Ashish: What is difference between life and death?
Swami Ram Swarup: Life and death pertain to our bodies and not to us because we are immortal souls. I also paste my articles in this regard:-
Why God Creates Man?
First of all we will have to understand that who am I ? The knowledge of Vedas and experiences of ancient and present learned acharya say that to know the same “I” the creation of human/living beings’ body is known. I have described this matter in detail on this web site and have also written Hindi/English books which conclude that “we/I” am not body. Body is created by God from three gunnas of prakriti. “we/I” reside within body and are called “souls”. Body is destructible but soul can never be destroyed. Body is non-alive but souls are alive. Souls i.e., we are not made by God. Secondly nobody has made God as well. Thirdly, nobody has made prakriti also. So due to lack of knowledge of Vedas, some doubts arise, it does not matter. It is good that doubts like that of Arjun, are placed before any learned acharya. God, as said in Rig-Veda mantra 10/129/7, may or may not create world including our human bodies, to make the soul to live in those bodies for the purpose of making soul face his good/bad karmas. In case God doesn’t create bodies then the soul will remain in SUSHUPT stage (i.e., in stage like/ sound sleep). Would it be good if any person sleeps for many thousand years and does nothing? However, it is not in anyone’s hand that God creates or does not create the universe. Secondly it is eternal law that the universe has been created, nursed destroyed and again created. This law is unchangeable. People may or may not raise doubt in not even God can change His eternal laws as is also said in Rig-Ved mantra 2/38/9.
After death
Yajurved mantra 3/55, says, “DEVAIYAH JANAH NAH PUNAH MANAH DADATU” i.e., by blessings (preach and true education of Vedas) may learned Acharya give us next birth of human being so that we may again be able to learn the truth of Vedas and to get salvation. So one must always adopt true path by which he gets rebirth of human being to continue the real
spiritualism to get salvation etc., because Atharvaved mantra 9/10/16 further says that human being who has done pious deeds and adopted true path they get pious human body in the next birth, otherwise soul gets the lowest/contemptible body, like animals, birds etc. Mantra is APAANG PRAANGETI SWDHAYAA GRIBHITAH AMARTYO MARTYENAA SAYONIHI. TA SHASHVANTA VISHUCHINA VIYANTA NYA NYAM CHIKYURN NI CHIKYURNYAM.
Soul according to its good or bad deeds(APANGETI) takes bodies of animals, birds, insects etc., and (PRANG) bodies of Rishis, Munis, i.e., (uuch Yoni) best bodies after leaving the present body. The soul (SWDHAYAA GRIBHITAH) duly attached with its own power of taking birth according to pious deeds and sins, enters other bodies (AMARTAYAH) though the soul is away from death, being immortal but after death of bodies, takes new bodies. These ideas of Vedas has very well been mentioned in Bhagwad Geeta shlok 2/20 wherein Yogeshwar Shri Krishna says (AJO NITYAH SHASHWATOAYAM PURAANNO NA HANYTE HANYAMANNE SHARIRE ) i.e., the soul is (AJAH NITAYAH SHASHWATOH) never takes birth and is eternal (NAHANYATE HANAYMANNE SHARIRE) in fact after death of body too soul is never dead being immortal. (TASHASHVANTA) this process of death and birth of bodies and souls is eternal.
(VISHUCHINA VYANTA) soul and bodies go far away to different directions [soul goes to Savita etc., {given below} according to Yajurved chapter 39 and then takes birth and gets another body and five elements of body go to space and are mixed within air, fire etc., according to Yajurved mantra 40/15] (ANYAM NICHIKYHU) many learned know about this fact (ANYAM NICHIKYHU) another who lack knowledge of Vedas, do not know the fact, i.e., we mostly know our body but not ourselves, i.e., soul. Death is sure i.e., the body will have to be cremated one day.
In Atharvaved mantra 8/8/11 ‘Yamdut’ means = ‘YAM’ means God, and ‘dut’ means storm, cyclone, flood, earthquake, heavy rains, etc., etc., in mantra the air is Yam. So when a soul is to leave the body then by the power of God, sutratma air enters the body and takes the soul out of it then goes to
Savita, etc.
