WHAT ARE VEDAS
Vedas are the most Ancient, Scientific, Philosophical, Mystical and Esoteric scripture of the world –declares UNESCO. Vedas are revealed wisdom, not written or composed. They got revealed intuitively to the austere Rishis who were of high moral and spiritual order in their tapas. They actually heard and saw these Vedic truths revealed to them by nature, the Almighty. They only spontaneously out-poured their esoteric feelings as they saw and heard and they were heard by other Rishis and became Srutis and subsequently orally transmitted from generation to generation.
Vedas talk about the ultimate reality – what makes up this universe, what makes up the beings including the human beings and what keeps them going. They talk of the forces and energies and not about any god.
They talk about the universal order, laws – the ‘rta’, structures-the ‘mandalas’, as to how everything is created, sustained and transformed.
They talk about the universal ‘tatwas’ – the universal ‘axioms’ that make up the universe and the beings.
They talk about the nature and relationship between the ultimate reality, the relative reality, the universe and the beings.
They also talk about founding principle of the ultimate reality ( what is called in Vedas as Para Brahman and loosely called as God) and relative realities (called as manifested beings like materials, humans, animas etc) and the inter se relationship between them and whether the latter can ascend and realize the former.
They talk about why, how & when this universe arose; why humans are here; how we are here; how long we will be here; why we are born; when will we die; what happens after death; etc.
All it talks is based on science - pure science. It talks of wisdom - eternal wisdom; everlasting wisdom; energy and force – eternal and everlasting energy & force; the all pervading nature – that is eternally everywhere.
It talks about oneness of all beings and correspondence between the universe and the beings ie., what is in the macrocosm is in the microcosm as well and how it is so.
It talks about the physical laws of the pancha bhutas, the sun , the planets, beings etc.,
It talks similarly about the chemical, physiological, psychological & biological structures and rules of the universe and the beings.
Vedas say that the ultimate reality is pure divine and is one only – ‘ekam sat’. But the manifested realities colored divine is many – ‘bahuda’
It calls the Ultimate Divine Reality as ‘Bhram’ ie., omniscient, omni potent & omni present and the universe as ‘prapancha’ ie ever changing
It says that the ultimate reality is the ‘unitary divine’ and it has 2 sides like a coin viz ‘consciousness and energy’ or ‘purusha and prakriti’ or ‘siva and sakthi’ or ‘narayana and lakshmi’.
It says that when the unitary Divine desires to manifests a vibration occurs which leads to fields, forces and frequencies out of which arose the mental, vital and physical spheres or lokas or worlds. Then the divine breathes its energies into all these and dive deep and devolve. This way every manifested being is vested with Divinity.
Vedas declare that the Ultimate being is in all the 3 places viz transcendental, universal and manifested fields as Brahman, Eswara
and Jeeva respectively and hence the divine is both transcendental and immanent. A person can realise it in himself or everywhere. He can enhance his divine powers through sadana.
The Brahman and Easwara are pure divine energies while Jiva is colored divine energy due to malas or dirts and ripus or bad tendencies. The malas are ego, karma and delusion. The ripus are kama, krodha, loba, moha, mada & mascarya. They lead to karmic negative energies under the cosmic rule of every action has an equivalent and opposite reaction. This leads a being away from constant bliss.
Vedas say the way to overcome this is being good at heart and be good in in thoughts words and deeds.
Vedas declare every being has a freewill to decide his thought, speech and action and hence has the capacity and authority to his alter and change the destiny.
Nowhere it talks of superstitious or non scientific principles. As stated earlier it does not talk of any theistic god but talks only about forces and energies of nature and names them after it’s qualities and functions. For eg., it calls Fire as Agni because it gives light and heat and it is always rising; it calls Water as Apah as it is liquid, cool and flowing down; it calls Air as Vayu because it is always moving and can be both soft and violent; it calls Earth as Bhuma as it is fertile and forbearing; it calls Space as Akasha because it is vast and all encompassing. We must note the names Agni, Apa, Vayu, Bhuma and Akasha means their respective qualities and powers in the Vedic Sanskrit. They did not name it as the name of a person in random. They called it as Devatas, ie., one who gives all it has to the universe and other beings without taking anything back in return. ( Again in Vedic Sanskrit Devata means light which is ahared with others and needs no light to lit it ).
Over a period of time humans converted them as Gods for their better comprehension. So the belief that Vedas talk of religious gods are completely wrong.
Vedas are mystically and algebraically coded because it has to be concise and precise. Therefore understanding it requires deep involvement and
commitment. They communicate messages at three levels – physical, mental and spiritual. For eg., Agni at physical level means the digestive fire; at mental level means intellect and at spiritual level means the spirit or soul. Also they indicate different things at all the 3 planes of existence ie., the earth, the mid
heaven and the sky. For example Fire indicates - in earth all domestic and earthly fires; at mid heaven the lightning and at the sky level the sun and stars. Similarly there are several mystical words – cow means wisdom; horse means vital powers etc., Unless one understands these true spiritual meanings, Vedas may look ritual whereas it is completely spiritual.
The Vedas were revealed by the Para Brahman to enable the humans to know the rules of nature so that he can conduct properly. The Vedic wisdom has been there from the time universe arose. To give it a time of 5000 years is like giving the time to gravity of 500 years when Newton discovered it. Gravity is there from the beginning and Newton just discovered it so recently; that is all. So the Vedas – the Science of the Vedas are billions of years old ie as old as the universe.
