Prakash: My respectful Namaskar to Swamiji, I have read the detailed reply to my Querries with great interest and my sinccere thanks to you sir. Since I was interested in such inquiries as 1) what is Hinduism to call a person Hindu (RELIGION) ? In my openion those who believe in (1) Four Vedas and One Gog.(2) Immortality of Soul.(3) Rebirth as per Karma.(4) Freedom of Will.
(II) Veds have two parts viz Karma Kand and GYAN (Vedanta)— all togather Six
Darshans. Jainism is about 3000 years old and Buddhism ……. is about 2600 years old.Valmik Ramayan is a story of a King Rama and Tulsi’s Manas is a Tretise on complete Vedanta woven in the glorifies tail of Shri Rama.
(iii) Mahabharat war was fought in the then Aryavart not in entire India and
Vedvyas wrote it with srimad Geeta in it for the remaining humanity.
Alexsander from Greece invated north India about 2400 years ago then India was
invatd by white Huns till 6th cencury and them Islamic invation
started till valley of Sindh (Turkish people pronounce S(sa) as Ha(ha) and sindh
became HIND….they (muslims,then later British) ruled India fonearly one
thousand years.
(iv) Greatest philosopher (Adi)Shankaracharya in 8th century Restablished
Vedic dharma, reducing impact of Jainism,Budhism and newly arrived Islam'(v) Ved
and Upnishads are revered by Western developped country giving us some great
writers like Max Muller etc. Jaichands are not born due to any religion they are born of selfish greed. Sanatan is GOD and his laws are eternal (as now proved by Quantum theory) and they are given in Vedanta and Yog of all kinds.
Pranam.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. You are always welcome, please. Para wise views are as under. Rest of your views on which I have not commented are accepted.
(i) Yes, please.
(ii) ManuSmriti shloka 1/23 states “AGNIVAAYURAVIBHAYSTU TRYAM BRAHM SANATANAM DUDOH YAJSIDHYARTHAMRIGYAJUHU SAAMLAKSHNAM”
Idea of the shloka is that to know all the matters of the universe, God has given three education i.e., Gyan kand (science etc.,), karma kand( form of deeds) , Upasana kand (True Worship).
In four Vedas, the detail of which is pasted as under:-
Vedas’ Philosophy
God has made universe and blessed us human body to do pious deeds only. He has not made any heaven or hell. All have to face the result of their deeds, good or bad here only, even by taking rebirth. (Rigveda mantra 10/135/1,2)
God has not only made universe but has also given knowledge of four Vedas where answers to your and everyone’s questions have been given. There are four Vedas:
1. Rig Veda – gives knowledge of science, matter of the universe like sun, moon, air body etc., etc.
2. Yajurveda – gives knowledge of all the deeds and duties to be performed by men or women, students, leaders, king, agriculturist etc., etc., etc.
3 Samveda – gives knowledge how to worship God who gives peace and long happy life etc. In this way, details of Yoga philosophy, qualities, supreme deeds and nature of the God are also given.
4 Atharvaveda – gives details of God, medical science and details of medicine etc.
Actually in four Vedas there is unlimited knowledge. Yajurveda mantra 40/8 says that God is everywhere, is Almighty, formless, devoid of nervous system, purest, away from sins and away to face any result of any karmas (deeds), knows every soul, knows what is in everyone’s mind, no body has made God, but God creates universe, has given the eternal knowledge of four Vedas and always gives the said knowledge at the beginning of every universe to know the science and deeds to all concern. Similarly four Vedas say about God that God is an omnipresent, omniscient, formless, beyond imagination and beyond calculation. Actually God has unlimited qualities. There is only one God who creates, nurses, destroys the universe and again creates. Atharvaveda mantra 4/1/1 also says that God gives the knowledge of Vedas at the beginning of the earth to four Rishis of unsexual creation. And thereafter only public listens Vedas through Rishis Munis as yet and become learned. Rig-Veda gives knowledge of Almighty, Yajurveda gives knowledge of karmas (deeds), Samveda tells about worship-Yoga philosophy and Atharvaveda about medicines and God. Actually all Vedas commonly says about God also, so this is about Vedas in short. But the knowledge of Vedas is endless.
