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There are several poems in the Rig Veda addressed to Visve Devaas. ‘Visve Devaas’ mean ‘All Gods’. The seers make it a point to include all the important deities such as Mitra and Varuna, Indra and Agni. The verses of this hymn are in the form of riddles. None of these deities is mentioned by name in the following poem. Generally, Rig Vedic seers enjoy speaking in symbolic language or coded language. Visve Devas hymns always have challenges to scholars. Strange names are used leading to various interpretations by scholars.
This feature in the religious or mythological thought of many peoples is a significant factor in the invention and development of myths. This shows that the story telling tendency is not a mere blind impulse or a mis understood interpretation of natural phenomena , but that the poets could be deliberately invent and imagine, and just for that reason we cannot expect to trace myths back to a primitive stock of ideas, any more than we can derive all words from a primitive stock of roots.
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Also note one Doctor is ready with medicines in one of the following Mantras!!!
Also note there is a god who knows hidden treasures!!
Here is a poem (RV. 8-29) from the eighth mandala of the Rig Veda:-
1.One is tawny, of changing form, bountiful, young; with golden ornament he decks himself .
2. One shining has taken his seat in the lap- the altar- a wise one among the gods.
3. One bears in his hand a bronze axe; constant among the gods.
4. One bears grasped in his hand a thunderbolt, wherewith he slays his enemies.
5. One bears in his hand a sharp weapon; a pure One, mighty, bearing healing medicines.
6. One makes the paths prosperous, like a thief; one knows of hidden treasures.
7. One, wide going, makes three steps; thither where the gods enjoy exhilaration.
8. With birds two go together with one woman; faring forth as on a journey.
9. Two highest ones made their seat in the sky; lords sipping ghee
10. Some singing hymns conceived a great Sama song ;ith it they made the sun to shine.
ANSWERS TO RIDDLE
1.SOMA, 2 AGNI, 3.TVASHTAR, 4.INDRA, 5.RUDRA, 6.PUUSHAN, 7.VISHNU, 8.ASVINS WITH SUURYAA, DAUGHTER OF SURYA, 9.MITRA, 10. THE ATRIS, FAMILY OF PRIESTS.
MARRIAGE CEREMONY MANTRA IN RIG VEDA (Post N.7574)
Complied London Swaminathan
Post No.7574
Date uploaded in London – 14 February 2020
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
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The Samhita of the Rig Veda has fortunately preserved one particular hymn 10-85 which proves that not only the institution of marriage but also the ideals which characterised it in India in later days were deeply rooted in the minds of men. Its interest, however, transcends the narrow bounds of India, as it is perhaps the oldest written document in the world which gives an ideal picture of the marriage system with all that it involves in a civilized society.
The subject matter of the hymn is ‘suuryaa’, the daughter of the sun and a form of the dawn, who is regarded as the typical bride. We learn from it that the friends of the bridegroom came to the bride’s father with the proposal of the marriage, and evidently it is settled by him. The ceremony took place at the bride’s house, and the decorated bride, with her companions came to the marriage pandal. Then the bridegroom took the hand of the bride in his own hand, probably in front of fire, with the words, I take thy hand in my hand for happy fortune that you may reach old age with me your husband. Gods ….. have given you to be my household’s mistress.
Later he offers another prayer-
O Pushan, send her on as most auspicious , her who shall be he sharer of my pleasures; her who shall twine her loving arms about me ad welcome all my love and mine embraces.
After the rituals were over, the bride left her father’s home for that of her husband. This change is emphasized in the prayers addressed to Vishwavasu, one of the Gandharvas, and supposed to be the protector of virgins. Rise up from hence, Vishwavasu… you seek another willing maid in her father’s house. This maiden hath a husband; with her husband leave the bride
I free the bride from your father’s family but not from your husband’s. I make you softly fettered there. O Indra may she live blest in her fortune and her sons.