In 39th chapter of Yajurved the process of this cremation is mentioned. This process is also called as “NARMEDH YAJYEN”, “PURUSH MEDH YAJYEN” and “DAH KARAM” and “ANTEYESHATI KARAM”. Atharvaved mantra 10/8/26 says “YEH CHAKAR SAH JAJAR” means He (God) who makes the body, He destroys the same one day. Sense of Yajurved mantra 39/5 is that when the soul leaves the body then the soul wanders in so many places, takes another body according to its previous deeds (karmas). Yajurved mantra 39/6 says that the soul after leaving the body, on the first day goes to Savita (sun), second day agnihi (fire), third Vaayu (normal air), fourth Aditya, fifth chandrma (moon), sixth ritu (seasons), seventh marutah, eighth brihaspati (tiniest air), ninth mitrah (breathing), tenth varunah (udan air), eleventh indrah (electricity), twelfth Vishvedevah (in all divine qualities). Then, after wandering in sky, gets body according to previous deeds. So these twelve days are completed, then after 13 days the soul takes another body. Rigved mandal 10 sukta 135 says that normally soul after getting body faces the result of its past lives’ deeds and under influence of illusion (duly attracted towards illusion) does sins and again gets birth to face the sins. The soul is immortal and always separate from body. When an aspirant meets with a learned Acharya and gets spiritual education, then the fourth mantra says that the soul gets salvation.
Puneet: Swamiji namaste…mere char sawal hain: 1. Main nitya hawan karta hun, din mein ek baar toh zaroor aur jab arya samaj subh jata hun toh do bar din mein…aur kabhi hawan na ho toh ajeeb sa lagta hai, jaise koi chiz aaj missing hai lekin grasthi mein rehne ke karan kabhi kabar bahar jaana padta , tab kya karun kyonki hawan na ho kisi din to mann ko aacha nahi lagta? koi upay batiye jise mujhe bure ka ehsaas na ho
2.Jab hum hawan kar karte hain swamiji toh jaise arya samaj mein karte nitya 5 ved mantar bolte hain..toh maine wahan acharya ji se poocha tha ki kya hum ghar
per bhi rozana 5 ved mantar ved se padkar bol sakte hain toh unhone ne kaha hain bol sakte ho. per mujhe sanskrit itni aachi nahi aati bol toh leta hun per itni aachi tarah se nahi..is mein kuch galat ho nahi ki rozana 5 ved mantar ke saath aahuti dalen.
3. Swamiji main rozana dehyan lagta hun aapne agya chakra per pranayam karte hun aur om naam jap karte hue..per kabhi kabar dehyan lagane ke baad agya chakra aur uske todhe upar ke hise mein halka dard aur baripan lagta hai jo jaise raat ko sone ke baad aur subah 2-3 gante baad chala jata hai…per wahan todha pressure feel hota hai…kya mere dehyan sahi lag hai.
4. Swamiji jaisa aapna likha hai apni books mein likha hai main waise hi follow karta hun…nitya yajh..vedadyan aur ashtang yog mein kahe hue yam niyam follow karne ki puri koshish karta hun per kabhi kabar satya aur bramcharya se chook jata hun baki kahe yam aur niyam roz follow karta hun…kya swamiji main bhi paramatma ka shakstkar kar sakta hun….kyunki aab main aapne jiwan ka ek laqsh manta hun paramatma ko paana a ..ki woh bhi mere hriday mandir mein viraje…
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji.
(1) Main aapki prashansa karta hoon ki aap hawan karte hain parantu hamein yeh dhyaan dena hoga ki vedanusar jo bhi hum karma kareingey weh hamein adhik sukh dega. Mera bhav yeh hai ki Samved mantra 14 mein Ishwar ne kaha ki pratah evam sham ko, tatha pratidin ved mantron se hawan karein. Jaise hum pratidin bhojan karte hain waise hum pratidin bhajan karne ka abhyaas karein. Bahar jaate samay agar hawan nahi ho paata to maukhik hawan avashya kar lein.
(2) aap roz 5 ved mantron ke sath aahuti dalein aur uchcharann arya Samaj ke Purohit ji se seekh liya karein.
(3) jo aap ko agyachakra par darad ya pressure feel hota hai aur baad mein chala jaata hai to aap Agya chakra par cow ke desi ghee kee thodi maalish kar liya karein aur garmee ke mausam mein chandan ghis kar agya chakra par lagaa liya karein.
