Anonymous: 1. Was Adi Shankaracharya against Vedic rituals? Was he the founder of Advaita Vedant?
Swami Ram Swarup: Aadi Guru Shankaracharya ji was learned of Vedas.
Anonymous: 2. After listening that idol worship is banned as per Vedas, I have started fearing and doubting. I now assume that God would be somewhere in the dark and it would be a very fearful and lonely sight to observe him. I would also like to have clarity on the 3 ways to moksha as per Bhagwad Gita- karma, bhakti and jnyana yoga
Swami Ram Swarup: Assuming does not show the factual situation. Vedas are self-evident, so the human-beings, as per Vedas, have to follow only Vedic path. So, according to Vedas God is not somewhere in the dark. In Vedas He is told “Hiranyagarbhaha” i.e., the form of a divine light. Secondly, in Vedas it has been preached that God always remains fearless, on the contrary anybody who takes His shelter and follow Vedic path, such devotees are also protected by the God.
Vedas are eternal and everlasting whereas Bhagwad Geeta is a pious book, has come in the light during Dwapur yug. I have written commentary on Bhagwad Geeta in four parts based on the knowledge of the Vedas. Vedas also tell in Rigveda mantra 1/22/3 that until knowledge is given by a learned it is not attained by aspirant. So, first Vedas’ knowledge come into light before about one arab 96 crore years etc. So, Bhagwad Geeta has been told by Yogeshwar Sri Krishan Maharaj based on the knowledge of the Vedas. And in Vedas description of karam, upasana and stuti have been briefed by following which knowledge is gained.
God is really formless as mentioned in all four Vedas, in this connection, I paste my articles below –
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 Yajurved 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.
Yajurved mantra 1/5 and Rigved 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 Rigved 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. Atharvaved 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? Yajurved 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.
Yajurved 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.
In this connection, Yajurveda mantra 40/1 states-
EESHA VASYAMIDAM SARVAM YATKINCH JAGATYAM JAGAT.
TEIN TYAKTEIN BHUNJEETHA MA GRIDHAHA KASYA SVIDDHANAM.
Word-Meaning-
(YAT) Whatever (IDAM) here in the universe (SARVAM) all (JAGATYAM JAGAT) non-alive and alive world are there. That is, whatever is being seen in this universe consisting of non-alive and alive world [non-alive means earth, moon, sun, air etc., i.e., made of five matters and the alive souls having bodies of living beings]. All that (VASYA) has been pervaded by (EESHA) Almighty God i.e., when the non- alive world and the alive world (living beings) are created by the God then God enters therein, God’s nature being omnipresent. Therefore, Almighty God is lord of the universe, non-alive world as well as that of all living beings. He has settled us in the world by providing all the goods for us to survive.
(TEIN) Therefore (TYAKTEIN) duly separated i.e., detaching our faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same to intellect and stores the effect of various karmas to be faced by soul in future at a proper time, from the world, (In Hindi- chitta) (BHUNJEETHAHA) experience the pleasure of utilizing the worldly matter (KIN CHA) and (KASYASVIT) who is the owner?(DHANAM) of wealth i.e., assets have never become anybody’s property permanently. Therefore, (MA) do not (GRIDHAHA) be greedy i.e., one should not never be desirous of other person’s wealth etc.
Meaning- That is whatever is being seen in this universe consisting of non-alive and alive world [non-alive means earth, moon, sun, air etc., i.e., made of five matters and the alive souls having bodies of living beings] all that, has been pervaded by Almighty God i.e., when the non- alive world and the alive world (living beings) is created by the God then God enters therein, God’s nature being omnipresent. Therefore, Almighty God is lord of the universe, non-alive world as well as that of all living beings. He has settled us in the world by providing all the goods for us to survive.
Therefore duly separated i.e., detaching our Chitta ( faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same to intellect is called Chitta and Chitta stores the effect of various karmas to be faced by soul in future at a proper time), from the world we must experience the pleasure of utilizing worldly matter. Assets have never become anybody’s property permanently. Therefore, do not be greedy i.e., one should not never be desirous of other person’s wealth etc.
Idea-
The study of Vedas reveals that all worldly matters are made of prakriti and thus are illusion. So, the people who are indulged in worldly matters are those who are actually indulged in illusion due to lack of knowledge of Vedas.
