The best time for marriage, for a girl, is from the sixteenth to the twenty-fourth year of her life and for a man, from the twenty-fifth to the forty-eighth year. The marriage of a girl of sixteen to a man of twenty-five years is called Inferior marriage. Of a girl of eighteen or twenty with a man of thirty-five or forty is called medium marriage. Of a girl of twenty-four with a man of forty-eight is called superior marriage.
The best form of marriage is that by choice (Swayamvara), after the education of the contracting parties is finished and their Brahmacharya for the aforesaid period completed. Happy is the country wherein the people devote themselves to the pursuit of knowledge, live chaste lives, and adopt the aforesaid form of marriage. Down into the depths of misery sinks that country wherein the people do not practice Brahmacharya, nor acquire knowledge, where early
*As Ashvini, Rohni, etc.**As Rose, etc.***Such as Ganges, etc.****Himdlyd.^Kali (Black), etc.^^Chaandali (an outcast), etc.+ Mend, Parrot, etc.++ As Naagi (snake), etc.+++ The idea of the sage Manu seems to be that the people should not give ugly name to their children. -Tr.
91
marriage and marriage between the unsuitable, are prevalent, for, marriage preceded by the practice of Brahmacharya and perfection of knowledge is the basis of all true reform and the source of all true happiness; the reverse of it brings on the absolute ruin of people who follow it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Choosing a spouse
“ARYA SAMAJ MANDIR”
MAVDI GAM, DIS- RAJKOT - 360004
GUJARAT(INDIA) ,
Mobile no. 09824280834.
"In connecting himself with wife, let a man studiously avoid the following ten families, be they ever so great in political power or rank, or ever so rich in cows, goats, horses, elephants, gold or grain."* MANU 3: 6.
*Similarly, while choosing a husband, let a girl avoid a man from the aforesaid families.
"The family which is not religious, that which is destitute of men of character, that in which the study of the Veda is neglected, that the members whereof have long and thick hair on the body and that which is subject to such diseases as Piles, consumption, Asthma, Bronchitis, Dyspepsia, Epilepsy, Leprosy, and Albinism; because all these faults and diseases are transmitted to the offspring.* Therefore both husband and
*A good example is given by Sir Alfred Garrod, who writes:- "A few years since, I was consulted by a gentleman laboring under a severe form of gout with chalk stones, and although not more than fifty years old, hea had suffered from the disease for a long period. On inquiry, i ascertained that for upwards of four centuries the eldest son of the family had invariably been afflicted with gout when he came into possession of the family estate." (Gout and Rheumatic Gout, by H.A. Garrod, M.D., F.R.S.) - (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, P.220.)As to advice respecting marriage, it may at once be said that those already suffering from any form of tubercular disease should not marry. Neither should anyone marry a member of a family in whicn consumption or other form of tubercular disease is common. - (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, p. 212).
wife should come from good (physically, morally and intellectually) families." MANU 3: 7.
*Epilepsy is, in fact, one of the most strongly hereditary of all diseases. In this respect, it is on a footing with the suicidal impulse, melancholia, drunkenness, and gout. Dr. Russell Renolds found heredity well marked in 31 per cent of his cases, and says, " I am therefore, led to believe that an hereditary tendency of epilepsy is much more common that it is generally represented to be by recent writers on the subject." Echeverria said 28 per cent of all cases coming under his notice were hereditary. Webster in England, and Esquirol in France, declared that a third of all cases of epilepsy depended on family taint, while Dr. Gowers, one of the greatest authorities on the subject, asserts that no less than 36 per cent of all epilepsy has hereditary transmitted predisposition as a foundation.
I myself have records of 143 consecutive cases of epilepsy, as they appeared for admission into an asylum for the insane. There were 93 males and 50 females. Of the males, 344 per cent were members of families in which either epilepsy or insanity of some description had already appeared; of the females, 50 per cent belonged to the same classes; while in 398 of the total of both sexes there was positive evidence of hereditary taint. I would also remark that in a considerable number of my cases, no history of any kind could be obtained.- (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, p - 134-135)
"Let a man never marry one who is pale and anaemic, nor one who is altogether a bigger and stronger person than himself or has a redundant member,* nor one who is an invalid, nor one either with no hair or too much hair or too much hair,** nor one immoderately talkative, nor one with red*** eyes." MANU 3: 8.
*All families in which diabetes occurs should be looked upon with suspicion, and should epilepsy, idiocy, insanity, or deaf-mutism also have appeared in the family, it is a very grave question whether marriage should be ventured upon. -(Marriage and disease, by S.A. Strahan, p.131).**Here we do at times find cases to support the theory, but it is amongst those less grave characters which, while unmistakably marked, do not so rapidly go to extinction of the family that we must find our strongest proof, among such characters are hore-lip, cleft palate, club-foot squint, cataract supernumerary fingers or toes, color-blindness, premature baldness, or greyness, deaf-mutbifida, and the like; or on the other hand, where the characters physiological. Instances of repeated transmission of any or all of the above-mentioned characters can be found everywhere around, and , doubtless, cases will present to the mind of the reader.. -(Marriage and Disease, by Dr. S.A. .Strahan, p.63).
A still more peculiar case was that of Edward Lambart, "the human porcupine", as he was called; this man's skin was covered by warty projections which were periodically moulted. He had six sons and two grandsons similarly affected, while the females of the family escaped; the two grandsons mentioned having seven sisters who were free from the peculiarity. (Dr.S.A. Strahan's Marriage and Disease, p. 71).
"In the village of Koshilovo (Grodno Government) there are over 50 peasants who have more than usual number of fingers. According to interesting particulars published in the Novoe Vremye, they are all descendants of a peasant who married in the first half of the last century, and who had extra fingers on one of his hands. In the present generation this abnormality is reported to the extent of 2, 3, 4, and 5 even additional fingers. Some cases simply show a thumb duplicated from the first joint. As the result of intermarriage the deformity is spreading to neighboring villages. It dispenses the young men from military service, however sound they may be constitutionally." - (the Eugenics Review, London.).***The word in the text is Bhura or brown. But I think this is not right. Very likely there has been a slip of the pen here. The word in the verse which has been translated into Bhura (brown) is Fingalaa which has been rendered into Pilaa or yellow in the author's book called Sanskaar Vidhi. Here however, it seems that the word means red. -Tr.
"Nor one with the name of star,* of a tree,** or of a river,*** or of a mountain,**** nor one bearing a name denoting low origin,^ or servility,^^ nor one named after a bird,+ , a snake, ++ nor one whose name inspires terror." MANU 3: 9. These names are despicable and belong to other things as well.+++ "Let him choose for his wife, a girl who has a graceful figure without any deformity, who has a pretty name, who walks gracefully like a swan or an elephant, who has fine hair and lovely teeth, and whose body is exquisitely soft." MANU 3: 10.
MAVDI GAM, DIS- RAJKOT - 360004
GUJARAT(INDIA) ,
Mobile no. 09824280834.
"In connecting himself with wife, let a man studiously avoid the following ten families, be they ever so great in political power or rank, or ever so rich in cows, goats, horses, elephants, gold or grain."* MANU 3: 6.
*Similarly, while choosing a husband, let a girl avoid a man from the aforesaid families.
"The family which is not religious, that which is destitute of men of character, that in which the study of the Veda is neglected, that the members whereof have long and thick hair on the body and that which is subject to such diseases as Piles, consumption, Asthma, Bronchitis, Dyspepsia, Epilepsy, Leprosy, and Albinism; because all these faults and diseases are transmitted to the offspring.* Therefore both husband and
*A good example is given by Sir Alfred Garrod, who writes:- "A few years since, I was consulted by a gentleman laboring under a severe form of gout with chalk stones, and although not more than fifty years old, hea had suffered from the disease for a long period. On inquiry, i ascertained that for upwards of four centuries the eldest son of the family had invariably been afflicted with gout when he came into possession of the family estate." (Gout and Rheumatic Gout, by H.A. Garrod, M.D., F.R.S.) - (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, P.220.)As to advice respecting marriage, it may at once be said that those already suffering from any form of tubercular disease should not marry. Neither should anyone marry a member of a family in whicn consumption or other form of tubercular disease is common. - (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, p. 212).
wife should come from good (physically, morally and intellectually) families." MANU 3: 7.
*Epilepsy is, in fact, one of the most strongly hereditary of all diseases. In this respect, it is on a footing with the suicidal impulse, melancholia, drunkenness, and gout. Dr. Russell Renolds found heredity well marked in 31 per cent of his cases, and says, " I am therefore, led to believe that an hereditary tendency of epilepsy is much more common that it is generally represented to be by recent writers on the subject." Echeverria said 28 per cent of all cases coming under his notice were hereditary. Webster in England, and Esquirol in France, declared that a third of all cases of epilepsy depended on family taint, while Dr. Gowers, one of the greatest authorities on the subject, asserts that no less than 36 per cent of all epilepsy has hereditary transmitted predisposition as a foundation.
I myself have records of 143 consecutive cases of epilepsy, as they appeared for admission into an asylum for the insane. There were 93 males and 50 females. Of the males, 344 per cent were members of families in which either epilepsy or insanity of some description had already appeared; of the females, 50 per cent belonged to the same classes; while in 398 of the total of both sexes there was positive evidence of hereditary taint. I would also remark that in a considerable number of my cases, no history of any kind could be obtained.- (Marriage and Disease, by S.A. Strahan, p - 134-135)
"Let a man never marry one who is pale and anaemic, nor one who is altogether a bigger and stronger person than himself or has a redundant member,* nor one who is an invalid, nor one either with no hair or too much hair or too much hair,** nor one immoderately talkative, nor one with red*** eyes." MANU 3: 8.
*All families in which diabetes occurs should be looked upon with suspicion, and should epilepsy, idiocy, insanity, or deaf-mutism also have appeared in the family, it is a very grave question whether marriage should be ventured upon. -(Marriage and disease, by S.A. Strahan, p.131).**Here we do at times find cases to support the theory, but it is amongst those less grave characters which, while unmistakably marked, do not so rapidly go to extinction of the family that we must find our strongest proof, among such characters are hore-lip, cleft palate, club-foot squint, cataract supernumerary fingers or toes, color-blindness, premature baldness, or greyness, deaf-mutbifida, and the like; or on the other hand, where the characters physiological. Instances of repeated transmission of any or all of the above-mentioned characters can be found everywhere around, and , doubtless, cases will present to the mind of the reader.. -(Marriage and Disease, by Dr. S.A. .Strahan, p.63).
A still more peculiar case was that of Edward Lambart, "the human porcupine", as he was called; this man's skin was covered by warty projections which were periodically moulted. He had six sons and two grandsons similarly affected, while the females of the family escaped; the two grandsons mentioned having seven sisters who were free from the peculiarity. (Dr.S.A. Strahan's Marriage and Disease, p. 71).
"In the village of Koshilovo (Grodno Government) there are over 50 peasants who have more than usual number of fingers. According to interesting particulars published in the Novoe Vremye, they are all descendants of a peasant who married in the first half of the last century, and who had extra fingers on one of his hands. In the present generation this abnormality is reported to the extent of 2, 3, 4, and 5 even additional fingers. Some cases simply show a thumb duplicated from the first joint. As the result of intermarriage the deformity is spreading to neighboring villages. It dispenses the young men from military service, however sound they may be constitutionally." - (the Eugenics Review, London.).***The word in the text is Bhura or brown. But I think this is not right. Very likely there has been a slip of the pen here. The word in the verse which has been translated into Bhura (brown) is Fingalaa which has been rendered into Pilaa or yellow in the author's book called Sanskaar Vidhi. Here however, it seems that the word means red. -Tr.
"Nor one with the name of star,* of a tree,** or of a river,*** or of a mountain,**** nor one bearing a name denoting low origin,^ or servility,^^ nor one named after a bird,+ , a snake, ++ nor one whose name inspires terror." MANU 3: 9. These names are despicable and belong to other things as well.+++ "Let him choose for his wife, a girl who has a graceful figure without any deformity, who has a pretty name, who walks gracefully like a swan or an elephant, who has fine hair and lovely teeth, and whose body is exquisitely soft." MANU 3: 10.
Brahmacharya or student life
"Let a student* who has not violated his vows of Brahmachaarya(student-life), and has conducted himself, righteously according to the advice of his preceptor, enter married life after he has studied with their subsidiary sciences, the four Vedaas, three Vedas, two Vedas, or one Veda only." MANU 3: 2.
"Let him, who has faithfully discharged his duties towards his preceptor and received from his father, - natural or spiritual (i.e., the teacher), the gift of the knowledge of the Veda, sit on an elegant bed, decked with a garland of flowers; and let his father ( natural or spiritual) honor him with the present of a cow." MANU 3: 3. A female student possessed of the aforesaid qualification should also be honored in the same way by her father.