It is a fundamental law that knowledge is always given by somebody otherwise knowledge can’t be gained at any cost. If a new born baby is nursed well in a dense jungle and is not educated then he will not be able to gain any knowledge. So we have to think about the origin of the knowledge prevalent in the world today. In this connection all Vedas themselves say that God gives this knowledge to four Rishis. As has also been said by Rishi Patanjali in yoga shastra sutra 1/26, God is first Guru of the four Rishis. Yajurveda mantra 31/7 also refers. This is all in short about Vedas.
The Vedas are not a book, rather it is a knowledge originated in the heart of Rishis. At the time of beginning of the earth those Rishis preached Vedas by mouth and all others remembered the same by mouth at that time there was no pen, pencil, paper, etc. This process of studying Vedas by mouth remained till Mahabharata time. Muni Vyas too remembered Vedas traditionally by mouth. Then Muni Vyas first time wrote the Vedas on Bhoj patra about 5300 years ago. In 16th century when printing press came into existence then the Vedas were printed. Still Vedas are not those which have been printed but Vedas are those which are preached by mouth by an Acharya/yogi and the printed Vedas are called Sanhita.
Now if somebody worships a statue etc., i.e., its their own creation please but Vedas deny. According to Vedas the best worship of the God is Yajyen (Yajna) for which all Vedas are self-proof. Yajurveda mantra 31/16 says that the learned persons worship God by Yajyen.
So many people have asked me that most of the scholars/preachers of different religion state that their religion incorporates all matters of the world including science. What about Vedas? I wrote so many Ved Mantras describing science matters therein. For example, Yajurvaveda Mantra 3/6 states “Ayam Gauhu Swaha Pitram Puraha Prayan Mataram Prishnihi Aakrameet Asadat”.
Meaning= This earth revolves around the Sun in the space and it also rotates on its own axis. Vedas are eternal like God because Vedas emanate from God. Now, according to Vedas, this present creation is about 1 Arab, 96 crores, 8 lakh and about 53,000 years old. So are the Vedas but as said in Rigveda Mantra 10/191/3 the present creation is same as was the previous one and this process of creation is eternal. So are the Vedas which emanate from eternal God. This all concludes that Vedas are the oldest in this creation also and no other book of science, maths or pertaining to spiritualism is written before Vedas.
Like the above example of rotation and revolution of earth, the significance of whole present science is mentioned in Vedas. We can see that whatever is happening in the universe, is all according to the Vedas. For example, occurance of six seasons, actions of Sun, moon, process of death, birth, worship, yoga philosophy, atomic energy, agriculture, animal husbandry, knowledge of politics, administration, architecture, solar energy, knowledge of home appliances like mixer, grinder, business rules, about men, women, children, marriage, Brahamcharya, education, clothes etc., etc., i.e., knowledge right from a straw to Brahma is all in Vedas. God is Almighty and has unlimited powers. So through His power He is able to originate the knowledge of Vedas in the heart of four Rishis without pencil, paper, help of mouth or any other worldly assistance.
We, i.e., the whole world depends on Almighty God but God is forever independent. That is why, He is God. We are the souls who reside in human bodies. We need assistance of senses, perceptions, mind and body to do deeds but not God.
Nowadays, so many saints are writing books. What is the background to right their books? Background is clear that they have first studied or listened the preach from their Gurus, keeping aside the matter of truth or falsehood. And after studying or listening the same, they became able to write the books. So this is also fundamental law, based on which, the ancient Rishis first listened Vedas and when they became learned then only they wrote the Vedic books like Valmikee Ramayana, six shastras, Mahabharata (Bhagwad Geeta), Upanishads, etc., etc. So, first the knowledge of Vedas is initiated in the universe and afterwards other books come into existence.
