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Interesting Facts about Vayu Bhagavan!

Vayu Deva in Brooklyn Museum, New York

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1376; Dated 28th October 2014.

Vayu is one of the Vedic gods that Hindus worship every day. Brahmins do Sandhyavandhanam thrice a day in which they worship Agni, Vayu, Arka, Vageesa, Varuna, Indra, Visvedeva:. Not only Brahmins but also those who do Havan or Homam or Yagam through a priest also do it. Vayu Bhagavan is installed in the Havan fire pit. He occupies the north western corner. Vayu is the god of air or wind. People of all castes in India perform Vastu Puja, Bhumi puja, Graha Pravesam, Vivaham (wedding) etc. in which all the Vedic gods are invoked. So, Vedic religion is a living religion. Vedas are recited in all the temples rituals all over India.

Hindus divided the breath into five different airs:
Prana – comes from heart
Apana – bottom
Samana– neck
Udana – belly button
Vyana — whole body

Vayu in Nilali Shobaneswaram Temple

Mahabharata santi parva gives another category of seven types of winds –
Avahan = oxygen
Pravahan = produces rain bearing clouds
Udvahan = produces rain – probably cold air
Samvahan = makes everything dry – probably hot air from the desert
Vivahan = this supports the water in the heaven ( only now NASA talks about some water elsewhere in the universe; when we get more information we may be able to understand certain words)
Parivahan = this supports sun and moon
Paravahan = not controlled by anything or anyone; beyond control

Whether the above classification is scientific or not, one can boldly say Hindus started thinking in a scientific way to classify all the plants, animals, continents etc. In the same ways they are the first in etymology, logic, poetics, sexology, astrology, decimal system, psychology, linguistics, grammar, metaphysics, universal welfare, religion, philosophy etc. To attain such a height in all the fields even before the Greeks and other civilizations they must have lived and matured for a longer period than any ancient civilization. This serves as a proof for the antiquity of the Hindus.

Vayu in Birla Museum

Colour of Vayu is dark blue in Hindu mythology – probably they mean the clouds through which the presence of wind is noticed.

His vehicle was deer (antelope)
Vayu is worshipped by the Buddhists and Zoroastrian religions.
Greeks worshipped him as Eolus or Aeolus
Vedic Hindus worshipped him as Maruts
Mesopotamians worshipped him as martu (Marut got corrupted into martu)
Many Hindu temples such as Guruvayur, Kalahasti and Vayu lingam of Tiruvannamalai are associated with Vayu.

Vayu on his vahana gazelle

Twenty names of Vayu

Amarakosa, the first thesaurus cum dictionary in the world, gives 20 names of Vayu and they are as follows:

Svasana: one who helps to breathe; also the name of a tree called Mathana vrksa

Sparsana: one can feel it when it touches one
Vayu: Vathi means that which blows
Matariswan – that which travels in the anthariksha – in between – atmosphere
Sathagathi: always moving
Prushathasva: that which sprays; that which is grey; also one who has rain drops as his vehicle

Gandharba: one who carries sweet smell
Gandhavaha: one who carries sweet smell; also the name of musk deer
Anila: that which is not stable
Asuka: quick, fast
Samiira: that which spreads quickly
Maruta: that which helps living beings
Marut – one who causes mrtyu by stopping air
Jagatprana: — breathe of the earth
Samiirana — that which spreads quickly

Nabaswan/vath — one who travels in sky
Vata: one who blows
Pavana: one who purifies everything; also kitchen, potter
Pavamana: one who purifies
Prabanchana: that which causes destruction

Vedic gods

Maruts or Marut gana are gods of wind.
The sons of Rudra and attendants of Indra are called Maruts .
There are a few hymns addressed to Vayu in the Vedas. In the Purusasukta hymn, Vayu is said to have sprung from the breath of Purusa .He is also called the son in law of Tvashtri.

Maruts are storm gods in the Vedas. Maruti, also known as Hanuman, got his name from this word. Their weapons are lightning and thunder and they are called friends of Indra. Their number is given as thrice sixty in one place and 27 in another place. In the Ramayana, Indra is said to have created 49 Maruts from the unborn son of Diti by his thunderbolt. Indra said to them “weep not” –“ma rodih” — and it became Maruts.

Maruts are said to have deformed the 100 daughters of Kusa Nabha and they became Kanya-kubja (hunch backed).
All these stories are episodes convey some geological or medical facts in the way of popular stories. Puranas use a funny way of saying all the historical, medical and geological facts. Perhaps the ancient Hindus understood in the proper way.

Indian Air Force Bomber Marut

Vayu created Sri Lanka

Bhagavatha Purana gives an interesting story of Vayu. Narada asked Vayu to break the summit of the Meru mountain and the gale force wind / Vayu broke down a part of Meru. That part fell into the ocean and became Sri Lanka.
Ramayana’s Hanuman and Mahabharata’s Bhima are considered sons of Vayu. Vayu always stand for tremendous strength.
Vayu is one of the deities with a Purana in its name- Vayu Purana. it is devoted to the praise of lord Siva.
Martu is a Mesopotamian storm god; the patron god of the city of Ninab mentioned in the texts. I guess this is the Vedic god Maruts.

Greek Vayu deva Aeolus

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 28, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Aeolus, Marut, Maruti, Vayu, Vayu Purana

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 28, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/28/interesting-facts-about-vayu-bhagavan/

How to invite God to Your Home? A Story by Ramdas

Picture from Richard Cassaro book

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1364; Dated 22nd October 2014.

Hindus have a strange custom of bringing God into their hearts during the prayer time and saying Good Bye at the end of the prayers. This is called “Aavaahanan” in Sanskrit meaning Invoking (the god). In all the Hindu ceremonies, God is invoked into a water pot (Kalas) or Fire (Agni) or Yellow Turmeric Powder (Lord Ganesh’s image is made with turmeric powder) or a seat inside the heart. Even when Hindus do water oblations to the departed souls on New moon day, they invoke the departed souls into the Darbha grass (Kurcham in Sanskrit) and when the ceremony was over they say, “Please go back to your place” (Yathaa sthaanam Prathistaapayaami).

When we invoke god into our hearts the hand gestures will be shown inward and when we invoke god in any object in front of us it is done by stretching the hand and placing the flowers or yellow rice or water on the object.