Lastly, she is urged to go to the husband’s house to the household’s mistress, and payers were offered to the gods for their safe journey. On her arrival at the new home she was welcomed by the friends and relatives of her husband with the verse,
Happy be you and prosper with your children here, here, be vigilant to rule your household in this home. Closely unite your body with this man your husband. So shall you, full of years, address your company.
To the guests assembled to welcome newly married pair it is said,
Signs of good fortune mark the bride; come all of you and look at her. Wish her prosperity, and then return unto your homes.
After the guests had departed, the bride was addressed as follows, probably when offering sacrifice,
Be you not parted, dwell you here; reach the full time of human life. With sons and grandsons sport and play, rejoicing in your own abode.
Then the husband addresses his wife,
So may Prajapati bring children forth to us, may Aryaman adorn us till old age come nigh. Not inauspicious enter thou your husband’s house; bring blessings to our bipeds and quarepeds… over your husband’s father and your husband’s mother bear full sway; over the sister of your husband, over his brothers rule supreme.
The husband then prays,
O bounteous Indra , make this bride blest in her sons and fortunate. Vouchsafe to her ten sons, and make her husband the eleventh man.
Then there is the concluding payer offered jointly by the bridegroom and the bride,
So may the universal gods , so may the waters join our hearts. May Matarishwan, Dhatar, and Deshtri together bind us close.
Thus ends this remarkable hymn which may be regarded as the earliest expression of human thoughts concerning marriage viewed as a sacrament and a willing union of two hears.
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A RIG VEDIC HYMN WITH NUMBER SYMBOLISM
Rig Veda, the oldest religious book in the world, the oldest anthology in the world and the oldest document of Hinduism, throws many challenges to Hindu and western scholars. The eighth Mandala of the book is very interesting. We see a lot of foreign stuff here extending up to Iran including Dhana/gifts of camels to Brahmins. Number symbolism seen here is one of the challenges which allows commentators to interpret a verse differently. Tamil Siddhas ad Saivite poet Tirumular followed this style with great enthusiasm.
In all ancient religions, mythology came first and then the religious hymns. But in Hinduism the hymn book Rig Veda is placed at least two thousand years before the 18 Hindu Puranas (Hindu Mythology). Though linguistically speaking the prose Puranas can be placed after the Vedas, the stories in them go back several thousand years. For instance, if a Saivite Purana talks about the Blue throated Shiva and the story behind the blue throat (Neela kanda), the words (Neela Kanda) are already in the Veda. If a Vaishnavite Purana talks about Vishnu’s Three Steps, the reference can be found in the Rig Veda. So it is clear that Puranaic episodes came first and written later.
The story of Maruts (Rig Veda 8-28) is in the Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana.
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7X7 gods, 7X9 gods in Rig Veda 8-28
Here is a reference about the origin of Maruts. Briefly described as sons of Rudra and attendants of Indra. The storm god is found even in Sumerian (Babylonian) worship as God Martu.
In later days we have
Maruti – son of wind god is worshipped in nook and corner of India as Hanuman, Anjaneya
Maruti car is running in India everywhere.
Sanda maarutam (gale fore wind) and Mantha maarutham (breeze) are used in Tamil novels etc.
These Maruts are found in Rig Veda with interesting and puzzling Numbers!
Here is the hymn 8-28 from Rig Veda
1.The Thirty Gods and the Three besides, whose seat hath been the sacred grass,
From time of old have found and gained
2.Varuna, Mitra , Aryaman, Agni, with the
Consorts sending boons,
To whom our Vasat! is addressed
3.These are our guardians in the west and
northward here, and in the south
And on the east , with all the tribe.
4.Even as the gods desire so verily shall it
be. None minisheth this power of theirs,
No demon and no mortal man.
5.The Seven carry Seven spears; Seven are
the splendours they possess
And Seven glories they assume.
For our number symbolism and the origin of Maruts, let us take stanza/mantra 5 only. Griffith whose translation is given above, comments —
The seven
The Maruts, seven or seven times nine, or seven times seven in number. Saayana mentions the legend of their birth, which will be found in Ramayana book 1, cantos 46,47. The meaning is merely that the Maruts carry lances , that is their, lightnings, and are splendidly adorned.
