WELCOME An Introduction To The Vedas

By Er. Subodh Kumar

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Period of creation of the Vedas The Vedas were revealed in the beginning of the Universe itself. As per the Vedic astrological calculations this happened 1,97,29,49110 years ago. Even Western scholars have acknowledged Rig Veda to be the oldest book in the library of Mankind

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Swami Dayanand on Vedas , , , , , ,

Vedas are Infinite Volume of total knowledge, and all possible thought processes about & of this world is Infinite. So Vedas in their content are also said to be infinite. : : is a very famous Vedic aphorism. It is humanely not possible to acquire entire knowledge of the universe by any individual living mortal Thus it is not possible for any individual to claim that he has fully understood not even read Vedas

Four Vedas RigVeda- covers , Vedic Rit is the word right in English According to Dr Fateh Singh (FS) . Yajurved- involves itself with implementing , the Right Strategies. (FS) . Atharv Ved: Reviews subjects covered in Rig and Yaju, of 6000 mantras in Atharv Ved, 1200 are from Rig Ved. Atharv Ved also deals with more mundane /down to earth topics, SamVed Total dedication to the Almighty through music expressing sublime thoughts. (FS) , .

Shruti Vedas & MantrasFour Vedas namely: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Saam Veda and Atharva Veda as available today have Rig Veda Yajur Veda Saam Veda Atharva Veda Total 105 89 1975 1875 5977 20,416

Understanding VedasIn thousands of years of history of Indian scholarship, before Sayan not a single attempt is known to have been made to translate complete Vedas. To help understanding Vedas wise men of yore wrote innumerable commentaries on Vedas. This forms the Vedic literature known as Brahmans, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Brahm Sutra and Smriti literature All these texts are of great help in understanding deeper meanings hidden in Vedas

Sayans Bhashya Sayans work was commissioned in 14th century AD by Vijaynagar Kings of South India. It is based on Vam Marg in many places. , and mostly deals with Karm Kand as subject of Vedas. Sayan Bhashya is the first ever attempt to prepare a Bhashya of complete Ved. Being the only Ved Bhashy available Max Muller based his work on Sayan Bhashya. The deficiencies in Sayans work suited the British design to portray Vedic literature in very poor light.

Swami Dayanand Rise of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in the later half of nineteenth century was like rising of Sun to shatter the enveloping darkness imposed on India by evil designs of the alien British rulers. On the strength of his great erudition and complete mastery over Vedic knowledge, Swami Dayanand Saraswati faced single handedly, the strong powerful opposition from orthodox Brahmins.

Study of Vedashas to personally take a dip Every seeker in the ocean of knowledge represented by the Vedic Texts. And pick up the pearls of wisdom and knowledge that he is seeking. Life and environments can be improved on this planet by individuals when they seek guidance of Vedas by personal self study, And seek help from associated genuine Vedic literature as enunciated by Rishis like Swami Dayanand Saraswati, and then associate with company of learned virtuous people.

Vedas are not books of History People, places, rivers, mountains can always be named on names picked form rich vocabulary of words in Vedas. In our Sikh tradition, names are based on those found in Guru Granth Sahib. It does not mean that Guru Granth sahib is mentioning events connected with individually named persons.

Vedic Language of Shruti . , , . , , . Jargon . , , . , .

Vedic Terminology . . ,

Yask on Ved Bhashya , .

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Topics in Vedas- Outlines Vedas 1.Apara Creation / 2. Para Beyond Creation-

3. Prayers-

APARA Man is living in a physical world. Progress on material plane is by actions when driven by knowledge. Apara subjects are knowledge topics about physical world. To interpret Apara topics, in addition to Sanskrit and Vedic language, basic knowledge of Physical Sciences is also necessary. Guidance of Vedas for material wellbeing and environmental sustainability is only possible when Apara topics in Vedas are interpreted. In general Vedic Scholars lack basic knowledge of physical sciences .These topics of Vedas have thus not received much attention .

PARA & PRAYERS Para & Prayer , are topics involving . These topics from Vedas have received very extensive treatment by Vedic Scholars for the obvious reasons. Sayan Bhashya is mainly based. Actions of individual and the society evolve from education & cultural traditions of the society. Loss of Vedic Apara knowledge has led to the deterioration and misery of the modern world and man in it.

Sam Ved. .

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1. 3 !! 2. 3 ! 1.1.12.2 3. 3 !!

! ! 1.1.12.1 ! !! ! ! 1.1,12.3

Vam Marg after Mahabharat Animal slaughter in Yagnas Drunken Sex Orgies in religious ceremonies. Only born Brahmins could read Vedas Women treated as low caste Varnashram Dharm became jaati

Jain Buddhist Period As a reaction to Vam Marg Ved Mantra Recitation was prohibited Performing of Yagna was prohibited , as it was looked upon an act of Hinsa . First time state introduced the practice of hiring salaried class of teachers to propagate State Religion Temples with idols and start of community worship practices

PrePre- Shankaracharya Brahmins took as sacred duty to memorize completeVedas, to preserve the heritage of Vedas. They no longer understood meanings and messages in Vedas. Purity of Vedic Text was ensured by using: ! !! This unique technique is still practiced in India by students of Indian classical music to remember the various Ragas.