Like we clean the place where we serve food, the body is also ritually purified before invoking the God. The logic behind this custom is, the ritual allows us to remember that his seat must always be kept pure inside us. Then It becomes a habit.

This is a very strange custom seen only in Hinduism. Brahmins do invoke Goddess Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati into their hearts and say good bye at the end. This is done thrice a day.The Mantras go like this:

Gayatrim Avahayami
Savitrim Avahayami
Sarasvatim Avahayami
(Avvvaahayaami is the correct pronunciation meaning I invoke Gayatri…..)

At the end of the prayer, they say with folded hands (Namaste gesture), “Oh! Resplendent Gayatri! Kindly extend your grace to us who are worshipping the Brahman and Restore yourself to Your Seat happily on the highest summit of the Glorious Mount Meru.

Story told by Swami Ramdas (of Anandashram):—-
There was a poor man in a country. He was very anxious that his king should visit him one day. But his condition was so poor that he could not make necessary arrangements to receive the royal guest. However he expressed his wish to the king who at once agreed to visit him. The king knew that the man lived in a small cottage. So he sent in advance everything that was necessary for his reception at the cottage. Royal messengers went with all the things and asked the man to make use of them and also cleaned the place, spread the carpet, arranged the furniture, made the necessary decoration and brought flowers, garlands etc. when everything was ready, the king paid his visit. The man’s wish was fulfilled.

So also, if we invite God to take His seat in us, He will do everything necessary. He will Himself purify our hearts and take His seat there. So the only thing we have to do is to pray to Him to come to us. Nothing more. He will see to everything else. If your heart is sincere, you will feel the need for His coming and He will surely come to you. If your life is disorderly, He will see that it is set right and when He comes to you once, your life becomes blessed.
-Stories As told by Swami Ramdas, published by Andashram, 1969.

Stone Temple Vs Imaginary Temple
The following story is posted by me on 5th June, 2011 under “Amazing Power of Human Mind” in which I gave six stories:–
STORY No.3
Here is story from the Tamil book ‘Periya Puranam’ about a saint who built a temple in mind and consecrated it mentally. Pusalar was born in a Brahmin family at Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu.

He was a great devotee of Lord Siva and he wanted to build a temple for Him. He sought every means to find the money required for this purpose but was unsuccessful. Nothing daunted, he resolved to erect a temple in his own heart. He gathered all the necessary materials to build a temple in his mind. He chose an auspicious day and laid the foundation stone and the temple rose slowly higher and higher day after day. When he finished it building mentally, he fixed a day for the great Kumbabishekam (ceremonial consecration).

About this time the all powerful Pallava king had built an actual temple at Kanchipuram-the famous Kailasanathar temple at Kanchi. He expended all his wealth on its construction. He fixed the same day for consecration of the actual temple. But Lord Siva appeared in his dream and told him that he could not come on the day because Pusalar Nayanar had built a temple and the Kumbabhishekan was on the same day.

The king had to postpone his Kumbabishekam. But he became curious about the other temple built by Pusalar. The king travelled to Tiruninravur and asked the way for the temple. The people of the town told him that there was no new temple or any Kumbabhishekam in the town. The king told them that he had a dream and Lord Siva told him that there was a temple built by one Pusalar. When they brought Pusalar in front of him the whole story unfolded in full. Pusalar was thrilled to know that Lord Siva recognised his temple built in heart better than the temple built by the king in stone. Such is the greatness of thought power.

This is an excellent story. It shows that our forefathers knew more about the mind than what the modern psychologists knew today. Periya Puranam was written one thousand years ago.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 22, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Avahayami, God's visit, Hindu invoking, invoking god

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 22, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/22/how-to-invite-god-to-your-home-a-story-by-ramdas/

Dictionary of Demons

Shiva killed Andhakasura

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1362; Dated 21st October 2014.

DIWALI IS THE CELEBRATION OF DESTRUCTION OF DEMONIC QUALITIES.

Every ancient culture and religion has two types of forces Angels and Demons i.e Good and Bad. This is symbolic. Every one of us has two sets of thoughts good and bad. People who have only good thoughts, words and deeds are considered great saints in India. They are angels or Devas. Those who have bad thoughts, words and deeds 100 % are considered demons. But most of the people don’t stoop that low. They are at various levels.

In Hindu mythology we see demons like Ravana who are well educated, wealthy but bent upon during very bad things. They were so arrogant that they were not ready to change even when they were given enough opportunities and sufficient time.

In the oldest literature in the world, the Rig Veda, even the natural forces are described as demons. Foreign “scholars” who tried to translate them struggled hard to understand the difference between the demons and the natural catastrophes. People who came to India from outside with a motive to spread their religion or to establish their rule, followed “Divide and Rule” policy and divided India into two classes–Aryans and Dravidians. They dubbed all Dravidians as demons. They boldly concealed the facts available in Hindu scriptures. They published half truths by quoting one couplet from here and another couplet from somewhere and told the people this is what Hinduism say about Dravidians. Hindus who never study their huge, voluminous, gigantic, Himalayan amount of literature, believed those people because they wrote in ENGLISH!!!!.

Indian “Scholars” with divisive tendencies who were either Marxists or Dravidian political leaders became “Yes men” to those foreigners because it served their political purposes. They also adopted the same foreign tactic of Divide and Rule.

Bhasmasura killed himself with his own boon!

Those who study Hindu scriptures will know that both the Asuras and Suras (Demons and Angels) are the sons of the same mother. Even the word Asura (demonic) is used as an epithet of Indra in the early parts of the Rig Veda. It meant great strength. All the Iranians (Persians) and Assyrians called themselves Asuras. It did not have any bad connotation other than terrific, huge, strong etc.

Lord Krishna gives a list of Daivic (angelic) and Asuric (demonic) qualities in the Bhagavad Gita. It is very clear that people are divided on the basis of qualities and not on birth. Living beings are classified into 18 types of people and the scriptures say that they all came from the same mother. Some narrowed it down to six or seven categories like we see in Vishnu Sahasranamam: Sura- Nara- Go- Khaga-Bogi- Gandharva- Daityai: (Angels, Human beings, Animals, Birds, Gandharvas (celestial singers), Daityai: (people with asuric qualities).