(4) aapki main praise karta hoon kee aap yajeyn aur Ashtang yog kee vidya ka abhyaas karte hain parantu aap chukein na kyunki jeevan mein vedic sadhna use tarah anivarya hai jis tarah pratidin ka bhojan.
Manav jeevan ka mukhya lakshya to Ishwar prapti hee hai han! yeh avashya dhyan rakhein ki sath sath mein grihasth ashram, Samaj seva aur desh seva bhi karnee anivarya hai aur yadi vidyarthi ho to vedic sadhna ke sath sath apnee padai par poora dhyan dena aur brahmacharya par poora dhyan dena param avashyak hai.
A: Is the space infinite?
Swami Ram Swarup: No, please. Space is not infinite. Space is a creation.
Suri: Pranam Swamiji!!! I am doing Jaap, asan and havan almost for eight months and in between for few days I couldnt do, however I always try my best to do it regularly. Since 3-4 months I had slight shoulder pain and roughly around 2 months I have stiff neck also my upper back.I think its related to my job and I have done massage as well for few time.I stil the have the stiffness and pain, can you please advice me whether should I continue doing Haal asaan and sarvang asaan many thanks.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you, my son. I appreciate your faith in eternal knowledge of Vedas, which emanates directly from God. However, please also try that hawan/worship is not broken even for a day, as we do not break our daily intake of food.
As regards your pain, you must do Sarp asan (Bhujang asan) daily, both times. Please also continue your daily morning walk and light exercises. Take plenty of water daily. Avoid junk food. You should also take medical advice from ortho doctor. Presently discontinue doing tadasan and sarvangasan.
Dave: Dear swamiji pranam. swamiji can I ask you is prakriti(nature) exhaustible or inexhaustible? and what is the difference between the title ‘guru’ and ‘swami’? thank you. your son, dave.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.Non-alive matter, Prakriti is immortal.
Nowadays, there are several Swamis who wear saffron, so is in the case of guru. Therefore swamis are gurus as well. I also, paste my articles in this regard.
About Gurus
There is only one God who creates universe, nurses and destroys and again creates. Yajurved mantra 31/7 and several other Ved mantras say that God has preached His worship in Vedas. But now a day’s most of the worships are against Vedas, as also said by Tulsidasji in his Ramayana couplet 99 (b). In the ancient times up to Mahabharat period too there were only Vedas to be adopted and worship in the form of prayer, Yajna and Ashtang yoga etc., was being practised. The ancient Rishis Munis used to give Vedas knowledge only. They lived in Gurukul in a very simple life holding unlimited knowledge of Vedas and yoga philosophy and by their Tapsya they used to give equal blessings to the world.
These Rishis Munis used to sit on one platform with whole hearted happiness. For example in Valmiki Ramayana when Rishi Vishwamitr went to King Dashrath to take Shri Ram to kill the demons to protect his holy Yajna. Then Dashrath immediately refused but Dashrath’s Guru Vasishth Muni interrupted, explained and gave order to king Dashrath to give Shri Ram to Rishi Vishwamitr. I am not giving the detailed story here. So what was the reason behind? The reason behind was only this, that Rishi Vishwamitr as well as Guru Vasishth both were philosophers of Vedas, Yajna and Yoga philosophy. So there was no friction within their hearts. A mother and father both, without any friction, love their newly born baby. So when all Rishis loved only one Almighty God, from whom Vedas are originated and again the Rishis loved Vedas, so no question of friction. The Rishis used to bless all people and even kings with the result everybody was happy at that time and everybody was rich with the blessings. Now it is reverse.
The so-called Gurus are rich and majority of the public are poor. In Hinduism too there are so many Devtas and thus the different types of worship. Now whatever one Guru says another one criticizes because ways are different and in reality the religion has been made profession by most of the so-called Gurus at present. When target is not true and good then how the above story of donating Shri Ram can be repeated and how all Gurus can sit on one platform. When the target is profession and not services of people through Vedas then it is impossible that so called Gurus can sit on one platform. The so-called Gurus can say at their own that their target is one but on ground it seems not to be a true. All the so-called Gurus have made their own several ashrams to command etc.
