An
Introduction to The Vedas An
Introduction to The Vedas
Every
religion, over centuries, has adopted a sacred text which the followers have taken as the
‘Revealed Text’ as having emanated from the Lord Supreme although such a text
might have come as commandments from the founder or prophet of that religion. While
followers of other religion have been able to identify a single text as their revealed
text, Hindus (the term, in the absence of a better term, used for followers of Sanaatana Dharma) are by and large confused as to
the answer for such a single text as their religious scripture or text. There is confusion
as to whether Ramaayana or Mahaabhaarata or other vedantic texts are to be
so referred. This confusion for Hindus is due to the absence of a basic religious
education pursued. There is no confusion as to the fact that our religion is not just
ritual, but means Dharma. Dharma is which, when
followed, will make us happy and contended. In order to know what is meant by the term Dharma we should refer to specific texts. These
texts are referred to as ‘Dharmapramaanaas’
or that which give true knowledge of Dharma. The fourteen major texts that are known as
the ‘Vidyaasthaanaas’ speak about true
Dharma as they enshrine Knowledge and Wisdom.
Angaani Vedasschatwaaro
meemaamsa nyaaya vistarah
Puraanam Dharmasaastramcha Vidyahyetaah
chaturdasa.
(Manu
Smruti)
Puraana Nyaaya
Meemaamsaa Dharma Saastraanga misritaah
Vedaahsthaanaanee
Vidyaanaam Dharmasya cha chaturdasa
(Yaagnyavalkya
Smruti)
This
means : four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Saama and Atharva);
the six auxiliaries to Vedas (Shad Vedaangaas,
viz., ‘Siksha’ or euphony and pronunciation; ‘Vyaakarnaa’ or grammar; ‘Chandas’ or meter; ‘Niruktha’ or etymology; ‘Jyotisha’ or astronomy; ‘Kalpa’ or procedure), (and four
supplements, Upaangaas, viz.,) ‘Meemaamsa’
or interpretation of Vedic texts; ‘Nyaaya’
or logic; ‘Puraana’ or mythology and ‘Dharma Saastraas’ which contain the
codes of conduct make up the fourteen seats
of Wisdom and Knowledge. The Sanskrit word Vidya,
Vidwaan etc. originate from the root ‘Vid’. The term Veda
has the same root. You may appreciate that the English words Wit and Wisdom have
all come from the same root! Simplistically put, Veda means ‘ Book of
Knowledge’. These texts not only give Wisdom but also the ultimate Knowledge and
hence are known as ‘Dharmasthaanaas’.
There are four more texts of wisdom which are just Vidyaasthaanas and not Dharmasthaanas; Ayurvedam (about health &
medicine), Arthasaastram (economics/statecraft),Dhanurvedam (on archery) and Gaandharvavedam ( on fine arts). These four are
called ‘Upavedas’ that help protect
the human physique and provide the basis for non-spiritual pleasure. These are necessary
for our practical living as opposed to the fourteen Dharmasthaanaas that help our
spiritual evolution to ultimate self-realization. Thus, these eighteen basic texts form
the core of our texts.
Many
of us might have heard the reference to Hinduism as ‘Vedic
religion’ - a religion which formed out of Vedas and which derives all its tenets
from Vedas. It is mind boggling to attempt to write a brief synopsis on Vedas as it defies
imagination - where to begin and what to narrate within a few pages. The topic, even the
introduction, is so expansive that it is difficult to lay down the preliminary details in
a few hundred sentences. The endeavor here is to briefly touch upon the fourteen Dharmasthaanas and delve mainly on the four Vedas and take up the (six) Angaas and (four) Upaangaas at a later date.
The
Vedas are called Anaadi, i.e., without a
beginning in terms of time. That is to say, anything previous to it or older than it did
not exist. This means it has existed at all times - even before the creation of the
Cosmos. How can the rational proof-demanding society accept this contention. Authorship is
a pre-requisite of any text and ordinary logic refuses to support the claim that a text
could have no author. However, the fact remains that the Universe, both the Phenomenal and
the Noumenal, extends far beyond ‘Space’ and ‘Time’, the two basic
devices and tools used by us to measure any phenomenon. Only some modes of this Universe
fall within space and time and are apprehended as physical universe by our conditioned and
limited consciousness. We do not and cannot see the limitless ocean, but can see only the
waves, wave fronts and froth in it. This
is a topic in itself and could consume reams
of paper even to delineate the convincing arguments that HH Sri Paramaachaarya
(68th pontiff of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Sankara Peetham, a Tapasvin of the highest spiritual
order (known as ‘ God who walked amidst us) had advanced in his lecturers. The theory
of vibrations, sound and creation, inadequacy of research and researchers in rushing to
assign an Age to Vedas by reference to Astronomy have all been elaborately explained by
the greatest legendary Sage. This can be taken as a specific topic another time. Instead
of totally avoiding the subject here, it would suffice to point to two important
references on the permanence of Vedas:
Vidyaaranya
who wrote the Veda Bhaashya ( commentary)
regarded his Guru as Iswara or God Himself and
reiterates the statement contained in Brihadhaaranyaka
Upanishad (2.4.10) that Rig,Yajur, Saama and
Atharva Veda forms are Iswara’s breath
‘Nishwasitham’ (exhalation of breath).