Those who are born to Kasyapa and Diti are called Daitya. Prahalada, Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyakshan were born in this family. Krishna says that he was Prahlada among the Daityas in the Bhagavad Gita (10-30). The Vibhuti Yoga of Gita (Chapter 10) makes it clear that all are Lord’s children. And just to give this message to the humanity he described himself the best one in each category.

List of Asuras, Rakshasas, Daityas and Danavas:

Demons killed by Lord Krishna
Putana (woman)
Sakatasura (Cart Demon)
Trinavarta (Wind Demon)
Vatsaura (Calf demon)
Bakasura ( Stork or Heron demon)
Aghasura (Snake demon)
Dhenukasura (ass demon)
Kaliya (sepent )
Pralambasura (human)
Arishtasura (Bull)
Kesi asura (Horse demon)
Sankachuda- Shell demon
Kamsa – Human
Chanura – wrestler
Vyomasura- sky demon
Madhu – demon
Narakasura

Tarakasura in Yakshagana

Demons killed by Indra

Ahi (RV 2-11)
Vritra – a Brahmin (in a lot of RV hymns) (RV 2-11)
Trisiras (Visvarupa) — a Brahmin
Sambara (RV 6-26) (RV 4-30)(2-12)
Araru
Susna(RV 2-14)
Kuyava ( RV 1-103)
Ilibisa
Uranu (RV 2-14-4)
Svarbhanu (RV 5-40-5)
Ahisuva – snake (RV 8-32-2),(10-144-3)
Karanja (RV 1-53-8)
Parnaya ( R V 10-48-8)
Vangrda ( R V 10-48-8)
Varcin
Arbuda(RV 2-14)
Aurnavabha
Vrkadvaras (2-20-4)
Pipru(RV 2-14)
Chumuri (RV 6-20)
Namuci (RV 2-14)
Ridhikra (RV 2-14)
Sribrnda
Anarsani
Dhuni (RV 6-20)
Vala (RV 2-11)
Mrigya
Drbhika (RV 2-14)
Tugra (RV 6-26)
Vetasu (RV 6-26)

Keshikasura killed by Krishna

Names of all the Vedic “demons” end with vowels ‘a, u,i’. This uniformity shows that they were also sons of the soil belonging to the same race. Hindu Gods’ names also end with the same vowels AgnI, IndrA, VarunA, YamA, VayU, MitrA,NasatyA, DasrA, ArkA,VaghisA, BrhaspatI, VachaspatI etc ( a, i, u). If they are foreign names, we can’t see this similarity!!

Demons killed by other Gods
Madhu Kaitaba – killed by Hayagriva (Vishnu)
Hiranyakasipu – Narasimha
Bali – Trivikrama or Vamana
Ravana, Indrajit, Kumbakarna , Maricha – Rama
Kara, Dushana – Rama
Tadaka – Rama
Kabandha – Rama
Vatapi – Agastya
Bakasura – Bhima
Jatasura – Bhima
Andhakasura – killed by Shiva
Bamsmasura – killed himself
Gajamukasura – Ganesh
Surapadman – Subrahmanya
Tarakasura – Subrahmanya/Skanda
Mahisasura – Devi
Sumba– Devi
Nisumba– Devi
Sunda– Devi
Upasunda– Devi
Vidyunmalai- Lord Siva
Viryavana — Lord Siva
Tarakaksha — Lord Siva

Durga killed Mahisasura

During the mythological period and Ramayana period people with bad qualities were called demons. In the Mahabharata period we see less number of demons and more number of bad people like Duryodhana. Even the demons killed by Krishna are not portrayed as demons in the Mahabharata. Only in the Bhagavatha Purana which was written in ‘old Puranic style’, baddies were described as Asuras. In short, Asuras are as human as we are in appearance but with bad qualities. They derived sadistic pleasure by troubling others. If we reject the foreign theories on our Gods and Goddesses, we will understand them better.

Narasimha who killed Hiranyakasipu

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 21, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Asuras, Daityas, demons

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 21, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/21/dictionary-of-demons/

Oldest Poet Usanas Kavi!

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1360; Dated 20th October 2014.

“Of the Vrsnis I am Vasudeva; of the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya (winner of wealth); of the sages I am Vyasa and of the poets I am Usana”.
– Bhagavad Gita 10-37

Why did Krishna say that he was Usana Kavi, an ancient poet whom we did not know much? We know a lot of other Vedic seer poets, but not Usanas.

First of all let me give you some basic information:
1.Until this day we use the word ‘Kavi’ for a poet in all the major Indian languages including Tamil (Pulavar was old and Kavinjar is current). This shows that the Rig Vedic Sanskrit lives in all our hearts. Kavi is a poet and Kavitha is a poem in all Indian languages. ‘Kavi’ is in the Veda and in the Gita!

2.Usanas belonged to Kavya Gotra and in Tamil, the oldest poet Tolkappiyan is believed to be from this Gotra. And there is another poet Kappiyatru Kappiyanar of Patitru Pathu (Ten Decads) from the same Gotra.

3. This shows the antiquity of the Gita as well. Krishna mentioned one of the oldest poets of the Rig Veda! AA Macdonell and A B Keith say in their Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, “ Usanas Kavya is an ancient seer, already a half mythical figure in the Rig Veda where he is often mentioned, especially as associated with Kutsa and Indra”. Rig Veda itself is old; in fact the oldest book we know of. Usanas had become ancient to the seers of Rig Veda! But Krishna was able to appreciate it. That means Krishna lived before the collection of Rig Vedic hymns by Vyasa.

4.”Later on Usanas becomes the Purohita/Priest of the Asuras in their contests with the Gods. A Variant of his name is Kavi Usanas. He appears in the Brahmanas as a teacher also”, say the authors. This shows that there were more poets with the same name in later days. We know that Shukracharya was the Guru of Asuras. This reveals another fact that both Asuras and Suras had Brahmin teachers. Both Devas and Asuras were sons of the soil. In Tamil also we have famous names of Sangam period, Kapila, Parana, Nakkirar and Avvaiyar at various ages. All these poets have done some works in later ages in Tamil as well. So it is possible that we had other poets with the name of Usanas. But even their works are not available!!
5.Usana’s name figured as an author of Artha sastras (Books on Economics) earlier than Kautilya alias Chanakya.

