ON WEALTH- THE RIG VEDA AND TAMIL VEDA (Post No.4924)

WRITTEN by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 17 April 2018

 

Time uploaded in London –  14-49 (British Summer Time)

 

Post No. 4924

 

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Rig Veda is the oldest book in the world. Tamil Veda is Tirukkural written by Tiruvalluvar, the greatest of the Tamil poets, who lived around 5^th century CE. Tamil Nadu government placed him in 30 BCE.

Tiruvalluvar, Kavasa Ailushan and Grtsamada- all the three poets praise wealth (money). They know the importance of wealth. Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar makes it very clear that this world in not for the poor.

 

Let us look at a few verses from both the Rig Veda and the Tamil Veda Tirukkural.

“As those without money (wealth) can have no enjoyments in this world so also are those without compassion denied the blessings of the world above (heaven)”—Kural/couplet 247

 

The poor may sometimes (by winning a lottery prize, finding a treasure trove)  prosper, but those without compassion will be ruined without redemption – Kural 248

 

It is interesting to note that Valluvar insists one should have money but money may come and go, but compassion once gone, gone for ever, no redemption.

Money and wealth are compared with the wheel of a cart, elsewhere in the Rig Veda. It goes up and down.

 

Now look at what the Vedic poets say about wealth: –

The Right Way to Wealth

Rishi- Kavasha, son of Elusha

Rig Veda 10-31-2

Let a man think well of wealth, and try to

win it by the path of Law and by worship;

and let him consult his own intellect

and grasp with his mind greater ability

 

 

And in another hymn,

Rishi Gritsamada

RV 2-21-6

 

Bestow on us, Indra, the best of treasures;

the efficient mind and great brilliance

the increase of wealth, the health of bodies

the sweetness of speech and the fairness of days.

 

Bring thou to us wealth with the power to strike – says another rishi/seer in RV3-46-4

xxx

 

But the Brihadaranyaka (Big Forest Upanishad) Upanishad warns money wont help a person in the other world:-

Through wealth there is no hope of immortality

–Br.U. 4-5

What should I do with worldly wealth by which I cannot become immortal?

 

–Maitreyi to Yajnavalkya in Br.Up. 2-4-3

 

That is the reason Hindu seers erected the Hindu building on the four pillars of Dharma, Artha , Kama, and Moksha ( Virtue, Wealth, Pleasure and Salvation.)

Seers insist that one should find a balance between the four and they say one should have one or two  without affecting the others in the four.

Tirukkural followed the same pattern and Valluvar divided his book into three chapters: Virtue, Wealth and Pleasure.

It is also interesting to note that the same order is recited in the oldest Tamil book Tolkappiam in at least two or three verses.

 

–Subham–