"Let a twice-born man (Braahman, Kshatriya, and Vaish) after having obtained the consent of his teacher and taken the bath ( prescribed for the ceremony of Return Home from the seminary), return home and espouse a maid, of his own Class, endowed with excellent qualities." MANU 3: 4.
*Male or female
"A girl, who is not descended on his mother's side within the sixth degree and does not bear the same family name (Gotra) as his father's. is eligible for marriage." MANU 3: 5.
It is a fact that "we do not love or value a thing, that we are familiar with, so much as one that is hidden from our view." SHATHAPATHA BRAAHMANA. For instance, if a person has heard a great deal about the sweetness of sugar, but never tasted it, his mind is taken up with the desire of tasting it. Or when we hear a person, who is not known to us, highly extolled for his excellent qualities, it makes us very eager to make his acquaintance. For the same reason, a man should marry a girl, who comes from a distant country and is not a near relative either on his mother's side or father's side.*
The advantages and disadvantages of distant and near marriages
The advantages and disadvantages of distant and near marriages respectively are:-
Any two persons who have, in their childhood, lived near each other, played and quarreled together, loved one another, noticed each other's faults, imperfections, ebullitions of temper
*At Washington city before the National Medical Association long since in the session there, Dr. S.M. Bewis made the following shocking statement: "My researches give me authority to say that over ten per cent of the deaf and dumb, and over five percent of the blind , and nearly fifteen percent of the idiotic in our State institutions for subject of these effects, are the offspring of kindred parents."
and misbehaviors, and perhaps sometimes, even each other undressed, if married to each other, can never love each other to the extent desired.
The marriage of near relatives does not improve the race from want of interchange of fluids and essences (such as blood) of the body, it rather deteriorates it,. This is analogous to the addition of water to water, no new quality being produced.
As the addition of sugar and such medicines as ginger, improves the taste and quality of milk, so does the marriage of people, who are not related to each other (either on father's or on mother's side), improve the race.
As in the case of an invalid, change of climate and diet very often effects a cure, so does marriage with foreigners or distant people improve the health of the parties and prove beneficial in every other respect.
When the parties are nearly related to each other and live amongst their people, the sorrows and joys of one family will
affect the other and there will be many occasions for family disputes to arise; while marriages among distant people and consequent separation from relatives lengthen the thread of mutual love. This is not the case when they live near their people.
When marriages are contracted with people of foreign or distant countries, things and news from those countries can be easily obtained (and consequently relations between different countries become closely established). This not possible when people marry near relatives or persons living near their homes, or, in their own country.
In Sanskrit a daughter is called duhitri (from Du - distant, Hit - good), because the marriage of a girl to a man who comes from a distant country or distant part of the same country is productive of good.
If the bride's people do not live very far from her husband's home, there is a possibility of her parents becoming poor, as whenever she visits her parents, they will have to give her something or other by the way of a present. If their people live near at hand, on any slight friction taking place between the husband and the wife, she, feeling assured that her people will support her, will at once leave her husband and go to her parents. That may become the cause of mutual reviling and wrangling, for, women, as a rule, are so easily offended and pleased.
“ARYA SAMAJ MANDIR”
MAVDI GAM, DIS- RAJKOT - 360004
GUJARAT(INDIA) ,
Mobile no. 09824280834.
"Let him, who has faithfully discharged his duties towards his preceptor and received from his father, - natural or spiritual (i.e., the teacher), the gift of the knowledge of the Veda, sit on an elegant bed, decked with a garland of flowers; and let his father ( natural or spiritual) honor him with the present of a cow." MANU 3: 3. A female student possessed of the aforesaid qualification should also be honored in the same way by her father.
"Let a twice-born man (Braahman, Kshatriya, and Vaish) after having obtained the consent of his teacher and taken the bath ( prescribed for the ceremony of Return Home from the seminary), return home and espouse a maid, of his own Class, endowed with excellent qualities." MANU 3: 4.
*Male or female
"A girl, who is not descended on his mother's side within the sixth degree and does not bear the same family name (Gotra) as his father's. is eligible for marriage." MANU 3: 5.
It is a fact that "we do not love or value a thing, that we are familiar with, so much as one that is hidden from our view." SHATHAPATHA BRAAHMANA. For instance, if a person has heard a great deal about the sweetness of sugar, but never tasted it, his mind is taken up with the desire of tasting it. Or when we hear a person, who is not known to us, highly extolled for his excellent qualities, it makes us very eager to make his acquaintance. For the same reason, a man should marry a girl, who comes from a distant country and is not a near relative either on his mother's side or father's side.*
The advantages and disadvantages of distant and near marriages
The advantages and disadvantages of distant and near marriages respectively are:-
Any two persons who have, in their childhood, lived near each other, played and quarreled together, loved one another, noticed each other's faults, imperfections, ebullitions of temper
*At Washington city before the National Medical Association long since in the session there, Dr. S.M. Bewis made the following shocking statement: "My researches give me authority to say that over ten per cent of the deaf and dumb, and over five percent of the blind , and nearly fifteen percent of the idiotic in our State institutions for subject of these effects, are the offspring of kindred parents."
and misbehaviors, and perhaps sometimes, even each other undressed, if married to each other, can never love each other to the extent desired.
The marriage of near relatives does not improve the race from want of interchange of fluids and essences (such as blood) of the body, it rather deteriorates it,. This is analogous to the addition of water to water, no new quality being produced.
As the addition of sugar and such medicines as ginger, improves the taste and quality of milk, so does the marriage of people, who are not related to each other (either on father's or on mother's side), improve the race.
As in the case of an invalid, change of climate and diet very often effects a cure, so does marriage with foreigners or distant people improve the health of the parties and prove beneficial in every other respect.
When the parties are nearly related to each other and live amongst their people, the sorrows and joys of one family will
affect the other and there will be many occasions for family disputes to arise; while marriages among distant people and consequent separation from relatives lengthen the thread of mutual love. This is not the case when they live near their people.
When marriages are contracted with people of foreign or distant countries, things and news from those countries can be easily obtained (and consequently relations between different countries become closely established). This not possible when people marry near relatives or persons living near their homes, or, in their own country.
In Sanskrit a daughter is called duhitri (from Du - distant, Hit - good), because the marriage of a girl to a man who comes from a distant country or distant part of the same country is productive of good.
If the bride's people do not live very far from her husband's home, there is a possibility of her parents becoming poor, as whenever she visits her parents, they will have to give her something or other by the way of a present. If their people live near at hand, on any slight friction taking place between the husband and the wife, she, feeling assured that her people will support her, will at once leave her husband and go to her parents. That may become the cause of mutual reviling and wrangling, for, women, as a rule, are so easily offended and pleased.
“ARYA SAMAJ MANDIR”
MAVDI GAM, DIS- RAJKOT - 360004
GUJARAT(INDIA) ,
Mobile no. 09824280834.
Taxes By Goverment
"Let the king in conjunction with the Assembly, after full consideration, so levy taxes in his dominions as to ensure the happiness of both the rulers and the ruled. Let the king draw an annual revenue from his people little by little just as the leech, the suckling calf and the bee take their food** little by little. Let him not, through extreme covetousness, destroy the very roots of his own and others, happiness, since
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Till they are able to earn their own living.
** i.e., the blood, the milk and the honey respectively. -Tr.
he, who cuts off the roots of happiness and temporal prosperity, brings nothing but misery on himself as well as on others.
The king who can be both gently and stern as occasion demands is highly honored if he be gentle to the good and stern towards the wicked.
Having thus arranged the affairs of the State, let him devote himself to the protection and welfare of his people with diligent attention. Know that king as well as his ministers to be dead, not alive, the lives and property of those subjects are violently taken away by ruffians whilst they lament and cry aloud for help. Great shall be his suffering. Promotion of happiness of their subjects, therefore, is the highest duty of kings. The king who discharges this duty faithfully, levies taxes and governs the country with the help of the Assembly* enjoys happiness, but he who does otherwise is afflicted with misery and suffering." MANU 7: 128, 129,139, 140,141-144.
"Let the king rise in the last watch of the night, have a wash, meditate on God with his whole attention, perform Homa, pay his respects to the devoutly learned men, take his meal and enter the audience chamber. Let him standing there show respect to the people present. Having dismissed them, let him take counsel with his Prime Minister on state affairs. Thereafter let him go out for a walk or a ride, seek the top of a mountain wilderness, where there is not even the tiniest tree (to hide a person), or a sequestered house and discuss (state affairs) with him in all sincerity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As described in Manu in the 7th Chapter. -Tr.
"That king, whose profound thoughts other men even though combined cannot unravel, in other words, whose thought are deep, pure, centered on public good, and hidden shall rule the whole earth, even though they be poor. Let him never do even a single thing without the approval of the Assembly." MANU 7: 145 - 148.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Till they are able to earn their own living.
** i.e., the blood, the milk and the honey respectively. -Tr.
he, who cuts off the roots of happiness and temporal prosperity, brings nothing but misery on himself as well as on others.
The king who can be both gently and stern as occasion demands is highly honored if he be gentle to the good and stern towards the wicked.
Having thus arranged the affairs of the State, let him devote himself to the protection and welfare of his people with diligent attention. Know that king as well as his ministers to be dead, not alive, the lives and property of those subjects are violently taken away by ruffians whilst they lament and cry aloud for help. Great shall be his suffering. Promotion of happiness of their subjects, therefore, is the highest duty of kings. The king who discharges this duty faithfully, levies taxes and governs the country with the help of the Assembly* enjoys happiness, but he who does otherwise is afflicted with misery and suffering." MANU 7: 128, 129,139, 140,141-144.
"Let the king rise in the last watch of the night, have a wash, meditate on God with his whole attention, perform Homa, pay his respects to the devoutly learned men, take his meal and enter the audience chamber. Let him standing there show respect to the people present. Having dismissed them, let him take counsel with his Prime Minister on state affairs. Thereafter let him go out for a walk or a ride, seek the top of a mountain wilderness, where there is not even the tiniest tree (to hide a person), or a sequestered house and discuss (state affairs) with him in all sincerity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As described in Manu in the 7th Chapter. -Tr.
"That king, whose profound thoughts other men even though combined cannot unravel, in other words, whose thought are deep, pure, centered on public good, and hidden shall rule the whole earth, even though they be poor. Let him never do even a single thing without the approval of the Assembly." MANU 7: 145 - 148.
Taxes By Goverment
"Let the king in conjunction with the Assembly, after full consideration, so levy taxes in his dominions as to ensure the happiness of both the rulers and the ruled. Let the king draw an annual revenue from his people little by little just as the leech, the suckling calf and the bee take their food** little by little. Let him not, through extreme covetousness, destroy the very roots of his own and others, happiness, since
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Till they are able to earn their own living.
** i.e., the blood, the milk and the honey respectively. -Tr.
he, who cuts off the roots of happiness and temporal prosperity, brings nothing but misery on himself as well as on others.
The king who can be both gently and stern as occasion demands is highly honored if he be gentle to the good and stern towards the wicked.
Having thus arranged the affairs of the State, let him devote himself to the protection and welfare of his people with diligent attention. Know that king as well as his ministers to be dead, not alive, the lives and property of those subjects are violently taken away by ruffians whilst they lament and cry aloud for help. Great shall be his suffering. Promotion of happiness of their subjects, therefore, is the highest duty of kings. The king who discharges this duty faithfully, levies taxes and governs the country with the help of the Assembly* enjoys happiness, but he who does otherwise is afflicted with misery and suffering." MANU 7: 128, 129,139, 140,141-144.
"Let the king rise in the last watch of the night, have a wash, meditate on God with his whole attention, perform Homa, pay his respects to the devoutly learned men, take his meal and enter the audience chamber. Let him standing there show respect to the people present. Having dismissed them, let him take counsel with his Prime Minister on state affairs. Thereafter let him go out for a walk or a ride, seek the top of a mountain wilderness, where there is not even the tiniest tree (to hide a person), or a sequestered house and discuss (state affairs) with him in all sincerity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As described in Manu in the 7th Chapter. -Tr.
"That king, whose profound thoughts other men even though combined cannot unravel, in other words, whose thought are deep, pure, centered on public good, and hidden shall rule the whole earth, even though they be poor. Let him never do even a single thing without the approval of the Assembly." MANU 7: 145 - 148.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Till they are able to earn their own living.
** i.e., the blood, the milk and the honey respectively. -Tr.
he, who cuts off the roots of happiness and temporal prosperity, brings nothing but misery on himself as well as on others.
