VEDAS
The Vedic statement ananta vai Vedaha means Vedas are infinite.
Sage Bharadwaja-An interesting episode:
To illustrate this we have an interesting episode in Kaataka Prasna appearing in the Yajur Veda. With the blessing of Lord Indra, Sage Bharadwaja performed Veda adhyayana for three life spans. Pleased by this, Eswara appeared before him and granted him a boon. Sage Bharadwaja requested the Lord to grant him yet another lifespan so that he could complete adhyayana of the rest of the Vedas. Eswara smiled and showed him a mountain that comprised the Vedas, took three handfuls of soil from the mountain and told the Sage “this is all you have learnt so far”. This was only to show the sheer magnitude of the Vedas and the near impossibility of mastering them even with all the time at one's command.
The Vedas are four in number. :
This may appear confusing when we regard the volume of the Vedas as infinite. The numbering of Vedas as four and the classification is by taking lakshana or characteristic and not grantha or the letter as the criterion. Sri Veda Vyasa classifies the Vedas into:
1. Rig Veda
2. Yajur Veda (Krishna & Shukla)
3. Sama Veda
4. Atharva Veda
Generally each Veda is a combination of the following groups of texts:
1. Samhitai
2. Braahmana
3. Aaranyaka
4. Upanishads
1. Samhitai is the mantra portion of the Vedas, and is considered
as the main text of the Vedas.
2. Braahmana is elucidation of the practices and main mantras.
It classifies the Vedic rituals and duties, and delineates the methods of performing them.
3. Aaranyaka offers deeper meaning and gives the philosophy of the first two parts.
4. Upanishads form the part of Jnana Kanda. These give marga or guidance for those seeking liberation and salvation. Upanishads are philosophical in nature. While there is some difference of opinion on the exact number of Upanishads, 10 of them, listed below, are considered very important
as they have Bashyas of Sankara, the earliest commentaries available.
The names of these 10 Upanishads and the Vedas to which they belong are given hereunder:
Rig Veda : Aitareya Upanishad
Krishna Yajur Veda : Taittiriya Upanishad, Kathopanishad *
Shukla Yajur Veda : Isa Upanishad, Brahadaranyaka Upanishad
Sama Veda : Kena Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad
Atharva Veda : Mundaka Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad Mandukya Upanishad
* Here Maha Narayana Upanishad also is added acording to one sampradaya.
Of the many many branches of the four Vedas we have at present only 10 branches in practice. Even among these 10 branches, the painful truth is that only 7 branches are actively taught in pathashalas throughout India. The reality is even more depressing: the study of the Vedas is on the wane.
The question that arises and must be answered is: what is the role, in preserving the Vedas, of those born as Brahmins and entrusted with the propagation of knowledge?
Vedas and God
All Vedas solemnly affirm: Sarve Vedaha yatraikam bhavanti
(Taittiriya Aaranyaka) i.e., all the Vedas meet and mingle in the Lord. And hence it becomes clear that Vedas and God are not different.
The Vedas declare that it does not matter if you see the God in one form or another, and worship Him in one way or another. You can still reach Him and realize the Ultimate Truth, the Supreme Being.
Can you find this all-encompassing sentiment in any other religious literature?
=============================================================================================================================
Excerpts from the chapter 'Veda Prabhavam' from the english book titled THE GREAT HINDU TRADITION, released by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati which wasauthored by Sarma Sastrigal.([email protected])
The Vedic statement ananta vai Vedaha means Vedas are infinite.
Sage Bharadwaja-An interesting episode:
To illustrate this we have an interesting episode in Kaataka Prasna appearing in the Yajur Veda. With the blessing of Lord Indra, Sage Bharadwaja performed Veda adhyayana for three life spans. Pleased by this, Eswara appeared before him and granted him a boon. Sage Bharadwaja requested the Lord to grant him yet another lifespan so that he could complete adhyayana of the rest of the Vedas. Eswara smiled and showed him a mountain that comprised the Vedas, took three handfuls of soil from the mountain and told the Sage “this is all you have learnt so far”. This was only to show the sheer magnitude of the Vedas and the near impossibility of mastering them even with all the time at one's command.
The Vedas are four in number. :
This may appear confusing when we regard the volume of the Vedas as infinite. The numbering of Vedas as four and the classification is by taking lakshana or characteristic and not grantha or the letter as the criterion. Sri Veda Vyasa classifies the Vedas into:
1. Rig Veda
2. Yajur Veda (Krishna & Shukla)
3. Sama Veda
4. Atharva Veda
Generally each Veda is a combination of the following groups of texts:
1. Samhitai
2. Braahmana
3. Aaranyaka
4. Upanishads
1. Samhitai is the mantra portion of the Vedas, and is considered
as the main text of the Vedas.
2. Braahmana is elucidation of the practices and main mantras.
It classifies the Vedic rituals and duties, and delineates the methods of performing them.
3. Aaranyaka offers deeper meaning and gives the philosophy of the first two parts.
4. Upanishads form the part of Jnana Kanda. These give marga or guidance for those seeking liberation and salvation. Upanishads are philosophical in nature. While there is some difference of opinion on the exact number of Upanishads, 10 of them, listed below, are considered very important
as they have Bashyas of Sankara, the earliest commentaries available.
The names of these 10 Upanishads and the Vedas to which they belong are given hereunder:
Rig Veda : Aitareya Upanishad
Krishna Yajur Veda : Taittiriya Upanishad, Kathopanishad *
Shukla Yajur Veda : Isa Upanishad, Brahadaranyaka Upanishad
Sama Veda : Kena Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad
Atharva Veda : Mundaka Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad Mandukya Upanishad
* Here Maha Narayana Upanishad also is added acording to one sampradaya.
Of the many many branches of the four Vedas we have at present only 10 branches in practice. Even among these 10 branches, the painful truth is that only 7 branches are actively taught in pathashalas throughout India. The reality is even more depressing: the study of the Vedas is on the wane.
The question that arises and must be answered is: what is the role, in preserving the Vedas, of those born as Brahmins and entrusted with the propagation of knowledge?
Vedas and God
All Vedas solemnly affirm: Sarve Vedaha yatraikam bhavanti
(Taittiriya Aaranyaka) i.e., all the Vedas meet and mingle in the Lord. And hence it becomes clear that Vedas and God are not different.
The Vedas declare that it does not matter if you see the God in one form or another, and worship Him in one way or another. You can still reach Him and realize the Ultimate Truth, the Supreme Being.
Can you find this all-encompassing sentiment in any other religious literature?
=============================================================================================================================
Excerpts from the chapter 'Veda Prabhavam' from the english book titled THE GREAT HINDU TRADITION, released by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati which wasauthored by Sarma Sastrigal.([email protected])