God is everywhere, being omnipresent. Therefore, He dwells in both non-alive matters and in living beings. So, He is the lord of all matters, assets and even bodies of living beings. So, we can never exercise claim over any item of the world forever. However, God has blessed us with human body with all assets, worldly matters etc., to use them, to gain experience of its pleasure, duly detaching our Chitta from the world. Detachment of Chitta means we should not indulge in worldly matters because those who are indulged in worldly matters, they forget the motto of Human-life which is attaining salvation, while discharging all moral duties. However, the stage of detaching chitta from the world is achieved by those who worship God daily, according to Vedas/religious path. Our ancient Rishi munis and several raj rishis like King Harishchandra, Dashrath, Sri Ram, Sri Krishna Maharaj and pandavas etc., got the Vedic knowledge from rishis and by following the same, they discharge all their moral duties and they did Vedic worship simultaneously. As a result they ruled the nation, experience pleasure of utilizing the materialistic article of world and also attain salvation. It is our bad luck that most of the people being totally indulged in illusion have not been following the path of our above quoted dignitaries and hence are facing the unlimited problem in daily life like sickness, diseases, corruption, tension, injustice, early death, sorrows etc.
Everybody knows that at last he has to meet with death leaving behind all his family assets etc. So, it is a fact that the family or assets do not belong to us permanently. One day, we have to leave them. So, naturally we must not be greedy to cling to worldly matters forever. But we must note here that as quoted above in the absence of worship of God no one is able to understand the truth of facing death and leaving all assets and family here only, one day.
So, says the preach of Yajurveda mantra 40/1, but mere preach will do nothing and will never give us peace. We have oftenly seen cases of several saints etc., who study, remember the preach and give long lectures stating that the money, family are not ours, so one must not be greedy and leave the assets, money etc.
On the contrary, they inspire the persons to donate assets, money, even boys/girls to them (those saints). They gather money from devotees in the bags and enjoy luxurious living.
So as stated in Kenopnishad shloka 4/8 mere bookish knowledge or lecture will do nothing but will be harmful if the people do not do daily yajyen, name jaap of God, hard practice of Ashtang Yoga, under the guidance of learned acharya of Vedas and yoga philosophy. The said devotee will themselves have to check daily if they are following true path or not. They will also have to check whether they are progressing in the matter of detachment and would they be able to become ascetic one day. Otherwise, no one should do drama of spiritualism, because the mantra says- “Eesha Vasyam Idam” i.e., God resides everywhere, even within us and every time he sees/watches each of our activities and awards punishment for the sins. So we should be clear about the Omnipresent nature of Almighty God and that Almighty God is the only lord of each worldly article and not we people. So, the mantra preaches us that one should always be aware of the presence of God and must be afraid to commit sins anywhere.
Secondly when a person would be aware of presence of Almighty God everywhere then only he would not commit sins and would always do pious deeds. Actually we listen about presence of almighty God everywhere but we do not know it and that is why, we commit sins. To realize God’s presence as was realized by ancient rishis, Raj Rishis and most of their public one will have to do daily worship of God as quoted above. We should also know that a lazyperson who is indulged in illusion and further does daily routine deeds of the service, business and house, will never think to do hard work of worshipping God daily. Such persons always remain in trouble, problems and experience sorrows always but those who worship God by listening to Vedas /religious granths, do name jaap, meditation etc., daily (as quoted above) under guidance of an experienced spiritual master and simultaneously they discharge their duties of earning money for family, discharging moral duties towards family, society and nation as was done by ancient raj-rishis and public, they achieve the goal of human life experiencing daily pleasure in life, being always away from any kind of sorrows etc.
Conclusion of mantra:-
(1) World is created, controlled and commanded by Almighty God only.
(2) So, He is the only Lord of each and every materialistic article of the world and not we people.
(3) Therefore, we must not desire worldly articles or any one’s wealth, assets etc.
(4) No doubt, the materialistic article of the world have been made by the God for us, the living beings but He has preached in the Vedas that we have only to experience the pleasure of utilizing the worldly goods by detaching our chitta from them otherwise one will be indulged in illusion and one’s cycle of death and birth will never end which is always sorrowful and painful. Detachment is obtained by a devotee who worships the God daily.
Those who adopt in their daily lives that God is everywhere and He is watching each of our actions and awards punishment if we commit sin, then they never desire nor do they misappropriate other person’s wealth/assets such persons only make their future bright and one day achieve salvation too.
Yajurveda mantra 40/8 states that God is “Akayam” means having no body i.e., He is formless.