The king who can be both gently and stern as occasion demands is highly honored if he be gentle to the good and stern towards the wicked.
Having thus arranged the affairs of the State, let him devote himself to the protection and welfare of his people with diligent attention. Know that king as well as his ministers to be dead, not alive, the lives and property of those subjects are violently taken away by ruffians whilst they lament and cry aloud for help. Great shall be his suffering. Promotion of happiness of their subjects, therefore, is the highest duty of kings. The king who discharges this duty faithfully, levies taxes and governs the country with the help of the Assembly* enjoys happiness, but he who does otherwise is afflicted with misery and suffering." MANU 7: 128, 129,139, 140,141-144.
"Let the king rise in the last watch of the night, have a wash, meditate on God with his whole attention, perform Homa, pay his respects to the devoutly learned men, take his meal and enter the audience chamber. Let him standing there show respect to the people present. Having dismissed them, let him take counsel with his Prime Minister on state affairs. Thereafter let him go out for a walk or a ride, seek the top of a mountain wilderness, where there is not even the tiniest tree (to hide a person), or a sequestered house and discuss (state affairs) with him in all sincerity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As described in Manu in the 7th Chapter. -Tr.
"That king, whose profound thoughts other men even though combined cannot unravel, in other words, whose thought are deep, pure, centered on public good, and hidden shall rule the whole earth, even though they be poor. Let him never do even a single thing without the approval of the Assembly." MANU 7: 145 - 148.
REVENUE BY GOVERMENT
"Let the king collect his revenue through honorable, trustworthy and accomplished men possessed of excellent character. Let him, who is the President of the Assembly, his ministers and other officials, and the Assembly observe the eternal principles taught by the Vedas, and let them act like fathers to the people.
Let the Assembly appoint officials of various kinds whose sole duty it should be to see that the State officials in all departments
of their duties faithfully according to the regulations. Leth them, who discharge their duties satisfactorily, be honored, whilst those who do not, be punished properly.
In order to disseminate the knowledge of the Veda which is truly called the imperishable treasure of the kings, let the king and the Assembly show due respect to students, who return from their seminaries after having studied the Vedaas and Shaatraas in the Order of Brahmacharya as well as their teachers. This helps forward the spread of education and the progress of a country.
If a king, devoted to the warfare of his people, be defied by an enemy of equal, greater, or lessstrength, let him remember the duty of Kshatriya and never shrink from going to battle. Let him fight with such skill as may ensure his victory.
Those kings who, with the object of defeating their enemies, fight fearlessly to their utmost and never turn away from the field of battle shall obtain happiness. They must never turn their backs upon the field of battle, but it is sometime necessary to hide away from the enemy in order to obtain victory over him. Let them employ all kinds of tactics to ensure their success in battle, but let them not perish foolishly like a tiger who, when his temper is rouse, exposes himself foolishly to the fire and is thereby killed.
In the field of battle let soldiers bear in mind the duty of men of honor, and, therefore, never strike a man who is standing near a field of battle - a non-combatant - nor one who is a eunuch, nor one who with folded palms begs for peace, nor one whose hair is dishevelled or scattered (over his eyes), nor one who is sitting at ease, nor one who says 'I am at your mercy', nor one who is asleep, nor one who is unconscious or in a fit, nor one who is disarmed, nor one who is naked, nor one who is a mere spectator, nor one who is only a camp-follower, nor one who is in agony of pain
from his wounds, nor one who is an invalid, nor one who is seriously wounded, nor one who is terrified, nor one who is running away (from the field of battle).
They should make them prisoners and provide them with food, drink and other necessaries of life. The wounded should be medically attended to. They should never be teased or made to suffer in any way. They should be employed in the kind of work that suits their station, etc. the king should especially see that no one strikes a woman, a child, and old man, a wounded man and one who is diseased or afflicted with sorrow.
Let him protect and bring up their children as if they were his own daughters or sisters. Nor should he ever look upon them with the eye of lust. After the country has settled down, let him send all those, from whom he does not fear a fresh revolt, away to their own homes; but let him keep in prison all others who, he fears, may possibly raise the standard of revolt.
The soldier, who cowardly turns his back on a field of battle and is slain (by an enemy), is thus rightly punished for his disloyalty to his master who shall take unto himself all the honor due to the deceased on account of his past good conduct which begets happiness in this world and in the next. The soldier, who is killed whilst running away from the field of battle, shall never obtain happiness. All his good work is nullified by this act of cowardice. He alone wins laurels who fights faithfully.
Let the king never violate this law that carriages, horses, elephants, tents, umbrellas, grain, silver and gold, cattle such as cows, women, cases of oil and butter, and various other articles are lawful
Prize of the soldier or of the officer who takes them in war. The captors should give the sixteenth part of their loot to the king, and so should the latter distribute among the whole army the sixteenth part of what was taken by them collectively." MANU 7: 80-82, 87, 89, 91-99.
Let the wife and children have the share of the man who is killed in war. The wife and children of that man should be well look after till the children are grown up when the king should offer them suitable state appointments.
Let no one, who is desirous of augmenting the prosperity of his State and of gaining fame, victory, and happiness, transgress this law.
"What the king and the Assembly have not let them strive hard to get, what they preserved let them augment, and let them spend the augmented wealth in the diffusion of the knowledge of the Vedaas, the spread of the principles of true religion, in helping scholars and preachers of the Vedic religion, and bringing up orphans. Having learnt the fourfold object of activity let him shun sloth and live an active life.
Let him obtain what he has not got b the observance of the law, and what he has acquired let him protect with diligent attention, what he has protected let him augment by investing profitably, and let him always spend his augmented wealth in the furtherance of the aforesaid cause.
Let him on all occasions act without guile and never without sincerity, but, keeping himself well on his guard let him discover and ward off the evil designs of his enemy.
Let him ponder over the acquisition of wealth like a heron that pretends to be as if in meditative attitude just before catching fish. Having obtained the necessary material and augmented his power, let him put forth his strength like a lion to vanquish his foe; like a tiger let him stealthily creep towards his enemy and catch him. When a powerful enemy has come close by, let him run away form him like a hare and then over take him by strategem.
Let not his foe discover his weak points but the vulnerable points of his foe let him himself well discern. Let him hide his vulnerable points form his enemy just as a tortoise draws in his limbs and keeps them concealed from view.
Let such a victorious sovereign reduce all dacoits, robbers and the like to submission by conciliating them, by giving them presents or by turning them against each other. If he fails to restrain then by those means let him do so by infliction heavy punishment on them.
As a farmer separates the husk from the corn without injuring the latter, so should a king exterminate dacoits and burglars, and thus protect his people.
The king, who, through neglect of duty and lack of understanding oppresses his people, soon loses his kingdom and perishes with his family before his time. MANU 7: 99, 101, 104-107, 110-117, 120-124
Just as living beings lose their lives through the failure of their bodily strength, so do kings as well as their families lose their power, and even their lives by oppressing their subjects.
Therefore, in order to conduct the government properly let the king and the assembly so strive as to fully accomplish this object. The king who is always devoted to the welfare of his people obtains perpetual happiness.
Let him, therefore, have an administrative office in the midst of two, three, five and a hundred villages, wherein he should keep the required number of officials to carry on government business. Let him appoint an official at the head of one village, a second one over ten such villages, a third one over twenty, a fourth one over one hundred villages, and a fifth one over a thousand such villages.*
Let the Lord (i.e., the administrator) of one town daily apprise the Lord of Ten Towns privately of all crimes committed within his jurisdiction and the Lord of Ten submit his report to the Lord of Twenty. Let the Lord of Twenty notify all such matters to the Lord of one hundredevery day and the Lord of one Hundred, to the Lord of one Thousand, in other words, five Lords of Twenty, to a Lord of one Hundred, ten Lords of a Hundred, to a Lord of Ten thousand, and the Lord of Ten Thousand to an assembly which governs the affairs of a hundred thousand townships and all such Assemblies, to the Supreme International Assembly representing the whole world.
Over every ten thousand villages let him appoint two presiding officials, one of whom should preside over the Assembly, whilst the
* In other words, the present system of having a Surveyor (Patwari) in one village, a branch Police Station for every ten villages and Head Police Station over two branch stations, a Tahsil over the five such Police Stations, a district over ten such Tahsils, and so on, has been borrowed from our ancient system of Government as taught by Manu.
othershould tour all over the country and diligently inspect the work and conduct of all the magistrates and other officials.
For the purpose of holding the meetings of town councils let him erect a Town Hall in every big town. It should be lofty, capacious, and beautiful like the moon, wherein let the members of the town council, who should be men of vast learning and experience, deliberate over the affairs of their town, and make such laws as will promote the welfare of the people and advance the cause of education and enlighenment.
Let the inspecting governor have detectives under him - who should come from Kshatriya (protectors) as well as other Classes - and through them let him secretly know perfectly the conduct - good or bad - of the Government servants as well as that of the people. Let him punish those who do not faithfully discharge their duties and honor those who conduct is praiseworthy.
Let the king appoint such men guardians of his people as are virtuous, well-experienced, learned and of good lineage; under such learned officials let him also place men who are very wicked* as burglars and robbers, i.e., who live by seizing what belongs to others. It will help to keep those men form the pursuit of their wicked ways, as well as, to protect the people properly.
Let the king punish properly the magistrate who accepts bribe ether from the plaintiff or the defendant in a case and, therefore,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* On the principle that the best keeper is an old poacher. -Tr.
gives an just decision, confiscate all his possessions, and banish him to a place form which he can never return. Were that man to go unpunished, it would encourage other officials to commit similar wicked crimes, whilst the infliction of punishment would serve to check them. But let those officials be paid handsomely for their services - either by gifts of land or in lump sums of money, paid annually or monthly - enough to keep them in comfort and even to make them rich.
Let an old official in consideration of his services be granted a pension equal to half his pay. This pension must last only so long as he lives, not after. But let his children be properly honored or given Government appointments according to their qualifications. Let his wife and children* be given an allowance by the State enough for their subsistence which should be stopped if they turn wicked. Let the king constantly follow this policy."
Let the Assembly appoint officials of various kinds whose sole duty it should be to see that the State officials in all departments
of their duties faithfully according to the regulations. Leth them, who discharge their duties satisfactorily, be honored, whilst those who do not, be punished properly.
In order to disseminate the knowledge of the Veda which is truly called the imperishable treasure of the kings, let the king and the Assembly show due respect to students, who return from their seminaries after having studied the Vedaas and Shaatraas in the Order of Brahmacharya as well as their teachers. This helps forward the spread of education and the progress of a country.
If a king, devoted to the warfare of his people, be defied by an enemy of equal, greater, or lessstrength, let him remember the duty of Kshatriya and never shrink from going to battle. Let him fight with such skill as may ensure his victory.
Those kings who, with the object of defeating their enemies, fight fearlessly to their utmost and never turn away from the field of battle shall obtain happiness. They must never turn their backs upon the field of battle, but it is sometime necessary to hide away from the enemy in order to obtain victory over him. Let them employ all kinds of tactics to ensure their success in battle, but let them not perish foolishly like a tiger who, when his temper is rouse, exposes himself foolishly to the fire and is thereby killed.
In the field of battle let soldiers bear in mind the duty of men of honor, and, therefore, never strike a man who is standing near a field of battle - a non-combatant - nor one who is a eunuch, nor one who with folded palms begs for peace, nor one whose hair is dishevelled or scattered (over his eyes), nor one who is sitting at ease, nor one who says 'I am at your mercy', nor one who is asleep, nor one who is unconscious or in a fit, nor one who is disarmed, nor one who is naked, nor one who is a mere spectator, nor one who is only a camp-follower, nor one who is in agony of pain
from his wounds, nor one who is an invalid, nor one who is seriously wounded, nor one who is terrified, nor one who is running away (from the field of battle).
They should make them prisoners and provide them with food, drink and other necessaries of life. The wounded should be medically attended to. They should never be teased or made to suffer in any way. They should be employed in the kind of work that suits their station, etc. the king should especially see that no one strikes a woman, a child, and old man, a wounded man and one who is diseased or afflicted with sorrow.
Let him protect and bring up their children as if they were his own daughters or sisters. Nor should he ever look upon them with the eye of lust. After the country has settled down, let him send all those, from whom he does not fear a fresh revolt, away to their own homes; but let him keep in prison all others who, he fears, may possibly raise the standard of revolt.
The soldier, who cowardly turns his back on a field of battle and is slain (by an enemy), is thus rightly punished for his disloyalty to his master who shall take unto himself all the honor due to the deceased on account of his past good conduct which begets happiness in this world and in the next. The soldier, who is killed whilst running away from the field of battle, shall never obtain happiness. All his good work is nullified by this act of cowardice. He alone wins laurels who fights faithfully.