We get 33 gods and then 49 and then 63.
Thirty three is expanded as thirty three crores of gods (330 million) in Puranas , just an exaggeration to boost their importance. Hindus always add a big decimal number for exaggeration.
They used to say
King Dasaratha has 60,000 wives (meaning is ‘several wives’, unusually high)
In Weddings priests announce ‘Uncle of the bride gifts ‘laksham katti varahan’ (one hundred thousands of gold bars consisting of Varahan gold coins) – meaning is his ‘Rs100 is worth billions’.
Hindus have 33 crore (330 million) gods (meaning is Hindus can worship God in every form, every object)
But later Puranas explained 33 gods as 8 Vasus+12 Adityas+ 11 Rudras + Indra+ Prajapaati (or Two Asvins).
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Story of Maruts from Ramayana
When Diti’s sons were killed in the Churning of the Milky ocean incident, she requested her husband that she should have one son who will be the slayer of Indra ; her husband Kashyapa asked her to do a penance for 1000 years. She did so, but when ten years were remaining, Indra came and entered her when she was lying in the wrong posture. Indra cut the foetus into seven parts and she cried Indra said ‘Ma Ruda= Cry Not = Marut’.
She requested Indra to allow them to live and Indra told her they will be the guardians of seven winds. They were divided into three parts (7+7+7)
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The Puranic dictionary by John Dowson summarises it in the following passage: –
“The storm gods who hold a very prominent place in the Vedas and are represented as friends and allies of Indra. Various origins are assigned to them. They are the sons of Rudra, sons and brothers of Indra, sons of the oceans, heaven and earth (7+7+7). They are armed with lightning and thunderbolts, and ride on the whirlwind and direct the storm.
The number of them is said in one place to be thrice sixty ( 3+60) and in another only twenty seven.
In the Ramayana they are represented to have their origin in an unborn son of Diti whom Indra dashed into 49 pieces with his thunderbolt (7X7), and in compassion converted into Maruts.
Another commentator on Vedas say , that after their Siva and Parvati beheld them in great affliction, and the latter asked Siva to transform the lumps on flesh into boys of like form, like age and similarly accounted, and gave them to Parvati as her sons and hence they are called the sons of Rudra.
The legend is invented to explain those passages of the Vedas which make Maruts the sons of Rudra.
MY COMMENTS
It is very simple. If you collect all the English poems on rain or thunder, you will see different interpretations, imageries, similes etc from different poets.
Vedic poets described thunder and rain of Indra assisted by storm and lightning of Marut.
What is the purpose?
The dialogue poems of Rig Veda show that after every sacrifice, there was an Entertainment Show in which two groups acted sitting opposite. Dialogue Hymn between Indra and Marut is the proof for it (RV 1-165).
Probably the Diti – Indra chapters in Ramayana (1-46, 47) are also acted on stages and Viswamitra recited this story to Rama and Lakshmana.
But on another plane, these poems have hidden meaning. In all Tamil Sangam Akam verses (Family/ sex verses) all the natural phenomena have hidden meanings as explained by the later commentators. Sangam Tamil Poems are from first few centuries of Common Era and the commentaries are from 13th century or later. We find the names of the poets and words in the verses are explained as fancifully as Ma Ruda- Don’t Cry- Maruta!
Since Rudra is also a storm god in the Vedas, Maruts/lightnings are described as sons of Rudra.
In short, a poem on lightning is explained/interpreted in different ways.
Why different numbers (21, 27, 49 and 63) are given?
You can count the lightning streaks in any number depending based on your imagination. But Hindus has a fascination for Number Seven. Anything holy or everything holy is divided into Seven. We see this Number Seven in Indus- Sarasvati Civilization seals more than other numbers. Another holy number 3 is also seen in it.
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The number of female seers in Rig Veda comes to about thirty. This number includes five lady seers of Khilasukta also . Khila is like appendix or supplement.
