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.