Veda gyan
Issue 4
Welcome to the fourth issue of Veda gyan.
All Brahmacharis after upanayana, the sacred thread ceremony perform a number of daily rituals. They are Abhivadhanam, Sandhyavandhanam, Samithadhanam, and Pranahuti (Parishechanam).
Now let us learn what these rituals are in brief.
Abhivadhnam : This is recited whenever a person doing a namaskaram prostrate before another, that is informing his lineage (descentant) of which Rishi , Veda saka or branch, which Sutra code of conduct he follows, and the name that has been given to him by his parents.
Sandhyavandhanam : This ritual is performed three times a day that is, in the morning, noon and in the evening.
During this, the Brahmachari prays to Lord Surya to give him shining intellect, good health, the bliss (The knowledge of GOD),
Excellent personality etc. He also learns the basic yoga called Pranayama and contemplates on GOD.
Samithadhanam : This ritual is an offering to three levels of consciousness and the forces of nature through Fire God (Agni).
At the end of this ritual the Brahmachari adorns the ash from the fire offering, as symbol of protection, reciting the names of Rishis. Here also he prays for his good health, wealth, knowledge etc.
Pranahuti : This sloka is recited while partaking food during morning and night (Only when fresh cooked rice is taken).
The prayer dedicates the food to the different vital airs that function within our body maintaining the rhythm and also to the GOD who resides within.
We saw that while doing namaskara the Abhivadhanam is done. While reciting this Brahmachari informs about the Sutra or the code of conduct rules authored by a particular Rishi that is followed by him. Now in this issue let us know about the Rishi named Aapasthambha whose codebook is followed by many.
Rishi Aapasthambha : Author of Apasthamba Sutra.
This maharishi must have existed before Panini (The great grammarian) and Pathanjali (The great Yoga exponent). Other Rishis like Jaimini,Yagyavalkya mention about this Rishi so he must be prior to them in time. Only this much we could learn about his time! But his works have survived to this day!
He has written Srowtha Sutram, which explains the yagna methods of Yajur Veda, Grhya Sutram that explain the rules of various karmas (Works) to be performed by Brahmachari, and Grhasta (Married). They include all karmas right from the birth of a child upto the death of an individual!
He has also written Sulpa Sutra that explains the method of constructing the yagna salas (Altar) and is an excellent exposition of his mathematical skill! Even the western scientists agree that geometry spread through this work around the world. Von Schrader a famous German author declares that Pythagoras learnt geometry about 2550 years ago through these works!
Apasthambha in his works he has addressed a very important question of a commoner that is ‘If one has to adhere to these codes of conduct expecting a benefit, after his death, which he is not aware of today, then what is the use of these rules?’
The Rishi gives both tangible and intangible benefits that accrue to those who follow these rules.
He covers all classes of society. The codes cover politics, society, students, teaching community, the animal kingdom, labour issues, and social evils. It is a very comprehensive work encompassing every possible situation in dynamic society of modern day!
Now a story to pep up!
There was a Brahman living at the edge of a forest that he used to frequent, for cutting wood for his daily use. One day on his routine trip to that forest he went near a tree to cut some of its branches. Brahman also possessed a mill where he would grind oil seeds and take oil and sell it to the nearby villagers. While he raised his axe to cut the tree branches, a Pisacha or a ghost jumped to the ground and requested him not to cut that tree because it resides therein. In return of this the ghost assured to get him a bag full of grains every morning!
The Brahman agreed and the ghost too kept up its word providing him the bag full of grains every day! Alas! The ghost was perplexed as the hunt for grains proved futile day by day. It had exhausted all the fields in the forest and now was forced to look to other nearby villages also. In the process the ghost was so tired and forgot his daily food!
One day the ghost was sitting on the tree while another ghost arrived and saw this forlorn ghost and enquired about what happened to it. The Ghost explained the whole story of his to the new ghost. The new one took pity on the old one and said that he could suggest a good plan to kill the Brahman and get relief on a condition that the new ghost would be allowed to reside on the same tree along with the old one!
The old one readily agreed and both of them went to the Brahman’s house in the night and hid themselves in the cowshed!
Waiting for the opportunity to grab the poor Brahman and eat him up! Just about that time the Brahman arrived with a new bull into the cow shed and started beating it and shouting and calling the bull as Pisacha the ghost! He even threatened to kill the bull in one stroke of his cane! Listening to all these both the real ghosts were totally terrified and shaken. The new ghost could not bear it any longer and jumped down from where he was hiding and confessed to their wicked plan of killing the Brahman! And pleaded with him to spare them and assured him that he would get a barrel of oil every day saving the Brahman a lot of labour!
