Yusuf: Namaste Swamiji, I am born in a Muslim family, but I do not like the halal meat, I am a vegan I don’t like facing ka’ba I think Allah/Ishwar/God is in my heart and like to do good deeds. It is difficult here for me to find guru every time I go they do idol/murti worship. I used to believe in Devi because of mistranslations of two Vedic suktas. I beg of you please translate them. Rig Veda 10:125:1-8 and also 10:127:1-8. Also I might not be able to do homa. Is it possible to do in my mind (I think I read in Bhagavad Gita it is possible). I also wish to ask is it possible to buy your books etc on the website called Amazon? Pranaam
Swami Ram Swarup: Walekum-aslam, Yusuf bhai. I appreciate your decision of being vegetarian. You see, non-vegetarian can never be taken without inflicting violence. Yes, please. Allah/Ishwar/God are the names of one God, who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. He is Formless and Almighty. So, Murti worship does not exist in Vedas. In this connection, I also paste my article as under-
Idol worship is not mentioned in Vedas
If an aspirant will concentrate over mouth of idol then for sometime he will concentrate on chin, nose, head etc., but concentration on one point will not be achieved. Secondly, Vedas do not preach to concentrate outside the body. Yog shastra sutra 3/1 also states, “DESHBANDHASYA CHITTASYA DHARNA” i.e., concentrate on a point of body like agyachakra, tip of the nose or heart. So we cannot go against the ved-shastras. Yes, idol worship has been started within two thousand and five hundred years. That is why, Vedas do not tell for idol worship but if people desire, they can go ahead.
Pictures, drawings etc., may not be considered idols but it is an art and not worship of God. We must know that knowledge of Vedas emanates direct from God and idol worship has been made by human beings. So now we have to decide whether we obey God or human beings. If we still follow the path made by humans then no problem, one must go ahead. On the other hand, follower of Vedas must continue his own path.
In four Vedas, the media to realize the God has been stated as –
Study of Vedas under guidance of acharya which is a real media and as mentioned in the Vedas, one has to follow the preach mentioned therein viz., performance of Yajyen, name jaap of God , regular contact with learned acharya of Vedas, ashtang Yoga Practice under his guidance etc. The said media is stated by God Himself in Vedas. Man, an artist, clay and every matter right from straw to sun, moon, air, space etc., is the creation of God. It thus concludes that we have to worship and realize the creator and we must not be attracted towards creation. Attraction is the task of senses, perceptions and mind which is destroyed but the creator is immortal. No other media is stated in Vedas except the human body through which the said worship is done by a Yogi, Rishi-muni or aspirant.
Vedas-shastras state that God is omnipresent and according to Yajurveda mantra 40/6 it is true but other mantras state that God is “Ninnaya” that is hidden in the universe and we have to locate the hidden God and not the visible, non-alive matters of the world.
T.V., radios etc., all articles are man-made and controlled by some mechanism. And examples of man-made mechanism are actually not applied on Almighty, omnipresent God. Any mechanism, for example- rocket launching , launching of satellites etc., involves the mind of a man and mind has limited power otherwise mind could have searched the hidden Almighty God also but Vedas state that mind, intellect , senses etc., have limited power and God is beyond imagination , beyond description, beyond calculation. That is why, our ancient Rishis, Rajrishis practised Vedic path that is did practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy, yajyen etc.
As such they exercised control over mind, intellect, senses etc. A Yogi when makes the mind dead etc., and forgets even himself (soul) then he realizes the God. This eternal Vedic path of Yoga philosophy has been very well preached by Rishi Patanjali in his Yog Shastra.
God is not a matter to be seen with eyes. So how can He be seen alone in everything with the destructive eye?
Ego is not one-sided matter. If there is ego, neither a formless God is realized nor difference between idol or formless God is established. It is ego that most of the people respect the idol worship as well as formless God’s worship mentioned in Vedas but when an aspirant follows the Vedas, his mind becomes stable, then he only accepts worship of formless God and not others. Whereas, the worshipper who worships idol, he accepts formless God also i.e., he cannot ignore Vedas and can not accept one path alone. We must deeply think over it that why is it so?