Somebody may say that human beings have knowledge by their nature to create anything like books etc., but we see that the newly born baby who is nursed in a jungle, in the absence of knowledge of a learned person, he becomes incapable to do anything. Thus, he can’t be M.A, M.Sc, doctor etc. So there are two types of the words and meanings. First, eternal which are from Almighty God and second, natural made by human beings. Eternal word meanings are always from Vedas i.e., from God. After listening/studying Vedas, human-beings become learned and then too based on their own natural knowledge, they make their own words and meanings, literature etc. But it is very much clear that in the absence of knowledge of Vedas, no one can become learned. Nowadays, also people live in dense jungle and do not lead a civilized life because they are not learned as cited above. Vedas are not sects because they emanate direct from God and God is one for all human beings. God creates sun, moon, air, water, food etc., which are meant for the best use of all human-beings for their long, happy life. So are the Vedas.
So all human beings must accept Vedas as an eternal knowledge from God, for the benefit of whole creation.
So, Vedas contain three educations and not two please and present Vedanta is against the Vedas. In this connection, I paste my another article-
God (Ishwar)
Though at present, according to the views of the present saints, there is – Advaitwad, Vishisht Advaitwad, Dvaitwad but eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates direct from God only preaches “Traitvad”. In Traitwad, there exist three matters:
(1) God(Ishwar)
(2) Souls( Jeev)
(3) Prakriti(Prakriti)
God and souls are alive whereas Prakriti is non-alive matter.
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.
However, it will have to be considered deeply that Traitwad mentioned in Vedas is eternal as knowledge of Vedas emanates direct from God and not by any Rishi, Muni, Yogi, man, woman, saint, satguru etc. So Traitwad is not man made but it is God–made.
In the present scenario, certainly it has become a problem to define God so as to worship Him. In this connection, one thing is clear that God creates the universe so His creation cannot imagine or create its own God. God creates living beings’ bodies wherein only human beings are entitled to worship God. The mind of human beings is made of Prakriti. So, mind is creation and human mind cannot make or imagine its own God.
Secondly, if a person goes to an unknown place where nobody knows him then it is necessary that the person will have to introduce himself there. Without his introduction none will be either able to know him or imagine/create his (person’s) name, nature, qualities, identity etc., themselves. I mean to say that to know about the God, the above quoted two points are not applicable then WHO WILL KNOW THE GOD?
Answer is he whom the God, Himself makes able to know, he only can know the God. Now, question arises is there any provision where God introduces Himself and to whom? Answer is Yes, if an aspirant desires to know the God, strives hard in his path and studies all the religious books of the world then it would be revealed that the answer of the above two points (God is not imagined by anyone and not made known by any person) is given in Vedas for example Rigveda Mandal 10, Sukta 181 that in the beginning of every creation, the knowledge of four Vedas is originated in the heart of four Rishis by the God only wherein God Himself introduces Him. The said process is eternal and automatic.
Now, it will be a vast topic to explain about creation which has already been explained several times in my other books and in this book as well. Here, it is stated that God has introduced Himself in Four Vedas about His divine names, deeds, power, nature, worship, qualities, etc.
For example, God in Samveda mantra 265 states- (ANDHASAHA MADESHU) i.e., he who is the reason to generate divine food i.e., spiritualism and divine pleasure. (MAHA) the greatest (VICHETSAM) alive and having unlimited knowledge (SHAKINAM) Almighty (INDRANAM NAAM) whose name is Indra.
God states further in the above mantra that Oh! Man and Woman (GIRA ABHI GAYA) you eulogise and worship the said God with your voice. (YATHA) according to (SHRUTYAM) Vedas’ (VACHAHA) divine voice.