References to Usanas in the Rig Veda
His name occurs in seven out of ten Mandalas of the Rig Veda. His name is missing in Mandalas 2,3 and 7. We are unfortunate to lose the poems of such a popular poet. This shows how much of old Sanskrit literature was lost.

The way all the people praise him give the impression that the words Kavi and Kavya (poet and classics)– all originated from Usanas Kavya!

The following references are considered important (from Vedic Index):
Rig Veda 1-51-10, 1-83-5, 1-121-12;
R V 4-16-2, 6-2011, 8-23-17
R V 9-87-3, 9-97-7, 10-40-7
Probably also 1-130-9, 5-31-8, 5-34-2
Also in A V 4-29-6 (A V = Atharva Veda)

Taittriya samhita, Panchavimsa Brahmana, Sakyayana Srauta Sutra mention the Purohit/priest Usanas (Sukracharya).

Kavi Usanas is found in RV 4-26-1.

He appears as a teacher in two of the Brahmanas.
Yajur Veda and Sama Veda also praise him as a great poet.
Usanas’ few compositions are available in the Rig Veda: 9-87 to 89 and 8-84. As usual, the foot notes say that it is difficult to understand certain lines. Ninth Mandala of Rig Veda deals with Soma Pavamana (Soma Plant and Juice).
Usana, the son of Kavi is well known for making Agni the ministrant priest and offerer of the sacrifice for Manu ( RV. 8-23-17)

He is referred to as a seer and leader of the people. By his poetic gift he is said to have discovered the secret milk of cows of Indra which was concealed ( RV. 9-87-3)

Usana is said to have increased the vigour of Indra ( RV. 1-51-10) and fashioned the thunderbolt for him for slaying Vritra( RV. 1-121-12; 5-34-2).

He is characteristically wise and soma is compared with him due to his wisdom ( RV. 9-97-7)

Indu, the well armed god, is flowing onward, who quells the curse and guards from treacherous onslaught,
Father, begetter of the gods, most skilful, the buttress of the heavens and earth’s supporter
Rsi and sage, the champion of the people, deft and sagacious, Usana in wisdom
He had discovered even their hidden nature, the cows concealed and most mysterious title (RV 9-87-2/3)

Source books : Vedic Index of Names and Subjects Volume 1 and Bhrgus – A Syudy by Jayanti Panda, Delhi, 1984; The Rig Veda, Translated by Ralph T H Griffith.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 20, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged oldest poet, Rig Veda, Usana kavi, Usanas, Usanas Kavya

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 20, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/20/oldest-poet-usanas-kavi/

Hindus Worship Ten Directions!

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1355; Dated 18th October 2014.

Hindus worship all the ten directions including the four cardinal and four ordinal directions on a compass.

“Purushasuktam” is one of the most popular Vedic hymns. It is in the Tenth Mandala of the oldest scripture in the world- Rig Veda. It is recited in almost all the temple and domestic rituals. Orthodox Hindus who have studied Vedas recite it every day. The first few verses describe the omnipresence and omnipotence of the God:

“ The Purusha (Supreme Being) who has thousands of heads, thousands of eyes and thousands of feet enveloped the earth on all sides and stood beyond it in ten directions of space. All this is Purusha only. All that has been and all that will be. And he is the Lord of Immortality which grows by food”.
God is projected in his cosmic form in this hymn.

We know that Muslims worship facing only one direction, that is the direction in which their holy shrine Kaba is. But Hindus worship all the ten directions i.e eight directions and up and down. All religions believe in the omnipresence of God. He does not live or stay in one place, but he is everywhere.
We know the famous story of one saint stretching his feet in one direction where there was a god’s statue. When people objected to it, he asked them to show the direction where God was not present. This enlightened the people and they realised their mistake of being rude to the saint. This type of story is in many parts of the world to illustrate the omnipresence of God. But yet when it comes to rituals, Hindus give special significance to the four cardinal and four ordinal directions on a compass.

Orthodox Hindus perform a ritual called Sandhya Vandhana thrice a day in which they worship seven directions. In addition to the four cardinal directions of East, South, West and North they worship up above and down below and the middle.

Hindus believe that eight elephants hold the earth in eight directions and the names of the 8 elephants are Airavata, Pundarika, Vamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta, Sarvabhauma and Supratika. Madurai Meenakshi temple show the eight elephants in the sanctum sanctorum.

When the Hindu priests do a Havan or Homa or Yaga at home or in a temple, they first install the Yaga Kunda, the Fire Altar. They invoke all the eight deities in charge of all the eight points in a compass. Each Vedic deity is allocated a particular direction. The priest will ask the performer to invoke the deity by placing Samit (peepal stick), yellow rice and flowers in each direction. The eight deities are as follows:

East – Indra
South East – Agni
South – Yama
South West – Niruthi
West – Varuna
North West – Vayu
North – Kubera
North East – Isana.

They are called Ashta Dik Palaks, meaning Eight Guardian Deities.

Each of them lives in a particular city and they are: Amaravati, Tejovati, Samyamani, Krshnanjana, Sraddhavati,Gandhavati, Mhaodaya and Yasovati.

Hindus do most of the auspicious things facing East or North.
South is considered the direction of departed souls.
North is the direction of Holy souls and Holy places.

The belief about South and North is attested by Tamil and Sanskrit scriptures and secular literature.
“Head towards north is wrong” was posted by me on 10th October 2012. You should never lie in the bed with head towards North. It is scientifically proved.

Hindus have these beliefs for thousands of years. The Manu Smriti, which is at least 2300 years old, says the following about directions:

“The lord dwelt in the golden egg, as bright as sun with thousand rays, and then just by thinking, he himself divided the egg into two. Out of the two fragments, he made the sky and the earth, and the atmosphere in the middle, and the eight cardinal directions, and the eternal place of the waters” (Manu 1- 12/13)

(I guess that the above is about the Big Bang theory and the formation of life on earth)

Buddhist Gurdian deities

And in another sloka he talks about eating habits:
“For facing east he eats food that gives long life
South fame;
West good fortune and
North truth” (Manu 2—52).