GHOSA KAKSHIVATI, LOPAMUDRA, APALA, ROMASA, SURYA, JUHU BRAHMAJAYA, SRADDHA KAMAYANI, YAMI, INDRANI, MEDHA, AGASTYAVASA, ATREYI, SASVATI ANGHIRASI, VISWAVARA, SACI PAULOMI, DAUGHTERS OF KASYAPA, OR SIKHANDINS, URVASI, INDRAMATARAH
It is pleasing to note that no religious disabilities were associated with women in India down to the end of the Upanishadic age (pre buddha period 600 BCE)
In the Vedic age there is ample evidence to show that the women not only studied the Vedas but also figured among the authors of Rig Vedic hymns. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
ONLY FOR WOMEN
In the Vedic age there were certain sacrifices like the Siitaa sacrifice and Rudra sacrifice that could be performed by women alone.
(Siitaa sacrifice at harvest and Rudra sacrifice to ensure fecundity among cattle)
Some women Vedic scholars like Lopaamudraa, Vishwavaaraa and Ghoshaa composed hymns that were later admitted into the sacred canon. Usually Vedic sacrifices were to be offered jointly by the husband and the wife.
The wife took an active part in the daily and periodical sacrifices along with her husband. She had her own hut in the sacrificial compound; the duty of chanting the sSaman hymns usually fell upon her. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
FIRST BRICK
The wife used to make the first brick for the sacrificial altar and participate in the consecration of the fire and the offering of oblations.
If the husband is away on a journey, the wife alone performed the different sacrifices which the couple had to do jointly.
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As women enjoyed the same religious privileges as men and received the same education, their status in the family was nearly the same as that of men. Their status in society also was naturally satisfactory. Many of them were famous scholars and authors. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
Women in Industries
It is rather surprising to find that women were taking active part in the industrial life. They were manufacturing arrows and bows, making baskets, weaving cloth and participating in outdoor agricultural work. It is important to note that words like female arrow makers (ishukartryah) do not occur in later literature.
Among the fine arts music and dance have been cultivated by women fairly extensively; their love for and excellence in these arts were well known. Since women were following many outdoor professions there was naturally no ‘purdah’ (face covering veil) in the society. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
Dampati
The husband and wife were the joint owners of the household and its property. They are called Dampati (Couple).RV 8-31-5/6
Yaa dampatii samanasaa sunuta aa ca
Dhaavalah devaaso niyayaasir
The expression ‘the wife is the home’ shows how woman was the central point of domestic life-RV 3-53-4
Jaayedastammaaghavantsedduyoni
Grhinini /housewife is used in tamil as well as ‘illaal’ tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
POST VEDIC
What living women have proved to be such formative force as, for example, Sati, Sita and Savitri?
What could be better illustrative examples of the true dignity of Indian womanhood than Draupadi, Shakuntalaa, and Gaandhaari?
We hear of great women like Maitreyi, , Gaargi, Arundhati and Liilaavati
Source – Great Women of India and New Horizons of Indological Research tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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Great Exodus -Yadavas Migration to Gujarat from UttarPradesh
There is a very interesting historical anecdote in Puranas and Harivamsa which is an annexure to Mahabharata. This is a major event in Indian history which is ignored by many, probably to keep the good name of Lord Krishna. This happened 5000 years before our time and 2000 years before Moses who is associated with the Biblical Exodus. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
Why did Krishna run away from Mathura to Dwaraka with his group ?
Why did all the Yadavas travelled 800 miles with all the beds and boxes to go to Dwaraka?
Who is Kala Yavana , the Black Greek, who attacked Lord Krishna along with Jarasandha?
How come Krishnan shuttled between Dwaraka and Mathura, a distance of 1291 kilometres, 800 miles in ancient times?
Was there a Bullet train or a Helicopter?
The answer for all these questions is in amazing Harivamsa, part of Mahabharata. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
In addition to the answers there is a very interesting Ant and Snake anecdote.
