VS: I read ISKCON books or prabhu padha and some others. Ok here is my question, May be it is silly. Every one or Every book says, don’t do bad always do the good. Now, I am confused here find what is good and bad. If Some one defines what is absolute good, then I can
understand what is bad. But non defined the term good as per my availability of knowledge. Can you please elaborate on this subject. A little back ground about me. I want to be happy, and in search of real peace of mind and bliss. When I have 1000, thought if I would have 10000 I would have done this and that to get the peace of mind. After fulfilment of 10K then went to 1 Lakh and then ended in staying in America, targeting for 1Million dollars for end less things that coming as the time passing. As soon as the lower ones are fulfilled, the higher ones are evolving by them selves. This is ruining my peace of mind forever. I am not able to satisfy my mind any more with the money or any material things. So, I am searching for the true peace of mind. I Came to know Vedas and now i am trying to find the real guru for me. Hope by the grace of God I may get one, who can guide into the right direction.
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, you are right that everyone preaches “do not do bad, always do good” but very few throw light towards the pious worship/task by doing which a person gains natural power which make him only to do good deeds. Here, I would like to state that this is a matter of controlling five senses, five perceptions and mind. Vedas tell without listening to pious preach, doing daily Yajyen/havan and name-jaap and hard practice of ashtang yoga under the guidance of learned acharya, the spiritual power is not gained which makes a man capable of doing
only pious deeds. That is why, Kenopnishad shloka 4/8 States that the base of doing pious deeds and realizing God is knowledge of four Vedas which is attained by maintaining Brahmacharya. You see, nowadays there is lack of knowledge of Brahmacharya, Vedas and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga under the guidance of learned acharya and hence illusion. In this connection, Kapil Muni in his Sankhya shastra sutra 1/23 states- “ Vangmatram Na Tu Tattvam Chittsthitehe.” i.e., the bookish
knowledge is only meant for memory and lecture. It never appeals to soul and without practising the above quoted worship i.e., Yoga practice etc., it is of no use. Even Rigveda mantra 1/164/39
straightway states that if following the Vedic preach nobody has practised it and thus has not realized God then mere study of Vedas will do nothing. As regards, what is good and what is bad Vedas reply is a simple one but the deepest one too that to do any deed according to Vedas is a pious deed and against the Vedas is a sin. But here I would like to tell that until and unless a person has listened to Vedas or other holy books, he would not be able to understand about good or bad deeds. So, I would advise you to please study some of my books containing knowledge of Vedas, shastras and other holy books. As regards, desire/thought, Yajurveda mantra 34/1-6 states that one should always have pious thoughts. But here also the above quoted worship applies without which nobody is able to have pious thoughts. So, practice makes man perfect, not mere bookish knowledge or preach etc. By doing above quoted worship, desires are minimized and at one stage they are completely obliterated and the aspirant attains peace. Because, more you increase the desires, more you increase the tensions, problems etc. Bharatri Maharaj has very beautifully stated that-
“Trishna Na Jeerna vaiyamev Jeerna” that is, desires never end but the person who harbours the desires, one day becomes dead. So, one should immediately start worshipping God by starting even small havan with Gayatri mantra.
GAYATRI MANTRA
Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.
After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.
The Gayatri mantra is as follows —
OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA
DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT
Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.
Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built, Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hirannyagarbha, Vayu and Tejas names occur and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.
VIRAAT = Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of final destruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.
AGNI = From dhatu, “ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is: He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., Omniscient. That is, knows each and every atom of universe and even beyond universe. He who is to be known, to be gained and is worshipful. So Agni is the name of God.
VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is He in whom the universe is entering or He who is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.
HIRANNYAGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.
VAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and is the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vayu.
TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made meaning He who is self made and self-enlightened and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.
ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and He who has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.
ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.
PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made meaning whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every matter and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it is not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.
BHUHU = “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Prann i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.
BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and the soul removes his own all sorrows after coming in contact with Him. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.
SWAHA = i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.
SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.
DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.
VARENNYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.
BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SHUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)
TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.
DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because
YAHA = the God
NAHA = our,
DHIYAHA = mind(i.e., in our minds)
PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)
MEANING
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.
Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gayatri mantra, there are three things —-
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.
Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.
Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.