Vedas are talking about eternal scientific truths like gravitational force, electro magnetic force, nuclear force which are there forever. These are the axioms of nature - like one plus is always two.
Vedas are talking about eternal scientific rules like planets including earth go round the sun; what is in the universe is in the man; the pancha bhutas have to purify whatever comes in contact with them – fire by burning; water by cleansing; Air by spreading and thinning; Earth by absorbing & space by accommodating & expanding. These are universal ‘rta’.
Vedas are talking about universal duties and obligations like fire has to rise; water has to quench; earth has to produce; man has to be compassionate and moral; trees have bear fruits and give shade etc.,
In Sanskrit Sanatana means eternal; Dharma means ‘tatwas’ or axioms, ‘rta’ or order / rules in addition to duties / responsibilities. That is why Vedas are called Sanatana Dharma. Here dharma encompasses axioms, universal order and duties all in one.
Vedas are pan region and pan religion. Whether you in India or in America the gravity will work., whether you are a Hindu or Muslim sun will rise in the east and set in the west or when you slip from a building you will fall down no matter what your caste or creed is .
Vedas have no caste or creed. it considers all beings , human, animals, plants etc., all as one. It considers everything is interconnected as they are bathing under the same sun, breathing the same air and for food chain are dependent upon each other. There is no division of beings in Vedas . it is ‘Vasudeva Kudumbakam’. All differences are man made.
Vedas declare there is enough for every beings need but not for their greed.
Vedas declare the ultimate reality is
1. Sath – Chit – Anandam ie., existence, consciousness and bliss. ( For eg., at macrocosmic level the universe is existing since we see and feel ; it is conscious as every bit of it is knowing it’s functions and it is very delighted to be ; similarly at micro cosmic level we are existing which we can’t deny, we are aware that is why I am writing this and you are reading this and we are all attached to our self)
2. Satyam-Rta- Bruhat ie., it is eternal, orderly and interconnected
3. Satyam-Jnanam-Anatam ie., it is truth, wisdom and everlasting
4. Satyam - Sivam – Sundaram ie., it is irrefutable, benevolent and wonderful
5. Satyam – Poornam -Sowmyam –ie., Essence - Complete - Tranquil
6. Satyam – Santham – Subham - ie., Beyond doubt- Peace - Merciful
7. Chidrupa-Chinmaya – Chinmatra ie., Forms of Divine ( ie., consciousness plus energy); Full of Divine and only Divine
And above all SAKTAM- JNANAM- ANANTHAM
ie., ENERGY, SELF AWARE & PRESENT EVER WHERE.
That is why the divine energy is everywhere and that is why the para Brahman is everywhere. As Tirumoolar said ‘the ultimate reality - the Divinity – the Para Brahman- (which is knowledge and energy) can’t be said to be here but not there, because it is everywhere’. ‘Because it is so, everything in this universe from galaxy to grass is conscious and animated with brimming energy’ and ‘a man to become wise will have to learn and realize this’.
It further says ‘tat tvam asi’ ie – thou are that ie you are that. It is the energy – saktam – that animates us both physically and mentally
It is awareness – jnanam- that makes us to think, feel and act
It is Anantam ie this saktam and jnanam (consciousness and energy) is present in every part of our body and in every cell and that is why we feel all parts of the body and our mind’s order is implemented by every cell.
That is why we are ‘that’.
If we know this then we become
‘Aham Brahmasmi’ – I am that Divinity.
For this Vedas say you need to 1) know- Jnana and 2) practice – do sadana.
The jnana has to be acquired thru Sankya and Vedanta by studying, reflecting and realising and sadana has to be done by dhyana – meditation. The sadana if done well after gaining jnana you can realise the divinity in you. For this moral discipline is required. In addition devotion- bakti; selfless service ie nishkamya karma is required to prepare our mind for the sadana, declares Veda.
Since Vedas were mystic and perhaps not fully understood the rishis wrote Upanishads expounding the principle of Vedas. Since that was also differently interpreted Vyasa wrote Brahma sutra. Since that was very tough Bagavad gita was written. From these Prasnathrayi came different philosophies called darsanas like Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta and from Vedanta came Advaita, Dwaita, Vishishtadwaita etc.,
But yet the great philosophy of Veda was still beyond the reach of common man. So came the Puranas which are the same Vedic philosophy told in story form which reached the common man.
The main Veda is Rk Veda having over 1000 suktas and over 10000 mantras. Each Sukta talks about an energy or force.
So to understand the science of Veda, we need to know the esoteric and scientific truths contained in
1. The Veda itself
2. The Upanishads
3. The Brahma Sutra
4. The Bagavad Gita
5. The Vedantic Scriptures that explains the Vedic Philosophy
6. The Suktas
7. The Darsanas
8. The Smritis that attempts to explain the Vedas
9. The Puranas that popularised the Vedic truths.
In this course we are going study all these aspects in detail so that we can understand the ancient wisdom which we can use for our self growth that will bring success, peace and prosperity to us.
This course lessons have to be studied very seriously and repeatedly with total attention, concentration, dedication and perhaps with devotion in order to know the deep esoteric truths contained in the Vedas. Only then it will be possible to understand the full import of esoteric truths which is the first step; then you have to reflect upon what has been studied so that you can internalize and absorb them which is the second step. Then you have to implement the great principles in your life which is the ultimate step, so that you will be actually benefitted to lead a successful, happy, prosperous and peaceful life , which is the aim of the Vedas. In this entire study whenever you need clarification or guidance you should contact us without hesitation.