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Exodus forms the second chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible. It describes the exodus of Jews under the leadership of Moses from Egypt to Israel. Jews were delivered from slavery. Though there is no historical or archaeological proof for Moses until this day three great Semitic religions believe in him. The Exodus was written around sixth century BCE .There are two striking similarities between the Bible and the Bhagavata. Bhagavata is the life story of Lord Krishna. Like Red Sea divided into two parts and gave a safe way to Moses, river Yamuna separated into two parts during very heavy rains and floods to give a safe exit to Vasudev who carried child Krishna in a basket.
Another striking similarity is the great exodus of Yadavas from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Dwaraka in Gujarat. It may be compared with Moses exit from Egypt to Israel tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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There are other similarities like ‘killing the first born child’ and ‘floating a child in a basket’, ‘Adam and Eve story’ and ‘parables of Upanishad and Jesus parables . Christians copied all thse stories through Greeks, who were well versed with Hindu stories. And the Greek Bible was translated into English 1600 years after death of Jesus. Let me stop there and continue with the historical EXODUS incident.
From Harivamsa
“Kala Yavana came with a big force to attack Mathura. He was the son of Gargya Rishi. Since Yavana king had no issues when he died, Kala Yavana became king.
Hearing of the approach of huge army, Vasudeva, the leader of the Vrshnis and Andhakas addressed his kinsmen saying,
Great is the calamity that has befallen descendants of the Vrshni and Andhaka races. For this enemy is unslayable by us on account of the boon conferred on him by the holder of the trident (Lord Shiva). I employed all other means as conciliation etc to win him over. But he wishes for battle worked up with pride. ‘I am to live here’, this Narada said to me. I too tell you this. The emperor Jarasandha is not forgiving towards us; and the other kings too, assailed by the Vrshni discus and on account of the destruction of Kamsa, have been displeased with us and sought refuge with the Magadha king. Under the protection of Jarasandha they want to obstruct us and many kinsmen of the Yadavas were slain by them. What more we will never acquire prosperity if we live in the city. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
Saying this, and desirous of retreating Keshava, sent an envoy to the king of Yavanas. In order to terrorise the Yavana king the highly intelligent Krishna . put a deadly poisonous snake in a pot and sealed it. It looked very black like the collyrium. He then sent it to the Yavana king through his own emissary. He told the emissary to tell the Yavana king Krishna is like this black serpent. The emissary showed the pot with the serpent to Kala Yavana and said Krishna sent this. Kala Yavana undetood that Krishna is threatening him. He placed ants into the pot and filled it. The innumerable ants with sharp beaks ate the snake completely. He sent it back to Krishna. This baffled Krishna. He left Mathura and went to Dwaraka with his people. When Yadavas settled there, he went all alone to Mathura to confront Kala Yavana. When the waiting Kala Yavana pursued Krishna he could not catch him. Krishna did all these things with a purpose.
Narada told him a secret about one king called Muchukunda, son of Mandhata. He prayed for long and peaceful sleep and the god also gave him that boon. He also asked another boon that whoever wakes him from sleep must be burnt alive by his look. Having learnt all this from Narada, Krishna slowly entered the cave where Muchukunda was sleeping. Without disturbing him, Krishna sat near his head. Kala Yavana, who pursued Krishna also entered the cave and Muchukunda looked at him when Kala Yavana touched his feet. He was burnt like an insect falling in to fire. Then Krishna told Muchukunda all that happened during his sleep” tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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This story is in Hari vamsa ;in another place it was told that the emissary should be sent by an aerial car it is told as a passing remark. So we can conclude that aerial cars or helicopters were used by kings on special occasions.
This Yadava exodus must have taken place just before Mahabharata war. We know that after the war, Krishna was killed by a hunter and Yadavas fought among themselves and Dwaraka went under the sea in a Tsunami. It is proved by submarine excavations. We may safely conclude it happened before 3102 BCE. tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
tags- Kala Yavana, Gargya, Exodus, Dwaraka, Mathura, Yadavas, Migration
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Historians who wrote Christian history say that at least 70 out of 266 Popes were murdered or died in mysterious or suspicious circumstances. Wikipedia has given a list of at least 40 such Popes.