Lord
Krishna, the Gitaachaarya says in the Gita ( Ch. XV.15 ),
Vedaischa Sarvairahameva Vedyah -
“ I am the person who is to be known by all the Vedas ”. He never, however,
calls himself as one who made the Vedas but refers to himself as the subject of all
Vedanta - Vedaantakrit - and not as Vedakrit. He calls himself as Vedavit - one who knows all Vedas. Iswara and the Vedas have co-existed in His
absolute and conceptual state as described in the Vedanta, before He made himself and the
end product of Evolution, even before Creation.
It
has to be understood that the Vedas are vast and what we discuss today as Vedas is limited
in extent. Vedas themselves clearly state that Vedas
are verily endless
- ‘Anantaa vai Vedah’. Only a small
portion of the limitless Vedas got ‘revealed’ to the venerable Rishis as
‘vibrations’.
The
four Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Saama and Atharva, which
are believed to be vibrations in space absorbed by blessed Rishis (seers) and revealed to the mankind were
synthesized more than 5,000 years ago, probably, at
the beginning of this (Kali) Yuga, by Bhagawan Veda Vyaasa and consisted of 1,131 Saakhaas (recensions or branches), 21 in Rik, 101
in Yajus, 1000 in Saama and 9 in Atharva. They were preserved in the Parampara (line) of Rishis, viz., Paila, Vaishampaayana, Jaimini and Sumanthu, by oral tradition, from
father to son and guru (teacher) to sishya (disciple). Of late, the notion that education other than Vedic studies
alone would ensure a livelihood, has led to many in the line taking to secular studies,
resulting in many Vedic Saakhaas becoming unavailable for mortals today. Even amidst the
available Vedic scholars who are very few in number, those who can chant from memory could
be counted on one’s fingers. As of date, only 10 recensions are available, and thanks
to the efforts of Achaaryaas from the three major schools of our philosophy (Advaita, Vishishtaadvaita and Dvaita ) particularly
to Kanchi Paramachaaryaa (who lived 99 years
amidst us and revered by one and all as the ‘incarnation’ of Iswara), and a few
organizations which have been attempting to
keep the spirit for pursuit and learning of Vedas alive.
Mantras,
are revelations to the Great seers ( Rishis) who captured the vibrations of Vedas as such.
They are the Rishis to whom the Mantras are said to belong. They possessed the Divine ear
to hear those mantras. Yoga Saastra says that,
if the spatial expanse in the skies and the space, which exists in a microform in the mind
of the listener, are unified, all the otherwise inaudible and suspended sounds in space
will become audible to us. Those who feel in unison with all objects in creation can alone
feel the sound. ‘Rationalists’ should have no difficulty in admitting at least a
part of this explanation as many sounds (such as low and high frequency conversations of
various living beings) which were, hitherto, considered inaudible to human ears, are now
made audible with special scientific assistance. Suffice to say that Rishis brought forth
the mantras for the benefit of the world and did not create them. No praise is too high
for the Rishis who have blessed us with the mantras that were beyond our grasp.
By
definition, Mantra means that by repeatedly meditating upon which one is saved - Mananaath thraayathe’ ithi mantrah.
If one is to realize the correct import of, succeed with and get the fullest benefit from
the Mantras, there is a prescribed method for chanting them. The below mentioned (six)
methods of recitation are pronounced to be incorrect and
should be avoided.
Geetee
Seeghree Sirah kampee thathaa likhita paathakah
Anarthajnah
alpakantascha Shadaitay pathakaadhamaah
(Siksha Saashtra )
Geetee
is one who chants in a singsong fashion. Though Saamaveda is musically recited, it can be
recited only in the approved musical way and not as one pleases. Further, since the
sound and its variations have potency, recitation other than in the proper swara is not only improper but also harmful.