God being formless has not preached regarding any of His substitute or symbol, so the aspirant who knows Vedic philosophy accepts the God’s preach accordingly. When God in four Vedas, has not stated about His mark or representative then how the follower would accept the same? Vedas have been preaching the formless worship as quoted above eternally whereas the worship of idol has been made for the last about two thousand five hundred years ago by the human-beings. So there is difference of worship of formless God and idol.
Idol worship is the worship where the sentiments and emotions of heart are involved and all the said involvements are man-made as well as destructible. How a mind/intellect having limited power can dig out the Almighty, formless, hidden God from the creation? God is Almighty i.e., He has unlimited powers whereas soul who is being assisted by mind, intellect and senses etc., has limited power.
Yajurveda mantra 1/5 and Rigveda mantra 3/56/1 states that even God cannot transgress His rules. So how can God be transformed according to our emotions and be forced to accept our sentiments which are not according to His laws of nature.
All Vedas state that His laws of creation remain unchangeable. So there is no value of our sentiments etc., contrary to His rules and regulations. In the said Rigveda mantra, God strictly states “that all mountains, seas, rivers and even the Yogis who have realized Him (God) are incapable to change His rules and regulations and the way of worship etc.” So our self-made worship, emotions and sentiments etc., are of no use until these are according to Vedas.
As regards flag, yes it is invaluable not only for soldiers but for countrymen as well. However, the flag of each country is different. Will any other countryman sacrifice his life for our Tiranga? We, the Indians are enough to sacrifice our lives to maintain the dignity of our adorable Tiranga. So flags are different, the countries being different but God is one and only one for entire universe. So worldly example in the matter of formless, Almighty God is not applicable, please.
Also the matter of image being very clear to the devotee when it speaks to him in his own language of devotion, forces a learned man to say that the said speech between his mind and soul is worldly speech and even destructible whereas when a Yogi realizes God, he is completely unable to speak, hear, see, smell, eat, think etc. In this connection, the description of Yog shastra sutra 4/30,31, 32 pertaining to Dharmamegh Samadhi refers.
Yes, only currency notes are valuable. Similarly the Yogis –like Yogeshwar Sri Krishna Maharaj, Sri Ram, Vyas muniji, Guru Vasishth, Atri Rishi, Patanjali Rishi and the present Yogis-Rishis –Munis who have realized God, following the Vedic path are valuable. The stamp of beloved God is everywhere that is in sky, water, vegetation, in each living being etc. But as far as worship is concerned then the follower of Vedas only worships formless God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe, alone being Almighty. He is Almighty, therefore, He doesnot need any assistance from anyone.
This is never forgotten that the image has been brought from Jaipur etc., so if one can worship an image then why can’t one worship all pervading, omnipotent, omniscient, merciful God, who is the source of everything, who is eternal, unchangeable, life of life and soul of soul etc. Why do we change Him from being unchangeable to changeable idol?
Practice makes man perfect. So the beginner will get the sanskar (effect) on his chitta of idol worship and the same will never be omitted again. Secondly, according to the Vedas idol worship is not authentic. You see, there is no shape of soul. Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/25 states that size of soul is less than the tip of hair i.e., soul is the minutest matter which remains unseen. But when an aspirant tries to know about the soul, he knows based on qualities. We know about a person according to the description of his qualities- good or bad. Accordingly, we know Ravanna, King Harishchandra etc., based on their bad and good qualities respectively. So is the case of formless God. God has given His description/His divine qualities in Vedas only. After studying the Vedas, we first know the God based on Shabda Brahma i.e., ved mantras. Thereafter, when we worship Him according to Vedas, we attain Samadhi and realize Him. This fact has also been mentioned in Shantiparv of Mahabharat wherein Bheeshma tells Yudhishthir that Oh! Yudhishthir, he who gets perfection in ved mantras first, then he realises God.