Let the king never violate this law that carriages, horses, elephants, tents, umbrellas, grain, silver and gold, cattle such as cows, women, cases of oil and butter, and various other articles are lawful
Prize of the soldier or of the officer who takes them in war. The captors should give the sixteenth part of their loot to the king, and so should the latter distribute among the whole army the sixteenth part of what was taken by them collectively." MANU 7: 80-82, 87, 89, 91-99.
Let the wife and children have the share of the man who is killed in war. The wife and children of that man should be well look after till the children are grown up when the king should offer them suitable state appointments.
Let no one, who is desirous of augmenting the prosperity of his State and of gaining fame, victory, and happiness, transgress this law.
"What the king and the Assembly have not let them strive hard to get, what they preserved let them augment, and let them spend the augmented wealth in the diffusion of the knowledge of the Vedaas, the spread of the principles of true religion, in helping scholars and preachers of the Vedic religion, and bringing up orphans. Having learnt the fourfold object of activity let him shun sloth and live an active life.
Let him obtain what he has not got b the observance of the law, and what he has acquired let him protect with diligent attention, what he has protected let him augment by investing profitably, and let him always spend his augmented wealth in the furtherance of the aforesaid cause.
Let him on all occasions act without guile and never without sincerity, but, keeping himself well on his guard let him discover and ward off the evil designs of his enemy.
Let him ponder over the acquisition of wealth like a heron that pretends to be as if in meditative attitude just before catching fish. Having obtained the necessary material and augmented his power, let him put forth his strength like a lion to vanquish his foe; like a tiger let him stealthily creep towards his enemy and catch him. When a powerful enemy has come close by, let him run away form him like a hare and then over take him by strategem.
Let not his foe discover his weak points but the vulnerable points of his foe let him himself well discern. Let him hide his vulnerable points form his enemy just as a tortoise draws in his limbs and keeps them concealed from view.
Let such a victorious sovereign reduce all dacoits, robbers and the like to submission by conciliating them, by giving them presents or by turning them against each other. If he fails to restrain then by those means let him do so by infliction heavy punishment on them.
As a farmer separates the husk from the corn without injuring the latter, so should a king exterminate dacoits and burglars, and thus protect his people.
The king, who, through neglect of duty and lack of understanding oppresses his people, soon loses his kingdom and perishes with his family before his time. MANU 7: 99, 101, 104-107, 110-117, 120-124
Just as living beings lose their lives through the failure of their bodily strength, so do kings as well as their families lose their power, and even their lives by oppressing their subjects.
Therefore, in order to conduct the government properly let the king and the assembly so strive as to fully accomplish this object. The king who is always devoted to the welfare of his people obtains perpetual happiness.
Let him, therefore, have an administrative office in the midst of two, three, five and a hundred villages, wherein he should keep the required number of officials to carry on government business. Let him appoint an official at the head of one village, a second one over ten such villages, a third one over twenty, a fourth one over one hundred villages, and a fifth one over a thousand such villages.*
Let the Lord (i.e., the administrator) of one town daily apprise the Lord of Ten Towns privately of all crimes committed within his jurisdiction and the Lord of Ten submit his report to the Lord of Twenty. Let the Lord of Twenty notify all such matters to the Lord of one hundredevery day and the Lord of one Hundred, to the Lord of one Thousand, in other words, five Lords of Twenty, to a Lord of one Hundred, ten Lords of a Hundred, to a Lord of Ten thousand, and the Lord of Ten Thousand to an assembly which governs the affairs of a hundred thousand townships and all such Assemblies, to the Supreme International Assembly representing the whole world.
Over every ten thousand villages let him appoint two presiding officials, one of whom should preside over the Assembly, whilst the
* In other words, the present system of having a Surveyor (Patwari) in one village, a branch Police Station for every ten villages and Head Police Station over two branch stations, a Tahsil over the five such Police Stations, a district over ten such Tahsils, and so on, has been borrowed from our ancient system of Government as taught by Manu.
othershould tour all over the country and diligently inspect the work and conduct of all the magistrates and other officials.
For the purpose of holding the meetings of town councils let him erect a Town Hall in every big town. It should be lofty, capacious, and beautiful like the moon, wherein let the members of the town council, who should be men of vast learning and experience, deliberate over the affairs of their town, and make such laws as will promote the welfare of the people and advance the cause of education and enlighenment.
Let the inspecting governor have detectives under him - who should come from Kshatriya (protectors) as well as other Classes - and through them let him secretly know perfectly the conduct - good or bad - of the Government servants as well as that of the people. Let him punish those who do not faithfully discharge their duties and honor those who conduct is praiseworthy.
Let the king appoint such men guardians of his people as are virtuous, well-experienced, learned and of good lineage; under such learned officials let him also place men who are very wicked* as burglars and robbers, i.e., who live by seizing what belongs to others. It will help to keep those men form the pursuit of their wicked ways, as well as, to protect the people properly.
Let the king punish properly the magistrate who accepts bribe ether from the plaintiff or the defendant in a case and, therefore,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* On the principle that the best keeper is an old poacher. -Tr.
gives an just decision, confiscate all his possessions, and banish him to a place form which he can never return. Were that man to go unpunished, it would encourage other officials to commit similar wicked crimes, whilst the infliction of punishment would serve to check them. But let those officials be paid handsomely for their services - either by gifts of land or in lump sums of money, paid annually or monthly - enough to keep them in comfort and even to make them rich.
Let an old official in consideration of his services be granted a pension equal to half his pay. This pension must last only so long as he lives, not after. But let his children be properly honored or given Government appointments according to their qualifications. Let his wife and children* be given an allowance by the State enough for their subsistence which should be stopped if they turn wicked. Let the king constantly follow this policy."
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLIES
"Let a king appoint seven or eight good, righteous and clever ministers who are natives of the country, are thoroughly conversant with the Vedaas and the Shaatraas, are very brave and courageous, whose judgement seldom errs, who come from a good family and are well-tried men.
Even an act easy in itself becomes difficult to be accomplished by a man when single-handed. How much more so then, is the great work of the government of a country by a man single-handed. It is, therefore, a most dangerous thing to make one man a despotic ruler, or entrust a single man with sole management of the affairs of the State.
Let the Head of State, then, constantly consult with his clever with his clever and earned ministers on the affairs of the State, such as:- 1. Peace. 2. War 3. Defense - quietly protecting his own country against a foreign attack and waiting for an opportunity. 4. Offence - attacking an enemy when he finds himself strong enough to do. 5. Proper management of the internal affairs of the State, the exchequer and the Army. 6. Pacification of the newly
conquered countries by freeing them from all kinds of disturbance. Let him daily reflect on the six subjects.
Having ascertained the individual opinion of each of his ministers and other members of the Assembly, let him abide by the decision of the majority and do what is beneficial for him as well for others.
Let him likewise appoint other ministers who are men of great integrity, highly intellectual, of resolute minds, of great organizing power and of vast experience.
Let him appoint good, energetic, strong, and clever officers, as many as he requires, for the due transaction of the business of the State. Under them let brave, courageous strong men of great integrity and of noble lineage fill position involving great responsibility and risk, whilst let timid and faint-hearted men be employed for the administration of internal affairs.
Let him also appoint an Ambassador who comes from a good family, is very clever, perfectly honest, able to read the inmost thoughts of others and to foretell future, developments and events by observing the expression of faces and other significant signs and acts, and is well-versed in all the Shaastraas - branches of knowledge.
He alone is fit person to be appointed an Ambassador who is very much devoted to politics, loves his country with all his heart, is of irreproachable character, pure in heart, highly intelligent and endowed with an excellent memory, who can adapt himself to the manners and customs of different countries and different times, is good looking, fearless and a master of elocution." MANU 7: 54-57, 60-62, 64.
Even an act easy in itself becomes difficult to be accomplished by a man when single-handed. How much more so then, is the great work of the government of a country by a man single-handed. It is, therefore, a most dangerous thing to make one man a despotic ruler, or entrust a single man with sole management of the affairs of the State.
Let the Head of State, then, constantly consult with his clever with his clever and earned ministers on the affairs of the State, such as:- 1. Peace. 2. War 3. Defense - quietly protecting his own country against a foreign attack and waiting for an opportunity. 4. Offence - attacking an enemy when he finds himself strong enough to do. 5. Proper management of the internal affairs of the State, the exchequer and the Army. 6. Pacification of the newly
conquered countries by freeing them from all kinds of disturbance. Let him daily reflect on the six subjects.
Having ascertained the individual opinion of each of his ministers and other members of the Assembly, let him abide by the decision of the majority and do what is beneficial for him as well for others.
Let him likewise appoint other ministers who are men of great integrity, highly intellectual, of resolute minds, of great organizing power and of vast experience.
Let him appoint good, energetic, strong, and clever officers, as many as he requires, for the due transaction of the business of the State. Under them let brave, courageous strong men of great integrity and of noble lineage fill position involving great responsibility and risk, whilst let timid and faint-hearted men be employed for the administration of internal affairs.
Let him also appoint an Ambassador who comes from a good family, is very clever, perfectly honest, able to read the inmost thoughts of others and to foretell future, developments and events by observing the expression of faces and other significant signs and acts, and is well-versed in all the Shaastraas - branches of knowledge.
He alone is fit person to be appointed an Ambassador who is very much devoted to politics, loves his country with all his heart, is of irreproachable character, pure in heart, highly intelligent and endowed with an excellent memory, who can adapt himself to the manners and customs of different countries and different times, is good looking, fearless and a master of elocution." MANU 7: 54-57, 60-62, 64.
DUTIES OF MINISTERS AND OTHER HIGH OFFICIALS
The power to enforce the law should be vested in a minister who should see that the law is administered justly, treasury and other affairs of the State should be under the control of the king, peace and war under that of the Ambassador, and everything under the control of the
Assembly. It is the Ambassador alone who can make peace between enemies, or war between friends. He should so strive as to divide enemies united against his country.
Thus having learnt the designs of his enemy let a king - the President of the Assembly (as well as members of the Assembly, Ambassadors and others) - endeavour to guard himself against al danger from him.
In a thickly wooded country, where the soil is rich, let him build himself a town surrounded by a fortress of earth, or one protected by water, or one surrounded by a thick wood on all sides, or a fortress of armed men, or one surrounded by a mountain.
Let him build a wall round the city, because one brave, well-armed soldier placed inside it is a match for a hundred, and a hundred for thousands. It is therefore, extremely necessary to build a fort. Let the for t be well-supplied with arms and ammunition, with various kinds of grain and other food stuffs, with conveyances and beasts of burden, etc., with teachers and preachers, artisans, various kinds of machines, with grass and grain, etc., for animals, and with water, etc. In the centre of the town let him build for himself a Government house, well- protected from wind, etc., suited to all weathers, with
well provided parks and gardens round it, and well-supplied with water. It should be big for all the state functions.
Having done so far, that is, having completed his studies in the order of Brahmacharya and settled the affairs of the State, let him choose a consort of Kshatriya Class, born of a high family, endowed with beauty and other excellent qualities, dearest to his heart, blessed with charming manners, etc., and equal to him in knowledge, acquisitions, accomplishments and of like temperament. Let him take one wife and one only, and consider all other women as unapproachable, therefore let him not even look at another woman (with the eye of lust).
Let him retain a chaplain and a spiritual teacher to perform Homa and Yajnas suitable for different season sand other religious duties for him in the palace, and let him always devote himself to the business of the State. To devote himself day and night to the affairs of the State without allowing anything to go out of order is the highest duty of a king, aye, this is his worship, this is his communion." MANU 7: 65, 66,68, 70, 74-78.
Assembly. It is the Ambassador alone who can make peace between enemies, or war between friends. He should so strive as to divide enemies united against his country.
Thus having learnt the designs of his enemy let a king - the President of the Assembly (as well as members of the Assembly, Ambassadors and others) - endeavour to guard himself against al danger from him.
In a thickly wooded country, where the soil is rich, let him build himself a town surrounded by a fortress of earth, or one protected by water, or one surrounded by a thick wood on all sides, or a fortress of armed men, or one surrounded by a mountain.
Let him build a wall round the city, because one brave, well-armed soldier placed inside it is a match for a hundred, and a hundred for thousands. It is therefore, extremely necessary to build a fort. Let the for t be well-supplied with arms and ammunition, with various kinds of grain and other food stuffs, with conveyances and beasts of burden, etc., with teachers and preachers, artisans, various kinds of machines, with grass and grain, etc., for animals, and with water, etc. In the centre of the town let him build for himself a Government house, well- protected from wind, etc., suited to all weathers, with
well provided parks and gardens round it, and well-supplied with water. It should be big for all the state functions.