Seegree
is
one who chants in a quick tempo and ends the recitation quickly. The intonation should be
adhered to the time limits prescribed for uttering each word-sound. Sirahkampee is one who shakes and nods his head
needlessly while chanting.
Likhitapaathakah
is one reads from the written script. Vedas are otherwise known as ‘Sruti’ and should be learnt by ear from the oral
chanting by a competent teacher and committed to memory in the proper manner.
Anarthajnah
means
one who does not understand the meaning.
Alpakantha
is one who recites in a feeble voice. In order that the sound vibrations have good effect,
the sounds should be properly audible and not mumbled.
The
Vedic Tree and its Saakhaas
We
saw earlier that ‘Endless are the
Vedas’ , but what is available to us today are just 10 recensions or Vedic Saakhaas
(branches). Although we refer to Vedas as four in number, there are different versions and
differing methods of recitation of these four. These are called paathaantharam
or way of recitation and each such school of recitation or recension is called ‘ Saakha’. Each of these is a branch of the
Vedic tree. In each Saakha, there are three
portions called Samhita, Braahmana and Aaranyaka. This again is a classification.
When we speak of Veda adyayana, it is
generally a reference to the recitation of the Samhita
portion as Samhitaas are the foundation
of a Saakha. Samhita means that which has
been collected and arranged. It brings out the purport of a Veda and Samhitaas are
mantras systematically arranged. We will see about Braahmana
and Aaranyaka
after we briefly glance through the contents of the four Vedas.
Rig
Veda
The
whole of the Rig Veda Samhita is in the form verses ( slokaas - stanzas) and it may be
noted that Slokaa was earlier known as ‘Rik’ or a ‘hymn’ in praise.
Each Rik is a mantra and a number of Riks constitute a ‘Sookta’. The Samhita portion of Rig Veda contains 10,170 Riks grouped into 1028 Sooktaas and encompassed within 10 mandalas and 8 ashtakaas and these sooktaaas are in praise of all Devataas. The marriage rites that are being
followed today have originally been created on the pattern of the marriage of Sooryaa’s daughter, which is detailed in Rig
Veda. The cognoscente extol many portions in Rig Veda as masterpieces of poetic
composition. The action that Yajur Veda predicates and the musical recitation that Saama Veda dictates emerge from the basic Riks in Rig
Veda. Rig Veda itself contains references to Yajus
and Saama Vedas in many places. Purusha Sooktaa,
which appears in tenth mandala, nineteenth hymn
of Rig Veda, refers to the other Vedas as well. This should ,therefore, be able to clarify
the confusion of the modern researchers who are keen in assigning to Rig Veda a date
earlier than Yajur Veda , Saama Veda etc. As per our Saastraas, all the Vedas co-existed
with the Paramapurusha (Supreme Lord) at the beginning of all Creation. Aitareya Upanishad
that deals with the turmoil of a Jeeva
(soul) and
which teaches the method to cut away
from the cycle of Births and Deaths and emphasizes
that ‘the Thought (Prajnaana) itself is the Brahman’
appears at the end of the Aitareya Aaranyaka of Rig Veda.
Yajur
Veda
The
words Yajus and Yaj are derived from the root ‘yaj’, which means
worship. Just
as the word ‘Rig’ itself means a Hymn in praise, the word ‘ Yajus’
connotes spelling out the ritualistic procedure of the Yagna (sacrificial worship). Yajur Veda gives the mantras in Rig Veda
appearing in the form of hymns a practical shape in the form of Yajna. In addition to referring to many mantras in hymn
form from Rig Veda, Yajur Veda describes in prose the procedural details for the
performance of different Yagnas. Although Yajur Veda has several branches (Saakhaas), as in the other Vedas, it has two main
branches with numerous recensions in each branch. Those are called Sukla Yajur Veda and Krishna Yajur Veda.
As Rishi Yaajnavalkya is believed
to have learnt this Samhita from Sun God (Vaajasani),
this came to be known as Vaajasaneyi Samhita. The
earlier version of the Yajur Veda taught by Rishi Vaisampaayana came to be called as Krishna Yajur Veda. The glory of Yajur Veda lies in
its clear presentations of Vedic Karma or Rituals. The Taittareeya Samhita in Krishna
Yajur Veda makes Asvamedha Yajnaas such as Darsa Poornamasa, Somayaaga, Vaajapeya, and
Raajasooya, known to the world in all its grandeur of procedural details. Yajur Veda also contains rare hymns of praise
which are not contained in Rig Veda, such as the Sri
Rudram. Although five Sooktaas called ‘
Pancha Rudram’, find a place in Rig Veda, Sri Rudram of today refers only to that which is
contained in Yajur Veda. Over a period of time, a vast majority have come to follow the
Yajur Veda. While Sukla Yajur is the one
recension mostly followed in Northern India, Krishna
Yajur is prevalent school in South India.