We must sit on meditation on any suitable aasan then we must concentrate on Agya charka i.e., between the eyebrows and then we must repeat the Gayatri Mantra with the meaning of each word. This is the best way of meditation. I have written detailed comments on Patanjal Yog Darshan- Part I and II and have also described meditation therein, especially in sutra 3/1. I will advise you to study the book please.
Navin: Pranam Swamiji and Jai Shree Krishna, Swamiji, according to Ved there are no avtar, ok I can agree to that but when Mahabharat, Ramayan and Bhagwat is part of the Ved, so from where these avtar has come from In India there are thousands of Krishna Mandir, Ram Mandir, Shiv Mandir and almost all Indian worship these God, if we take one god as Vishnu, then he is no doubt is only God and rest are avtar. As Ved is spread from mouth to mouth with original slok as 4400 and rest is added afterword, it may be correct but question will always be raised about who can confirm original 4400 sloks, this is very much negative way to think but then one must also know the reality, who can say he is perfect and knows the reality. I on my part has confusion about your comment that Ved has no avtar and about shankar and ling it is not included in Ved where as rudri is part of Ved. I wish I can have big satsang with you According Ved if you do not accept avtar, shankar then Ved does not accept all 18 purans. Do Ved accept manu satrupa and his family? If I agree Ved then I have to forget all purans and if I agree to purans I have to forget Ved, but is this a solution as no one can say either Ved or puran that they are right hence again question of shradha and vishwas. WHICH WAY I HAVE TO PROCEED, PLEASE GUIDE ME Once again Pranam and Jai Shree Krishna.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. I appreciate your views for accepting the fundamental, eternal laws of Vedas that Almighty God never takes avtar. Vedas are the purest knowledge because they emanate direct from the God Who is also the Purest, Formless, Omnipresent God. Atharvaveda mantra 7/105/1 states to study Vedas or the holy books written by Rishi, munis, true saints who are followers of Vedas because their mind (intellect) becomes the purest due to their hard practice of ashtang yoga along with following other teachings of Vedas. The Rishis have also made the fundamental unchangeable law that Vedas are finally self-proof. I mean to say, when Vedas do not agree and find no reason for existence of avtarwad then the views of the present saints etc., become unauthentic. I also paste my article below for your guidance:-
VEDAS ARE ETERNAL CULTURE OF THE WORLD
This is a Truth that even today every religion decides the truth or untruth based on its religious holy book. This is also a well known fact accepted by the world that in the world’s library (In Britain also) the four Vedas are the most ancient holy books of the world. Yajurveda Chapter 31 & Rigveda Mandal 10 Sukta 129, state that the knowledge of four Vedas emanates directly from Almighty God at the time of creation. Knowledge can be received only when someone gives knowledge to others. That is why before more than 5,000 years Rishi Patanjali told in Yog Shastra Sutra 1/26 that Almighty God is Spiritual master of first four Rishis. In the Vedas there is no mention of any sects and caste system. We, the human beings are the children of only one Almighty God, our father. Manusmriti is also a holy book written by Manu after studying Vedas. The life of present creation has been stated as 4 arab, 29 crore, 40 lakhs and 80 thousand years. However, Manusmriti gives the proof in its chapter one that present time of the earth is 7th Manvantar, uptil now 6 manvantars have already elapsed. Those are Swayambhuva, Swarochish, Auttami, Tamas, Raivat and Chaakshush, now it is 7th manvantar, called Vaivasvat, which is pulling on.
71 chaturyugi form 1 manvantar.
There are four yug— Satyug, Treta, Dwapur and Kaliyug. These yugas extend upto following years –
(i). Satyug = 17 lakhs 28 thousands years
(ii). Treta = 12 lakhs 96 thousands years
(iii). Dwapur = 8 lakhs 64 thousands years
(iv). Kaliyug = 4 lakhs 32 thousands years
The total of four Yugas comes to be 43 lakhs and 20 thousands years which is equal to one Chaturyugi. 71 Chaturyugi i.e., 30 crore 67 lakhs and 20 thousands years equal to one Manvantar and 6 Manvantar have yet passed whose calculation comes to one Arab 84 crore 30 lakhs and 20 thousands years. This is 7th Manvantar and 28 Chaturyugi and the present Kaliyug has passed its time of more than 5000 years. So up till now the age of the earth and Vedas is one Arab 96 crore 8 lakhs 53 thousand one hundred and eleven years. Bhagwad Geeta shlok 8/17 also says about this fact. Manusmriti shloka 1/64 to 1/80 also say that at that time there were no sects or caste system. And there was no word as ‘Hindu’ prevalent at that time.