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. God has not only made universe but has also given knowledge of four Vedas
There are four Vedas –
1. Rig Veda gives knowledge of science, matters of the universe like sun, moon, air, body etc., etc.
2. Yajurved gives knowledge of all the deeds and duties to be performed by men or women, students, leaders, king, agriculturist etc., etc., etc.
3. Samved gives knowledge how to worship God, who gives peace and long happy life etc. In this Ved, details of Yoga philosophy, qualities, Supreme deeds and nature of the God are also given.
4. Atharvaved gives details of God, medical science and details of medicine etc.
Actually in four Vedas there is unlimited knowledge. In his holy book Shatpath Brahmin Granth, Muni Yagyavalkya has quoted that there was Kashyap Rishi who studied Vedas deeply. In Vedas there is a rule that men or women can extend their lives up to 400 years and not more. In this connection Yajurved mantra 3/62 refers. So Kashyap Rishi after hundred years of age prayed to God that he was busy in study of Vedas therefore his life should be extended up to two hundred years. But on reaching two hundred years he again requested to extend it further to 3 hundred years because the Rishi had been experiencing unlimited peace and merriment while studying Vedas and going the deepest in every mantra. And O! When he reached at the age of three hundred years he prayed God that he (Rishi) is leaving body because the knowledge of the Vedas are eternal and unlimited. So such true examples of several ancient Rishis are there in our ancient holy books about immortal Vedas, which have been now overlooked due to false talks of arrogant of nowadays who have made business of religion. So swamis are those, who are not against eternal philosophy of Vedas and yoga given by God. And the swamis, who speak truth based on Vedas, do yoga practice, have control on their five senses and mind, always do pious deeds according to Vedas about well being of human beings etc., and such types of swamis never predict about any life. But give direct knowledge of four Vedas and yoga saying that do pious deeds, services to parents and old, daily worship, hard working towards a right path, listening of Vedas’ preach and discharging moral duties faithfully towards family and nation etc., make future bright and luck is in our own hands.
According to eternal knowledge of Vedas, the definition of a true Guru is not such which is being spread by the false saints, who are against the Vedas and yoga philosophy. One thing is clear that this universe has been created by God, He nurses and destroys and again creates. So the rules and regulation will have to be accepted of God’s preach in Vedas and not of man or woman. I think on this basis only, Tulsidasji has also stated in Doha 99 (b) of Uttrakand that in kaliyug men and women are not worshipping God in accordance with the Vedas’ true path but arrogant have made the path at their own accord i.e., self made. And hence the problem, because such type of religion has become profession too and no Guru or whosoever would like to sit on one platform with other Gurus. Being against the Vedas such Gurus are saying and establishing falsely that they are serving the people but actually they are serving their family and themselves.
When I was doing practice of hard Ashtang Yoga in a dense cave with my Guru ji then an incident occurred. By some reason I was asked by My Guru ji to go to a Baba in the jungle to give him Bhiksha. When first day I went there the young Baba met me with gun. I respectfully questioned the Baba that why was he having a gun being a sanyasi. He answered that there were five or six guava trees on which some monkeys came. So this gun is meant for instilling fear and to drive away the monkeys. I returned and told the story to my respected Guru ji. My Guru ji answered that whole of the day the Baba guarded the trees and when he would sit for meditation or remember the holy name of God then it was sure that in his meditation the picture of monkeys would be coming. I have quoted this fact in full (here not in full) in my spiritual books stating that this is a matter of some guava trees which disturbs the concentration then what to talk about those who have so many ashrams, built all over the country, even outside the country as well.
The spiritualism nowadays has become a business and it is no more a matter of God or service to the public. Nowadays there is flood of Gurus who are against the Vedas and this is a danger to the mankind, nation and world. This is clearly seen that the house has been burnt with its own burning lamp. There is no excuse from the God about any sin in the Vedas whereas self made path says like this. However, the Yajyen with Ved mantras purifies the mind and practice of yoga philosophy burns all the previous sins. And this is only possible when an aspirant, while in family life listens to the Vedas like Shri Ram, Mata Sita and previous ancient public, does Yajyen, learns yoga philosophy and practises thereof under the guidance of a Guru who knows Vedas and yoga philosophy. This is the method of eternal prayer.