The Brahman quickly gathered his wits and spoke to the ghost in a stern voice and advised them not to be foolish in their life trying to kill him. They readily agreed and went away and also kept their word! Imagine their plight!
Yagnas
In the yester years our forefathers have been performing a number of yagnas or sacrifices in a ritual form.
It is quite natural and also rational to question their validity in today’s context. Let us know them a little more.
Yagnas or Yagas are many, and they are divided into Agnihotras, Havir Yagnas, Bhaga Yagnas, Soma yagas and Istis.
Agnihotra is
1. Agniyadhanam
2. Darsapournamasa
3. Pinda pitr yagnas
4. Akrayanam
5. Chaturmasya
6. Nirudapasubhandam
Havir Yagnas is:
1.Southramani
Bhaga Yagnas :
1. Aupasanam
2. Vaiswadevam
3. Sthalibhagam
4. Akrayanam
5. Sarpabali
6.Isanabali
7.Ashtakanvashtaka
Soma Yagas
1. Agnishtomam
2. Adagnishtomam
3. Ukthyam
4. Shodasi
5. Vachapeyam
6. Abthoryamam
Ishtis and others
1.Sarvatomukham
2. Rajasuyam
3. Poundarikam
4. Abichit
5. Visvajit
6.Asvamedha
7.Brhaspatisavam
8.Putrakama etc.
Nowadays we do not get any opportunity to witness these yagnas being performed as the entire way of life has undergone a thorough change. Earlier the life was intertwined with spirituality and society had to be taken care as the King was responsible for material as well as spiritual well being of his subjects. So he performed a number of yagnas himself and also made others perform them because they assured both material and spiritual benefits to the subjects. Yagnas are always preceded by a lot of Dhanas like Anna Dhana, Vastra or cloth Dhana, Dravya or riches Dhana etc., which took care of various categories of people, including the old, sick, women, and children and the downtrodden.
Bye now! See you all in the next issue.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Veda gyan
Issue 3
In the last issue we decided to discuss further about Smrtis. We also knew that Smrtis are code of conduct books compiled by Rishis. There are also Sutras which serve the same purpose compiled by Rishis.
Smrtis are as follows:
1. Manu Smrti
2. Parasara Smrti
3. Yagnavalkya Smrti
4. Harita Smrti
5. Apasthamba Smrti
6. Atri Smrti
7. Angirasa Smrti
8. Yama Smrti
9. Usana Smrti
10. Gothama smrti
11. Sanka Smrti
12. Likhita Smrti
13. Satapata Smrti
14. Samvada Smrti
15. Daksha Smrti
16. Brhaspati Smrti
17. Prachetas Smrti
18. Vishnu Smrti
We shall discuss about Sutras in later issues.
The story of Kabirdas a great devotee of Lord Rama.
Kabirdas was born in Kasi and was brought up by a Muslim family. His father was Dhamal and Jiji bai his mother .The divine couple were living in kasi and were not blessed with a child. Being sorrowful they prayed to God to give them a child to their surprise Dhamal found a child on the banks of Ganga! He brought the child home and the two were happy.
Kabirdas from his childhood was very devoted to lord Vishnu and was attracted to his forms. Though his father and mother and his other relatives tried to convince him to adopt the Islamic way of life somehow he persuaded them to put up with his own way of doing things. Their family earned their living through weaving silk cloth! Once Kabir’s mother gave him a piece of cloth to be sold in the market so that she could get some money to run the family. Kabir took the cloth to the market but never wanted to sell it instead wanted to offer it to lord Rama! At that time an old man approached Kabir and asked him for that cloth and also offered to pay him. Kabir refused to sell. The old man immediately picked up a quarrel with Kabir and soon a crowd gathered around them. Both of them argued. He even told the people around that Kabir has offered to give him the cloth free! Kabir got frustrated and tore the cloth into two pieces and gave one half to him. The old man in return gave kabir only some pebbles! And spoke at length about doing dhana (donate). This speech made Kabir think deeply about it. Just about that time a Muslim Fakir came to Kabir and asked for the rest of the piece of cloth .Now Kabir had determined not to sell it at all. He started running towards his home. The Fakir chased him and finally he reached Kabir’s house and told Kabir’s mother that he asked for a cloth and Kabir had given it to a Brahmin and also spoke in an insulting manner and had hid himself in the house. Hearing this Jijibai felt ashamed and was furious and decided enough is enough. She told the Fakir that she would hand over Kabir to him to be punished. She searched and chased him and finally managed to catch him and gave him a severe beating!