When Formless, Almighty God has not stated in any ved about the idol worship then how will He be pleased by idol worship? Yajurveda mantra 32/3 states “NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI” i.e., God cannot be measured. So there cannot be any idol of God because He is immeasurable. However, if people get peace in following idol worship, they may continue. Here I am only discussing the fact of Vedas.
Touching of hand and body etc., is materialistic matter which can only please mind, intellect through skin but it can’t be quoted in respect of Formless, Almighty God.
Whole world can be considered as the body of God but in reality God does not have body because God is alive whereas world is non-alive matter. So God is separate and world is separate. God remains immortal whereas world is destructible.
The image will be destroyed one day but not God. When there is no body of God then how will we be able to offer flowers, sandal wood paste, food etc., to Him.
Yajurveda mantra 40/8 states God to be the purest and He needs not to be purified by bathing, changing clothes and applying sandal wood paste etc. It is an idol or body of human-being which requires purification again and again.
External form of worship will strengthen the idol only because we will be singing, describing the attributes of idol/creation and not to Formless God. If we in the beginning are not able to judge the true, divine qualities of formless God then our love and faith will remain unstable.
Such aspirant will only feel nearness to the idol and not formless God who is already within him and who already resides the nearest to the soul i.e., within the soul.
We will have to study the Vedas which state that idol worship is not permitted by God. Yet, if an aspirant wants to worship an idol then I am telling again and again that he can go ahead at his own. On receipt of your e-mail, I am giving answer based on Vedic philosophy only that what Vedas say about idol worship. Vedas do not speak about idol worship and avtarwad. However, people are free to go ahead on their own and do whatever they like.
When I will see any art which is liked by soul through eye, definitely it will be admired and the scene which is disliked will be ignored. So if many people admire the idol of Ganesh sitting on conch, admiration is natural. As far as Vedas-shastras and other holy ancient books written by Rishis are concerned in the worship of formless God, spirit has no concern. Neither spirit exists nor has any concern with the worship of God.
Yusuf Bhai, I think I have sent you the idea of all the mantras, asked by you in the above question. So, please do not use word “beg”. Instead, it is your right to sent your query and rest of my duty to clear the doubts etc., of the loving readers, like you. Yes, the havan mantras can be chanted within heart without uttering them through mouth. However, meaning of each mantra must be known because it will give knowledge and divine pleasure. If possible and if you know Hindi language, then a book explaining all mantras in Hindi can be sent to you, free of cost. The spiritual books and Cds can be sent by post to you, free of cost, if you send any postal address to us. I pray to God for your long, happy life.
K Guruprasad: Crores of Pranams Maharajji. Sending this mail the moment we received the Baja Govindam CD today. Its so fantastic that there are no words to explain. In south India, we used to listen to this traditional song sung by MS Subbulakshmi from child hood, but never understood the meaning. But here, one can feel each and every shloka. I’m sure that jeevaatma of Adi Shankarachaaryaji will be pleased by this wonderful work of yours. I feel, there can be no one in long periods to come to be born like you who has dedicated all your time to improvement of life of people like me. I sincerely pray God that this Bajagovindam should become world famous and every one should come into Vedic way once again. I’m trying my best to adopt Vedic way of life in
my life and would always be at your lotus feet to attain the goal of Human life. With crores of pranams at your lotus feet. Your son and daughters from Bangalore.
Swami Ram Swarup: My heartiest blessings to you all, my son. Your views are full of faith and love and I appreciate it. May God give you all, long life.
Prashant: 1) What is om?
2) are there more than 4 dimensions (length, width, depth & time) that man doesn’t know of?
3) please differentiate Adwitian and Dwitian Philosophy?
4) Is man a creation of God or God a creation of Man?
5) Are we not wrong to say that life exists only on earth when there are more then a billion stars in this universe?
Please guide, I know the topics are very vast but my innerself is hungry to know these.
Swami Ram Swarup: 1) Om is the best name of Almighty God, say Vedas.
Meaning of Om
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= uukaar from which Hirnnyagarbh, Vayu and Tejas names occurs and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occurs. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says that the God is one but His names are several but here only the said names are given.