Meaning: He who is the reason to generate divine food i.e., spiritualism and divine pleasure for those who worship Him. Who is the greatest in universe, alive and having unlimited knowledge, who is Almighty and whose name is Indra, Oh! Man and woman, you eulogies and worship the said God with your voice according to Vedas’ divine voice.
Idea: Samveda is considered the greatest Ved amongst the four Vedas. This Ved mainly states about the eternal worship of God wherein Yajyen, name jaap of God, Ashtang Yoga Philosophy has been mentioned. Hence, in this mantra also Almighty God tells the human beings to worship the God whose divine qualities, power and nature has been mentioned in the Vedas.
That is why, God stresses in this mantra that Oh! Human being describe eulogies/chant about the God exactly as has been mentioned in the Vedas.
Though the names and the qualities of Almighty God as per Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 are unlimited but some of His qualities are mentioned below:
(1) He creates, nurses and destroys the universe,
(2) Atharvaveda Kand 13, Sukta 4, Prayaye 6, mantra 16 states that God is one for whole universe. Mantra further states, there are not 2, 3 or 4 Gods, He is only one.
YAJURVEDA MANTRA 40/8:
“SA PRAYYAGAACHHUKRAMKAYAMVRANNAMSNAVIRAM SHUDHAMPAAPVIDHAM.
KAVIRMANISHI PARIBHUHU SWAYAMBHURYATHATATHYATOARTHAN VYADDHACHHSHVATIBHYAHA SAMAABHYAHA”
Yajurveda mantra 40/8 states that God is “SHUKRAM” Almighty, “AKAYAM” i.e., bodiless, so does not take birth, “AVRANNAM” hole less and can not be converted into any part, so soul is also not a part of God, “ASNAVIRAM” i.e., without nervous system, etc., “APAAPVIDHAM” sinless and does not love to those who are sinners, “PARI + AGAAT i.e., omnipresent, “KAVIHI” omniscient, “MANISHIHI” knows thoughts of every soul “PARIBHUHU” who keeps behind the culprits/sinners “SWAYAMBHUHU” who is eternal/beyond death and birth/has no father, mother etc., “SHAASHVATIBHYAHA SAMABHYAH” for eternal living beings, “YATHATATHYATAH” with truth, “ARTHAN” gives knowledge of all through Vedas, “VYADADHAAT” preaches, “SAH” He is God.
All Vedas like Yajurveda mantra 31/7 clarify that knowledge of Vedas emanates direct from God at the beginning of universe. So the qualities quoted above in respect of adorable Almighty God are also eternal, unchangeable, and true. Conclusion of the mantra will automatically state that God never takes birth etc. so avtarvad is not possible please. I also paste an article of mine on avtarvad for your knowledge.
As regards karmas Yajurveda mantra 7/48 states that we are free to do pious deeds or sins but result is awarded in happiness or sorrows respectively by God. One must not depend on anybody that somebody will come to give salvation. The dignitaries like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna and Mata Sita etc., did hard deeds without wasting a second. So we must also follow their path to do the hard work towards right path.
“ TADEVAGNISTADADITYASTADVAYUSTADU CHANDRAMAHA,
TADEV SHUKRAM TAD BRAHMA TAAAPAHA SA PRAJAPATIHI.”
(YAJURVEDA MANTRA 32/1)
The God is omniscient, everlasting, source of divine pleasure, immortal, pure, kind, supreme judge, creator of universe, bearer and maintainer of universe. He is (Agni) i.e., omnipresent, (Aditya) form of light and immortal (Vayu) has unlimited divine power and holds the universe, (CHANDRAMA) form of divine pleasure and gives the same to the worshipper (SHUKRAM) alive and Almighty (BRAHMA) most supreme (Aapah) omnipresent (Prajapati) lord of all living beings.
“NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI YASYA NAAM MAHADYASHAHA
HIRANNYAGARBHA ITYESH MA MA HINSEEDITYESHA YASMAANN JAAT ITYESHAHA.”