Having done so far, that is, having completed his studies in the order of Brahmacharya and settled the affairs of the State, let him choose a consort of Kshatriya Class, born of a high family, endowed with beauty and other excellent qualities, dearest to his heart, blessed with charming manners, etc., and equal to him in knowledge, acquisitions, accomplishments and of like temperament. Let him take one wife and one only, and consider all other women as unapproachable, therefore let him not even look at another woman (with the eye of lust).
Let him retain a chaplain and a spiritual teacher to perform Homa and Yajnas suitable for different season sand other religious duties for him in the palace, and let him always devote himself to the business of the State. To devote himself day and night to the affairs of the State without allowing anything to go out of order is the highest duty of a king, aye, this is his worship, this is his communion." MANU 7: 65, 66,68, 70, 74-78.
Monday, March 30, 2009
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE HEAD OF THE STATE
"He should be as powerful as electricity: as dear to his people's hearts as their very breath, able to read the inmost thoughts of others, and just in his dealings as a Judge. He should enlighten people's mind by the spread of knowledge, justice, and righteousness, and dispel ignorance and injustice as the sun illuminates the world. He should be like one who consumes wickedness like fire, keeps the wicked and the criminal under control like a jailer, gladdens the hearts of the good like the moon; makes the country rich and prosperous, as a treasurer keeps his treasury full; is powerful and majestic like the sun, keeps the people in order and awe; and on whom no one in the whole world dares to look with a stern eye. He alone is then fit to be the Head of the State who is like fire, air, the sun, the moon, a judge, a treasurer, a goaler in keeping the wicked under control, and like electricity in power." MANU 7: 4, 6, 7.
THE TRUE KING
"The Law alone is the real king, the dispenser of justice, the disciplinarian. The Law is considered as the surety for the four Classes and Orders to discharge properly their respective duties. The Law alone is the true Governor that maintains order among the people. The Law alone
is their Protector. The Law keeps awake whilst all the people are fast asleep. The wise, therefore, look upon the Law alone as Dharma or Right. When rightly administered the Law makes all men happy but when administered wrongly, i.e., without due regard to the requirement of justice, it ruins the king. All the four Classes would become corrupt, all order would come to an end, there would be nothing but chaos and corruption if the Law were not properly enforced. Where the Law - which is likened unto a fear-inspiring man, black in colour and with red eyes - striking fear into the hearts of the people (evil) and preventing them form committing crimes, rules supreme, there the people never go astray, and consequently live in happiness if it be administered by a just and learned man.
He alone is considered a fit person to administer the Law by the wise, who invariably speaks the truth, is thoughtful, highly intellectual and very clever in the attainment of virtue, wealth and righteous desires. The Law rightly administered by the king greatly promotes the practice of virtue, acquisition of wealth and secures the attainment of the heart-felt desires of his people. But the same Law destroys the king who is sensual, indolent, crafty, malevolent, mean and low-minded.
Great is the power and majesty of the Law. It cannot be administered by a man who is ignorant and unjust. It surely brings the downfall of the king who deviates from the path of rectitude.
The Law can never be justly administered by a man who is destitute of learning and culture, has no wise and good men to assist him, and is sunk in sensualism. He alone is fit administer the Law- which is another name for justice - who is wise, pure in heart, of truthful character, associates with the good, conducts himself according to the law and is assisted by the truly good and great men in the discharge of his duties." MANU 7: 17, 19,24, 28, 30, 31.
CHIEF OFFICES
"The four chief Offices - Commander-in -Chief of the forces, Head of the Civil Government, Minister of Justice, and the Supreme Head of all - the King - should be held only by those persons who are well -versed in all the four Vedas and the Shaastraas, are conversant with all the sciences and philosophies, devout, and have perfect control over their desires, passions and possess a noble character.
Let no man transgress that law which has been passed by an Assembly of ten men learned and wise, or at the very least of three such men. This Assembly must consist of members who are well-versed in the four Vedas, keen logicians, masters of language, and men conversant with the science of religion, they must belong to the first three Orders - Brahmacharya, (celibacy), Grihastha (married life), Vaanaprastha (renunciation)
Let no man transgress what has been decided by even an Assembly of three men who are scholars of the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda and Saama Veda respectively.
Even the decision of one Sanyaasi, (wise) who is fully conversant with all four Vedaas and is superior to all the twice-born (Dwijaas) should be considered of the highest authority. But let no man abide by the decision of myriads of ignorant men.
Even a meeting of thousands of men cannot be designated an Assembly, if they be destitute of such high virtues as self-control or truthful character, be ignorant of the Vedas and be men of no understanding like the Shoodraas.
Let no man abide by the law laid down by men who are altogether ignorant, and destitute of the knowledge of the Veda, or whosoever obeys the law propounded by ignorant fools falls into hundreds of kinds of sin and vice. Therefore, let not ignorant fools be ever made members of the aforesaid three Assemblies - Political, Educational and Religious. On the other hand let learned and devout persons only be elected to such high offices. MANU 12: 100, 110-111.
THE TRUE KING
"The Law alone is the real king, the dispenser of justice, the disciplinarian. The Law is considered as the surety for the four Classes and Orders to discharge properly their respective duties. The Law alone is the true Governor that maintains order among the people. The Law alone
is their Protector. The Law keeps awake whilst all the people are fast asleep. The wise, therefore, look upon the Law alone as Dharma or Right. When rightly administered the Law makes all men happy but when administered wrongly, i.e., without due regard to the requirement of justice, it ruins the king. All the four Classes would become corrupt, all order would come to an end, there would be nothing but chaos and corruption if the Law were not properly enforced. Where the Law - which is likened unto a fear-inspiring man, black in colour and with red eyes - striking fear into the hearts of the people (evil) and preventing them form committing crimes, rules supreme, there the people never go astray, and consequently live in happiness if it be administered by a just and learned man.
He alone is considered a fit person to administer the Law by the wise, who invariably speaks the truth, is thoughtful, highly intellectual and very clever in the attainment of virtue, wealth and righteous desires. The Law rightly administered by the king greatly promotes the practice of virtue, acquisition of wealth and secures the attainment of the heart-felt desires of his people. But the same Law destroys the king who is sensual, indolent, crafty, malevolent, mean and low-minded.
Great is the power and majesty of the Law. It cannot be administered by a man who is ignorant and unjust. It surely brings the downfall of the king who deviates from the path of rectitude.
The Law can never be justly administered by a man who is destitute of learning and culture, has no wise and good men to assist him, and is sunk in sensualism. He alone is fit administer the Law- which is another name for justice - who is wise, pure in heart, of truthful character, associates with the good, conducts himself according to the law and is assisted by the truly good and great men in the discharge of his duties." MANU 7: 17, 19,24, 28, 30, 31.
CHIEF OFFICES
"The four chief Offices - Commander-in -Chief of the forces, Head of the Civil Government, Minister of Justice, and the Supreme Head of all - the King - should be held only by those persons who are well -versed in all the four Vedas and the Shaastraas, are conversant with all the sciences and philosophies, devout, and have perfect control over their desires, passions and possess a noble character.
Let no man transgress that law which has been passed by an Assembly of ten men learned and wise, or at the very least of three such men. This Assembly must consist of members who are well-versed in the four Vedas, keen logicians, masters of language, and men conversant with the science of religion, they must belong to the first three Orders - Brahmacharya, (celibacy), Grihastha (married life), Vaanaprastha (renunciation)
Let no man transgress what has been decided by even an Assembly of three men who are scholars of the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda and Saama Veda respectively.
Even the decision of one Sanyaasi, (wise) who is fully conversant with all four Vedaas and is superior to all the twice-born (Dwijaas) should be considered of the highest authority. But let no man abide by the decision of myriads of ignorant men.
Even a meeting of thousands of men cannot be designated an Assembly, if they be destitute of such high virtues as self-control or truthful character, be ignorant of the Vedas and be men of no understanding like the Shoodraas.
Let no man abide by the law laid down by men who are altogether ignorant, and destitute of the knowledge of the Veda, or whosoever obeys the law propounded by ignorant fools falls into hundreds of kinds of sin and vice. Therefore, let not ignorant fools be ever made members of the aforesaid three Assemblies - Political, Educational and Religious. On the other hand let learned and devout persons only be elected to such high offices. MANU 12: 100, 110-111.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Parents and conception
Maatrimaan Pitrimaan A'charyavaan Purusho Veda - Shatapatha Brahmana.
"Verily, that man alone can become a great scholar who has had the advantage of three good teachers, viz., father, mother, and preceptor." Blessed is the family, most fortunate is the child whose parents are godly and learned. The mother's healthy influence on her children surpasses that of everyone else. No other person can equal a mother inn her love for her children, or in her anxiety for their welfare.
this explains the use of the word Matrimaan in the above quotation, meaning thereby:-"He alone is said to have a mother whose mother is devout and learned." Blessed is the mother who never ceases to impart to religious tone to the mind of her child from the time of conception till his knowledge is perfected.
It behoves both parents before, during, and after conception to avoid the use of such foods and drinks as are intoxicating, decomposed (Lit. - foul-smelling) non-nutritious, (Lit. dry), and prejudicial to the growth of the intellect; and use those articles that are productive of mental tranquility, health, strength, intellect, energy and good temper - qualities that go to make a man refined.
Such foods are milk, butter, sugar, cereals etc., - foods and drinks that help to make the reproductive element (both male and female) of the highest quality, free from all faults and imperfections. They should follow the rules of sexual intercourse, which are as follows:-From the time of menstruation the 16th day following is the proper time for (sexual intercourse) barring the first four days and Maatrimaan Pitrimaan A'charyavaan Purusho Veda - Shatapatha Brahmana. In the text the word mata, i.e., mother precedes the word pita, i.e., father. In the Sanskrit language and all vernaculars derived from it, it is a invariable practice to use the word mata before the word pita whenever they happen to come together.
Not only this but the word "wife" comes before the word "husband" and the name of the wife before that of the wife before that of the husband. We speak of Sitaram and not Ramsita. This shows in, what veneration the female sex was held by the ancients. -Rama Deva.
the 11th and 13th of the (lunar) month; so that there are altogther left ten nights out of which it is best to choose one for sexual intercourse.
After the 16th day there should be no sexual intercourse till the return of the aforesaid period, or, in case of pregnancy for one year. At the time of sexual intercourse husband and wife should be perfectly healthy, mutually happy, and free from sorrow. In the matter of diet and dress they should follow the rules laid down by Charak and Sushrut, and in the matter of keeping each other happy they ought to practice the system taught by Manu.
During conception the mother ought to be very careful as to her diet and dress. Till the birth of the child those articles only should be used as are productive of intellect, strength, beauty, health, energy and mental tranquility, and such other good qualities.
After the child is born and its cord had been tied, it ought to be bathed with scented water and Homa performed with scented clarified butter. The mother should also be well looked after in the matter of bath, diet, etc., so that both mother and child may gradually gain in health and strength. The child's mother or wet-nurse should take such foods and drinks as are productive of good qualities in the milk.
The mother should suckle the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the parents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink.
The mother should suckle the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the par4ents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink. If the parents be too poor to afford a wet-nurse, cow's or goat's milk diluted with an equal quantity of water should be used; and such drugs as are productive of intellect, energy, and health should be added to the milk after being well soaked in pure water boiled, and strained.
After confinement the mother and the child should be removed to another room, where the air is pure, and which is well furnished with scented and beautiful things. They should move about in a pure atmosphere. When neither the wet-nurses nor milk (cow's or goat's) can e procured, the parents should do what they think best at the time; but they must remember the child's body is made up of the elements derived from the body of the mother, which fact accounts for the mother getting weaker after each confinement. It is best, therefore, for the mother not
*Two great authorities on Medical Science in Sanskrt
"Verily, that man alone can become a great scholar who has had the advantage of three good teachers, viz., father, mother, and preceptor." Blessed is the family, most fortunate is the child whose parents are godly and learned. The mother's healthy influence on her children surpasses that of everyone else. No other person can equal a mother inn her love for her children, or in her anxiety for their welfare.
this explains the use of the word Matrimaan in the above quotation, meaning thereby:-"He alone is said to have a mother whose mother is devout and learned." Blessed is the mother who never ceases to impart to religious tone to the mind of her child from the time of conception till his knowledge is perfected.
It behoves both parents before, during, and after conception to avoid the use of such foods and drinks as are intoxicating, decomposed (Lit. - foul-smelling) non-nutritious, (Lit. dry), and prejudicial to the growth of the intellect; and use those articles that are productive of mental tranquility, health, strength, intellect, energy and good temper - qualities that go to make a man refined.