To every one’s surprise all of them including the Fakir and other citizens of Kasi felt the beating. At the same time Lord Vishnu appeared in front of Jijibai and requested her to stop being harsh to Kabir. She realised the real nature of Kabir and prayed to lord to forgive her.
Kabir wanted to learn the scriptures from a guru named Ramananda, who had an ashram at Kasi; he would go to his ashram every day and wait outside his door. But Ramananda did not accept Kabir as a student. Finally Kabir decided to lie down on the steps leading to the river Ganga where Ramananda comes during twilight to take bath. Kabir succeeded in his effort and Ramananda as expected stepped on Kabir!
Kabir immediately shouted the name of lord Rama and pleaded to accept him as a disciple. Though Kabir was accepted as a student he was not admitted inside his ashram because he was not a Hindu!
One day Kabir waiting outside the ashram to be taught as usual saw his master performing a manasa pooja (performing a pooja only in the mind) behind a curtain to lord Rama. He had finished his pooja and adorned the lord with his crown. Only then he realised that he had missed a garland out and tried to put it around the lord’s neck but the crown did not allow it. But once the crown had been placed on lord it should not be removed immediately. Ramadasa felt very upset. Keeping the garland aside he completed the pooja and opened the screen and saw Kabir standing there. Kabir told him that he could still adorn the lord with the garland by untying the knot in the garland! This startled Sri Ramananda and immediately he realised the greatness of Kabir and from that day onwards Kabir was allowed inside his ashram to learn.
Now some tit bits!
Yad dhitamavigyatam nigadenaiva sabdyate|
Anagnaniva sushkaidh: na tajalati karhichit||
The above sloka states that ‘Even though the log is dry without fire it will not glow on its own’. Likewise a person may be intelligent but he requires the will to learn, only then he will become an intellectual.
Stanurayam bharavah:kilabhut adhitya vedam na vijanati yo artham|
Yo arthagyait sakalam badram asnute nakameti sa vidhutapapma||
The above sloka states weight bearing stone (meant for keeping the luggage along side the highway) does not know what is kept over it (be it chandan or cowdung) so is the person who does not know the meaning of what one learns. Those who know the meaning attain all mangala (merits)
A great scientist and philosopher of recent times from Japan called Yukava (1966) said that the world consists of infinite number of discrete (separate) elements of space called elementary domains….Reality is given (understood) by the transfer or exchange of energy between those elementary domains.
A Chinese poet LiPo said the natural world provides all things with temporary residences and Time is a wayfarer (traveller) for hundreds of generations travelling among temporary residences!
What is Panchanga ?
Panchanga is what is known as almanac in English. This is the calendar of a year
Listing all celestial events with astronomical calculations specifying all stellar positions accurately. This is in vogue in our country from vedic age! Much before all discoveries of modern scientists!
Panchanga means a combination of Titi (number of the current day in lunar calendar), Vara (the week), Nakshatra (the star in prominence on that day), yoga (periods of time that are auspices),Karana (a sub division of time period).
This helped people in planning their work according to the most appropriate time. There is also some more interesting information that Panchangas give, for example the forecast of rain for the year, general trend of forces of nature upon the earth,and also the way the society in this yuga particularly in that year will function! They also give occurrences of solar and lunar eclipse.
The more interesting and amusing part of Panchanga is the depiction of the deity of the year! For instance the deity of Dharana varsha. That is the current year’s is Makara Sankaranti Devata. She is a combination of Man and a Women having two faces, three eyes, four mouths, red teeth, long tongue, eight hands two legs red matted hair. Her name is Misrakai. She comes in the beginning of the year after taking bath with a conch as a dipper and she wears leather clothing! (Compare fashion trends of today). She takes tambula and wearing silver ornaments, adorning kurukatti flowers bearing an iron vessel, enjoying chitranna (A kind of vegetable rice!), riding on a cock! Sporting spear, sword as weapons, playing flute (a wind instrument of music), having a winnow (a sifting tool used by farmers and housewives) as the umbrella, sporting an angry look turning her face westward and moving toward north arrives on the first Friday of the year! Look at the richness of description of the Devata. Like this each year a devata of that year arrives and oversees the conduct of events of that year. This is our ancient belief! Imagine the deity!
Issue 3
In the last issue we decided to discuss further about Smrtis. We also knew that Smrtis are code of conduct books compiled by Rishis. There are also Sutras which serve the same purpose compiled by Rishis.