“And when he has offered the oblations properly in this manner, he should distribute the propitiatory offering in all the cardinal directions, in clockwise order – one each to Indra, Yama, Lord of the Waters (Varuna) and the Moon together with their attendants” (3—87)
Clockwise means ‘Pradakshinam’ – east, south, west and north.

There are lot of references to directions and the beliefs associated with them. Hindus allocated colours for all the four cardinal directions and Buddhists and Mayans followed Hindus ( I have given the details in a post on Hindu Nagas – Mayan similarities).

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 18, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Dik Palas, Guardian deities

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 18, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/18/hindus-worship-ten-directions/

34 Names of Agni, Fire God!

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1353; Dated 17th October 2014.

Agni is the god of sacrificial fire. Hindus worship him from the Vedic days till this day. All the household festivals and temple festivals begin with the worship of fire/Agni. Brahmins were worshipping him twice a day in the morning and evening and slowly it is disappearing now. But yet he is worshipped in the daily ritual- Sandhya Vandhana.

Agni is the son of Kasyapa and Aditi or Dyaus and Prithvi. Dyaus is heaven and Prithvi is earth. His Vahana/vehicle is a goat. He is the guardian deity of South East. Agni is shown riding a chariot drawn by red horses or parrots in later iconography.

His consort is Svaha and his son is Skanda. This is symbolic. All the offerings are put into fire with the mantra ‘Svaha’ and Agni is worshipped without fire in the form of Skanda or Muruga. So all the Subrahmanya (Skanda) worshippers are worshipers of Agni.

Agni is fire and also Priest, Father, Brother, Friend, Guest and finally the Light of lights, the Soul within our soul and the Deva who is identified with every other Deva or Devi and with the ultimate reality. The Vedic sage’s poetic mind most enthusiastically contemplates every one of these aspects of Agni.

As simple fire Agni is the child of two mothers (the two sticks that produce it by concussion ) and is lifted by Ten Young Virgins — the priest’s fingers ‘’anguli’’ and by another analogy he is the Banner/ketu of the people.

We also need to know the style of mystic expression to understand what significance the Vedic sage intends to convey by describing the domestic fire – Gargapatya Agni – as the ‘’Lord of the Household’’, the ‘’Husband of Wives’’, the ‘’Lover of Maidens’’ as the ‘’Household Friend ‘’(damunas) and the loved and the respected guest at home (athithir durone).

Agni in Guimet Museum, France

We learn two important things from the worship of Agni:
1.Vedic poets’ imagination fly sky high when they praise Agni. They are great poets and they are great intellectuals. From ordinary light (Fire) they take us to the Supreme Light. When we compare this with other ancient poems such as Babylonian Gilgamesh, we can estimate their level of intelligence!!

2. Agni is not worshipped anywhere except India (Parsees in Iran went from India) and only the cognate words are in other languages. This shows that India is the original home of the Hindus and those who went outside spread it or observed it to some extent and it petered out in course of time. The original home of the Hindus still keeps it glowing. Sri Satya Sai Baba and other great saints of India performed Adi Rudra Yajnas (recitation of the long Rudra hymn 14641 times along with the fire offering) in our own time.

34 Names of Agni
Amarakosa, ancient Sanskrit thesaurus gives 34 names for the Vedic fire god Agni. English words such as ignite, ignition, igneous rocks came from this Sanskrit word Agni. The oldest religious book and the oldest record of the human beings, the Rig Veda, begin with a hymn to Agni and ends with a hymn to Agni. That is the beauty of the Veda. It shows the importance the Hindus give to Agni. Next to Indra, Agni has the highest number of hymns. His name is mentioned in other hymns as well. If we take them into account, he tops the list of all deities.

Fire god is the witness of all rituals in Hinduism. From birth to death all Hindu rituals include fire worship. They celebrate the first anniversary of the child with a Havan/Homa or fire sacrifice and end a person’s life journey by consuming the body to fire. Even the wedding is celebrated in front of fire or Agni. He is the witness for all good and bad things.

Agni in Losanjalese Museum

The fire god Agni is extremely important in the Vedic religion. He is the messenger of the gods. He takes all the offerings poured into the fire to the gods. He is everywhere. He is in the sun and moon and as ‘jataragni’ in the stomach, says Sayana in his commentary. Jataragni is the metabolic activities in the body that produce heat. He is in the sea as Badava Agni. All the girls are possessed by him before the marriage. This means that all the girls must be married in front of him (sacrificial fire) as he gives them like a father gives his daughter to the bridegroom. The couple have to walk around the fire. It is called
Saptapadi.

Orthodox Hindus keep fire in a pot from the birth to death and use it for all occasions. The ‘aupasana’ pot contains paddy husk burning forever. It is never extinguished. When a baby is born it is lighted and the same fire is used to light the funeral pyre when the person dies at an old age.

Agni has got cognate words ignis in Latin ogni in Old Slavic and ugnis in Lithuanian . He is worshipped in the houses in three forms by the Brahmins and they are Garhapatya, Dhakshinagni and Ahavaneeyam.

Tamils have separate words for fire: Thii, Neruppu, Kanal. It proves Tamil is an independent language.

34 names of Agni in the Amarakosa and the commentaries on them give lot of interesting information:

Agni in British Museum, London

1.Agni
Meaning:– Going forward
2.Vaisvanara
Relative of the people; Relative of Visva Nara:
3.Vahni
Travels with wind
4.Vitihotra
Place where many Ahutis are offered
5.Dananjaya
Helps to earn wealth; also name of Arjuna and a snake
6.Krupeetayoni
Source of water; vice verse Water produces Agni
‘’Agner apa:’’
7.Jwalana:
Glittering, glowing

8.Jataveda:
He who knows all; Heat creates everything e.g. sun, body heat
9.Tanunapath
He never allows the body to fall; one who does not protect his own shape; becoming dry or one who eats ghee
10.Barhi:
Creeping, crawling
11.Sushma
One who shortens or dries everything
12.Krsnvartma
One who produces black smoke
13.Sochiskesa
One who has flame as his hair

14.Usharbuh
Bright in the morning; Brahmins make him bright in the morning.
15.Asrasya:
One who burns everything associated with him
16.Brhatbanu
One who creates light

17.Krshanu:
emaciating
18.Pavaka:
One who purifies
19.Anala:
One of the Eight Vasus
20.Rohitasva
One who has a red horse
21.Vayusaka:
Friend of the wind
22.Shikavan
One who has flames of tuft

23.Asusukshani:
Dries anything at once or shortens
24.Hiranyareta:
Golden shakti or veeryam
25.Hutabuk
Whatever offered is eaten by him
26.Dahana:
One who makes everyone feels hot

27.Havyavahana:
One who has wind as a vehicle
28.Saptarchi
One who has got seven flames.
Kali, Karala, Manojawa, Sulohita, Sudumravarna, Spulingini, Visvadara are his seven tongues/ flames.

