Veda

Veda by Shrikant Vasudeo

Veda were chanted in Vedic language. The modern day Sanskrit language is a child of Vedic language. This makes it difficult to fully comprehend Veda in all its depth and dimensions. Panini was a Sanskrit scholar who had made very valuable contribution towards the scientific development of the Sanskrit language.

Originally Veda referred only to Rg Veda. Later on, the other three Veda were added to it. They are Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. They are said to be Shruti which literally meant ‘what has been heard’. It actually implies ‘divine revelation’. The rhythm of Veda is not composed by the intellect but heard. It is a divine Word that came vibrating out of the Infinite to the inner audience of the man who had previously made himself fit for the impersonal knowledge.

Later on, the term Veda has encompassed in its fold the Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanishads. In addition to above, we have Vedanga which literally meant ‘limbs of the Veda’. These include study of phonetics, correct pronunciation of the Veda, of metrics, etymology, grammar and astronomy. The Vedangas are mainly concerned with the ‘ritualistic’ part of the Veda. Kalpa is the correct way of performing the Vedic rituals. Astronomy guides us about the correct timing for performing the rituals. The basic Vedangas were written in a very brief aphoristic statements phrased with great economy of words. They are called Sutras. Later on we get Shastras which are extensive works of scholars on Vedangas. Vedanga cover all facets of life like domestic rituals, performance of samskaras or sacraments associated with birth, marriage, death etc. We also have the rules and laws governing the behaviour of the individual in society. At a later stage we have a fully developed Dharma Shastra covering the ethical rules governing every walk of life.

The Veda are actually divine songs of ecstatic revelation. They are not meant to be written down and analysed and philosophized. The words of Veda have inherent POWER in the vibration of its SOUND. They have to be chanted with full understanding of its meaning. This lifts us to a higher level of understanding coming from DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF THE REALITY. It is therefore absolutely essential that purity of body and mind has to established before the chanting of the Veda. The
Sama Veda is musical version of some parts of Rg Veda for ritualistic purposes. It contains detailed instructions of fasts and other austerities to be undertaken before and during the recitation of the Sama Veda.

In order to truly understand Veda, we have to do ‘Abhyasa’ of them. Abhyasa is much more than the study as we commonly understand the word. Study implies intellectual effort. Abhyasa is much more than study. It implies deep commitment, enthusiasm and sincere yearning from the heart. Veda have to become a real living experience for us. Veda is an experience and not a message. It is a universal form of human celebration. Man is called upon to do the Yajna which makes the world as well as the Gods subsist. Celebration is the joyful awareness of the rhythms of life and the festive observance of their frequent recurrence. By celebration I mean much more than dancing and singing. It is much deeper than that. Celebration conveys a sense of cosmic solidarity. It implies human fellowship. It is a divine process. This results in all our actions becoming liturgical, meaningful and expressive. They express both what now is as well as create what is about to be.

Looking from another angle, Veda is the journey of soul’s march on the path of Truth. On this march, as the soul progresses, it also ascends to new heights. This opens up the new vistas of power and light. Heroic efforts are needed on this journey. The central conception of the Veda is the conquest of the Truth out of the darkness of Ignorance. As a result of this conquest, we also achieve the conquest of Immortality. The true deeper understanding of Veda will make us realise that in the darkness of subconscient and in our ordinary daily life of ignorance is concealed the divine life. We have to realise this divine life by destroying the impenitent powers of ignorance. The lower life has to be made subjected to the higher life. By the penetrating action of the Light and the Truth the powers of the ordinary ignorant sense-activity becomes subject to the Aryan – the Light seeker.

Aryan means whoever aspires, labours, battles, travels ascends the hill of being. The work of the Aryan is Yagna which is at once a battle and an ascent and a journey. It is a battle against the powers of darkness. It is an ascent to the highest peaks of the mountain beyond earth and heaven into Swar. It is also a journey to the other shore of the rivers and the ocean into the farthest Infinity of things.

…….. to continue as time permits

Shrikant Vasudeo