Smrtis are as follows:
1. Manu Smrti
2. Parasara Smrti
3. Yagnavalkya Smrti
4. Harita Smrti
5. Apasthamba Smrti
6. Atri Smrti
7. Angirasa Smrti
8. Yama Smrti
9. Usana Smrti
10. Gothama smrti
11. Sanka Smrti
12. Likhita Smrti
13. Satapata Smrti
14. Samvada Smrti
15. Daksha Smrti
16. Brhaspati Smrti
17. Prachetas Smrti
18. Vishnu Smrti
We shall discuss about Sutras in later issues.
The story of Kabirdas a great devotee of Lord Rama.
Kabirdas was born in Kasi and was brought up by a Muslim family. His father was Dhamal and Jiji bai his mother .The divine couple were living in kasi and were not blessed with a child. Being sorrowful they prayed to God to give them a child to their surprise Dhamal found a child on the banks of Ganga! He brought the child home and the two were happy.
Kabirdas from his childhood was very devoted to lord Vishnu and was attracted to his forms. Though his father and mother and his other relatives tried to convince him to adopt the Islamic way of life somehow he persuaded them to put up with his own way of doing things. Their family earned their living through weaving silk cloth! Once Kabir’s mother gave him a piece of cloth to be sold in the market so that she could get some money to run the family. Kabir took the cloth to the market but never wanted to sell it instead wanted to offer it to lord Rama! At that time an old man approached Kabir and asked him for that cloth and also offered to pay him. Kabir refused to sell. The old man immediately picked up a quarrel with Kabir and soon a crowd gathered around them. Both of them argued. He even told the people around that Kabir has offered to give him the cloth free! Kabir got frustrated and tore the cloth into two pieces and gave one half to him. The old man in return gave kabir only some pebbles! And spoke at length about doing dhana (donate). This speech made Kabir think deeply about it. Just about that time a Muslim Fakir came to Kabir and asked for the rest of the piece of cloth .Now Kabir had determined not to sell it at all. He started running towards his home. The Fakir chased him and finally he reached Kabir’s house and told Kabir’s mother that he asked for a cloth and Kabir had given it to a Brahmin and also spoke in an insulting manner and had hid himself in the house. Hearing this Jijibai felt ashamed and was furious and decided enough is enough. She told the Fakir that she would hand over Kabir to him to be punished. She searched and chased him and finally managed to catch him and gave him a severe beating!
To every one’s surprise all of them including the Fakir and other citizens of Kasi felt the beating. At the same time Lord Vishnu appeared in front of Jijibai and requested her to stop being harsh to Kabir. She realised the real nature of Kabir and prayed to lord to forgive her.
Kabir wanted to learn the scriptures from a guru named Ramananda, who had an ashram at Kasi; he would go to his ashram every day and wait outside his door. But Ramananda did not accept Kabir as a student. Finally Kabir decided to lie down on the steps leading to the river Ganga where Ramananda comes during twilight to take bath. Kabir succeeded in his effort and Ramananda as expected stepped on Kabir!
Kabir immediately shouted the name of lord Rama and pleaded to accept him as a disciple. Though Kabir was accepted as a student he was not admitted inside his ashram because he was not a Hindu!
One day Kabir waiting outside the ashram to be taught as usual saw his master performing a manasa pooja (performing a pooja only in the mind) behind a curtain to lord Rama. He had finished his pooja and adorned the lord with his crown. Only then he realised that he had missed a garland out and tried to put it around the lord’s neck but the crown did not allow it. But once the crown had been placed on lord it should not be removed immediately. Ramadasa felt very upset. Keeping the garland aside he completed the pooja and opened the screen and saw Kabir standing there. Kabir told him that he could still adorn the lord with the garland by untying the knot in the garland! This startled Sri Ramananda and immediately he realised the greatness of Kabir and from that day onwards Kabir was allowed inside his ashram to learn.
Now some tit bits!
Yad dhitamavigyatam nigadenaiva sabdyate|
Anagnaniva sushkaidh: na tajalati karhichit||
The above sloka states that ‘Even though the log is dry without fire it will not glow on its own’. Likewise a person may be intelligent but he requires the will to learn, only then he will become an intellectual.
Stanurayam bharavah:kilabhut adhitya vedam na vijanati yo artham|
Yo arthagyait sakalam badram asnute nakameti sa vidhutapapma||
The above sloka states weight bearing stone (meant for keeping the luggage along side the highway) does not know what is kept over it (be it chandan or cowdung) so is the person who does not know the meaning of what one learns. Those who know the meaning attain all mangala (merits)
A great scientist and philosopher of recent times from Japan called Yukava (1966) said that the world consists of infinite number of discrete (separate) elements of space called elementary domains….Reality is given (understood) by the transfer or exchange of energy between those elementary domains.