Birmingham Chandru Kurukkal doing Homam/Havan

29.Damuna:
One who subdue, quietens
30.Sukra:
Colour of Sukra – Venus –Bright White
31.Chitrabanu
Colourful light
32.Vivavasu
Light is his wealth
33.Suchi;
One who purifies everything
34.Apapitta:
He is the embodiment of pitta in the water

colour of horses
Agni = red horse – rohitaswa
Varun = white horse
Kuberan = horse of Kumuda (water lily) flower colour
Vayu = babru/ brown colour horse
(Amarakosa commentary gives these details of colour horses)

Agni has got other names as well:
Abja hasta = lotus in hand
Dhuma-ketu = whose sign is smoke
Chhaga-ratha =ram rider
Sapta jihva = seven tongued
Tomara dhara = javelin bearer

Number Seven and Agni
Agni is associated with Number7 for some unknown reasons. He is called Saptaarchi and Saptajihva (Sapta is 7). His seven tongues have separate names (given above).in the Vishnu Purana he is called Abhimani, and the eldest son of Brahma. He had three sons by Swaha. Their names were Pavaka, Pavamana and Suchi. They had 45 sons- altogether 49 persons (7X7). Agni’s chariot had seven wheels representing seven winds. In the Rig Vedic hymns on Agni, we come across number 7 often.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 17, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Agni, Fire God, Jataveda, Svaha

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 17, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/17/34-names-of-agni-fire-god/

Fire Simile: From Rig Veda to Ramayana!

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1351; Dated 16th October 2014.

A beautiful simile about fire is used from the Rig Veda to Tamil Kamba Ramayana of 12th century CE. Fire is compared to anger by several Indian poets. Both destroy their “parents” and those who live with them! This shows that Indian thought process is similar from Kashmir to Kanyakumari – from Rig Vedic days to the middle ages or modern days.

Amarakosa, the Sanskrit Thesarus, gives 34 names for Agni, the God of Fire. One of them is Asrayasa: , which means it will destroy whoever it makes friendship with.

In the Veda:
In the tenth Mandala of the Rig Veda(RV 10-79-4), a poet sings about the God Agni:
“This holy law I tell you, earth and heaven ; the infant at his birth devours his parents.
No knowledge of the god have I, a mortal. Yea, Agni knoweth best, for he hath wisdom”.

Ralph T H Griffith in a foot note in his translation of the Rig Veda says,
“Agni born from the wood of the fire sticks seems as he creeps through the brushwood that he is burning to seek entrance again into his mother’s side. He then finds an old dry tree rooted in the earth and feeds on it as on food that has been specially prepared for him.

His parents: the two fire sticks from which he has been produced.

This is beautiful. Like fire sticks that produce fire, forests trees also produce fire when one tee rubs with another tree. Fire destroys both the trees (parents). Anger is also like this. Anger will destroy a person where it originated along with his relatives, supporters and patrons.

In Tamil Literature
Maruthan Ilanagan , a Tamil poet in Purananuru verse 349, uses this simile. A king asks for the hand of a beautiful girl, but her father refuses to give her to him. The king became angry, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the help of his spear, started abusing him. And the poet comments that this angel/girl is going to destroy the town like a fire in a forest tree destroys the whole forest. Here the comparison is that the girl is going to destroy her parents like the fire that destroys its parent tree and the forest.

Great Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar also uses this simile:-

Anger not only destroys those whom it affects, like fire, but it will also burn
Those kindred souls, who step into help as a raft towards salvation – Kural 306

The idea here is that anger destroys not only the man who gets angry but those who go to his rescue. Shakespeare meant very much the same when he wrote ‘men in rage strike those that wish them best’

But Kamba Ramayanam paints the picture best in a verse in the Uttara Kanda comparing anger to the fire that starts in a bamboo cluster and destroys not only its birth place but all round –
Mungilir piranthu – Kamba.uttara- ilavinan 29

Books Used: — Rig Veda: Translation by R T H Griffith, Tirukkural commentary by Dr S.M .Diaz, Purananauru and Kambaramayanam in Tamil.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 16, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Fire simile in Tamil, Forest Fire simile, Vedic simile

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 16, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/16/fire-simile-from-rig-veda-to-ramayana/

Asvini Devas on Different Chariots: Rig Veda Mystery- 4

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1343; Dated 13th October 2014.

“The Asvins have been a puzzle to the oldest commentators who have widely differed in their interpretations” — Muir

Rig Veda is full of mysteries. Each mantra and each word in it have different interpretations. The people who have translated them in to different European languages interpret it differently. Like no two clocks agree, no two scholars agree on a word or a sentence in a hymn. It shows how difficult it is to translate the words and thoughts of sages who lived 8000 years before our time according to B G Tilak, 6000 years ago according to Jacobi or at least 3200 years before our time according to Max Muller. It shows another thing as well. We should not rely on foreign scholars’ translations. This also shows that literal translation wouldn’t take us anywhere. To illustrate this point, I have given below how Vedic Gods Asvins are described in the translations:

Chariot of the Asvins drawn by horses :– RV 1-117-2
Chariot of the Asvins drawn by birds :– RV 6-63-6
Chariot of the Asvins drawn by swans :– RV 4-45-4
Chariot of the Asvins drawn by eagles:– RV 1-118-4
Chariot of the Asvins drawn by bird steeds :– RV 6-63-7
Chariot of the Asvins drawn by eagle steeds :– RV 8-5-7