Vedas’ Philosophy
God has made universe and blessed us with human body to do pious deeds to attain salvation 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. (Rigved mantras 10/135/1,2 refer)
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. Yajurved – gives knowledge of all the deeds and duties to be performed by men, 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 way, 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. Yajurved mantra 40/8 says that God is everywhere, is Almighty, formless, devoid of nervous system, purest, away from sins and does not have 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 recreates. Atharvaved mantra 4/1/1 also says that God gives the knowledge of Vedas at the beginning of the earth to four Rishis of non-sexual creation. And thereafter only public listens Vedas through Rishis- Munis as yet and become learned. Rig-Veda gives knowledge of Almighty, Yajurved gives knowledge of karmas (deeds), Samved tells about worship-Yoga philosophy and Atharvaved
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 even if he becomes young or old. So we have to think about the origin of the knowledge prevalent in the world today. In this connection the Vedas themselves say that God gives this knowledge to four Rishis. As said by Rishi Patanjali in Yog shastra sutra 1/26, God is the first Guru of the four Rishis. Yajurved 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 orally. At that time there was no pen, pencil, paper, etc. This process of studying Vedas orally remained till Mahabharata
time. Muni Vyas too remembered Vedas traditionally by heart. Then Muni Vyas for the 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 those which are preached by mouth by an Acharya/yogi and the printed Vedas are called Sanhita.
Now if somebody worships a statue etc., then it is their own creation please but Vedas deny. According to Vedas the best worship of the God is Yajyen for which all Vedas are self-proof. Yajurved 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, Yajurved 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 53,111 years old. So are the
Vedas but as said in Rigved 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, Brahmacharya, 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 write 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 Valmiki Ramayana, six shastras, Mahabharat (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.
“Vedas- The Storehouse of Knowledge,
Deeds and Worship”
In Samveda mantra 7, two kinds of languages are stated.
First “Ittha” and second “Ittra”. Ittha is the divine Sanskrit language which emanates direct from God in the shape of four Vedas to preach the human beings. (Yajurveda Mantra 31/7 refers). Naturally, the Ved Mantras are not in worldly language but in divine Sanskrit language. Ittha is preached at the time of every creation.
So when we will talk about the present creation i.e., about more than 1 Arab, 96 crores, 8 lakhs, 53,111 years ago, when this earth came into existence, the knowledge of Vedas emanated from God as usual. As God is immortal so the said language is immortal too. It is not out of place to mention here that immortal power can only generate immortal language. Keeping the said statement in mind it is very clear that Vedas have not been written by any Rishi-Muni, saint, men or women etc. Another language is called “Ittra language”, made by human beings. The second one is not immortal because it is generated from the mind of human being and the mind being made of Prakriti is destructible and not immortal.
It concludes that whenever we want to know the truth, we will have to tally it with the Vedas. If any kind of material, deeds, worship, action is to be checked as to whether it is true or false, it is to be verified from Vedas. If it is mentioned in Vedas as true then it is true otherwise it will have to be declared false. (Yog Shastra sutra 1/7 and Samkhya Shastra 1/52 refer). This is fundamental law so cannot be changed. Now we discuss about the form of Almighty God from Vedas. Yajurveda Mantra 31/18 says- God is form of light, the light which is the source of light and energy to sun, moon and to whole of the world i.e., God is Himself the perennial source of light. He is enlightened through His own light. He gives the light to all but He Himself never takes light from any source. When anyone (Yogi), through the power of Ashtang Yoga, realizes the light within his soul, he overcomes the death and gets final liberation. It means we must worship the God who is formless and Himself a light. The idea of Rigveda Mantra 10/121/1 and Yajurveda mantra 40/8 is that all the powers rest in God, i.e., why He is called Almighty. He is light. God was before the creation i.e., He was in past, is in present and will remain in future unchanged after destruction of this earth/world. He is the only matter who creates, nurses and destroys the universe that is why Yajurveda Mantra 27/36 also states that the God is one and equivalent to this God, no other God was either born or will ever be born. We must worship the said God only.
God gives birth to everybody but He never takes birth. Yajurveda Mantra 31/3 says that His (God’s) greatness is beyond description. We can only say that God is so great that this creation is nothing before the greatness of Almighty God. Now we must discuss as to how many Gods are there to be worshipped. In this connection, all four Vedas, six shastras and holy books of all religions clarify that there is only one God, who was present before creation, He is present now and will remain present after destruction of this world, being immortal.