(YAJURVEDA MANTRA 32/3)
God can not be measured. So there cannot be His statue because statue is measurable.
God contains the root of everlasting knowledge in all respects. He is supreme that is there is no other who is like God. That is why, all the knowledge observed in the universe emanates from God in the shape of four Vedas.
Rishi Pantanjali writes in Yoga Shastra sutra 1/26 “SA ESHAHA POORVESHAMAPI GURUHU KAALENANVACHCHEDAT” i.e., God is the first Guru (teacher) of the ancient four Rishis named Agni, Vayu, Aditya and Angira at the beginning of creation. Sutra 1/24 states “KLESHKARMVIPAKASHYAIRPARAMAISHTAHA PURUSHVISHESH ISHWARAHA.” i.e., God has no concern with any kind of sufferings, sorrows and deeds, the result of deeds. That is why, He is called God who is special amongst souls because souls have to suffer the said sorrows, result of deeds etc.
So based on the knowledge of four Vedas which emanates direct from God there is only one God to be worshipped by the entire universe. It shall not be out of place to mention that all the religions of the world agree about God being one.
Vedas being eternal constitute the culture of the world. We must know that knowledge is gained only when it is imparted by someone. In the beginning of the earth, God gives the knowledge in the form of four Vedas, in which He mainly preaches science i.e., knowledge about every mater of world (Gyan Kand) form of all pious deeds ( Karma Kand) worship (Upasana Kand).
In Vedas the said three matters are called “Trishu”. Every Rishi studied Vedas and became learned. As a result, they wrote Upnishads, Shastras, Valmiki Ramayan, Mahbharat( Bhagwad Geeta), etc.
So here are some views of Rishis about God. As stated in Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/1 (YO BHOOTAM CHA BHAVYAM CHA..JYESHTHAYE BRAMANNEY NAMAHA) i.e., God exists in past, present and future time period i.e., being eternal and He being present forever, knows every happening of the past, present and future . We must bow before the greatest, most supreme Brahma (God) and worship Him. The said God is one, eternal truth that is, will remain forever. The Rishi of Chchandogya Upnishad expresses his similar views as under.
Chchandogya Upnishad Shloka 6/2/1 states:
(AGRE) before the universe (IDAM) this omnipresent (SAD EV) Almighty God (ASEET) was.
Idea: The creation is eternal. When the universe is destroyed, then after a stipulated time, it is again created. Upnishad here states that, God being immortal, exists before every creation.
Again the Upnishad states the qualities of the God that was (EKAM EV) i.e., He was the only one and (ADWITEEYAM) no one was equivalent to Him. The idea is that God is one and unchangeable.
Kathopnishad 5th valli , shloka 9 states that fire (agni) exists in every matter and takes the same form of the matter in which it exists . Similarly, God is omnipresent i.e., is present in every matter of the world and has taken the form of the matters. That is, although God is one but has taken the form of every matter in which He is present.
Here we can also say that fire (Agni) in every matter is separate from the object based on his qualities. Similarly, God is separate and every matter of the world is separate from the God.
Bhagwad Geeta Shloka 2/16 also contains the views of Vedas as mentioned in Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/1. Geeta shloka states “NAABHAVAHA VIDYATE SATAHA”
i.e., there is no lack of truth. Its absence is impossible and therefore truth is everlasting- So God, souls and Prakriti are everlasting being true.
Similarly, “NA ASATAHA VIDYATE BHAVAHA” Untruth /falsehood gets destroyed one day. It can never exist forever. So the entire universe with its matters made of Prakriti is destructible. For example, a plant grows from a seed and becomes a tree then and one day gets destroyed. Similarly, a child takes birth, his body becomes young and then old. Thereafter at a stipulated time, it dies away and gets destroyed.
