Pradeep: I have been reading your answers to most questions. According to the Hare Krishna people one who disrespects a deity form of God is termed a mayavadi. Are you familiar with the philosophy of Lord Chaitanya and the 6 Goswamis – It is said to be the highest surpassing Sankaracharya’s impersonal philosophy. Your views please.
Swami Ram Swarup: Those who are in touch with the philosophy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and six Goswamis, naturally they’ll advocate about the same because they’ve not listened eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates directly from Almighty , omnipresent and formless God who never takes Avtar being always away from birth and death. Those ancient Rishi-munis and present learneds who have studied Vedas traditionally, they would get the true effect of vedic eternal voice of formless, Almighty God who creates , nurses and destroys the universe. Now we’ve only to decide whether we follow the vedic eternal path made by Almighty God or otherwise.
Rigveda mantra 6/50/14 states that God is ‘Ajah Ekpaat” (Aj= A +Ja) where “A” means ‘not’ and “Ja” means ‘birth’ i.e., God never takes birth or Avtar. ‘ Ekpaat’ means from His only one divine power, [Chaturansh in Yajurveda mantra 31/3 ] the world is created but God remains ever unchangeable. So, He was formless, is formless and will ever remain formless. His form is ever unchangeable and unchallengeable.
Now, in Yajurveda mantra 7/48 God states that every person is free to do the deeds (good or bad) but result is awarded by God . I mean to say , those who’ve been listening chaitanaya maha Prabhu etc., vanni, they may go ahead if they do not have time to study the Vedas.
Dr. Harish Arya: By which way rishis got knowledge of Vedas and why God only gave the knowledge to them, can we perform that way? Until God has not given the knowledge to that rishis, were they living adharmic life?
Swami Ram Swarup: The process of giving the knowledge to Rishis is eternal so cannot be challenged. It is an eternal law that God always originates the knowledge of four Vedas at the time of creation to four Rishis at the beginning of the earth. Hence, it should be noted that God selects four Rishis who were the best learned/tapasvis in previous universe but could not get salvation due to which they had to take rebirth. So, giving of knowledge by God to four Rishis is not favourism because God gives them knowledge for which the four Rishis were entitled because in the previous universe, they were about to get salvation but final destruction took place and they met with
death. So, the study of all four Vedas reveals that no proper name has been used in Vedas. Vedas are eternal knowledge, unchangeable and unchallengeable. Rules and regulations of Vedas therefore cannot be ever changed.
It is a formless knowledge which emanates direct from God and by the power of Almighty God, it is originated in the heart of four Rishis. That is, the knowledge of four Vedas originated in Rishis’ heart without oral preach and also without writing procedure. Thereafter, four Rishis for the first time in the non-sexual creation, chanted the Ved mantras by mouth and the other ignorant people listened. The ignorant people by listening Vedas became learned of Vedas i.e., the ignorant people also did not gain the Vedas’ knowledge from books etc., or from writing procedure.
The knowledge of Vedas vide Rigveda mantra 10/109/1,2 emanates direct from God and originated in the heart of four Rishis. A person named Brahma served the four Rishis and listened four Vedas from them, then Brahma became learned of four Vedas for the first time on the earth. At that time, it is a matter of about one Arab, ninety-six crore, eight lakh, fifty-three thousand years ago.
Until a student learns science naturally he will remain ignorant of science subject. However, the case of four Rishis, being in non-sexual creation, they did not spend more time as being ignorant persons because, God gave them knowledge shortly after creation.
Anonymous: Respected swami ji, I recently found your lovely site which really made me happy. my question may be different but true.. If a Guru gives Diksha Guru Mantra which is Vedic and shown the light within.. Later try to do blackmail in some way or the other for money.. like if I ask you to give specific amount & you don’t give your bad karmas starts & you will not be given space in heaven?? Can he harm any way in this life & after death? How to protect our selves? So the person should leave him or what? kindly share your views..
Swami Ram Swarup: In the case of Guru, darkness, blackmailing, profession and other illusion is strictly prohibited in Vedas. Therefore it is shameful on the part of Gurus who have become professional, etc.
True Saints
In Shatpath Brahmin Granth 3/7/3/10, written by Yask Muni it is said, “VIDWANS HI DEVAHA” i.e., he who is learned of Vedas, he is called Dev. Yajurveda 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 Yudhisthar, “KAH NASTIKAH” i.e., who is called atheist? Yudhisthar answers, he who is against and insults Vedas he is atheist (Manusmriti 2/11 also refers). So there are two kinds of men/women according to Yajurveda 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, Vaayu, 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 Atharvaveda mantra 2/35/1& 4 it is preached that Rishis spread the knowledge of holy Yagya (Yajyen) to the people to kill 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 ESH 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 within which proof of Vedas to determine the truth is compulsory. However, it makes no difference that 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 Brahamchari 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 Yudhisthar that there are two kinds of Braham (though God is one). First, “Shabad Braham” i.e., knowledge of four Vedas, second “Par Braham” the realization of formless God Who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. So he who does not know Braham even Shabad Braham – Vedas, then how can he write himself as brahamrishi? 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 Uttrakand DWIJ SHRUTI BECHAK BHOOP PRAJSAN, KAU NAHIN MAN 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 public. 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., Shwetashwaropnishad 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 multi-farious 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 and public seems to be poor.
In Brihadarnayk Upnishad there is a debate (shastrarth) between Bal Brahamcharini Gargi and Rishi Yagvalkya. This debate was organized by King Janak. The winner of debate was to be given 500 cows, gold-plated on horns. When Rishi Yagvalkya ordered his disciples to take the cows then King Janak interrupted and requested the Rishi that these cows are meant for him who will win the debate with my supreme Acharya Gargi. King asked the Rishi whether he (Rishi) is Brahamrishi. Yagvalkya 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 whereas present saints even having become multimillionaires through donation, ask for more money.
In Upnishad king Janshruti met with 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, then he immediately became ready without any pride and walked on foot. Mostly now this cannot be repeated.
There are maximum examples of the ancient Rishis who were Tapsvi, lovers of truth, who are adorable.
So such so called Gurus are not actually recognized as Gurus in the Vedas. Guru has full command on his five senses, perceptions, mind and intellect after studying Vedas and doing hard practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy. In the ancient times, in the gurukul nothing was required to be paid and the expenses of the Gurukul used to be borne from cultivation, milching of cows and bhiksha keeping aside the difference between King and general public. In this connection, I paste my article on Guru.
About Gurus
There is only one God who creates universe, nurses and destroys and again creates. Yajurveda 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, Yajyen 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 Yajyen. Then Dashrath immediately refused but Dashrath’s Guru Vashisth 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 Vashisth both were philosophers of Vedas, Yajyen 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 most of the people 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.
You know, when such gurus are not recognized as gurus by Almighty God in Vedas then how are they able to harm anyone. Deeksha is nothing until requirements of Deeksha especially in respect of Gurus are fulfilled like hard Tapasya, hard study of Vedas, control on senses are the qualities of Guru. Otherwise, he is not entitled to give Deeksha. If professional and so called gurus indulged in illusion give Deeksha then guru and disciple both get bed thoughts, indulge in illusion and their both births i.e., present and next birth becomes ruined , say Vedas and Manusmriti.
Such professional gurus etc., must be left immediately. However, if a true, Vedic guru who has studied four Vedas and who has practised Ashtang Yoga Philosophy and thus has attained Samadhi is insulted or blamed etc., then the accused is never excused even by Almighty God , says Atharvaveda kand 12.