Such foods are milk, butter, sugar, cereals etc., - foods and drinks that help to make the reproductive element (both male and female) of the highest quality, free from all faults and imperfections. They should follow the rules of sexual intercourse, which are as follows:-From the time of menstruation the 16th day following is the proper time for (sexual intercourse) barring the first four days and Maatrimaan Pitrimaan A'charyavaan Purusho Veda - Shatapatha Brahmana. In the text the word mata, i.e., mother precedes the word pita, i.e., father. In the Sanskrit language and all vernaculars derived from it, it is a invariable practice to use the word mata before the word pita whenever they happen to come together.
Not only this but the word "wife" comes before the word "husband" and the name of the wife before that of the wife before that of the husband. We speak of Sitaram and not Ramsita. This shows in, what veneration the female sex was held by the ancients. -Rama Deva.
the 11th and 13th of the (lunar) month; so that there are altogther left ten nights out of which it is best to choose one for sexual intercourse.
After the 16th day there should be no sexual intercourse till the return of the aforesaid period, or, in case of pregnancy for one year. At the time of sexual intercourse husband and wife should be perfectly healthy, mutually happy, and free from sorrow. In the matter of diet and dress they should follow the rules laid down by Charak and Sushrut, and in the matter of keeping each other happy they ought to practice the system taught by Manu.
During conception the mother ought to be very careful as to her diet and dress. Till the birth of the child those articles only should be used as are productive of intellect, strength, beauty, health, energy and mental tranquility, and such other good qualities.
After the child is born and its cord had been tied, it ought to be bathed with scented water and Homa performed with scented clarified butter. The mother should also be well looked after in the matter of bath, diet, etc., so that both mother and child may gradually gain in health and strength. The child's mother or wet-nurse should take such foods and drinks as are productive of good qualities in the milk.
The mother should suckle the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the parents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink.
The mother should suckle the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the par4ents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink. If the parents be too poor to afford a wet-nurse, cow's or goat's milk diluted with an equal quantity of water should be used; and such drugs as are productive of intellect, energy, and health should be added to the milk after being well soaked in pure water boiled, and strained.
After confinement the mother and the child should be removed to another room, where the air is pure, and which is well furnished with scented and beautiful things. They should move about in a pure atmosphere. When neither the wet-nurses nor milk (cow's or goat's) can e procured, the parents should do what they think best at the time; but they must remember the child's body is made up of the elements derived from the body of the mother, which fact accounts for the mother getting weaker after each confinement. It is best, therefore, for the mother not
*Two great authorities on Medical Science in Sanskrt
Monday, March 23, 2009
Acharya Dr.Premdev Shastri Jee
vedik vangmay discorses at university rajkot
By Acharya Dr.Premdev Shastri Jee
Acharya Dr.Premdev
अगर à¤à¤—त सिंह का à¤ारत बनाना है हमको
तो सर कुछ तो अपने कटाने पड़ेंगे
नहीं मिलती है आजादी किसी को मुफत में
16 reasons that make Vedic Religion superior.
Submitted by vasudevarao on Fri, 2009-03-20 16:18.
16 reasons that make Vedic Dharma is superior
Why Vedic Dharma is superior in the world? This question is necessary to be understood since the world is presently under the grip of so many religions. These religions pride themselves as best before a common man but in truth, and in order to justify their self interests shamelessly dish out half truths and falsehoods. They teach that there would be peace and prosperity only if the world were to follow them.However contrary to this position Aryasamaj has been stating since its inception, that Vedic Dharma which has been upheld by the learned and wise for ages is highly rational and also in total conformity with the truth. Hence, so long the world does not care to follow the principles of Vedic Dharma; surely there would be no peace in the world. Then what are those special features that distinguish it from the other religions? The plain truth is no religion could stand before Vedic Dharma in terms of its greatness. Following are the great principles that characterise the Vedic Dharma. Study and decide yourselves.1. It is based on Vedas, a god given word.
The great principle that characterise Vedic Dharma is that it is based on God’s knowledge called Veda. Veda is emanated not for the benefit of any individual, or a group of people or a country. On the other hand Vedic Dharma exists for the benefit of entire mankind. Vedas were revealed through the four Rishis with the intention of causing well being to the entire world. It occurred at the origin of the Creation for the reason that no man should be devoid of its benefits and to be from the charges of injustice and partiality if not revealed then.Maxmuller in his book “Science and Religion” supports the above view as under.“If there is a god who has created heaven and earth it will be unjust of His divine knowledge .Reason and comparative study of his religions declare that God give divine knowledge to mankind from the first appearance on earth”Vedic Dharma rising above the limitations of religion and traditions calls upon the human being to become Man. or Manushya. Maharshi Yashka in Niruktha while explaining the term “Manushya” says “Manushyah kasmaath matvaa Karmavaseevyathi” meaning that a Man acts after verifying what is Dharma and Adharma. Hence, a man who uses the faculty of thinking before acting is called Manushya. Therefore, Vedas order “Manurbhava” or we become Man. If man acts otherwise he becomes a devil or Danav. So if a man wants to become Man in the real sense of the term then it is necessary that he studies the 10 principles of Aryasamaj so that the duties to be done towards mankind and the methods necessary to realise God are understood. These are key principles for the progress of humanity.
2. Establishment of direct relationship with the God.The second principle of its greatness is that it seeks to establish direct relationship of devotee with God. Here the medium of Prophets, Agents, Peers or their recommendations to seek God are not at all necessary. On the other hand Vedas teach the mankind “tvameva viditvathi mruthyumethi nanyapanthah vidyathe ayanaya” meaning that with the knowledge of God only that you could overcome the fear of Death. There is no other auspicious way than this. It is argued, however that to approach the King, the order of the officer or King’s himself is necessary. Similarly, to realise God it is argued by these religions that help is to be obtained of a Prophet, Peer, or an Idol. But this is baseless argument when we consider that no order of the King or the officer is necessary for a son of a King to see his father. Likewise, God is our real father and we are His dear children. So no order or permission of an agent is necessary to approach Him. Rig-Veda also says as under.Tvam Hi nah pitha vasothavm maatha shathakratho babhooveetha Ada the sumnaheemahe” Hey the omniscient God! You are our real father. You are our holy mother. Hence we take shelter into Thee! Same sentiments are expressed in another Mantra which says “Yo nah pitha janitha yo vidhatha dhamaani veda bhuvanani Vishwa [Rigveda 10.83.3] meaning that who gives us birth and nourishes us knows all. Thus Veda likens the relationship man and God to that of a son and father. Hence, no agent is necessary for His realisation.3. Infallible Karma theory.
Another greatness of Vedic Dharma is the theory of Karma. There is well known adage “As you sow so you reap” This law does not change even a wee bit under any circumstances. How beautifully Vedas say to this effect? “Anoonam patram nihitam etat paktharam pakvah punaaravishaathi” meaning that the vessel of man’s Karma is placed before him. There is no provision for variations here or there is a scope for somebody’s interference. Whatever that is placed in the vessel is to be got by him. No man could be saved of his sins nor could a person suffer for the sins of others. Keeping this view, Manu declares,Na mutra hi sahayartha pithacha cha thistatahNa putradara na gnathidharmastista thi kevalahEka prajaayathe jantureka eva praleeyatheEkonu bhunkthe sukruthameka eva chaduskritam{Manu 4.239.2.49}
Meaning that no body including father, mother, wife or relatives could be of help in the after world. The one that helps or saves us there is Dharma only. This life is born alone and also destroyed alone. And alone it enjoys the fruits of good and bad deeds.Thus, Vedic Dharma thru this law exhorts the mankind to keep away from indulging in bad deeds and inspires to toe the line of goodness. This is yet another speciality.4. Four fold order for all round development.
The other speciality of Vedic Dharma is it presents the ideal of all round development of Man. This is called the Ashrama order. It consists of 25 years of Brahmacharya during which period he thru constant studies and struggles seeks to develop the mental, physical and intellectual faculties to the fullest level. There afterwards he goes for a marriage and keep doing good deeds until he attains 50 years of age, thereby he frees himself from the three obligations[ Rins} called Dev rina, Pitrurina, and Rishi rina. This is followed by Vanaprastha period until 75 years of age during which time he seeks refuge in forests aiming to gain the strength lost as householder. He during this period enriches the students through his knowledge and experience. Then the last stage is Sanyasa living to the concept “Ayam Nijah parovethi” meaning to strive for the benefit of entire society and world at large forgetting the distinction between mine and others. This is done for the attainment of the best in the other world.This sort of step by step development of Man cannot be found in any religion or faith. Precisely for the same reason Leo Tolstoy used to look after Mahatma Gandhiji as his Guru. In a letter written to his wife, Tolstoy stated that like Hindus who retire to forests when old and in a similar manner, he also would like to spend the rest of life in meditation and work for the betterment of humanity. In the by gone days people after getting relieved from their normal work, used to offer themselves for the betterment of self, country and humanity. But what we witness sadly now is that they would keep counting their days with one step out to the grave doing nothing.5. Scientific Social classification called Varnasharma Dharma
The other speciality is in order to keep the world’s Social order intact or to see that the system of world’s social order runs smoothly, Vedic Dharma has evolved a division of labour system called Varnshsrama Dharma. Education, Defence, Livelihood, and Service etc are sought are to be got provided to the Society through classes called Brahmin, Kshtriya, Vyashya and Shudra respectively. The Vedic Dharma seeks to equip the society to wage relentless fight against the evils of Ignorance, Injustice, Scarcity and laziness through the medium of these classes. Vedas recognise the division of labour called Brahman, Kshtriya, Vysya and Shudra not on the basis of birth but on the basis of quality, aptitude or inclination [Guna, Karma and Swabhava]. In the days of yore, the children on attaining the age of 8 years would have been sent to the care of Gurukul. On admission to a Gurukul, the boy or the girl belongs to the Kul of Acharya. The Acharyas there used to inculcate education for a period of 14 years. After examining the intellectual, physical capabilities, and inclinations, the Varna of the student used to be decided. But today this is done by taking shelter to gadgets to decide the proclivity of the student.A child although born to the parents engaged in Service sectors gets tagged to other Varnas due to their physical and mental abilities. Similarly although born to parents placed above the rest in Social ranking are given to Varnas not of their parents, due to their Karma and inclination. Manu Says,Shudro Brahmanathamethi Brahmanaschethi shudrataam[A Shudra becomes a Brahmin and a Brahmin becomes a Shudra because of his Karma]6. Total stress on Logic and Reason and no blind faith
Further speciality of Vedic Dharma is it teaches to accept things after due examination on the touchstone of Logic and reason. Never has it instructed to accept things blindly. There are prayers at so many places in Vedas for the grant of brilliant intellect. For ex, “Deeyo yonah prachodayaat” which means to grant intellect towards for the noble Karma. Accordingly, Vedic Dharma condemns all those things that are opposed to reason. For ex, superstitions. Idol worship. Incarnation, Gurudom, worshipping of tombs, worshipping of Trees, stones etc Vedic Dharma calls upon for their rejection. Supporting this thesis W.D Brown, in his book “Superioity of Vedic Religion” says as under.It [Vedic Religion] recognises but One God. It is thoroughly scientific religion and science meets hand in hand. Here theology is based on upon science and philosophy. The same sentiments are echoed in the book “The Bible in India” written by Jacoliot. [V of II ch II]Astonishing fact! The Hindu Revelation [Vedas] is of all revelations the only one whose Ideas are in perfect harmony with Modern Science, as it proclaims the slow and gradual formation of the worldHence, rationalism is the creed of Vedic Dharma and never makes a provision for blind faith of any sorts or kind. It upholds the scientific truths only.
7. No dependence on Indiviuals.
Vedic Dharma is not dependent on the personality of any individual. Even if you remove, Maharshi Gowthama, Kapila, Kanaada, or Dayananda Vedic Dharma does not suffer. Whereas if you remove Ram and Krishna from Sanathana Dharma or Mohamed from Islam, Jesus from Christianity, Buddha from Buddhism these religions crumble.Because of the undeserved importance given to Prophets and Peers, the religions founded by these men have elevated their Prophets very high and in the process God has been sidelined. The wave of hatred, jealousy, and violence that are being seen today in the world is the result of this Hero worship. One gentle man have remarked so beautifully as under.
Much of the bitterness which we find in the religious circles these days is not due to God or his Worship but due to the Mediators, agents, Priests and the like who pretend to have monopolised the benefits of spirituality for themselves or for their followers.