1.That car of yours, swifter than thought, O Asvins, which drawn by brave steeds cometh to the people,
Where on ye take the dwelling of the pious, come ye there on to our abode, O Heroes — RV 1-117-2

2.The swans ye have are friendly, rich in store of meath, gold pinioned, strong to draw, awake at early morn
Swimming the flood, exultant, fain for draughts that cheer; ye come like flies to our libations of the meath RV 4-45-4
Meath = mead = honey

3.Ye Twain, with these your glories fair to look on, brought to win victory, rich gifts for Surya
After you flew your birds, marvels of beauty: dear to our hearts! The song, well lauded reached you. RV 6-63-6

4.May your winged coursers, best to draw Nasatyas! Convey you to the object of your wishes.
Swift as thought, your car hath been sent onward to food of many a sort and dainty viands RV 6-63-7

5.O Asvins, let your falcons bear you hither, yoked to your chariot, swift with flying pinions
Which, ever active, like the airy eagles, carry you, O Nasatyas, to the banquet RV 1-118-4

6.Hitherward running speedily with horses, as with rapid hoses,
Come, Asvins, to our song of praise — RV 8-5-7

Coins of Dioskouroi

Asvins, also called Nasatyas, are twin gods in the Vedas. They are physicians. “There are almost as many opinions as experts in the interpretation of the pair of gods mentioned as watching over Mitanni. Their Vedic name most commonly used is ‘the knights’ or ‘the horsemen’, two golden or honey coloured twins. They bring up the morning light of the sky, making a path through the clouds for the dawn goddess Ushas. At the evening twilight they play a similar part, and perhaps they must be identified with the morning and evening star.

“The equivalent of the Greek Dioscuri (Dioskouroi) cannot be called in question. Their name Nasatya, which can be interpreted the root form ‘nas’, meaning ‘to save’, seems to be an allusion to their mission of beneficence. They are the doctors of the gods, the friends of the sick and unfortunate. They heal the blind, and the lame, and give back their youth to the old. They are kindly disposed to love and marriage. Their parents were the sun and the cloud goddess, Saranyu– says new Larousse Encyclopaedia of Mythology.

They are ever young and handsome. As personifications of the morning twilight, they are said to be children of the sun by a nymph who concealed herself in the form of a mare; hence she was called Aswini and her sons Aswins. Mythically they are the parents of the Pandava princes Nakula and Sahadeva. Asvins’ other names: Gadagadau, Abdijau (ocean born), Pushkara –srajau (wreathed with lotuses), Badaveyau (sons of submarine fire Badava) and Swar Vaidyauv. One of them is names Dasra and the other Nasata.
They restored youth to Chyavana. They rescued Bhujyu from the sea.
Nirukta says they are ‘heaven and earth’, ‘day and night’, ‘two kings’ and ‘performers of holy acts’ according to various interpreters.

Professor Goldstucker says, “The myth of the Aswins is one of that classes of myths in which two distinct elements, the cosmical and the human or historical, have gradually become blended into one”.

In my view, Asvins serve as an example for the difficult, misleading or obscure interpretations about Vedic Gods.
Contact swami_48@yahoo.com

Read my previous post: Miracles of Asvins.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 13, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Religion

Tagged Asvins, Aswini, Dasra, Nasatyas

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 13, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/13/asvini-devas-on-different-chariots-rig-veda-mystery-4/

Who is a Rishi? How many types of Rishis?

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1339; Dated 10th October 2014.

The word Rishi means a man to whom Vedic hymns are revealed, an author of sacred hymns, a poet; a priestly singer of those hymns, a saint or sage of ancient India.

Definition of a Seer(Rsi):

In the earliest Vedic text like the Rig-Veda, the word Rsi occurs several times. There are various interpretations:
The Rig-Veda Sarvanukramani 1-4 explains the word Rsi as one who recites the mantra form of the sentence – yasya vaakyam ca rsih.
Sayana derives Rsi from rs ‘to go’. In the introduction to his commentary of the Rig-Veda he connects the word Rsi with drs ‘to see’ and explains how the Veda which is beyond the scope of perception is revealed first of all to the sages through the favour of god.

In the Nirukta 2-11 Yaska quotes the opinion of Aupamanyava, ‘rsir darsanat stoman dadarsa iti aupamanyavah’. This means that the Veda is eternal and it has not been created by any agency. The Nirukta further informs us that the mantras are directly revealed to the Rsis through their meditation and prescience. So the Rsis are called ‘sukta drastarah and not sukta kartarah.

The Satapatha Brahmana derives the word Rsi from rs ‘to toil hard’, ‘to suffer from’.

The Taitriya Aranyaka explains Rsi as abhi+aa+rs ‘ to go forward’, ‘to appear’.
Besides the etymological meaning of the word Rsi, it carries the ideas relating to poetic and prophetic vision, super sensuous knowledge, righteousness and ecstasy.
(Source: Bhrgus – A Study by Jayanti Panda)

Rishis are inspired poets. The seven Rishis are mind born sons of Brahma, the creator. The seven Rishis are represented in the sky by the seven stars of the Great Bear (Ursa Major) constellation.

“The seven great sages of old, and four elders and the Manus also are of My nature and born of My mind and from them are all these creatures in the world “ – (10-6 – Bhagavad Gita )

Atri, Brhu, Kutsa, Vasistha, Gautama, Kasyapa and Angirasa are Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages) now. They change during every Manvantara (Life of one Manu is one Manvantar. There are 14 Manus).
Four Elders: Sanakar, Sanandanar, Sanadanar and Sanatkumarar
Saptarishis showed Pravruti Marga and the Four showed Nivruti Marga.

“Thus transmitted from father to son, Arjuna, this yoga remained known to the Rajarsis (royal sages). It has, however, long since disappeared from this earth”. (4-2 – Bhagavad Gita)

Rama ,Krishna, Buddha and Janaka were all kings —Raja Rsis– who taught the highest wisdom.

The Seven Sages have the following seven virtues or criteria for being a Saptarishi:

1.Long life: A rishi lives for a longer period than the normal life span of a human being
2.Mantra Drshta: Like Radio boxes receive the radio wavelengths one tunes in, they receive certain mantras by fine tuning their minds. Like TV boxes they can see anything from a distance. They can see present, past and future. It is like rewinding, watching or fast forwarding a video tape. Everything is recorded already.
3.Divinity: They are almost like Gods. They have all the powers of Gods, but they don’t use it for themselves.