Viraat means he who creates the universe. Therefore His name is Viraat. Agni means he who is knowledgeable, omniscient, to be known and adorable. Therefore His name is Agni. Vishw means in whom the space, fire etc., i.e., all bhoots are entering or he who is in all these bhootas and is omnipresent. So His name is ‘Vishw’. ‘Hirnnyagarbh’ means in whom these sun, moon i.e., dyulok , reside and originate, that is why His name is Hirnnyagarbh. Vayu means by whom the universe is held, who gives lives and destroys and is the supreme power, that is why His name is Vayu. Tej means who is a form of light Himself, i.e., God does not take light from anywhere. But gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. So the unbroken, unconstricted/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not the sun, moon, stars, candle or any lamp of the world or any light of the world because all these lights are broken or get exhausted one day, but not God. Ishwar means who and whose knowledge is always a never dying truth and who has unlimited pleasure or merriment in Him. Aditya means one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So His name is Aditya. Praajyan means He who knows every manner and behaviour of whole of the universe without misunderstandings. So His name is Praajyan.
2) No doubt, our existence is multidimensional as also mentioned in Vedas. Vedas brief the matter right from straw to Brahma. However, the references from Rigveda cannot be furnished here because it requires long time.
The verses relating to dimensions are in Atharvaveda mantra 3/27/1-6.
3) THE VEDIC MEANING OF ADVAITA IS A +DVAIT I.E., A= NOT AND DWAIT =ANOTHER, SO THERE IS NO OTHER EQUIVALENT TO ALMIGHTY, FORMLESS, OMNIPRESENT, GOD WHO CREATES, NURSES AND DESTROYS THE UNIVERSE.
SO THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, WAS ONE AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN ONE, WHICH IS ALSO TOLD IN YAJURVEDA MANTRA 27/36, I.E.,
“NA JAATAH NA JANISHYATI”.
MEANING—NO OTHER GOD IS BORN, ALL WILL BE BORN EQUIVALENT TO ONE GOD WHO IS CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
SO IT IS AGAINST THE VEDAS THAT SOUL OR ANY MATERIALISTIC ARTICLE OF THE UNIVERSE IS GOD, LIKE SUN, MOON, SOUL, SKY, ETC., ETC., ETC. BECAUSE GOD IS INDULGED IN ILLUSION FOR SOMETIME AND GOD SEPARATES SOULS AND UNIVERSE FROM HIM WHICH IS ALL AGAINST THE VEDAS.
YAJURVEDA MANTRA 40/8 CLEARLY STATES THAT GOD IS ‘SHUDHAM APAAPVIDHAM’ I.E., GOD IS THE PUREST AND IS ALWAYS AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF ILLUSION AND SINS ETC., THEN HOW ILLUSION CAN DARE TO ATTACK ON GOD.
I would also advise you to read my books named Vedanta and eternal Vedas’ philosophy part I and II (in English) worth Rs.31/-, Rs.20/-, respectively excluding postal charges.
Advaitwad was introduced 1,220 years ago by Shankaracharya. Vishisht Advaitwad about 935 years ago by Ramanujacharya and Dvaitwad was introduced about 809 years ago by Madhvacharya
4.) There are unlimited divine qualities of God amongst which name of God is “Swayambhu” meaning of which is neither God is created nor from God any matter can be created. He is eternal and everlasting. Secondly, human-body is created by God from Prakriti (non-alive) but the soul which resides in body has also the qualities of Swayambhu.
5) Life exists in all planets.
LIFE EXISTS IN ALL PLANETS
Yes, present science has shown water on moon. Naturally the life would be there. But I would like to say that this is according to Vedas. Vedas, tell that there exists life on all planets. You see, on earth also life exists but in different parts, the physical features of human beings change according to difference in atmosphere. Similarly, life on moon is there on basis of its atmosphere. So, if man would be able to make colony of human beings on moon then it would be first seen that whether atmosphere on moon suits to live or get generation there etc. so, it depends on further research and experimentation of scientists.