A Chinese poet LiPo said the natural world provides all things with temporary residences and Time is a wayfarer (traveller) for hundreds of generations travelling among temporary residences!
What is Panchanga ?
Panchanga is what is known as almanac in English. This is the calendar of a year
Listing all celestial events with astronomical calculations specifying all stellar positions accurately. This is in vogue in our country from vedic age! Much before all discoveries of modern scientists!
Panchanga means a combination of Titi (number of the current day in lunar calendar), Vara (the week), Nakshatra (the star in prominence on that day), yoga (periods of time that are auspices),Karana (a sub division of time period).
This helped people in planning their work according to the most appropriate time. There is also some more interesting information that Panchangas give, for example the forecast of rain for the year, general trend of forces of nature upon the earth,and also the way the society in this yuga particularly in that year will function! They also give occurrences of solar and lunar eclipse.
The more interesting and amusing part of Panchanga is the depiction of the deity of the year! For instance the deity of Dharana varsha. That is the current year’s is Makara Sankaranti Devata. She is a combination of Man and a Women having two faces, three eyes, four mouths, red teeth, long tongue, eight hands two legs red matted hair. Her name is Misrakai. She comes in the beginning of the year after taking bath with a conch as a dipper and she wears leather clothing! (Compare fashion trends of today). She takes tambula and wearing silver ornaments, adorning kurukatti flowers bearing an iron vessel, enjoying chitranna (A kind of vegetable rice!), riding on a cock! Sporting spear, sword as weapons, playing flute (a wind instrument of music), having a winnow (a sifting tool used by farmers and housewives) as the umbrella, sporting an angry look turning her face westward and moving toward north arrives on the first Friday of the year! Look at the richness of description of the Devata. Like this each year a devata of that year arrives and oversees the conduct of events of that year. This is our ancient belief! Imagine the deity!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
"In this issue let us learn about the Authors who have written commentaries on Vedas.
The great sage Vedavyas grouped the Vedas into four major divisions for easy recitation and propagation. They are Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. Each Veda is divided into Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyakas,and Upanishads.
The Samhita portion contains prayers or riks, Brahmanas contain prose which explain the verses and also describes certain legends associated with the verses that add value to these verses ,the Aranyakas are the renderings of students who followed the method of Gurukula learning and mostly lived in the forests doing yoga and tapas or concentrating upon God in order to comprehend the concept of devine! Lastly the Upanishads are Vedanta portion of these scriptures, which are primarily philosophical works.
During the modern age the Vedas were once again taken up and commentaries were written. One such great author was Sayana. He was born in south India to Mayana couple and he had a brother called Madhava. Madhava was the first guru of Sayana.
Both worked in the court of Bukka I (1350-1379) and Harihara II (1379-1399).
Sayana belonged to hossala kannada Brahmin family and belonged to taitriya saka of
Krishna Yajur Veda and Bharadwaja gotra and bodayana sutra.
He has done great service to the mankind by writing commentary for all the Vedas and has also written a number of other books. He was an expert administrator, a grammarian, well versed in all the puranas and also an Ayurvedic doctor!
Now let us learn some more interesting facts!
There are 18 puranas, which are stories of different Gods they are:
- Matsya purana
- Markandeya purana
- Bhavishya purana
- Bagavata purana
- Brahma purana
- Brahmanda purana
- Brahmavaivartha purana
- Vamana purana
- Siva purana
- Varaha purana
- Vishnu purana
- Agni purana
- Narada purana
- Padma purana
- Linga purana
- Garuda purana
- Koorma purana and
- Skanda purana
There are also great works of Rishis, which are called Smrtis, or code of conduct helping the society to lead an orderly life covering all sections of people. There
are 18 smrtis, which shall be explained, in the next issue.
Now let us enjoy a short story!
Once upon a time the pundits of Veda were discussing the Vedas explaining the verses sitting under a tree called Suparna and Purasu in tamil.
At that time Lord Brahma came to them and took part in their discussions and explained difficult portions of Vedas to them. Some of them could follow some others could not. But to every ones surprise the tree had fully understood all that was discussed and also Brahma’s explanation to these Rishis. Lord immediately observed this and blessed that tree to remain in Brahmaloka.
Later while yagnas were being performed on the earth by Rishis, Brahma allowed the sapling of the tree to be brought to earth. From then onwards we use its leaf to offer ‘Ghee’ into the sacrificial fire. This happens even today!. These trees grow in plenty in the forests of Madyapradesh and are also found in other parts of our country!
Bye now and meet you all in the next issue.
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