T N Kesvan: Westerners mock us hindus that we as humans extend the principle of ”man and wife”/husband and wife /to gods also. What is the concept of God?
Swami Ram Swarup: Almighty God is our father(pita). There are unlimited divine qualities of Almighty God amongst which some are – He is Omnipresent, Formless, Omniscient, creator, eternal knowledge of Vedas emanates from Him, etc. He is stated as Swayambhu in Vedas (Yajurveda mantra 2/26 refers). Swayambhu means God has not been made any matter and from God, no matter can be made. He does not have mother and father. So, when nothing can be made from God, naturally our bodies have not been made from Him but His divine power acts in non-alive matter prakriti and creation starts. So, each matter right form earth, sun, moon, air, crops to atom i.e., from the biggest to minutest/subtlest part of universe is made from prakriti and not from God. Secondly, we are souls and not bodies actually. We reside within the body under the control of God but we have also not been made by God or from God. So, naturally, He is not our father in the sense of giving birth (as our parents). So, why do we quote Him as father? The answer is that father is the translation of Hindi word ‘Pita’ but the meaning of Pita used for Almighty God is due to His divine qualities as quoted above. I mean to say that the meaning of word ‘Pita’ in Sanskrit language in Vedas is ‘He who nurses us’ and not the present pita who gives us birth after his marriage.
For example:- Rigveda mantra 1/1/9 states “Sa Nah Pitev…” i.e., He is like our Pita(father). The complete meaning is he is like our father. The full meaning of whole of mantra, He is like our father who provides us with all the necessities which we use to live upon- like air, water, earth, sunlight, food crops etc., which the present parents cannot make, but provide the same for their children after giving them birth. So, the original word in Vedas – shastras is Pita, the meaning of which is He Who nurses and one who is our protector. So, we the Hindus always address Him as our father, mother, brother, sister, friend etc.
There is only One Almighty God Who is Formless. H is unchangeable. Therefore, He cannot take birth and cannot turn into any kind of idol etc.
I also paste my articles:-
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 Yajyen, 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 Yajyen 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 deeds of universe. 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 53,111 years ago. Then first time the four Rishis of nonsexual creation started pronunciation of the mantras by the power of God. God wanted them to know word meanings and sense 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 more 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 orally 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 sutra 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.
Are Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh Gods?
Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh are not God. Vedas tell that there is only one formless God who never takes birth. He creates, nurses and destroys the universe. His power is enough to create and control the whole universe. He is Almighty i.e., He has all unlimited powers and therefore He does not need any assistance to create, nurse and destroy the universe by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. If God needs assistance then He will not be called Almighty. So God does not need any support but we all humans as well as all living beings need His support and blessings every time. However, in Vedas, there are innumerable names of Almighty God according to His divine qualities. So Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh etc., are also the names of the formless Almighty God. Brahma means the greatest. Vishnu means omnipresent and Mahesh means the greatest.
It is the personal matter of worship or not to worship. So atheists are also there. But it is very clear that God in Vedas as clarified that He Has blessed the human being with human body to worship and realise God. Nobody can attain happy life in the absence of worship of God. One more thing is clear from Vedas in which God states –Oh man/woman you live on the earth given by God and all comforts provided by the God. And if you do not remember/worship God then it is sin and punishment is awarded by the God.
Very few persons know that present science has also come out from Vedas, especially Rigveda. The knowledge of Vedas also emanates from God. So, it is clear that scientist also enjoy science which is given by God. God is not only the matter of blind faith. It is the matter of discussion with a learned acharya of Vedas and Yoga philosophy who from Vedas, shastras and Upnishads etc., and scientifically also prove the existence of God. For example- we see the creation and can think deeply that who has created it or is it a job of man/woman, scientist etc., then automatically after long discussion we would reach on the conclusion that men/women/scientist have not created the universe and then He who has created is called Almighty God.
Vishnu is also a name of formless, Almighty God based on quality. Quality is a sunder- “Vishnu” word is made from “Vishlari” Dhatu and the sense of Vishlari” is omnipresent. So he who has the quality of being Omnipresent at all times without a second’s break, He is Vishnu and no other Vishnu exists equivalent to this God. Similarly, Brahma= “Vri Vridhau” i.e., the biggest amongst the universe. Naturally, He is Almighty God. So, the name of Almighty God is also Brahma. Similarly, according to Yajurveda mantra 16/41 shiv means he who is beneficial/causes welfare, is shiv. The most beneficial, who creates and nurses the universe is Almighty God. So, Shiv is also name of Almighty God.
Satish: Respected sir, I am mentally disturbed by some or the other reasons. Please guide me.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Disturbances for some or the other reasons arise due to the previous lives’ bad deeds/bad society, demoralization due to lack of knowledge of Vedas, laziness i.e., no interest to do hard work to get progress in spiritualism, worldly pious deeds and discharge of moral duties. So, please check yourself as to which one is the reason for your mental disturbances and correct it.
Deepak: Swami ji charan sparsh. As you told I worn janeyu after havan, but still want to know what is benefit of it as normally if you will see we can not see benefits. Can you please explain it? Thanks.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. In this connection, my article is appended below:-
Janeyu (the holy thread)
According to the true Vedic philosophy the custom to wear the Janeyu is eternal made by God. Janeyu has three threads which are indication of Raj, Tam and Satv gunas. There is a knot in the thread which indicates and reminds every time that we have taken oath to bind the said three gunas because the gunas have proud, anger, laziness, greed and various sins.
Further the said three threads also remind us to discharge duties towards Rishirin, Pitririn and Devrin. Rishirin means we have to serve the learned Rishis to obtain knowledge both worldly and spiritual. Pitririn means after completion of brahmacharya ashram our parents entered Grihasthashram (family life being married) and gave us birth. This tradition we have to follow and we have to serve the parents also. Devrin means after completion of grihasthashram we have to enter Vanprasth ashram to learn and donate the knowledge to the society. In a Sanskrit shlok it is mentioned that the Yajopavit gives us long happy life.
Yet, if any question arises, you may send.
Sourabh: Guru maharaaj ki jai koti koti pranaam. Prabu mera prashan hai ki naam jaap kya hai. Aur mai yeh kaise karun?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Naam jaap aur naam jaap karne ki vidhi learned guru ke dwara shishya ko aamne –saamne baith kar sikhayee jaati hai. Jab yeh shubh samay aiyega to aapko sab gyan ho jaayega. Abhi to mann he mann OM ka jaap karte raho.
Sourabh: Guru maharaj ki jai. Koti koti pranam. Guru ji agar mai gayatri havan karte kisi ki raksha ki prarthna kar ke aahuti doon. Toh kya thik hoga. Aur kya bhagwaan sunenge.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Abhi kewal Gayatri kee aahutiyan hee dalo, prarthna karne ka samay abhi nahin aaya hai. Pehle aahuti daal kar kuch punnya ikkattha kar lo.