Shankaracharya Vedic Revival Kumaril Bhatt to Mandan Mishra Ashram Test by Bharati before entry to Ashram Ouster of Buddism by Adi Shankaracharya on strength of shastrarth & sponsorship support by King Sudhanwa Established Idol worship India like Jains and substituted Shiv ji for Jain Idols.

Dayanand on God & Vedas God is the efficient cause of all true knowledge and all that is known through knowledge. God is existent, intelligent and blissful. He is formless, omniscient, just, merciful, unborn, endless, unchangeable, beginning-less, unequalled, the support of all, the master of all, omnipresent, immanent, un-aging, immortal, fearless, eternal and holy, and the maker of all. He alone is worthy of being worshiped. The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the paramount duty of all Aryas to read them, teach them , recite them and to hear them being read.

British Beginnings East India Co. 1773 Warren Hastings first Governor General of India. First court was established with Elzey Impey the first Judge. To deal with cases of the locals with the increasing complexity of issues British realized necessity to formulate a code of law from the sacred texts which the natives held in reverence. British discovered that Manu Smrithi was the principal text that dealt with laws of the land, the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas coming next.

Origin of Aryan Invasion theory Sir William Jones, translated the Manu Smrithi (1792) to help in civil administration, published as Hindu Dharmachar in 1794. Jones was affluent in many languages & compared Sanskrit with the European languages. He invented the idea of Indo Aryan languages. His invention of Indo Aryan language group theory shaped the idea that Sanskrit came to India from Europe.

Sanskrit Study by British To train the ICS, in 1805 East India Company realized importance of knowing Sanskrit by ICS to rule India & started Sanskrit courses in England. ICS succeeded because they knew Sanskrit , that our IAS do not. H. Wilson was appointed as Professor of Sanskrit by the institute in 1832. Chairs for teaching Sanskrit were created in universities all over Europe and US & Universities of London, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

Recap of Discussion on Aryan HeritageMacaulay then Education Secretary British Govt. designed to bring about change in the education system of India to make India easy to rule by the British, by destroying the Sanskrit language base and faith of Indian masses in our heritage and culture by creating a westernized Society by English education & AIT in India,

Recap Aryan HeritageHeritageMacaulays Thesis Indians were to be convinced that their traditional knowledge and belief systems were based on mere superstitions of a primitive society. Adherence to Indian values was the primary cause for the abysmal poverty and backwardness of Indian society. India was not one country, it was a miscellany of people. No Indian was ever fit to rule India. India had never known independence, it had always been under the rule of foreign invaders, who were superior races. (AIT)

Recap Aryan HeritageHeritageMacaulays legacy False hood designed by British to create aversion to our Vedic knowledge and heritage by Macaulay grips India more strongly to day. Indians suffer greater inferiority complex. English language , western manners and white skin prevent progress by social democracy in India

Macaulay Effect on Educated Indians Today1.Sanskrit has been discarded 2.English educated Indians are convinced that all knowledge in Life sciences, Sociology, Technology, State Craft- has its origin in Western Researchers & Scholars. 3.To become civilized and make progress it is essential to learn English, get western education, & adopt western customs and life style. 4.This teaching is the refrain of the media today in our secular India.

MaxMuller work In 1847, East India Company instituted an amount of 9 lakh rupees to publish Vedic texts and appointed Max Muller in charge of the work. Max Muller a German had joined Oxford in 1850 and was assigned the task by Macaulay to carry out this work , under Boden Chair. Macaulay interviewed Max Muller on the 28th December, 1855 and gave directions for Max Mullers anti-Indian bias in translation of Vedas. Max Muller published Rig Vedas complete index with introduction in six parts (1849 75), and the complete text of Rig Veda with commentary in 1873.

Max Muller Bhashya Indian society was made to be seen as dominated by invading marauding alien Aryans. Aryans were shown as, Polygamous polyandrous, cruel, burned their widows on the pier of their dead husbands, ate beef on festive occasions, were drunkards, during Yagyas, kings consort had sex with the ceremonial horse, that was to be sacrificed.

Dayanand changes mind of Max MullerLater Max Muller realized his mistake but it was too late If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed the choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solution of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant- I should point to India.

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Mandal1 Health & Education Mandal 2 - Creation of National Wealth Mandal 3 - Art of Life Mandal 4 - Dealing with Human Failings Mandal 5 - Consolidating a Nation Mandal 6 - International Cooperation Mandal 7 - Balance of international power Mandal 8 - World Citizenship Mandal 9 Development of Intellectual Base Mandal10 - Practice of Life

Some Apara Topics 1.Material wealth- RV 10.110 2, Vaikunth Prosperity for ever -RV 10.47,48,49 3. Success in Life -RV 10.128. 4.Material prosperity- RV 10.120 to 125 5.Consumer Protection AV 5.7 6. Transparency, Freedom of speech AV5.8 7. Gambling RV 10.34 8. Leadership in Society RV10.155 9. Marital Bliss RV10.145,1.179 10. Pregnancy Protection RV 10.162 11. Manyu- Protecting Justice RV 1.83,84

More Apara Topics12. Corruption in Govt AV5.18 13. 6.53 14. AV5.7 15. , 16. 17. , RV

THANKS Any Questions? We shall continue on 26.09.10 at 1845 ALL ARE INVITED AGAIN

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