R. Aravamudan: Please explain these with respect to Vedas: Ganesha Atharvashirsham, Shiva Upasana, Sarva Devata Gayatri and Mantra Pushpam. We all (Delhi Youth) seek your blessings and request you to kindly guide us, since we all are going to chant this mantrams for a big occasion in our life. What sequence the above 4 to be chanted? Is the above sequence correct?
Swami Ram Swarup: Thanking you and same to all of you, please.
R. Aravamudan: Please explain these with respect to Vedas: Ganesha Atharvashirsham, Shiva Upasana, Sarva Devata Gayatri and Mantra Pushpam. We all (Delhi Youth) seek your blessings and request you to kindly guide us, since we all are going to chant this mantrams for a big occasion in our life. What sequence the above 4 to be chanted? Is the above sequence correct?
Swami Ram Swarup: Thanking you and same to all of you, please.
1. The meaning of ‘ATHARVA’ is he whose mind or chitta vritti is stable. Chitta vritti is the faculty on which the impressions of karmas – deeds are imprinted. The Patanjali Yoga Darshan says: “YOGAH CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHAH”
Meaning: Yogah = Yoga, Chitta = Combination of intellect, egotism and Mann, i.e. faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same to intellect. Vriti = effect of various forms, Nirodhah = stoppage.
Such person is not fickle minded and he always checks himself so as to avoid commission of sins.
His chitta vritti cannot get entangled in illusion by senses, perceptions or mind. In ATHARVAVEDA MANTRA 10/2/27 states (TAT) the said person (VAI) definitely (ATHARVANNAHA SHIRAHA) is the brain of atharva.
That is, the brain of such person is atharva which implies such person has stable mind/ brain. His mind is the store house of wisdom.
Idea of Atharvaveda mantra 10/2/26, 27 is that when a person listens to Vedas, does practice of ashtang yoga—asan, prannayam, meditation etc., and always consumes vegetarian, pious food then his brain becomes storehouse of wisdom. He controls all his senses, perceptions and mind, never indulges in baseless conversation and always remains faithful.
So, here Atharvaveda does not state about gauriputra Ganesh. In the Atharvaveda mantra 10/2/27, the words “Atharvannaha shiraha” are there but not Ganesh Atharvashirsham and the said word also does not occur in Vedas. So, there is great benefit in chanting Atharvaveda mantra 10/2/27.
In addition, Vedas always tell about the worship of only one, formless, omnipresent, omniscient, almighty God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe.
2. Shiv-upasana- as quoted above, Vedas only contain worship of formless God. However, meaning of shiv is beneficial i.e., conducive to everyone’s well being. In this case, we will find that only one, formless God who has created the universe is beneficial to all living beings.
In this connection I also paste my article below:
God is formless
Being formless there is no need of statue or temple of God according to Vedas. As a matter of fact, you, I or every human being, lives in a body. Body is separate, we are called souls. Vedas say soul has no form even. Then also we know each other. For example even if you have not seen the photograph of King Akbar then, you can know Akbar by means of the study of his qualities. So is the case with the God. If an aspirant really goes to his Guru and listens Vedas like Shri Ram, and ancient kings and their public then he will be able to know hundred percent about formless God. Then comes realization for which Vedas (especially Samveda) says that he who performs Yajna, does jaap (according to Vedas) and practises Ashtang Yoga Philosophy while remaining in family like Shri Ram etc., he sure realizes, being eternal law.
If we will meditate concentrating outside our body which is also against Vedas/Ashtang Yoga Philosophy, then our attention will always naturally remain outside i.e., attached with outer world i.e., decoration/music/dances etc. In that case subject matter of God will be over. It will be converted into spending fun, doing dances and singing attractive songs by ladies and gents, which is totally against Vedas. Thus the chapter of praising God, True Acharya, Rishi-Munis, performing Yajyen, practice of Ashtang Yoga, eternal knowledge of Vedas etc., will be over.