Another interesting thing about past popes is majority of them were from Italy.
Current Pope Francis is the first person to come from the Americas. He is an Argentinian.
One more interesting thing about the Popes is the average length of their Popehood. Historians give 20 to 25 years per king. Hindu history shows that Gurus or religious teachers lead their group for more years. The average may be 30 to 50 years per Guru. But surprisingly we have 265 Popes for a period of 2000 years. That is an average of less than 8 years per Pope. This confirms the conspiracy theories, murders and violence surrounding Popes.
History of Bible is more interesting. In the beginning Popes ruled that no one should possess a Bible and they should handle it only inside the Churches. Later, Bibles were sold with Pope’s permission to selected people. Not everyone can hold it. Later, there was big opposition for PRINTING Bible when Gutenberg invented printing machine. All these began with King Constantine burning all Bibles except one version in the fourth century. The reason was various Bibles had various stories which were contradictory like Hindu Puranas. Despite this, there are contradictory versions in Dead Sea scrolls and the Greek Bible in the British Library. There is tremendous pressure from vested interests not to publish those contradictions. There are 2000 differences or mistakes in the current Bible compared to Greek Version. In the beginning Bible was in Greek and Hebrew languages only. Even the later English Bible is constantly updated or altered with new English words or sentences till this day.
Old Tamil Bible has more Sanskrit words than Tamil words, they say.
History of Christian denominations is more interesting and there are over 200 Christian sects. Some even oppose celebrating Christmas. Syrian Orthodox, Greek Russian and Protestant movements are well known. The schism started in 11th century.
One of the Popes was jailed in France for eight years. No one came for his support or help.
Inquisition killed thousands of people. Women who opposed Christianity were burnt alive as witches including the most famous Saint Joan of Arc. A lot of Gypsies of Indian origin were also killed in such bonfires. It became part of untold and unsung stories.
History shows that Spanish and Portuguese did more violence ‘in the name of Christ’ than any other Christian sect. They wiped out the ancient South and Central American civilisations. Though Europeans from other countries went to the Americas and Australia, Pacific Islands ,South Africa and India and massacred natives, aborigines and others, it was mainly for political reasons. They wanted to occupy those lands or plunder gold and diamond.
India became a world wonder in the eyes of Christians and Muslims. Wherever they went they changed the entire country or region to their side except India. It remains a predominantly Hindu land till this day.
I am attaching a paper cutting from Daily Mail dated 1-12-2001 and Wikipedia Popes list who died in violence.
A collection of popes who have had violent deaths through the centuries. The circumstances have ranged from martyrdom (Pope Stephen I)[1] to war (Lucius II),[2] to a beating by a jealous husband (Pope John XII). A number of other popes have died under circumstances that some believe to be murder, but for which definitive evidence has not been found.
Pope Caius (Saint) Elected 283-12-17 and martyred 296-4-22, but not at hands of his uncle, Diocletian[4]
Pope Marcellinus (Saint) Elected 296-6-30 and martyred 304-10-25 during persecution of Diocletian[4]
Pope Marcellus I (Saint) Elected 308-5-27 after 4-year vacancy and martyred 309-1-16.[4]
Pope Eusebius (Saint) Elected 309-4-18 and martyred in Sicily 309-8-17.[4][8]
Pope John I (Saint), Elected August 13, 523, during the Ostrogothic occupation of the Italian peninsula. Was sent as an envoy by Ostrogoth king Theodoric to Constantinople. Upon return, Theodoric accused John I of conspiracy with the Byzantine empire. Imprisoned and starved to death on 18 May 526.[4]
Pope Martin I (Saint) Elected in 649. Died in exile 655-9-16
Pope Pius I (Saint) (c.142-c.154), martyred by the sword according to old sources;[20] Claim of martyrdom removed from the 1969 General Roman Calendar after recent revisions[21]
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Cultural Denigration
It is reported from New Delhi under the caption, “Conspiracy to show Hindus as inferior and glorify minorities in CBSE’s textbook” as follows :
A lesson on degrading Hindus as inferior and glorifying Muslims and Christians is included in the KG textbook of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education). A conspiracy of brainwashing Hindu children has been hatched, thus, creating misunderstanding in them about Hindu Dharma and Hindus.