Again, the Purusha Sookta of today generally
refers to the version that appears in Yajur Veda although it originally belonged to Rig
Veda. The three fold benefits of Yajna,
performance of a Yajna without desiring any results or reward as stated in Bhagavad Gita , and attaining total Bliss (Aananda) are
not taken up for discussion now due to space constraints. While Easaavaasya Upanishad comes from the Samhita
portion of Sukla Yajur Veda, Brahadaaranyaka Upanishad, the biggest of all
Upanishads appears a whole Aaranyaka of Sukla Yajus.
Taittareeya Upanishad which is the most widely studied of the ten Upanishads and which
contains mantras for most of the rituals (Karmaanushtaana)
appears in the Aaaranyaka portion of Krishna
Yajur Veda.
Saama
Veda
‘Saama’ means to bring peace to the minds
or ‘ Shaanti’. Many of the Riks or
mantras of Rig-Veda are set to music in melodious hymns in Saama Veda with lengthened notes. Saama Gaana can be said to be the basis and source
of the Sapta Swara (seven notes) concept
fundamental to Indian Music systems. Saama Gaana or
singing of the hymns as per rules of Saama Veda propitiates all Devataas. In Bhagavad
Gita, Lord Krishna Bhagavaan says ‘ Amongst Vedas, I am Saama
Veda’. What appears in the Chaandogya Braahmana
of Saama Veda is Chaandogya Upanishad.
‘Chaandoga’ means one who sings the
Saama Gaana. Chaandogya Upanishad mantras constitute the supreme authority (pramaana) for the Brahma Sutra of Veda Vyaasa. Kenopanishad also called as Talavakaara
Upanishad as it appears in Talavakaara Brahmana
of the Jaimini Saakha of Saama Veda.
Atharva
Veda
Atharva
means
a purohit (priest). This Rishi, called Atharvan brought the mantras in the Atharva Veda to
the world. The various types of mantras
contained in this Veda are designed to ward off evil and destroy the enemies. These
mantras are in prose as well as in verses. Some of the mantras found in this Veda pertain
to Devatas not mentioned in the other Vedas. The hymn, which extols the wonder of Creation
called the ‘Prithvi Sooktam’, appears
in Atharva Veda. Among the ten major Upanishads, ‘Prasna, Mundaka and Maandukya’ are
from this Veda. The importance of this Veda can be judged from the well known saying, for
a Mumukshu (or seeker after Truth), Maandukya Upanishad alone can ensure Moksha (Liberation).
The
Gaayatri to
which the young Brahmacharins are initiated during Upanayana
is called Tripaada Gaayatri, i.e. three
legged. It is so called since it has three limbs. Each limb is the essence of one Veda.
Atharva Veda has a Gaayatri of its own. Hence
the conventional rule to get initiated into Atharva
Gaayatri before learning Atharva Veda.
There
are very few who are today learned in the Atharva
Veda Saakha that were once very popular
in Northern India. There is, of course, no
pure Atharva Vedin prevalent in South India
today. Atharva Vedins are found in small numbers in Gujarat, Orissa and Nepal.
Braahmana
and
Aaranyaka
The
main text of a Veda, which we so far discussed, is its Samhita portion. Each Veda has two other parts
called Braahmana and
Aaranyaka. Braahmana lists what Vedic rituals and how they are to be performed.
The Braahmanas serve the purpose of a guidebook explaining each word for understanding to
ensure proper use of the mantra. Aaranyaka is
derived from Aranya (forest). While Samhita or
Braahmana do not advocate the observer to seek the solitude of the forest, the next step
after obtaining mental purity by observances of Karma is seeking solitude for further
concentration and meditation. Thus, Aaaranyaka portions of the Vedas are meant to explain
the inner meaning, the doctrine, contained in the Samhitas as mantras and in the
Braahmanas as Karmas. The Brihadhaaranyaka
Upanishad, which is a combination of
Aaranyaka and Upanishad explains Aswamedha Yajna
on such a note of analytical philosophy.
Upanishads
This
is a vast subject by itself. I have already mentioned about the ten Upanishads while
introducing the four Vedas. However, before I
conclude the introduction on Vedas, I must briefly touch upon this quintessence of Vedas.