4.High Status: This is what differentiate them from other Rishis. They are high by virtue of their good qualities, Vedic education/studies and age.
5.Practice: They preach what they practise. They practise what they preach. Thought, Word and Deed are one and that is known as Tri Karana Suddhi.
6.Divine Vision: Perspective outlook. Always work for the uplift of the society.
7.Gotra Pravardha: The human race evolved from these seven Rishis. So each one must be in charge of one clan and devise ways for his clan based on their Time, Place and Circumstances. They can change the rules considering the above three.

( I have taken the seven virtues from Anna’s commentary on Bhagavad Gita in Tamil and expanded with additional points).

Types of Rishis (seers)

How many types of Rishis (seers) are there in our scriptures? In fact the English word seer itself came from the Sanskrit word Rishi. Seer is the mirror image of Rsi.
Of the ten Mandalas of the Rig Veda, eight are attributed to eight Rishis or his family:
Rig Veda
Mandala 2: Grtsamada (Brigu)
Mandala 3: Visvamitra
Mandala 4: Gautama (Vamadeva)
Mandala 5: Atri
Mandala 6: Bharadwaja
Mandala 7:Vasistha
Mandala 8: Kanva
Mandala 9: Angira
Mandala 1 and 10 are attributed various Rishis.

Baudhayana Dharmasutra Gives a list of different types of seers:

Sruta rsi = One who hears Vedas from their teachers
Kanda rsi = Rishis of different Kanadas (sections) of the Vedas
Tapa rsi = Those who do severe penance
Satya rsi = Those who are truthful learners
Deva rsi = Equal to devas; divine
Sapta rsi = Seven Great Sages
Maha rsi = Great/ Exalted position
Parama rsi = Supreme/ Exalted position
Brahma rsi = Rsi of Brahmana community
Raja rsi = Rsi of Kshatriyas community (Kings)
Jana rsi = Common man becoming a Rsi

Patanjali, author of Mahabhasya on Panini’s Ashtadyayi, affirmed two new categories of Rsis:
Mantrakrit = the revealers or composers of Vedic hymns
Mantrakritsama = a writer of Vedangas like Kalpasutra.

Ten Types in the Ramayana and Mahabharata:

Grihasthasramis = Householder but Rsis
Urdhvaretas = who have no wives or children; celibates
Asramavasis = Hermit dwellers
Yayavaras = Continuous wanderers
Purohita- vrittikas = Priestly saints
Sadharana vrittikas = Usual type rsis
Saastras adyapakas = Teacher rsis
Sastras adhyapakas = Rsis who give arms training
Ugra tapasvis = Practising severe penance
Sadharana tapsvis = Practising ordinary austerity
Majority of the seers were householders.

Source: Rsis in Ancient India by C B Pandey 1987.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 10, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged Kandarishi, Maharishi, Rishi, Rsi, Sage, Seer, Vedic Rishis

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 10, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/10/who-is-a-rishi-how-many-types-of-rishis/

El or Ilu in the Bible and Ila in the Vedas

Canaanite God in Chicago Museum

Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1335; Dated 8th October 2014.

El is the word for God in Semitic languages.
Ila was the name for goddess in Vedic scriptures.
El is linked with the Bull
Ila is identified with the Cow.
El—Ila comparison makes interesting reading.
El means the Sun, light and Proud in ancient Tamil literature!

El or Ilu is the common Semitic noun for god and it was the name of an important deity in the near east in Mesopotamia, the designation Ilu was used for deities in general, but no god named il from texts.
The term El/Il is mentioned over five hundred times In the Ugaritic (Syrian) texts with about half the references referring to the specific deity.

The noun El appears in the Bible 230 times.
El was a wise and benevolent patron of the divine council. El often appears in Hebrew personal names and in the term “Israel” itself.
El was linked with the bull, a clear symbol of strength and honour.
The name El is related to Arabic Allah (meaning God).

God El

Ilabrata is a Mesopotamian deity (Ilavrata is one of the nine continents in Hindu mythology. In the centre of Ilavrata stands the Golden Meru says Bhagavatham Purana.

Ila / Ida in Vedic Literature

Ila or Ida in the Rig Veda is food, refreshment or a libation of milk. Ila is personified as the goddess of speech. She is called the instructress of Manu, and frequent passages ascribe to her the first institution of the rules of performing sacrifices. Ila has the epithets ‘butter handed and butter footed’.

According to the Vedic commentator Sayana, she is the goddess presiding over the earth. A legend in the Satapata Brahmana represents her as springing from a sacrifice which Manu performed for the purpose of obtaining offspring.

According to another Ila was the son of Manu (Sudyumna)and turned into a woman. Planet mercury’s (Budha) wife is Ila.
Ila the deity worshipped at Ilaayaspada or ilaspada is one of the three great goddesses in the Vedas. She is worshipped in all the Apri suktas of all the families of composers in the Rig-Veda, and specifically named in all the ten Mandalas.

Budha with his wife Ila.

Tamil El + Sun or Day or Bright

In 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature, El is used for Sun, Light, Day time or Proud. Elli is night. Elli Nathan is the moon. Ellavan refers to both the sun and the moon.
Ellamma is a village goddess in Tamil country. In the same way Gujaratis have ila as a common feminine names.

Number seven in Tamil also comes from El. Number seven stands for divinity in Hinduism.

Source: Dictionary of the Near East and The Rig Veda by Shrikant Talageri.

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by Tamil and Vedas on October 8, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Culture, Religion

Tagged El, Ida, Ila, Ilu, Sudyumna

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on October 8, 2014

https://tamilandvedas.com/2014/10/08/el-or-ilu-in-the-bible-and-ila-in-the-vedas/

Tamil and Vedas

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Oldest Poet Usanas Kavi!

Hindus Worship Ten Directions!

34 Names of Agni, Fire God!

Fire Simile: From Rig Veda to Ramayana!

Asvini Devas on Different Chariots: Rig Veda Mystery- 4

Who is a Rishi? How many types of Rishis?

El or Ilu in the Bible and Ila in the Vedas

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