Komal: Thank you so much for the answer, I have one more question to ask, how do you control negative thoughts in your mind, when you feel too much negativity in you, how do you get did of that and stain peace. Thank you for taking your time and answering my questions
Swami Ram Swarup: You are welcome, beti.
There are two types of persons living in the world. One who are effected by worldly thoughts, pomp and show, materialism etc. and very few are those- who struggle and work hard in spiritualism i.e., study of vedas, hard practice of Ashtang yog philosophy, do daily name jaap of God, have interest only in discharging moral duties according to vedas , have attained Samadhi and have controlled their senses and perceptions. I mean to say that second type of respectworthy dignitaries have made themselves so that negative thoughts never enter their mind and therefore no question of controlling the same. Bheeshma Pitamah had told King Yudhishthir that Oh! Yudhishthir try that negative thoughts never enter the mind, those should be destroyed before entering. So the person who follow Vedic path, he becomes capable to control negative thoughts. In this connection, I paste my article below:-
Control on negative thoughts
Though it is a very difficult task to control the inflow of negative thoughts yet it is not impossible for a brave aspirant. In Mahabharat, Bheeshma Pitamah too states that Oh Yudhishthir! There is an easy way to control the incoming bad thoughts that the person when thinks that the bad thought is about to come then immediately he should stop the same outside and must start to think or concentrate over the pious views. Most of the saints based on mere bookish knowledge, state that it is very easy to stop bad thoughts by keeping one’s mind pure, one should not think bad or should do name jaap of God etc., etc., but Vedas as well as experience of learned Rishi-munis do not agree with the said statement. Though the statement of Bheeshma Pitamah has got power and effects based on the hard tapasya of Bheeshma Pitamah so to stop the negative/bad thoughts one will have to control his senses, perceptions and mind. To control the same, one requires to listen to Vedas and do asan, prannayam and meditation. One must also do daily havan with Ved mantra or Gayatri mantra. The said knowledge will be gained through the advise of learned acharya of Vedas.
Otherwise, mere statements of the saints and others, based on bookish knowledge, has gone in vain as yet and will go in vain in future too. Selfless services are also done by those who have become desire free by adopting the above said knowledge because the said knowledge makes man to control the senses and mind and enables man to control his desire.
My blessings to you, beti.
Tamal: Is idol worship is accepted by Veda? This question is came in my mind because I saw a verse in yajurveda chapter 40 verse9 which say against idol Worship. Can you please explain me the meaning of yajurveda chapter40 verse 9 meaning.
Swami Ram Swarup: In this connection ,I paste my article 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 Yajurveda 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 Rigveda 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? Yajurveda 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.
Anonymous: Who is Shiva? Why he was not able to save his wife when he is a god since, even if his wife dies he can still meet her?
Swami Ram Swarup: According to vedas, the meaning of word Shiv is benevolent (Kalyannkari). In the universe, the benevolent and protector for the living beings as well as materialistic world is only Almighty, Omnipresent, Formless God. So, real meaning of Shiv is Almighty God.
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 everytime. 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.
ENTANGLEMENT IN WORLDLY MATTERS MEANS ENTANGLEMENT IN ILLUSION
Andhantamaha pra vishanti ye asambhutimupasatey,
Tato bhooya iv te tamo ya uu sambhutyaam rataaha.
(Yajurveda mantra 40/9)
The people who(upasatey) worship the (asambhutim) prakriti i.e., non alive matter which is the cause of creation (te) they (vishanti) enter (pra) completely (tamah) in the darkness i.e., illusion which is covered with (andham) lid i.e., false knowledge/ignorance.
Meaning– The people who worship the prakriti i.e., non alive matter which is the cause of creation they enter completely in the darkness i.e., illusion which is covered with lid i.e., false knowledge/ignorance.
On the other hand, (ye) those people who (rataaha) feel pleasure duly entangled (sambhutim) in the universe (te) they (pravishanti) enter completely (tamaha) in the darkness i.e., in the illusion/false knowledge (uu) undoubtedly (tataha bhooya iv) more than those who worship prakriti.
Meaning—- On the other hand, those people who feel pleasure duly entangled in the universe they enter completely in the darkness i.e., in the illusion/false knowledge undoubtedly more than those who worship prakriti.
Idea —– here we must know that prakriti has three qualities i.e., sato gunn, rajo gunn and tamo gunn and when the said qualities are not working (remain in dead state and not creating the universe) then this stage is called prakriti. At this juncture, the universe which we are seeing now is converted into prakriti. This is also called “final destruction of the universe”. Because at this stage whole world is destroyed and becomes unseen as quoted above. So, if people think that they would get peace if they are only after the realization of prakriti from which the whole universe is created, and for the same, they are fully dedicated to work hard, being scientists etc., and do not accept the existence of almighty God Who is the lord of prakriti and souls. On the contrary, they think that to know the prakriti is the only target of their lives and even is God for them then such persons enter completely in the darkness, which is covered by lid. Here darkness means illusion and lid means false knowledge.
So, those who are entangled in illusion due to false knowledge (i.e., being against the eternal knowledge of vedas, they enter into illusion) they suffer a lot in their present lives as well as in next births.
The meaning of word “ sambhutyaam” is universe i.e., universe is made from prakriti. Here, we must understand that when the period of final destruction ends then automatically the power of God acts in non alive matter prakriti, as a result, the first matter of universe from prakriti is created which is called mahat (intellect) then ahankar etc., (Samkya Shastra sutra 1/26 and Yajurveda mantra 31/3 refer).
Therefore, those people who consider to get the prakriti made universe (worldly matters like progress in science and are after the pomp and show, wealth etc., and thus have no time to get Vedic knowledge and do worship of almighty God) and its matter as the main target of their lives, they due to false knowledge become more sorrowful then those who worship prakriti, as quoted above.
Therefore to be completely indulged in the matter of prakriti and again in the matters which are created by prakriti, they are only after the worldly materialistic matters i.e., they only want to get progress in non alive prakriti made worldly matters.
Whereas vedas state that human beings must get progress in worldly matter (science etc.,) and simultaneously in spiritualism.
So main motto of the Vedic knowledge is to destroy the illusion of a devotee and to worship only one formless, almighty, omnipresent God Who creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti as cited above, by which the devotee destroys his sorrows and attains salvation. We must also not forget that while getting progress in said path, the simultaneous progress in worldly pious matters (science, agriculture, education, duties towards family, nation and humanity etc., as briefed above) is necessary because one sided progress is always harmful, say vedas.