If
Samhita is likened to a foundation of a
major branch, the Braahmanas are its flowers,
the Aaranyakas are its fruits in an unripened
state and the Upanishads
are the ripe fruits from the Veda Vriksham (Vedic
Tree). Although Upanishads contain references to various disciplines of learning,
sacrificial worship etc., the main theme of
all Upanishads is a philosophical inquiry dealing with that supreme state of mind with all
shackles destroyed. On this basis, the Vedas are divided into two divisions of pursuits -
one dealing with rituals/action called Karma Kaanda
and the other dealing with Knowledge called Jnaana
Kaanda. These are also referred to as Poorva Mimaamsa and Uttara Mimaamsa. While Maharishi Jaimini
concluded Karma Kaanda to be the fruit of Vedic philosophy, Sage Veda Vyaasa
concluded that Jnaana Kaanda was the quintessence of the Vedas and these he stated in
the form of aphorisms called
Brahma Sutra.
Upa-ni-shada
means
‘ to sit by the side’. What was taught by making the disciple sit by the side of
the teacher is the Upanishads. It is also taken to mean ‘ that which helps you reach
the side of or near “Brahmam”. The Upanishads permit dual interpretation as
above just as ‘Upanayana’ is interpreted both as ‘ leading to the
Guru’ and ‘leading to the Paramaatma’.
Upanishad is not for those who are not
mentally conditioned to absorb the teachings. Upanishads themselves say, when propounding
subtle Truths, “ This is Upanishad. This is Upanishad.”. That which is latent in
the Vedas is called Rahasya or secret. The
Upanishads are such confidential personalized instructions to those fit to receive them.
Adi Sankaraachaarya
selected ten of the Upanishads,
popularly known as Dasopanishads and wrote Bhaashya or commentary on them. He highlighted the
non-dualist (Advaita) doctrine propounded in
them. Ramaanujaacharya and Madhvaachaarya, who came later, also wrote
Bhaashyas on these very ten Upanishads but each of them emphasized their respective
doctrines, viz., Visishta-Advaita (qualified
non-dualism) and Dvaita (Dualism). Adi
Sankara’s commentary is in the following order of texts.
Eaasa Kena Kathaa Prasna Munda Maandukya Taithari
Aitareyam cha Chaandogyam Brahadhaaranyakam
Dasa
The
word Veda means ‘ to know’. The
Upanishads define Aatma as that by knowing which all things will have become known. The
goal of the Vedas is to make known that Aatma. Whether
it is the Karma, which comes in the beginning, or knowledge (Jnaana) which comes at the end, the Central theme
is to know the Iswara - Brahman - Aatma.
Epilogue
The
unusual characteristics of the Vedas are: 1)
they are without a beginning (Anaadi) , (2) they
have no human authorship (apourusheya), and (3)
they are at the root of all creation. The greatness of Vedas are something more than
these. The sound while chanting them activates our nerve centers and also affects the
atmosphere, resulting in individual as well as collective well being of the world.
Collective well being extends beyond humanity and encompasses the well being of animals
and plants as well. Latest research in the field of music has found that mere delineation
of ragas or musical notes help cure diseases and
help promote growth of vegetation and high yields of fruits and vegetables. The
outstanding feature of the Vedas, therefore, lies in the fact that the sound of the
mantras by itself when chanted, has a meaning, apart from the words which are also full of
meaning. Vedas contain injunctions for ensuring the well being in this world and the world
to come. It guides the actions of a person from the moment of birth to the moment of death
and thereafter ensure salvation. It does not stop at individual salvation. How should the
society behave, what are the duties of the common man, how should a country be governed, what should be the conduct
of men and women - all these aspects have been presented in a codified form in the Vedas.
This is the prime reason why we should refer to our religion as a ‘code of
conduct’ - lacking in dogma - ‘ Sanaatana Dharma’ and not as ‘Hinduism’ coined by the
invaders and which reference, unfortunately, has come to stay.
All
the four Vedas , although differing in certain observances or precepts or modes of
recitations, have a common goal and that is
to ensure the well being of the Universe and to help every one towards spiritual progress.
The most admired feature of the Vedas is that no Veda says, ‘this is the only way or
this is the only God’. All of them repeat that any good path followed with Faith and
Loyalty, irrespective of the Devata you worship or the form or the method of worship, will
lead the worshipper to the True and Ultimate Goal. While every other religion in the world
says that its Doctrine alone is capable of leading the followers to Heaven, The Vedas
alone have such a unique Vision to say that the same Truth can be realized in many ways by
those pursuing diverse routes. This is the uniqueness or greatness of Vedas.