8. Provision for extreme happiness called Moksha.
Vedic Dharma is one Dharma which brings out the real nature of Moksha called Bliss and also tells the ways and means of attaining it. This is totally different from the concepts of Hell and Heaven found in all religions which are pure fiction. Explaining the real nature of Moksha, Maharshi Gowtam in his Nyaya Darshan says “Tadantyantha Vimoksho pavarga” meaning total absence of unhappiness is called Moksha. In this state, the Soul experiences extreme happiness and would be moving around world in a state of bliss. The Soul would be freed from all types of sorrow until Mahakaal period. Further, Gowthama writes that “Dosha Mithya cha Nanamutharothapaya tadanam” or Tara pamadavarga.I.e when the spurious knowledge gets destroyed then only Apavarga or Moksha is obtained. The superficial knowledge of the matter is described as false knowledge. For ex, treating the items causing sorrow as those causing happiness. When such false knowledge is got destroyed then the blemish also get destroyed. Because there is no blemish or fault the man does not indulge in bad deeds. In the absence of disposition, man is not born. Because he is not born question of sorrow does not arise. Sorrows arise only when man is born. Absence of Sorrow is Moksha. This way Vedic Dharma unfolds the real nature of Moksha and how it could be obtained.
9. The Source of All Religions
Vedic Dharma is the primary source of all religions that are obtaining today in the world. All scholars are unanimous on the point that Vedas are the oldest books in Human Library. In other words whatever truths that are found in the world are all borrowed from Vedas only. Supporting this view Bernard Shaw records,“There is only one religion though there are thousand version of it”.The truth of the matter is while Vedas are there from the beginning of the Creation; the religions are all of recent origin. This is a historical fact. For ex, [1] Sikhism is 400 years old. [2] Islam is 1400 years old [3] Christianity 2000yrs old. [4] Judaism is around 2500 years old [5] Buddhism and Jainism, etc is more than 3500 years old. But against this Vedic Dharma is older by more than 197 crores of years, the same age of this Universe. It means along with the universe Vedic Dharma was also born. The Geologists of the world are also inclined to accept the age the Universe more or less to this effect. The Vedas would remain as long as this Universe lasts. Vedas declare “Pashya devasya kavyam Na mamara Na Jeeryathi” means look at the God’s epic called Vedas. It does not die. It has no beginning nor there an end.10. The God’s real form and nature well presented.
Vedic Dharma presents before people, the real and truthful form of God in a very exact manner. The manner God as described in Vedas is so truthful and rational that religions, cults or faiths find it not possible to do so. Look at the way God is described in Vedas. The God in Vedas is Existent, Conscious, All beatitude formless, Almighty just, Merciful, Unbegotten. Infinite, Unchangeable, beginning less, Incomparable, the support of all. All pervading, Omniscient and Controller of all from within Ever mature, Imperishable, Fearless, Eternal, Holy, and Creator of this Universe To him alone the Worship is due. How majestic is the form of God as found in Vedic Dharma? God is not deaf. He does not require Drums and beats. There is no necessity for Azan [Call for prayers emanating from Mosques] for the reason He is omniscient, and not found to be stationed at a place. The God in Vedic Dharma does not aspire for food offerings, flowers, etc for the reason that He is beyond senses. He is formless and further free from all mundane matters.11. Gender Equality.
Vedic Dharma accords total equality between men and women in their respective fields. Religions and faiths however, have neglected women who constitute half of the number of human race. Some of them have looked upon women worse than animals. One faith has called her as the footwear to be worn, and some other have called as fields to be ploughed. A few of them have described women as a gateway to Hell and further called her as soul less. Further, unable to describe her further despised her by characterising as Abala meaning helpless. However, Vedic Dharma proudly declares
Ede, ranthe kaamye chandre jyothyedathe Saraswathi mahee vishruththihEthathe Agne namaani devebhyomaah sukrutham bruyaathYajurveda 8.43Meaning:- Possessing all praiseworthy qualities, giver of happiness, lighter of home, a scholar who is away from being helpless, weak and pathetic, having noble thoughts and lofty behaviour and well known, never to be beaten and rejected, are the qualities with which you Devi are named. Having possessed of these qualities, O Devi! advice me too the noble thoughts and deeds.These are the lofty thoughts brought out by Vedas on woman. Manu, in his immortal “Manusmrithi” says clearly “Yathra Naryanthu Poojyanthe ramanthe tatra devataah” which means that where women are respected and worshipped there dwells the divine forces. And where woman is disgraced there cannot be peace, and prosperity. No body could dispute the worship and the importance given in the form of Mathru shakthi. Recognising the importance of a woman some anonymous follower of Vedic Dharma has written in Hindi as under.Naari Ninda Math Karo Naree Ki KhanNaari Senar Upaje Dhriv Prahlad SamaanNever condemn women. She is the veritable treasure of Man. From her only Men like Dhriv and Prahalad are born.
12. Encouragement to improve and excel.
Vedic Dharma encourages every man to improve character wise as well as to excel in every field. It fills him with enthusiasm. It calls upon the person to be ready always to uphold truth and reject falsehood. This is the best golden principle of Vedic Dharma. The Vedas advice, “Apnu hee Sreyam samathi samam krama” meaning He Man! You step ahead among equals helped with your noble qualities. Going ahead over the others by adopting unfair means is not contemplated here.
13. External Symbols are not necessarily the symbol of Dharma.
The Vedic Dharma does not believe a person to be honest just because he belongs to a particular faith or puts on some external symbols. It declares, “Na lingam dharma Karanam” meaning that external symbols do not make a person Dharmic or pious. It warns him to be pious or dharmic in the real sense of the term. The Vedic Dharma teaches him to understand that the real Dharma lies in the realisation of physical prosperity and Spiritual bliss. It advises “Yatho abyudhaya Nishreyas siddih sa dharmah” i.e Total welfare in this world with the welfare in the spiritual world is the definition of Dharma,. Hence, to realise this it proposes Five Yagnas which are designed to achieve the welfare of man, family, Society, Nation and the world at large besides ensuring the one’s welfare in the after world.
14. Upholding the principle that welfare of self lies in the welfare of others
Vedic Dharma firmly believes in the principle that one’s welfare lies in the welfare of all. No one ought to remain satisfied with his own welfare. The welfare of the individual should be regarded as included in the welfare of all. The followers of Vedic Dharma at times of natural disasters have helped all irrespective of their religious affiliations. The reason being that service to mankind is the main objective of Vedic Dharma. If the people of the world were to follow all the noble principles of this Dharma all the problems of the world would cease for once.
15. Realistic coordination of relationship between Individual and Society.
Vedic Dharma strikes cordial relationships between the interests of Society and the Individual. At present two types of ideological currents are sweeping the world. The first one is that individual should be interested in self only for the reason that the society makes a progress if individual were to keep on making progress. It consists in the thought of individual making Jap, tap, meditation, yoga etc. Why bother about others?As opposed to this there is another school of thought which states that Society is all important and the role of Individual is marginal. Hence, in order to uphold the interests of Society, the individual is sought to be oppressed and exploited. But Vedic Dharma toeing a different line altogether states that society which devours the individual is like a mother who consumes her own offspring. And the individual who consumed by the passion of self interests breaks laws of the society for the betterment of self is like a stupid son who burns his own house in order to warm up his body. Therefore, to overcome this type of tendencies Vedic Dharma makes a rule that in matters of well being of the Society an individual should subordinate his or her personal liking; while in matters affecting him or her alone he or she could enjoy freedom of action.
16. Total Non-discrmination based on gender, color ,status etc
The Vedic Dharma ordains that we must show affection and love towards all irrespective of their color, status, caste and other extraneous factors. “Mitrasya chaksusha sarvaani bhutaani sameekshe” meaning let us look at all living creatures with friendly attitude is its cardinal principle. This noblest principle enables us to rise above all types of controversies and inspires us to work for the benefit of Mankind
16 reasons that make Vedic Dharma is superior
Why Vedic Dharma is superior in the world? This question is necessary to be understood since the world is presently under the grip of so many religions. These religions pride themselves as best before a common man but in truth, and in order to justify their self interests shamelessly dish out half truths and falsehoods. They teach that there would be peace and prosperity only if the world were to follow them.However contrary to this position Aryasamaj has been stating since its inception, that Vedic Dharma which has been upheld by the learned and wise for ages is highly rational and also in total conformity with the truth. Hence, so long the world does not care to follow the principles of Vedic Dharma; surely there would be no peace in the world. Then what are those special features that distinguish it from the other religions? The plain truth is no religion could stand before Vedic Dharma in terms of its greatness. Following are the great principles that characterise the Vedic Dharma. Study and decide yourselves.1. It is based on Vedas, a god given word.
The great principle that characterise Vedic Dharma is that it is based on God’s knowledge called Veda. Veda is emanated not for the benefit of any individual, or a group of people or a country. On the other hand Vedic Dharma exists for the benefit of entire mankind. Vedas were revealed through the four Rishis with the intention of causing well being to the entire world. It occurred at the origin of the Creation for the reason that no man should be devoid of its benefits and to be from the charges of injustice and partiality if not revealed then.Maxmuller in his book “Science and Religion” supports the above view as under.“If there is a god who has created heaven and earth it will be unjust of His divine knowledge .Reason and comparative study of his religions declare that God give divine knowledge to mankind from the first appearance on earth”Vedic Dharma rising above the limitations of religion and traditions calls upon the human being to become Man. or Manushya. Maharshi Yashka in Niruktha while explaining the term “Manushya” says “Manushyah kasmaath matvaa Karmavaseevyathi” meaning that a Man acts after verifying what is Dharma and Adharma. Hence, a man who uses the faculty of thinking before acting is called Manushya. Therefore, Vedas order “Manurbhava” or we become Man. If man acts otherwise he becomes a devil or Danav. So if a man wants to become Man in the real sense of the term then it is necessary that he studies the 10 principles of Aryasamaj so that the duties to be done towards mankind and the methods necessary to realise God are understood. These are key principles for the progress of humanity.
2. Establishment of direct relationship with the God.The second principle of its greatness is that it seeks to establish direct relationship of devotee with God. Here the medium of Prophets, Agents, Peers or their recommendations to seek God are not at all necessary. On the other hand Vedas teach the mankind “tvameva viditvathi mruthyumethi nanyapanthah vidyathe ayanaya” meaning that with the knowledge of God only that you could overcome the fear of Death. There is no other auspicious way than this. It is argued, however that to approach the King, the order of the officer or King’s himself is necessary. Similarly, to realise God it is argued by these religions that help is to be obtained of a Prophet, Peer, or an Idol. But this is baseless argument when we consider that no order of the King or the officer is necessary for a son of a King to see his father. Likewise, God is our real father and we are His dear children. So no order or permission of an agent is necessary to approach Him. Rig-Veda also says as under.Tvam Hi nah pitha vasothavm maatha shathakratho babhooveetha Ada the sumnaheemahe” Hey the omniscient God! You are our real father. You are our holy mother. Hence we take shelter into Thee! Same sentiments are expressed in another Mantra which says “Yo nah pitha janitha yo vidhatha dhamaani veda bhuvanani Vishwa [Rigveda 10.83.3] meaning that who gives us birth and nourishes us knows all. Thus Veda likens the relationship man and God to that of a son and father. Hence, no agent is necessary for His realisation.3. Infallible Karma theory.
Another greatness of Vedic Dharma is the theory of Karma. There is well known adage “As you sow so you reap” This law does not change even a wee bit under any circumstances. How beautifully Vedas say to this effect? “Anoonam patram nihitam etat paktharam pakvah punaaravishaathi” meaning that the vessel of man’s Karma is placed before him. There is no provision for variations here or there is a scope for somebody’s interference. Whatever that is placed in the vessel is to be got by him. No man could be saved of his sins nor could a person suffer for the sins of others. Keeping this view, Manu declares,Na mutra hi sahayartha pithacha cha thistatahNa putradara na gnathidharmastista thi kevalahEka prajaayathe jantureka eva praleeyatheEkonu bhunkthe sukruthameka eva chaduskritam{Manu 4.239.2.49}
Meaning that no body including father, mother, wife or relatives could be of help in the after world. The one that helps or saves us there is Dharma only. This life is born alone and also destroyed alone. And alone it enjoys the fruits of good and bad deeds.Thus, Vedic Dharma thru this law exhorts the mankind to keep away from indulging in bad deeds and inspires to toe the line of goodness. This is yet another speciality.4. Four fold order for all round development.