Atharvaveda Mantra 13/4/16 to 21 say that God is neither two nor three, four, five, six, seven, eight or nine. There is only one God. So we must only worship, one God and no other. In this connection, the guidance from a proper spiritual master (Acharya, guru who is learned of Vedas) is a must. The form of God is light which is within each human being. God is always away from birth, death, or to face the result of any deeds etc., (Yog shastra sutra 1/24 refers). He is the only source of merriment. He whose several names have been mentioned in Vedas. He is the only God described in Vedas. For example, Vishnu. Vishnu word occurs in Vedas and it means omnipresent God. Traditionally Vedas were being learnt and recited orally since Satyug by the grace of our ancient Rishi- Munis. Afterwards, about more than 5,300 years ago Maharishi Vyas jee wrote the Vedas on Bhoj patra. Then few historic events which took place in Dwapur Yug were compiled in the form of Mahabharata epic by Vyas Muni jee.
Mahabharata originally has 10,000 shlokas written in Sanskrit, which are true and give Vedas’ knowledge too. Presently, Mahabharata contains 1 lakh 20,000 shlokas out of which 10,000 shlokas are only true. That is why untrue and impossible stories are being heard like birth from fire (agnikund). Vedas do not accept it. Vedas do not contain any historic event. It is a knowledge which emanates direct from God. So naturally the Vedas do not tell about any individual’s name, place etc. After destruction of the previous creation, there remains nothing in the world. There was no sun, moon, human-being, day and night, death and birth, space etc.(Rigveda mandal 10 sukta 129 refers). So at the beginning of present creation, no event could take place in the absence of living-beings and other matters etc. Then at a fixed time power of Almighty God starts functioning in prakriti and the creation starts. Thus, the world comes into existence. It was non-sexual creation of all living-beings. And naturally, they were not learned.
At this juncture, question arises, who was present there to educate the human-beings as without giving knowledge to men or women, no one can become wise. God is merciful and therefore as usual He showers His eternal mercy in the shape of four Vedas on all the human-beings to educate them well. The said knowledge of Vedas emanates from God and is originated in the heart of four Rishis of non-sexual creation, who then become wise. Thereafter, the Rishis shower the knowledge of Vedas to aspirants. So the first Guru of our ancient Rishis is God(Yog shastra sutra 1/26 refers). Thereafter only Rishis have been our Guru to give Vedic knowledge not only to worship God, but to educate people about all kinds of science and pious deeds. Hence, as said above Vedas are not a story. Story describes an event or happening and will be destroyed at the time of final destruction of the world. But God and His knowledge of Vedas being immortal, will ever remain, surpassing destruction. And this is the true knowledge. So we must worship only Almighty God through Yajyen, reciting the holy name given by a guru (learned Acharya of Vedas). Vedas state to discharge family duties besides worshipping God. We must always leave sins and accept the truth but to realize truth, one will have to listen the Vedas first.
It is unfortunate that often some people falsely state that Vedas are difficult. In this connection, please remember that when a child first time goes to school or first time starts studying, is the study easy for him? Or is to get B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD., degrees or to be a doctor, scientist or engineer easy? Yes, the same are very difficult for those who are lazy and is quite easy for those who are hard workers. So when a student listens carefully and works hard then no topic remains difficult for him. So are the Vedas. You have to listen the Vedas and not read them. In the matter of Vedas, these are to be listened traditionally and not to be read. So listening is not difficult. One has to seek his Acharya who is learned of Vedas, to listen the Vedas from him.
Listening of Vedas, is an order direct from God. And to oversight the same may be the order of man. We have to decide either to obey.
Anonymous: 3. What is the difference between yogi, acharya, rishi, swami etc?
Swami Ram Swarup: If all the said learned persons attain samadhi by following Vedas’ knowledge then there is no difference.
Anonymous: 4. I am a student of 15 years. What should I do right now? What is my duty? Should I start my quest for God right now or perform my duties like everyone else does?
I get distracted and am not able to perform my duties after hearing between the contradictions of the Vedas vs Dwait vs Adwait. I am not able to choose one and fear that if I choose one, the other might be the path to moksha? Should I focus on learning mathematics, sciences, languages and getting good scores, working on my body and personality or try learning the Vedas and find the truth?