One should pray God with a request that he must be attached with the eternal worship of God preached in Vedas to get the purest mind because the purest mind can only do the pious deeds and eternal worship. This prayer is according to Yajurved mantra 32/14 and Gayatri mantra. One can recite these two mantras also. But to our bad luck, most of the present Gurus, who are against Vedas say that they are true Gurus and everybody must accept them because Shri Ram and Shri Krishna also accepted Guru. But the ignorant people are not capable to understand this poisonous and false talk due to lack of knowledge of Vedas and Valmiki Ramayana. Because Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, king Dashrath, Harishchandra and several such dignitaries and their public of ancient time did accept the Rishis, Munis who knew Vedas and did hard practice of ashtang yoga. For example Shri Ram’s Guru was Vasishth Muni and Munis are those who have studied and consulted Vedas in deep and did yoga practice and so was the great Muni Vasishth. Shri Krishna’s Guru was Rishi Sandeepan.
Rishi in Vedas is, he who is mantradrishta i.e., after studying and hard practice of ashtang yoga he has realised God and has seen the Ved mantras in his heart and not in books. Both Rishis and Munis/yogis always preach based on Vedas. So, public as well as the Govt., must know about the eternal philosophy of Vedas and must ban the present saints or sadhus who are against the Vedas, spread false stories and cheat the public. These saints must not encash the name of pious Guru Vasishth and Sandeepan and others by saying that Shri Krishna and Shri Ram adopted Guru so everybody must accept these so called Gurus. Why don’t they say truth that they are illiterate being away from the Vedas. Guru Vasishth and Rishi Sandeepan and other ancient Rishis were literate having knowledge of four Vedas and yoga philosophy. And there is no comparison between those ancient Rishis, Munis/Yogis and present so-called Gurus.
In Atharvaved mantra 4/1/1 and 10/10/28 it is said that the Vedas emanate from God. Yoga shastra sutra 1/7 says Vedas are self proof. 31 chapter of Yajurved and mandal 10 of Rigved clarify that the knowledge of Vedas is given at the beginning of creation in nonsexual creation. Shastra, Upnishad, Geeta and Ramayana have been written by Rishi Munis within five to six thousand years whereas Vedas are eternal. In this creation Vedas originated in the heart of four Rishis cited above about one Arab 96 crore 8 lakh 53 thousands one hundred and eleven years ago. Now the fundamental is this that until the knowledge is given by anybody, knowledge can not be gained. So who was the first Guru at the beginning of the earth when nonsexual creation was there?
Yoga shastra sutra 1/26 says, “SA ESHAH POORVESHAM API GURUHU KALENANVACHEDAT” in this sutra Rishi Patanjali says Sa Eshah= He i.e., God (because this sutra is connected with previous one), Poorvesham Api Guruhu= is Guru of the four ancient Rishis because God is away from Kalean i.e., death. It means in the said creation there was no Guru alive. So the God gave the knowledge of Vedas to the said four Rishis. After lapse of more than one arab 96 crore and 8 lakhs years i.e., upto Mahabharat period there were no shastras, Upnishads etc., and same were written by Rishis based on the knowledge of Four Vedas and this fact has clearly been mentioned by the Rishis in their shastras, Upnishads and Geeta etc. Geeta shlok 3/15 refers. And nobody asked any proof about the origin of Vedas because they (king and public) used to study only Vedas with whole heart and faith, Vedas being the knowledge direct from God. This knowledge is still originated in the heart of present Rishis like Vyas Muni, Atri Rishi etc., but nowadays people are against the Vedas due to false statements of several present Gurus.
Vedas being self proof, the proof from Vedas is considered first. thereafter six shastras, Upnishads, Geeta etc., the holy books written by mantradrishta Rishis based on the knowledge of Vedas. If Vedas would not have been there then no knowledge of shastra etc., could be written. Shri Gurubani too says, “VED ONKAAR NIRMAY” i.e., Vedas’ knowledge is direct from God. Four Vedas have emanated from God. No one can evaluate their importance. They are inestimable and eternal. (Mahalla 1 shabad 17). And in Samved mantras it has been clarified the knowledge of four Vedas is from Almighty God. I have mentioned some other references also in my Yoga lectures placed on www.vedmandir.com and request to see please.