The word Hindu, sect or caste system is also not mentioned in holy books like Upnishads, Shastras and Valmiki Ramayana, Shatpath Brahmin Granth etc. Infact it is clearly mentioned in these books that there is only one God of the universe. Yajurveda Chapter 31, Rigveda Mandal 10 Sukta 129 Mantra 1-6, Samveda Mantra 617- 621 says that this universe including Earth and all human beings is the creation of one Almighty God. Manusmriti Shloka 1/21 also says that cow, horse, mankind etc., are made by God and its name are given in Vedas. Shlokas 1/136-141 and 2/17 say that in whole of the Earth, the man and woman took birth only in Trivishtup (present Tibet).
Those who have good qualities are named Arya and those who get entangled in bad deeds are called Dasyu (dacoit or Asur). The whole of the mankind at that time were called Aryans and Dasyus accordingly. After so many years the Aryans migrated downwards and where they started living they named the place Aryavrat and long afterwards it was named as Bharatvarsh. Bharat means Vedvani that is Ved mantras in four Vedas as mentioned in Rigveda mantra 3/53/12. The meaning of said mantra is that Almighty God protects all those who know and respect the Bhartam (Ved mantras).
So when the voice of four Vedas is there in Indians, there will be automatic protection from God because the Ved mantras is the knowledge originated in the heart of selected four pious souls of previous Earth at the time of present creation, their names are Agni, Vayu, Aaditya and Angira Rishi. Vedas are thus not books, this is knowledge generated in the heart of the said four Rishis.
Long after, that is, after one Arab and more than 96 crore years this knowledge which was being learned by heart generation to generation orally was written on Bhoj Patra by Vyas Muni and in 18th Century it was published. Most of the Indians have forgotten this eternal and supernatural Vedas knowledge which advocates that there is only one God of the universe who creates, nurses and destroy the universe and after destroying creates the universe again. This is faith in Vedas as is the faith of every man or woman in their respective religious book. The Aryavrat country extends geographically from Himalayas in North to Vindhyachal in South; in West from Attak river that drains into ocean upto present Brahmaputra in the East.
From middle of Himalayas to South including string of mountains upto Rameshwar and including Vindhyachal as well, the entire area is called “Aryavrat Desh” whose present name is Bharatvarsh or Hindustan or India in English. Mahabharata also tells about the same fact. In view of this it is proved that all mankind took birth in Tibet. And there was no sect at that time.
Mahabhart or Bhagwad Geeta was written by Vyas Muni about 5,084 years back. And Valmiki Ramayana is written about 9 crore years back. In these authentic holy books sect or caste-system has not been mentioned. We all human-beings were called Aryans upto 5,000 years ago and thereafter too. The Indian philosophy got a golden cradle to thrive and flourish in Takshila and Nalanda University where the students from all parts of the world used to come to study Vedas and other subjects. Those all were called Aryans at that time. First time Greeks and Unanis used the word Indu for Sindhu ocean and also for the public who lived on the banks of Sindhu. Thereafter Arabians started saying word Hindi for the Aryans who lived across Sindhu river. So, whosoever was living across the Sindhu, whether Muslim, Christian etc., was called Indu and then Hindu. So word was used for all those who lived across the Sindhu. Hence, there was no word except Aryans before 5,000 years and thereafter also it is clear that word Hindu is being used only for the last 2-3 thousand years. Within these years only Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikh religion came into existence and those who were studying Vedas, Shastras, Upnishads, Brahmin Granth, Bhagwad Geeta, Ramayana have been categorized as Hindus instead of Aryans. Whole of the world knows about the fact of origin of these religions. So whole of the world can not be considered Hindu now at this belated stage. The study of all religions conclude that no religion preaches hatred, war or quarrelling etc. Every religion speaks about love, living together, worship of one Almighty God, live and let live and to promote brotherhood internationally. The whole mankind thus should try to remove the ravages of hatred at all levels.
Regarding Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, I paste my article below. Secondly, in Vedas nobody has added any false mantra. So, 4400 shlokas have not been added in Vedas. However, about One Lakh ten thousand self-made shlokas have been added to Mahabharat and hence the misunderstanding about Avtarwad, etc.
Are Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh Gods?
Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh are not God. Vedas tell that there is only one formless God who never takes birth. He creates, nurses and destroys the universe. His power is enough to create and control the whole universe. He is Almighty i.e., He has all unlimited powers and therefore He does not need any assistance to create, nurse and destroy the universe by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. If God needs assistance then He will not be called Almighty. So God does not need any support but we all humans as well as all living beings need His support and blessings every time. However, in Vedas, there are innumerable names of Almighty God according to His divine qualities. So Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh etc., are also the names of the formless Almighty God. Brahma means the greatest. Vishnu means omnipresent and Mahesh means the greatest.
It is the personal matter of worship or not to worship. So atheists are also there. But it is very clear that God in Vedas as clarified that He Has blessed the human being with human body to worship and realise God. Nobody can attain happy life in the absence of worship of God. One more thing is clear from Vedas in which God states –Oh man/woman you live on the earth given by God and all comforts provided by the God. And if you do not remember/worship God then it is sin and punishment is awarded by the God.
Very few persons know that present science has also come out from Vedas, especially Rigveda. The knowledge of Vedas also emanates from God. So, it is clear that scientist also enjoy science which is given by God. God is not only the matter of blind faith. It is the matter of discussion with a learned acharya of Vedas and Yoga philosophy who from Vedas, shastras and Upnishads etc., and scientifically also prove the existence of God. For example- we see the creation and can think deeply that who has created it or is it a job of man/woman, scientist etc., then automatically after long discussion we would reach on the conclusion that men/women/scientist have not created the universe and then He who has created is called Almighty God.
Vishnu is also a name of formless, Almighty God based on quality. Quality is a sunder- “Vishnu” word is made from “Vishlari” Dhatu and the sense of Vishlari” is omnipresent. So he who has the quality of being Omnipresent at all times without a second’s break, He is Vishnu and no other Vishnu exists equivalent to this God. Similarly, Brahma= “Vri Vridhau” i.e., the biggest amongst the universe. Naturally, He is Almighty God. So, the name of Almighty God is also Brahma. Similarly, according to Yajurveda mantra 16/41 shiv means he who is beneficial/causes welfare, is shiv. The most beneficial, who creates and nurses the universe is Almighty God. So, Shiv is also name of Almighty God.
Only the dignitary who has studied four Vedas from a learned acharya, performs Yajyen, daily hawan, name jaap of God, does hard practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy and thus has realised God and has seen Ved mantras within his heart can know the reality. The said fact is also said by Kapil Muni in Sankhya Shastra 1/66. Others can only put the question to such dignitaries to remove the misunderstandings and know the truth by virtue of the Shabda Brahma only, not realization. Shabda Brahma is the knowledge of Vedas only. One who sees the Ved mantras within his heart after doing the above quoted practice of Ashtang Yoga etc., he is called Rishi. Everybody is not Rishi, says Atharvaveda mantra 4/30/3. It is our bad luck that at present we do not listen to Vedas and accept as Rishis such persons who are mostly against the Vedas and never spread Vedas knowledge. Because they have never studied Vedas, never done Yajyen or hard practice of ashtang Yoga.
Naturally, they will be in the habit of adding self-made stories in their books or in other holy granths as has been added in Mahabharat epic etc.
Not rudri but pious word “Rudra” is in Vedas which means Formless, Almighty God. No, please. In Vedas there is no mention of Manu Satrupa and his family. Because, Vedas have never used proper noun except the name of Almighty God. Because Vedas themselves are not a historical account. I have been already insisting on my several replies on this site that I only give the answer based on eternal Vedic knowledge and try to spread the eternal truth for the contentment of people to enable them to enjoy long, ill free, happy life but I never tell to forget their path until they themselves do so. So, now it is upto you to do whatever you like.
So, as regards to reach at truth, I’ve already mentioned number of times that tally the views of the granths with Vedas. If they tally, the granth is true otherwise unauthentic. People do not know Vedas therefore the present so called saints have taken the benefit of it to spread illusion all over so as to earn money, assets, buildings, false popularization etc.
Did any ancient Rishi make several ashrams, gathered assets or enjoyed luxuries etc., in the past. No, no one please. They were Rishis and has controlled their senses, perceptions, mind, intellect. Atharvaveda mantra 19/41/1 states that only did the task to destroy the illusion of the public and to make the nation strong. Whereas most of the present so called saints are ruining the nation.
My blessings to you.