In this textbook, a denigrating image of Hindu Brahman has been printed, and the children have been asked to paint it. This Hindu Brahman is shown falling on the ground after slipping on a banana peel. This textbook
not contain any objectionable image of Christian clergy or Muslim moulvi.
The textbook contains quizzes on a subject such as identifying good and bad habits. It includes examples such as ‘Raja does not bathe every day’. ‘Karan does not brush his teeth every day’, ‘Gita dresses in unhygienic clothes’, ‘Hanif plays in open-air’, ‘Paul sits straight in the classroom’, etc. In these examples, attempts have been made to convince children that Hindu boys and girls have bad habits; whereas, Muslims or Christians have good habits.
Some devout Hindus said that such a book is creating hatred in the mind of Hindu culture, sanskars and traditions from childhood in a
systematic manner. (Sanatan Prabhat 1-15 July 2019)
Such knave tactics to display Hindus in culturally poor show was pursued by the British before independence. Unfortunately the same trend to denigrate Hindus continues to be followed by the secular anti-Hindu institutions and bodies. Non Hindus must be pampered and Hindus humiliated and insulted. This is the so-called secular spirit, a Hindu is supposed to appreciate and inculcate amongst children. The Articles 28,29 and 30 of our constitution also permit teaching of scripture of minority segment in India in educational institutions, but prohibit study of Bhagavad Gita and other books on Hindu Dharma. Unless Bharat is established as a Dharma Rashtra such nefarious tactics to denigrate Hindu culture will continue to prevail.
In Mantra Yoga there are 16 steps of worship of the image
or symbol of the deity and meditation on a particular aspect of the deity which one wants to propitiate. The sixteen steps (Sodasopacara in Sanskrit) of worship are: tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
1.Avahana: Invoking God
2. Asana: Welcoming God to take his seat; esoterically, it is the offering of one’s heart as the throne or seat
3. Padya: Washing the feet of the symbol. Water is offered at the feet of God
4. Argya: Offering water to the hands of God
5. Acamana: offering pure water for sipping
6. Snana: Ceremonial bathing with milk, sugar, honey and water
7. Vastra: Offering of new and beautiful clothes and wrapping them around the image. This means donning oneself with divine wisdom and living in the world untainted by passion.
8.Upavita: Offering of sacred thread, which means to be filled with pure thoughts.
9. Vilepana: Besmearing the body of God with musk, red powder and sandal paste
10. Puspa: Offering flowers, which means offering our heart
11. Dhupa: Burning of incense, which is really the burning of sins by the fire of wisdom
12. Dipa: Waving the wick light before the image
13. Naivedya: Offering of food which is specially prepared for God. We also offer Tambula (betel leaf and betel nut), Jala (water) and Madhuparka (honey/milk or fruits) tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
14. Pradaksina- Namaskara:Perambulation and Salutation
15. Mantra Pushpa: Offering flowers and yellow rice for the welfare of the community and world peace
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(List of 57 generations of Gurus is attached at the end)
Hindus are the only people in the world who use geographical and historical data in their everyday ritual. No where in the world we can see such a historical sense. While they do Pujas in the temple or at home, they begin it with Sankalp (vow) in which they refer to Manvantara, Yuga, Year, Date, Day and their location on earth. It will even beat the google map. Because they have divided the entire northern hemisphere into several ‘dwips’ (land mass), and they say where in the world they do that ritual. Let us forget all these Mantra stuff and come to the real world!