Now come to shastra please. Sankhya shastra 5/48 says, “APAURUSHYA” i.e., Vedas are apaurushya i.e., no man has written the Vedas, it is of God. Manusmriti shlok 1/23, “AGNIVAAYURAVIBHAYSTU TRYAM BRAHM SANATANAM DUDOH
YAJSIDHYARTHAMRIGYAJUHU SAAMLAKSHNAM”
Meaning: Yajsidhartham = the God for Yajyen and to spread knowledge of all matters etc., gave the Vedas’ knowledge to Agni-Vayu-Ravibhya and from these Rishis the Brahma studied Rig, Yaju, Sam Vedas, dudohah = just like milking of cow, so here three names are mentioned because of gyan, karma and upasana, the three Vidya but the fourth veda Atharvaved originated in Angira Rishi, is automatically counted along with said three Vedas. But the Rigved mantra cited above already says about four Rishis and then no need of shastra, upnishad etc., Vedas being self-proof.
True Saints
In Shatpath Brahmin Granth 3/7/3/10, written by Yagyavalkya Muni it is said, “VIDWANS EV DEVAHA” i.e., he who is learned of Vedas, he is called Dev. Yajurved mantra 40/3 says, “ASURYA NAAM TE LOKAHA ANDHEN TAMSA VRITAHA___”means on taking birth a child is called “Manushya” i.e., mankind. If he learns Vedas, does pious deeds and discharges his moral duties well, according to Vedas then he becomes Dev. Otherwise Asur i.e., devil (demon), one who kills the pure voice of soul and does sins. In Van Parv of Mahabharat Yaksh asked question to Yudhishthir, “KAH NASTIKAH” i.e., who is called atheist? Yudhishthir answers, he who is against Vedas and insults Vedas he is atheist (Manusmriti 2/11 also refers). So there are two kinds of men/women according to Yajurved mantra quoted above. One, “DEV” and second “DEVIL”. So our birth is to become Dev.
Rig-Veda mantra 10/181/1 says that in the beginning of the creation, God always originates the knowledge of four Vedas in the heart of four Rishis, then the said four Rishis spread it further and until now the eternal knowledge of Vedas is being received traditionally. The names of those four Rishis are — Agni, Vayu, Aditya, Angira, as also mentioned in Rig Veda mantra 10/109/1 and Manusmriti shlok 1/23. This truth is also mentioned in Bhagwad Geeta wherein shlok 3/15 says that Vedas emanate from Almighty God and in shlok 13/4 Shri Krishna says that the knowledge of soul and body is very well mentioned in four Vedas and the Rishis have described the same by many methods. In Atharvaved mantra 2/35/1& 4 it is preached that Rishis spread the knowledge of holy Yajyen to the people to mitigate their sorrows and Rishis are those, “MANTRADRISHTA ITI RISHIHI” i.e., those who have studied Vedas and Ashtang Yog practice and then realized Almighty God and seen Ved mantras in their heart, they are called Rishis. So the knowledge of the Vedas, as per Rig-Veda mantras quoted above, is given by God Himself to the Rishis and it is eternal truth and cannot be changed that is why in Yog shastra sutra, Rishi Patanjali says, “SA ESHAH PURVESAHM API GURUHU”. So, next to God is Rishi.
God did not give the knowledge to the present saints. In Vedas, the name of the learned are mentioned as Rishis, Muni, Vipra, Dwij, Agni etc., and not saints. To be next to God it is necessary to have full knowledge of Vedas and Ashtang yoga, as per the rules quoted above.
To know that what is true and what is false, proof is required. Yog shastra in sutra 1/7 says about four proofs out of which proof of Vedas to determine the truth is compulsory. However, if a present saint has learnt four Vedas, done ashtang yoga practice mentioned in Vedas and realized Vedas and God, then he is also next to God. If one declares his name Rishi or Brahmachari and does not know Vedas and yoga philosophy, then he is liar and cheating the public because in Shanti Parv of Mahabharat also Bhisham Pitamaha says to Yudhishthir that there are two kinds of Brahma (though God is one). First, “Shabda Brahma” i.e., knowledge of four Vedas, second “Par Brahma” the realization of formless God Who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. So he who does not know Brahma even Shabda Brahma – Vedas, then how can he write himself as brahmarishi? Naturally he is cheating the public because most of the public does not know about Vedas and the arrogant (the saints who are against Vedas) have spread false knowledge about Vedas, Yajyen and yoga philosophy.
