. Chandas is the rule that envelops a word that
gives it its correct and desired meaning.
Words and pada
Name
|
Alphabets
|
Padam
|
|
Gayathri
|
24
|
3
|
8+8+8
|
Ushnik
|
28
|
3
|
8+8+12
|
Anushtub
|
32
|
4
|
8+8+8+8
|
Bruhathi
|
36
|
4
|
8+8+12+8
|
Pankthi
|
40
|
5
|
8+8+8+8+8
|
Trishtub
|
44
|
4
|
11+11+11+11
|
Jagathi
|
48
|
4
|
12+12+12+12
|
What is Devata, Deva, and Ishwara?
Devata are concepts glorified
by the mantras of the Holy Vedas. In
being so, Gayathri chandhas is a devata, and it is also defined by the experts
of vedas of ancient days, that this cosmic phenomena are subjected to the
textual concepts of ancient seers.
Devata
|
Numbers
|
Facet
|
Vasu
|
8
|
Pranan, apanan, vyanan,
udanan, samanan,nagan,kurman,krukalan, devadattan, dhanajayan.
|
Rudra
|
11
|
10 prana, 1 jeevathma
|
Indra
|
1
|
|
Prajapathy
|
1
|
That manifestation which shone all divine facets, worthy of thus being called the supreme devata, is the Ishwara.
Who can learn the Vedas?
We tend to pose this question because
our intellect is clouded by western concepts of religion as well as due to our
misconceptions about caste system, but according to the Vedas anyone who is a
sincere seeker of wisdom should learn it.
Access to the Vedas are not limited to any particular nation, religion,
caste, or gender.
Women should also practice all
rituals of vedic life. Holy Vedas do not
restrict women from practicing/participating in vedic rituals. In fact, vedas do not forbade women from
rituals even during their periods. The Vedas says.. Yademaam kalyani avadanim..
"The universe is the
outpouring of the majesty of God, the auspicious one, radiant love. Every face
you see belongs to Him. He is present in everyone without exception." -
says the Yajur Veda.
"The Lord (The Divine) is
enshrined in the hearts of all." - says the Isha Upanishad 1 -1.
"In the depths of
meditation, sages (rishis), saw within themselves the Lord of Love, who dwells
in the heart of every creature." -
says the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. 1 - 3.
How to lead a Vedic life?
A man who dedicates himself to
the teachings of the Vedas, has to open his mind and realize that he is part of
the created, man and the cosmos around him. Without attempting to patiently understand this world and men around us, realization of God can never be complete. We need to shake off falsehoods that a man of another religion/faith will be discriminated by God. Vedic prayers (Upasana) and Rituals (Shodasha Samskara) are reminders that keeps a man grounded to this reality and hence closer to the Truth.
Does Holy Vedas promote idol worship?
Idol worship came to India
from the lands of Babylonia. It spread iconoclasm around the world by the inspiration
of a Babylonian occultist, named Semiramis, who passionately spread idol
worship to India through her mercenaries.
In the Vedas, we cannot find any word or sentence that support the idea
of idol worship. Yajur Veda very clearly says...Na Tasya Pratima Asti...
Monotheism in the Vedas
All Vedas are dealing with
monothesitic aspect of Godism, because all vedas unanimously say that god is
one, but that intellectuals call itself in many different names ... Ekam Sat Viraph Bahuda Vadanti. We call itself as Ahura Maza, Jehova, Ywhw, Eloheim,
Allah, and as Parabramha. The Rig Veda says... Sa Esha Eko Raja..
What is the importance of Yagna in Vedic life?
The Vedas describe the connect between Man and his Nature and the duty of Man to sustain and nourish nature. Vedas prescribe that the Yagnas be conducted by offering 64 chosen herbal medicines to the sacrificial fire that help nourish Man and his Nature. Daily yagna motivates man to reaffirm this divine duty. It therefore requires that every man, to this end, has to part take in Yagna, to achieve swarga....the Holy Veda prescribe that Yagna be done by everyone who yearns to achieve swarga irrespective of age, gender, color, or class.
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