Foreign ‘scholars’ who have no faith in Hinduism or practical experience accused Hindus of people with no historical sense. They praised only one Kashmiri Brahmin as the first one with Historical sense. That Brahmin named Kalhana wrote Raja Tarangini (River of Kings) with the names of Kings and their periods which can be understood by foreigners. But surprise, surprise! the foreign ‘scholars’ rejected his first four chapters in Raja Tarangini saying it contains myths and unhistorical information. It is like praising a beautiful woman and saying the part above her neck is Ugly!!! The fact of the matter is Kalhana challenges the date of Buddha, Kali Yuga, Kanishka etc which didn’t suit the ‘scholars’.
Let me come to the topic of the day!
I titled it as ‘57 generations at one go’. What is it?
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad is the oldest of the 108 Upanishads. Even the jaundice eyed foreigners generously dated it as 850 BCE material. But Hindus believe it is still older which is proved by the internal evidence. This Big Forest (Brihad Aranyaka) Upanishad has a chapter called Vamsa Brahmana in which it gives 57 generations of teachers and two gods.
Foreign historians give 25 years per generation/ per king. But when it comes to forest living , peace loving, meditative, god fearing, vegetarian Gurus it must be longer than 25 years. So let me stretch it to 30 to 40 years and give a rough calculation.
30X 57 generations =1710 years or
40 X 57 = 2280 years
Before 850 BCE which means , the first Guru for this particular Upanishad lived 2560 years or 3130 years before our time!!
Can we rust this information?
Yes , you can trust it because,
Even foreigners believe all that is said in Vedic literature is true, but they doubt Puranic information. But we have other strong proof from archaeological and historical sources.
Kabilar, the Brahmin poet, who contributed the highest number of Tamil poems to Sangam Tamil Corpus, sings about a chieftain named Irungovel in Purananuru verse 201 as the person in the 49th generation in his line. The most famous Tamil commentator Nacchinarkiniyar , a Brahmin belonging to Bharadwaja Gotra, says that the Yadavs came to Tamil Nadu with a group after Krishna’s demise. Kabilar lived 2000 years ago and if we add another (25 X49) 1225 years it means 3225 years. This is about Irugovel’s forefather’s arrival in Tamil Nadu. I am referring it to prove that the number of generations is used commonly and to prove Hindus had this historical sense of accounting.
If one comes to all Mutts and Adeenams in Tamil Nadu one can see they always use the generations to say this ascetic is the 68th in the line of Acharyas or 157 th etc.This accounting generation is used even today.
Aihole Inscription and Parthivasekarapuram Copper Plates used Kaliyuga years even during fifth century.
ROME POPES AND NUMBERS
In the list of 57 generations we see some strange names of Rishis. That proves it is very ancient.
In the list we see several Rishis has the same name. This is very important. Hindus very often come across the names of Indra, Agastya, Visvamitra, Vasistha, Bhoja, Vikramditya, Sankaracharya, Janaka, Avvaiyar etc and get confused. The Pauranic speakers projected them as one person. It is incorrect. Look at the list of Popes in Vatican City.
Popes with the name of John – 23 Popes!
Benedict -16, Leo- 13, Gregory 16!
Go to the list of Pharaohs of Egypt; there are 14 Ramesses!
So, Hindus must number them like Westerners to avoid confusion (Eg. Pope John XIV, Gregory XIII).
One more information about Indian Geography in the list:- One name has the prefix Vidharbi meaning he is from Vidharba region. So even thousands of years ago we have used the prefix showing the region. Most of Sangam Tamil Poets have prefix such as Madurai, Karur, Uraiyur etc showing where they came from. So they had geographical sense 2000 years ago.
If we read chapters after the ‘Vamsa Brahmana’ , we will come across several states in North India such as Videha (Bihar, Nepal), Panchala (Punjab, Haryana). Buddhist literature of sixth century BCE mentioned 16 Mega Kingdoms (Maha Janapada) in North India. Vedic literature belongs to a period long before Buddha’s time.
Now read the list and see that it goes beyond the time of Indus-Sarasvati River Civilization!
Tags – generation, list of Gurus, Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad, 57,
Tamil and Vedas 