It is also baseless to say that study of Vedas and practice of yoga philosophy is difficult. It is self made story because Vedas are also called Shruti i.e., Vedas are to be listened first and not to be studied. So to listen to the Vedas, a learned Acharya is needed. The Acharya will explain the Ved mantras in the Yajna in your own language i.e., in English or Urdu etc., and for an aspirant to do asan, pranayaam, meditation etc., is also not difficult. It is all difficult for those human beings, including present false prophets, (who are against the Vedas), who are lazy, can’t awake early in the morning to listen Vedas and fail to do practice of yoga philosophy. Those people are always after money, materialistic articles and pomp and show etc.
Vedas are not written or spoken by God. This knowledge is emanated from God and is originated in the heart of four Rishis as stated above. God is Almighty i.e., He has all powers. So He needs no assistance to do universal deeds. In human body alive soul resides and soul is dependent, soul requires mouth to speak, eye to see, hand to write etc., etc. but not God. From His power God originates the knowledge of Vedas in the rishis without writing, or speaking etc. Vedas’ knowledge is divine. The fundamental of the Vedas is this that it was not written or spoken. The knowledge by the power of God was originated about one Arab 96 crore, 8 lakh and 53 000 years ago. Then first time the four rishis of unsexual creation started pronunciation of the mantras by the power of God. God wanted them to know word meanings and senses of the mantras and therefore the rishis knew all. Then first time the four rishis started pronunciation of the mantras. They taught the
mantras to other ignorant people. Then another rishis were produced who knew the Vedas by heart by listening only. There was no paper, ink or pen there. The Vedas were being learnt by mouth to mouth and traditionally this process is yet in force. But mostly not by heart but taking help of the printed book. So printed books are not called Vedas but these are called samhita.
Samhita means the collection of Ved mantras. Therefore Present printed books cannot be considered as Vedas and will never be in future, but samhita. Kapil Muni throws light on this point in his Sankhya Shastra 5/48 that when a rishi does tapsya in the shape of Yajyen, study of Vedas, practice of Ashtang Yoga then the Ved mantras still (now also) originate in heart of the Rishi and the rishi pronounces the mantras. Those mantras are called Vedas, which emanate from God. So Vedas must first be listened (study) from alive Acharya (Guru who knows Vedas). Then only Samhita (books of Vedas) can help.
“VISHNUHU (omnipresent God) PARMAM (the supreme) PADAM (stage) SADA (always) PASHYANTI (see) SURYOHO (yogi)”.
Meaning: – The Yogi who studied Vedas and did hard practice of ashtang Yoga Philosophy and with the result who attained Dharm –megh Samadhi he only see i.e., realises God.
Vishnu means –Omnipresent God. There are unlimited qualities of God and accordingly there are unlimited names of formless, God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe.
For example- Vishnu is the name of Almighty God containing the quality of being omnipresent. Brahm/Brahmaa is also the name of formless God containing the quality of being supreme i.e., there is no one even equivalent to God.
Mahesh is the name of formless God who contains the quality of being supreme.
Om:- is the name of God containing the unlimited qualities, one of which is He is the saviour of entire universe and so on.
Therefore God is one but His names are unlimited as stated above.
Trinity
There is only one God who is formless, creates, nurses and destroys the universe. He is Almighty and supreme, beyond description, beyond imagination and beyond calculation. He is omnipresent and omniscient. Divine qualities of Almighty God are described in eternal knowledge of Vedas. Vedas emanate direct from God. So all Hindus and others too believe in Vedas.
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are the name of one said God. God has no wives please because He is Almighty and needs no assistance etc. No one is above God please. All religions tell to worship God.
I would also advice you to read my books—Vedas divine Light Pt I &II to gain immense knowledge regarding day-today issues. The books can be sent on receipt of your postal address. Price of books are Rs. 80 & Rs 121.00 respectively excluding postal charges.