Swami Ram Swarup: Dear son, your duty is to serve your parents and simultaneously do worship of God. When the creation starts then only one learned remains alive who is almighty, formless, omnipresent God. God’s worship and progress in worldly education, both are required to get progress simultaneously. So, in the world only we have to follow Vedas which emanates direct from God and the ways indicate other worship are man-made, which are not authentic.
Three eternal and everlasting matters:-
Several persons explain its meaning that there is only on God and nothing else i.e., except God there is nothing. They tell that there is neither prakriti nor soul and not even the creation which is being seen. Learned of Vedas do not accept it
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. From Prakriti, all the matters of universe are created. But neither from God nor soul any matter is created. Soul can never be God being unchangeable and God can also never be soul being unchangeable. Soul due to the attraction towards prakriti is indulged in illusion and forgets his original form of immortal peace, purity etc. and has to face the birth and death again and again.
But Almighty being the commander of the souls and prakriti, is never attracted towards prakriti. He always remains purified. So, God cannot forget his original form and is never indulged in any kind of illusion. Therefore, everything like tree, tube light, stone, electric fan are made of prakriti and hence can never be God.
So, the meaning of Eko Brahma Dweetya na Asti will be, there is only one God equivalent to whom no other God exists. Besides this, Yajurveda mantra 27/36 states-‘Na Jataha Na janishyate’ i.e., there is only one Formless, Almighty, immortal God and equivalent to this, neither any other God was born, nor shall be born.
Anonymous: 5. Is there never an easier way to attain God, not even in Kali yug? I respect all rituals but do know find science behind it. For example, scientists using a device have measured that CO2 levels have fallen after agnihotra? But any hydrocarbon when burnt with O2 should ideally increase CO2 levels? Why is the path so strict? If the mere act of agnihotra can purify air, what is the significance of the mantras?
Swami Ram Swarup: In the world there are two types of worship, one God-made i.e., in the beginning of the earth knowledge of Vedas emanates direst from God and is originated in the heart of four Rishis. Second path of worship is man-made which our brothers i.e., Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian etc., originated about 2500 years ago. So, only God made path is true eternal and everlasting. In this connection I have already pasted above in answers to your questions.
Anonymous: 6. I want to learn Vedas. From whom should I learn it? Can I become an Acharya and connect with the God to ask my questions to God himself?
Swami Ram Swarup: To learn Vedas an aspirant should make contact with a learned acharya of Vedas personally. After studying Vedas and following the teachings of Vedas aspirant can realize God and automatically he then becomes acharya.
Anonymous: Can it not happen that all Vedic teachers die without passing it on further due to the condition of this world and so there would be no one to teach Vedas further?
Swami Ram Swarup: No please.
Anonymous: Will the God again tell Vedas or will it vanish as far as this universe is concerned.
Swami Ram Swarup: The Vedas will now emanate in the next generation after final destruction of the creation.
Anonymous: 7. The YouTube channel states that God is everywhere and confining him to idols and plucking flowers (God) for idol (God) is a sin. Then is it not a sin to have food? Because that also contains God?
Swami Ram Swarup: God is omnipresent and formless and said qualities are unchangeable. God can not be eaten.
Anonymous: 8. If God can create humans, why cannot he create a messenger to verify the Vedas? Is it possible that while passing the vedas orally, the people forgot some part of the Vedas or misinterpreted it or altered it?
Swami Ram Swarup: Your questions are not according to Vedas.
Anonymous: 9. You say that my duty is to follow Vedas as well as to listen to my parents. My mother tells me to worship idols. If I do not worship idols, I disobey my mother. If I do not disobey my mother, I worship idols. Either way, I am committing a sin.
Swami Ram Swarup: I can only say that idol worship is against the Vedas.
Anonymous: 10. You say that not doing sandhya is a sin. Doing sindhya is pious. Is there anything neutral? Is it still a sin if I did not possess the knowledge that something like sandhya exists? Will the spreaders of idol worship get then sin or I, the follower get the sin?
Swami Ram Swarup: Not to get knowledge is itself a sin.
Anonymous: 11. Why has god mentioned such strict punishments in the Vedas? Is there no moderate way? Can I attain liberation if I do not study Vedas nor do sandhya, agnihotra etc (because of fear) but serve my country, protect the Earth, serve my parents?
Swami Ram Swarup: Please first follow Vedas.
Anonymous: 12. If I get liberation now, will I again be born human the next time the universe is created? If yes, what is the use of getting liberated this time? Why is the universe created? If we were already liberated, why were we put into human body?
Swami Ram Swarup: To see dream is not good.
