An Introduction to Vedic Religion Part 1

The Vedic corpus and literature interests me tremendously especially that of the Rg Veda. Having read the principal Upanishads earlier, I focused my attention to Vedic religion and the underlying thought; more so because several fundamental tenets of Hindu philosophy have their source in one of the four Vedas. The word “Veda” itself derives from the Sanskrit root, “vid” which simply means “to know” or “to understand”.

The great Rşhi Dirghatamas Auchetya speaks about the home of the Vedas in the Rg Veda at 1.164.39 as follows:

“ऋचो अक्षरे परमे व्योमन् यस्मिन् देवा अधि विश्वे निषेधुः”

“The riks abide in an immutable supreme ether (“parame vyoman”) where are seated all the Gods”.

The Rşhi or Rşhikā received the revelation of wisdom from this plane (“parame vyoman”) when he/she was in a superconscient state. They simply transcribed it into verses or mantrās with appropriate words and metres.

I believe that the Vedas are the only surviving records of the experiences of our forefathers in their spiritual journey – a record which also contains several detailed “clues”, for want of a more appropriate word, about the nature of the path to be followed so that each and every one of us may aspire to and ultimately achieve a state of all-rounded perfection and super-conscience.

This is the goal of the Veda – the all round perfection and state of consciousness – progressing upward from experience to experience finally culminating in the the Supreme Sat Chit Ananda, the triple divine worlds, the highest of which is "satya lokam" – the source of lasting peace.

Vedic thought then centrally concerns itself with the attainment of this state of immortal good and felicity and the underlying journey. This journey that we undertake towards this Vast Righteous Truth is the Vedic sacrifice – a climb from one spiritual mountain to the next, a long and arduous toil to finally arrive at the great waters of light and infinite beatitude.

I will write more about the central concepts of Vedic thought gradually.

आ नो भद्राः क्रत्तवो यन्तु विश्वतः

Peace
S

While I Was Away

The last two weeks have been quite restful. Nandita and I were on vacation, holidaying in Malaysia. We based ourselves in Kuala Lumpur and went on day trips to nearby Genting and Cameron Highlands. Which leads me to reflect on the manner in which this little country has aggresively promoted itself as a tourist destination and has built the infrastructure to boot. This is not a rant about our lack of ability but one cannot but help wistfully wonder when India will be in a position to similarly offer its sights and sounds to the rest of the world.

While I was away, India's first woman president was sworn in to office: A great step ahead for our nation, only I wish the candidate was someone worthy enough to fill Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's shoes. Instead, we are saddled with Pratibha Patel - someone I believe is a puppet's puppet. I am interestedly watching the events in Goa - re: the touted collapse of the Congress Government and BJP's claim to power - unfold and see how she deals with it.

Oscar Wilde rightly said, "To exercise power costs effort and demands courage. That is why so many fail to assert rights to which they are perfectly entitled - because a right is a kind of power but they are too lazy or too cowardly to exercise it. The virtues which cloak these faults are called patience and forbearance." It is thanks to our sense of misplaced "patience" and "forbearance" that has lead to the election of a set of intermediaries who have today compromised the post of our First Citizen.

In other news, I managed to catch one of Dr. Kalam's last public appearances - at the Ramnath Goenka Memorial Debate where the topic being discussed was "Is Excellent Journalism Bad Business?" He made a few observations about the role of the media in nation building - the articles that media should carry in print that will inspire our youth to emulate as well as the importance of a value system in building a nation. V. V. true. I believe this is a responsibility that starts and ends within each home and family - if we deplore the state of affairs in our country today, it is because we have all had an invisible tangible role to play in its getting there.

I will miss this gentleman - for the dignity, humanity and outreach that he brought to this highest office - and the wonderful way in which he served for us. God bless him.

And while I am in a quotable quotes mood, here's one from Bruno Jasienski, "Do not fear your enemies. The worst they can do is kill you. Do not fear friends. At worst, they may betray you. Fear those who do not care; they neither kill nor betray, but betrayal and murder exists because of their silent consent."

We have today become a nation of people who do not care. Shame on us!!!