That is why, Manusmriti 2/168 says that the saint/Guru/Dwij who does not know Vedas but studies false books, he, in his present life goes downwards i.e., experiences sorrows, sufferings etc, etc., with his followers, i.e., their followers also go down and experience the said difficulties etc., but nowadays it is also spread that God takes examination of a worshipper but such type of examinations have not been mentioned in Vedas. And Ramayana also says about such false saints – VARAN DHARAM NAHIN ASHRAMCHARI, SHRUTI VIRODH RAT SAB NAR NARI. Tulsidasji says that at present men and women here have become against the eternal knowledge of Vedas. Again Tulsidasji says in Uttarkand DWIJ SHRUTI BECHAK BHOOP PRAJSAN, KAU NAHIN MANAT NIGAM ANUSASAN, i.e., at present mostly the people do not accept the knowledge of Vedas, present saints ,Gurus have sold the Vedas i.e., they do not know the ABCD about the Vedas.
Again in Nirukta 7/3 it is said that he who studies complete knowledge of Vedas and holy books, puts the preachings thereof into action/conduct and there after preaches others, he is called a Rishi. It is a well-known fact that ancient Rishis used to live in a lonely place/jungle in Gurukuls/Ashram where the students used to get knowledge traditionally, the same process too was adopted by Shri Krishna, Sudama, Shri Ram and their subjects. It was the effect of Ved mantras on them and the effect of practising Ashtang yoga philosophy, that they used to lead simple way of life without any luxury etc. Whereas nowadays the current saints (against the Vedas) mostly live in bigger cities where way of earning is obtained. The Rishis used to bless the people according to Ved mantra to be the richest and having all comforts in the family etc., whereas now most of the present saints say that money will do nothing, family will do nothing, house will do nothing, cars and clothes will do nothing and they themselves take lot of money and enjoy luxuries.
The Rishis were free from illness/tension etc., Shwetashwataropnishad 2/12 and 13 says about this fact. So is it not clear that keeping the fact and proof of ved mantra and the said upnishad in mind, those are not rishi-muni etc., who are suffering from multifarious diseases, tension etc., and too lack the knowledge of four Vedas and Ashtang yoga philosophy mentioned in Vedas.
Study of Mahabharat, holy granth and Valmiki Ramayan reveals that usually the ancient Rishis, who lived in gurukul or in jungle used to go to the kingdom on invitation only. (Valmiki Ramayan Bal Kand sarg 7 also refers). So it is not fair to send disciples door to door to collect money and to arrange maximum gathering/crowd. The Rishis like Vyas Muni etc., used to go mostly on foot and alone to anywhere (Mahabharat says) but now the present saints/Gurus go in a fleet of cars/groups with body guards etc., etc.
The Rishis themselves had simple living without luxury etc., but with their blessings they made people the richest whereas most of the present saints have become the richest with all luxury, gathering money/donation etc., from even poor people. On the other hand mostly public has become poor, sick and worried.
In Brihadarannayakopnishad there is a debate (shastrarth) between Bal Brahmacharini Gargi and Rishi Yagyavalkya. This debate was organized by King Janak. The winner of debate was to be given 500 cows, gold-plated on horns. When Rishi Yagyavalkya ordered his disciples to take the cows then King Janak interrupted and requested the Rishi that these cows are meant for him who would win the debate with my supreme Acharya Gargi. King asked the Rishi whether he (Rishi) is Brahmarishi. Yagyavalkya Rishi answered, O! King there was shortage of milk in my Gurukul to my students and that is why I wanted to take the cows. But if you want to ask something I am ready. There was a debate and Rishi won and got cows. This story tells that all Rishis used to ask for donation when they needed on the contrary the present saints even having become multimillionaires through donation, ask for more money.
In Upnishad king Janshruti met Rishi Rakya in lonely place sitting on sand under the shadow of Bullock cart. Whereas present saints meet people sitting on highly decorated and valuable throne. Rishi Jadbharat was sitting alone in a jungle on the earth. When he was asked to carry the palanquin (palki) putting one side on his shoulder, he immediately became ready without any pride and walked on foot. This cannot be repeated.
There are numerous examples of the ancient Rishis who were Tapsvi, lovers of truth, who are adorable.
You are welcome and my blessings to you.