It is really a wonder that where the God in Yajurveda mantra 40/3 has stated, “NANNUDDEVA AAPNUVAN” i.e., no senses, perceptions or mind can achieve the God, God being beyond description, imagination, calculation etc. So due to lack of knowledge of Vedas mostly the people remain indulged in illusion and apply their entire power of senses, perceptions mind etc. to know the God and preach accordingly. I think all religions agree that we must seek the path of worship where our senses and mind becomes dead and then we will realize God within us.
QUALITIES OF SOULS (JEEVATAMA)
Soul is alive. Soul has to face the result of his deeds. Soul takes body of human beings, animals, birds, trees etc., according to deeds of past lives. Soul feels sorrow, happiness etc., through body. When soul leaves body, it feels nothing but carries all karma to be faced in next birth through his chitta’s (chitta) vritti (vritti).
Souls are innumerable but are constant in number having similar qualities like being pure, immortal, alive etc. Soul is infinitesimally small, is invisible. The bodies of all living beings contain souls.
Not God but soul has desire, hatred/malice, merriment, sufferings, attachment etc. While attracting itself towards materialistic articles made of prakriti soul forgets his original form. As a result, soul recognizes himself as body. This is the stage of soul being unwise.
“NA TAM VIDATH YA IMA JAJAANANYUDYUSHMAKAMANTARAM BABHOOVA,
NEEHAREINN PRAVRITA JALAPYA CHASUTRIP UKTHASHASCHARANTI.”
(RIGVEDA MANTRA 10/82/7)
(TAM) that God (NA) not ( VIDATH) known (YAH) who (EMA) all worlds (JAJANN) creates and (YAT) from you (ANYAT) separate from other souls(YUSHMAKAM) from you (ANTARAM) with in all (BABHOOVA) is (NIHAREINN) fog like smoke (YAT) that God (PRAVARITAHA) covered (JALAPYAHA) baseless discussion (ASUTRIPAHA) satisfied only in Prann [breathing system] (UKTHASHASAHA) only paying lip service (CHARANTI) deals or behaves.
Meaning: Like an invisible matter which is covered with fog similarly dealing in only lip service and indulging in baseless discussion and are satisfied in their breathing system, Oh! Man-woman, you do not know the God who creates the five matters/universe and the God who is separate from other souls and who is within all.
There are two kinds of Vedanta. Vedanta shastra written by Vyas Muni which is according to Vedas. Second is new Vedanta which says that soul and everything is God. And they say, “AHAM BRAHM ASMI”. So new Vedanta is not according to Vedas please because Vedas say that there are three eternal and immortal truths— Almighty God, souls and prakriti.
I would also advise you to read my book- Vedanta and Eternal Vedas’ Philosophy I & II (in English) worth Rs . 31.00 & 20.00 excluding postal charges. The book may be sent to you on receipt of your postal address if you desire. Authentic and ancient holy book is Valmiki Ramayan written by Rishi Valmiki ji about 1 crore 81 lakhs years ago. Valmiki Ramayan is totally based on Vedas. Whereas Tulsi Ramayan written about five hundred years ago somewhere differs from Vedas.
(iii) At the time of Mahabharat war and even uptil Mahabharat war, there was only one Monarch who ruled over the entire earth. So, Dhritrashtra who grabbed the kingdom from his brother Pandu, was the monarch and after Mahabahrat war kingdom came under the control of monarch Yudhishthir. Yes, Bhagwad Geeta is an extract of Mahabahrat. The shlokas of Bhagwad Geeta are being taken from Bheeshma Parv of Mahabharat.
(iv) Yes, please, Shankaracharyaji did well. However, Maxmullar and most of the foreign writers could not comment hundred percent truth on Ved mantras. So, learned mostly do not accept comments on Vedas by Maxmullar.
Yoga philosophy is briefed in Vedas which is called Ashtang Yoga Philosophy but present Vedanta differs from eternal knowledge of Vedas as quoted above.
Ram: Thank you very much for your response. Have a nice day.
Swami Ram Swarup: You are welcome, please.