3. Gayatri mantra is mentioned in three Vedas. Devta of Gayatri is Savita. Devta means the main subject of the mantra. So, the main subject of Gayatri mantra is Savita i.e., Almighty God. Gayatri mantra contains prayer (prarthna), praise (stuti) and worship (upasana) of the formless God. One should chant Gayatri mantra both times and do hawan with Gayatri mantra daily, both times as well. The meaning of Gayatri mantra is appended below–
OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NHA PRACHODYAT
Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.
Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built,Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hiranyagarbha, Vaayu and Tejas names occur andMa = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.
VIRAAT= Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of finaldestruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.
AGNI = From dhatu, ” ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is — He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., omniscient. I.e., knows even every atom of universe and even beyonduniverse too. He who is to be known, to be gained and worshippable. So agni is the name of God.
VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is in whom the universe is entering or He is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.
HIRANGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.
VAAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vaayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vaayu.
TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made who is self made and self-enlighted and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere else but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal shape of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.
ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.
ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.
PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every Manner and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.
BHUHU= “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Pran i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.
BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and with whose contact, the soul removes his all sorrow. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.
SWAHA= i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.
SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.
DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.
VARENYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.
BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)
TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.
DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because
YAHA = the God
NAHA = our,
DHIYAHA = mind (i.e., in our minds)
PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)
MEANING:
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.
Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gaytri mantra, there are three things:
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.
Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.
Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.
In the above mantra we pray to God but mere prayer does not solve the purpose until we do hard work according to the prayer.
4. Gayatri of Lord Ganesh, Goddess Nandi, Lord Chakra, Lord Shanmukha, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Garuda etc., are not mentioned in Vedas please. I am happy that the above valuable questions are being received from youth who after gaining the Vedic knowledge will spread it everywhere. In Vedas, it is mentioned by God, “KRINNVANTO VISHWAM ARYAM” i.e., everybody must spread Vedas knowledge in the entire world. If we do it, it means we are serving and worshipping God.
So everybody must chant Gayatri mantra along with its meaning at all occasions, please.
Then no doubt, its results will be fruitful to all and God will shower His blessings all over the aspirants. Youth must also gain Vedic knowledge and practise ashtang yoga. The youth must concentrate to maintain brahamcharya (celibacy) strictly to develop their brain to gain knowledge. They must serve mother, father, learned guests, acharya to gain knowledge and their blessings. Thus, they will be able to serve the society, nation and human beings. Sri Ram, Sri Krishna Maharaj, king Harishchandra, and several ancient dignitaries recited ved mantras to develop their mind and intellect. They really serve the nation and public based on the Vedic knowledge. I have written one book on brahamcharya in Hindi which can be sent to you free of cost to follow the Vedic preach therein. I have also written the following books which can be selected by the youth to gain read spiritual knowledge of the Vedas. One set of the books can be sent free of cost to the youth because I always love the youth who make the strong foundation of our country.
Gulshan: What does HAVISHA mean?
Swami Ram Swarup: The meaning of Havisha is aahuti or daan (the matters to be donated). In this connection, I paste explanation of Yajurveda mantra 23/3 –
(HAVISHA) BY OFFERINGS I.E., AAHUTI, YAJ/YOGAABHYAAS, I.E., PREACH OF ASHTANG YOGA — IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WORSHIP OF GOD IF WE OFFER AAHUTI IN HAVAN KUND IN BURNING FIRE, DO YAJ AND ASHTNAG YOGA PRACTICE, (VIDHEMA) ‘VI’ =SPECIAL ‘DHEMA’= WORSHIP, IN THIS WAY WE DO THE BEST WORSHIP.
R. Singh: I am having problems in communicating, concentrating or remembering things.
Swami Ram Swarup: For the development of the brain asan, prannayam, and meditation is necessary, please. In addition, one must chant daily Gayatri mantra with its meaning and should do also hawan from Gayatri mantra offering at least 11 aahtuis daily both times. The said real worship of the God increases mental and physical power of an aspirant. You should also awake early in the morning for walk and exercise. Thereafter I am sure that you will become best communicator. Please also try to take plenty of water daily i.e., at least 12 to 15 glasses of water from morning till night.
