Written by London Swaminathan

Date: 26 October 2017

Time uploaded in London- 16-31

Post No. 4338

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

Brahmana literature in prose which followed the poems in Vedas have many mysteries like the Vedas. A lot of research—rather than research—intuition of great saints will help us to understand the mysteries.

Here are some curious passages from the Satapata Brahmana:

“There are six doors to Brahma(n), viz. Agni, Vayu, the Waters, the Moon, Lightning (Indra) and the Sun. He who sacrifices with a burnt offering arrives by Agni, as the door to Brahma; and having so arrived, he attains to a union with Brahma and abides in the same sphere with him.

“When he performs the Viasvadeva offerings, then he becomes Agni and attains union with Agni and to co-existence in his world…. and when he performs the Sakha-medha offerings, then he becomes Indra and attains to union with Indra and to co-existence in his world – Satapata Brahmana 2-6-4-8

A man who reads the Vedas in a particular manner is “freed from dying again and attains to a sameness of nature with Brahma. Even if he cannot recite with much power, let him read one sentence relating to the gods”– Satapata Brahmana 9-5-6-9

“The man who knows this, that the sun never sets, enjoys union and sameness of nature with him and abides in the same sphere—Aitareya Brahmana3-4-4

DOOR TO HEAVEN

In the Sat.Brah(6-6-2-4), it is said that the door of heaven (Swarga Loka) is situated in the north-eastern regions; while by that which the heaven of the Fathers is entered lies to the south-east (13-8-1-5).

In a legend in Sat.Brah (11-6-1-6), it is related that Bhrigu, son of Varuna, visited, by his father’s command, the four points of the compass, where he saw men being cut into piece and eaten by other men, who when questioned by Bhrigu, declared they were revenging on their victims the treatment which they had received at their hands in the other world (earth). These victims are allegorically explained in the Brahmana as representing the trees, animals, plants and waters employed in sacrifice.

The idea of rebirth or transmigration of soul is in our Upanishads and Brahmanas.

“The spring, assuredly comes to life again out of the winter, for out of the one the other is born again; therefore he who knows this is indeed born again in the world -1-5-3-14

The Mahabharata gives the stories of previous births of several individuals. The Puranas are all replete with such stories. The idea of re-incrnation is one which lives deep in the Hindu mind. Hindu philosophers have held this doctrine for ages past, and the chief object which the Hindu shastras have in view is, is to obtain emancipation from the series of Re incarnations which every soul by its actions, is heir to . Every Hindu believes in the doctrine and our females are not behind in their beliefs.

According to a very ancient conception, the soul ascends to the abodes of the blessedon the wings of the air, of the wind, having itself changd into an aerial from.

“Whoever departs from this world, knowing this, goes with his voice to fire (Agni), with his eye to the Sun (Aditya), with his mind (manas) to the moon (Soma) with his ear to the regions, with his breath (prana) to the wind (Vayu). Having attained the nature of these and become any one of these deities that he desires, he rests (10-3-3-8)

When the voice of the departed soul goes to fire, his breath to the wind, his eye to the sun, his mind to the moon, his hearing to the regions, his body to the earth, his soul to the ether, the hairs of his head to the trees, his blood and his seminal fluid to the waters  — Where then is the spirit?(15-6-2-13)

The rays of him who shines (the Sun) are the pious. The ligt which is above is Prajapati or the heavenly world (1-9-3-10)

The stars are the lights of the practisers of holy acts who go to heaven (6-5-4-8)

The earth is macrocosm and our body is microcosm is developed from this. Greeks copied it from us.

The stars are the lights of the holy people is in Vana Parva of Mahabharata as well.

–Subham–