Harish Choudhary: Swamiji, Pranam. According to VEDAS the joys and sorrows of our present life is based on what we did during our previous lives but this theory is hard to tell, when people ask questions viz. who has seen next life or who knows as to whether if there is any life and death cycle at all.Also people say that those who are committing more sins in this life are enjoying life better than those who are always good.How to satisfy those people?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Yes, the joys and sorrows of our present life are based on previous lives’ good or bad deeds respectively. Actually, to be an atheist (nastik) people consider the same story that- “who has seen the previous or next birth”. Therefore, it has also been a saying that “Eat, drink and be merry”.
There is a Sutra:
“SWARSAWAHI VIDUSHOAPI TATHAROODOABHINIVESHAHA” (Yog Shastra Sutra 2/9)
(SWARSAWAHI) eternal philosophy which is applicable to everyone (VIDUSHAHA API) for both i.e., in learned and ignorant (TATHAROODAHA) simultaneously applicable (ABHINIVESHAHA) called abhinivesh i.e., trouble/suffering.
Meaning: – Eternal philosophy which is applicable to everyone for both i.e., in learned and ignorant, simultaneously applicable called abhinivesh i.e. trouble/suffering.
Idea of the above sutra
The meaning of the word “abinivesh” is death. Death is the trouble/suffering which is simultaneously applicable to learned as well as ignorant person. What more can be said about death than that one day there shall be final destruction of universe.
Vyasmuni, has commented on the above sutra, stating that every person has a desire for himself that Oh! God, never should come the time that I remain no more. But, may I be alive forever. There is no person who desires to meet with death. This concludes that the death is the most unbearable sorrow in the world. Now, the question arises that those who are living on this earth (who are alive) have not met with death but a fear of death always remains in their mind. Why? Vyasmuni observes that:
When they have not met with death, then due to lack of experiencing death the fear of death in no way should have arisen.
Answer is clear that the effect of the sufferings of several deaths of his previous lives are imprinted and present in his chitta. Chitta means the faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and effect of the same is made thereon. Had there been no death in previous lives then present living population would not have received the experiences of sorrow relating to death. That is why, everybody desires to be alive and never desires to meet with death. If some one raises a question / doubt that we usually/daily see several deaths and bring the dead body to final resting place (shamshaan Ghat) due to which we are afraid of death then another question will arise that why a man is greedy and his sole intention is to gather materialistic articles of the world, if he knows that he has meet with death, one day?
Secondly, every newly born baby even if he is born today, is afraid of death. But he has no experience of death in his present life. That is why, the observation of Yask Muni, who was profound scholar of Vedas, Ashtang Yogi and had realised God, is true that newly born baby is also afraid of death based on his experiences of death in his previous lives.
There are several questions –why a newly born calf, even in a jungle, where no one trains him, gets attracted automatically towards the udder of cow. This shows that soul within the calf has taken several births of being cow in his previous lives and has the impression on his chitta of taking milk from udder. That is why, automatically newly born calf gets attracted towards udder (thun) of cow. So is the case of newly born baby of the living being which gives the proof of previous births and deaths and present birth.
As regard enjoyment being experienced by the sinners now (in present life), I have several times cleared and have written in Yog Shastra as well that he is enjoying the result of his previous lives’ pious deeds. You know, Rigveda mantra 10/135/1,2,3 clearly state that God gives the present human life to face the result of previous deeds and whatever a person shall do in present life, that result shall have to be borne by him in his future life.
Actually, it is a problem for ignorant people that they have listened to single-minded or one –way talk that there are not past and future births but they have not listened to eternal truth of Vedas on the matter of Sanchit Karma, present Kriyamann Karmas and Prarabdh Karmas.