The other speciality of Vedic Dharma is it presents the ideal of all round development of Man. This is called the Ashrama order. It consists of 25 years of Brahmacharya during which period he thru constant studies and struggles seeks to develop the mental, physical and intellectual faculties to the fullest level. There afterwards he goes for a marriage and keep doing good deeds until he attains 50 years of age, thereby he frees himself from the three obligations[ Rins} called Dev rina, Pitrurina, and Rishi rina. This is followed by Vanaprastha period until 75 years of age during which time he seeks refuge in forests aiming to gain the strength lost as householder. He during this period enriches the students through his knowledge and experience. Then the last stage is Sanyasa living to the concept “Ayam Nijah parovethi” meaning to strive for the benefit of entire society and world at large forgetting the distinction between mine and others. This is done for the attainment of the best in the other world.This sort of step by step development of Man cannot be found in any religion or faith. Precisely for the same reason Leo Tolstoy used to look after Mahatma Gandhiji as his Guru. In a letter written to his wife, Tolstoy stated that like Hindus who retire to forests when old and in a similar manner, he also would like to spend the rest of life in meditation and work for the betterment of humanity. In the by gone days people after getting relieved from their normal work, used to offer themselves for the betterment of self, country and humanity. But what we witness sadly now is that they would keep counting their days with one step out to the grave doing nothing.5. Scientific Social classification called Varnasharma Dharma
The other speciality is in order to keep the world’s Social order intact or to see that the system of world’s social order runs smoothly, Vedic Dharma has evolved a division of labour system called Varnshsrama Dharma. Education, Defence, Livelihood, and Service etc are sought are to be got provided to the Society through classes called Brahmin, Kshtriya, Vyashya and Shudra respectively. The Vedic Dharma seeks to equip the society to wage relentless fight against the evils of Ignorance, Injustice, Scarcity and laziness through the medium of these classes. Vedas recognise the division of labour called Brahman, Kshtriya, Vysya and Shudra not on the basis of birth but on the basis of quality, aptitude or inclination [Guna, Karma and Swabhava]. In the days of yore, the children on attaining the age of 8 years would have been sent to the care of Gurukul. On admission to a Gurukul, the boy or the girl belongs to the Kul of Acharya. The Acharyas there used to inculcate education for a period of 14 years. After examining the intellectual, physical capabilities, and inclinations, the Varna of the student used to be decided. But today this is done by taking shelter to gadgets to decide the proclivity of the student.A child although born to the parents engaged in Service sectors gets tagged to other Varnas due to their physical and mental abilities. Similarly although born to parents placed above the rest in Social ranking are given to Varnas not of their parents, due to their Karma and inclination. Manu Says,Shudro Brahmanathamethi Brahmanaschethi shudrataam[A Shudra becomes a Brahmin and a Brahmin becomes a Shudra because of his Karma]6. Total stress on Logic and Reason and no blind faith
Further speciality of Vedic Dharma is it teaches to accept things after due examination on the touchstone of Logic and reason. Never has it instructed to accept things blindly. There are prayers at so many places in Vedas for the grant of brilliant intellect. For ex, “Deeyo yonah prachodayaat” which means to grant intellect towards for the noble Karma. Accordingly, Vedic Dharma condemns all those things that are opposed to reason. For ex, superstitions. Idol worship. Incarnation, Gurudom, worshipping of tombs, worshipping of Trees, stones etc Vedic Dharma calls upon for their rejection. Supporting this thesis W.D Brown, in his book “Superioity of Vedic Religion” says as under.It [Vedic Religion] recognises but One God. It is thoroughly scientific religion and science meets hand in hand. Here theology is based on upon science and philosophy. The same sentiments are echoed in the book “The Bible in India” written by Jacoliot. [V of II ch II]Astonishing fact! The Hindu Revelation [Vedas] is of all revelations the only one whose Ideas are in perfect harmony with Modern Science, as it proclaims the slow and gradual formation of the worldHence, rationalism is the creed of Vedic Dharma and never makes a provision for blind faith of any sorts or kind. It upholds the scientific truths only.
7. No dependence on Indiviuals.
Vedic Dharma is not dependent on the personality of any individual. Even if you remove, Maharshi Gowthama, Kapila, Kanaada, or Dayananda Vedic Dharma does not suffer. Whereas if you remove Ram and Krishna from Sanathana Dharma or Mohamed from Islam, Jesus from Christianity, Buddha from Buddhism these religions crumble.Because of the undeserved importance given to Prophets and Peers, the religions founded by these men have elevated their Prophets very high and in the process God has been sidelined. The wave of hatred, jealousy, and violence that are being seen today in the world is the result of this Hero worship. One gentle man have remarked so beautifully as under.
Much of the bitterness which we find in the religious circles these days is not due to God or his Worship but due to the Mediators, agents, Priests and the like who pretend to have monopolised the benefits of spirituality for themselves or for their followers.
8. Provision for extreme happiness called Moksha.
Vedic Dharma is one Dharma which brings out the real nature of Moksha called Bliss and also tells the ways and means of attaining it. This is totally different from the concepts of Hell and Heaven found in all religions which are pure fiction. Explaining the real nature of Moksha, Maharshi Gowtam in his Nyaya Darshan says “Tadantyantha Vimoksho pavarga” meaning total absence of unhappiness is called Moksha. In this state, the Soul experiences extreme happiness and would be moving around world in a state of bliss. The Soul would be freed from all types of sorrow until Mahakaal period. Further, Gowthama writes that “Dosha Mithya cha Nanamutharothapaya tadanam” or Tara pamadavarga.I.e when the spurious knowledge gets destroyed then only Apavarga or Moksha is obtained. The superficial knowledge of the matter is described as false knowledge. For ex, treating the items causing sorrow as those causing happiness. When such false knowledge is got destroyed then the blemish also get destroyed. Because there is no blemish or fault the man does not indulge in bad deeds. In the absence of disposition, man is not born. Because he is not born question of sorrow does not arise. Sorrows arise only when man is born. Absence of Sorrow is Moksha. This way Vedic Dharma unfolds the real nature of Moksha and how it could be obtained.
9. The Source of All Religions
Vedic Dharma is the primary source of all religions that are obtaining today in the world. All scholars are unanimous on the point that Vedas are the oldest books in Human Library. In other words whatever truths that are found in the world are all borrowed from Vedas only. Supporting this view Bernard Shaw records,“There is only one religion though there are thousand version of it”.The truth of the matter is while Vedas are there from the beginning of the Creation; the religions are all of recent origin. This is a historical fact. For ex, [1] Sikhism is 400 years old. [2] Islam is 1400 years old [3] Christianity 2000yrs old. [4] Judaism is around 2500 years old [5] Buddhism and Jainism, etc is more than 3500 years old. But against this Vedic Dharma is older by more than 197 crores of years, the same age of this Universe. It means along with the universe Vedic Dharma was also born. The Geologists of the world are also inclined to accept the age the Universe more or less to this effect. The Vedas would remain as long as this Universe lasts. Vedas declare “Pashya devasya kavyam Na mamara Na Jeeryathi” means look at the God’s epic called Vedas. It does not die. It has no beginning nor there an end.10. The God’s real form and nature well presented.
Vedic Dharma presents before people, the real and truthful form of God in a very exact manner. The manner God as described in Vedas is so truthful and rational that religions, cults or faiths find it not possible to do so. Look at the way God is described in Vedas. The God in Vedas is Existent, Conscious, All beatitude formless, Almighty just, Merciful, Unbegotten. Infinite, Unchangeable, beginning less, Incomparable, the support of all. All pervading, Omniscient and Controller of all from within Ever mature, Imperishable, Fearless, Eternal, Holy, and Creator of this Universe To him alone the Worship is due. How majestic is the form of God as found in Vedic Dharma? God is not deaf. He does not require Drums and beats. There is no necessity for Azan [Call for prayers emanating from Mosques] for the reason He is omniscient, and not found to be stationed at a place. The God in Vedic Dharma does not aspire for food offerings, flowers, etc for the reason that He is beyond senses. He is formless and further free from all mundane matters.11. Gender Equality.
Vedic Dharma accords total equality between men and women in their respective fields. Religions and faiths however, have neglected women who constitute half of the number of human race. Some of them have looked upon women worse than animals. One faith has called her as the footwear to be worn, and some other have called as fields to be ploughed. A few of them have described women as a gateway to Hell and further called her as soul less. Further, unable to describe her further despised her by characterising as Abala meaning helpless. However, Vedic Dharma proudly declares
Ede, ranthe kaamye chandre jyothyedathe Saraswathi mahee vishruththihEthathe Agne namaani devebhyomaah sukrutham bruyaathYajurveda 8.43Meaning:- Possessing all praiseworthy qualities, giver of happiness, lighter of home, a scholar who is away from being helpless, weak and pathetic, having noble thoughts and lofty behaviour and well known, never to be beaten and rejected, are the qualities with which you Devi are named. Having possessed of these qualities, O Devi! advice me too the noble thoughts and deeds.These are the lofty thoughts brought out by Vedas on woman. Manu, in his immortal “Manusmrithi” says clearly “Yathra Naryanthu Poojyanthe ramanthe tatra devataah” which means that where women are respected and worshipped there dwells the divine forces. And where woman is disgraced there cannot be peace, and prosperity. No body could dispute the worship and the importance given in the form of Mathru shakthi. Recognising the importance of a woman some anonymous follower of Vedic Dharma has written in Hindi as under.Naari Ninda Math Karo Naree Ki KhanNaari Senar Upaje Dhriv Prahlad SamaanNever condemn women. She is the veritable treasure of Man. From her only Men like Dhriv and Prahalad are born.
12. Encouragement to improve and excel.
Vedic Dharma encourages every man to improve character wise as well as to excel in every field. It fills him with enthusiasm. It calls upon the person to be ready always to uphold truth and reject falsehood. This is the best golden principle of Vedic Dharma. The Vedas advice, “Apnu hee Sreyam samathi samam krama” meaning He Man! You step ahead among equals helped with your noble qualities. Going ahead over the others by adopting unfair means is not contemplated here.
13. External Symbols are not necessarily the symbol of Dharma.
The Vedic Dharma does not believe a person to be honest just because he belongs to a particular faith or puts on some external symbols. It declares, “Na lingam dharma Karanam” meaning that external symbols do not make a person Dharmic or pious. It warns him to be pious or dharmic in the real sense of the term. The Vedic Dharma teaches him to understand that the real Dharma lies in the realisation of physical prosperity and Spiritual bliss. It advises “Yatho abyudhaya Nishreyas siddih sa dharmah” i.e Total welfare in this world with the welfare in the spiritual world is the definition of Dharma,. Hence, to realise this it proposes Five Yagnas which are designed to achieve the welfare of man, family, Society, Nation and the world at large besides ensuring the one’s welfare in the after world.
14. Upholding the principle that welfare of self lies in the welfare of others
Vedic Dharma firmly believes in the principle that one’s welfare lies in the welfare of all. No one ought to remain satisfied with his own welfare. The welfare of the individual should be regarded as included in the welfare of all. The followers of Vedic Dharma at times of natural disasters have helped all irrespective of their religious affiliations. The reason being that service to mankind is the main objective of Vedic Dharma. If the people of the world were to follow all the noble principles of this Dharma all the problems of the world would cease for once.
15. Realistic coordination of relationship between Individual and Society.
Vedic Dharma strikes cordial relationships between the interests of Society and the Individual. At present two types of ideological currents are sweeping the world. The first one is that individual should be interested in self only for the reason that the society makes a progress if individual were to keep on making progress. It consists in the thought of individual making Jap, tap, meditation, yoga etc. Why bother about others?As opposed to this there is another school of thought which states that Society is all important and the role of Individual is marginal. Hence, in order to uphold the interests of Society, the individual is sought to be oppressed and exploited. But Vedic Dharma toeing a different line altogether states that society which devours the individual is like a mother who consumes her own offspring. And the individual who consumed by the passion of self interests breaks laws of the society for the betterment of self is like a stupid son who burns his own house in order to warm up his body. Therefore, to overcome this type of tendencies Vedic Dharma makes a rule that in matters of well being of the Society an individual should subordinate his or her personal liking; while in matters affecting him or her alone he or she could enjoy freedom of action.
16. Total Non-discrmination based on gender, color ,status etc
The Vedic Dharma ordains that we must show affection and love towards all irrespective of their color, status, caste and other extraneous factors. “Mitrasya chaksusha sarvaani bhutaani sameekshe” meaning let us look at all living creatures with friendly attitude is its cardinal principle. This noblest principle enables us to rise above all types of controversies and inspires us to work for the benefit of Mankind
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Vedic Philosophy: Introduction
Vedic Philosophy provides answers to all unanswered questions i.e why there is pain and pleasure, rich and poor, healthy and sick; God - His qualities, nature and works. Soul – Its nature and qualities, souls of humans and animals; reincarnation – how does it happens, why one is born as he or she is. What is the purpose of life? What we ought to do?
If you are a thinker, curious, confused about the universe as a whole, if you have a strong desire to your questions answered, then you must continue reading this philosophy. It will open your eyes, you will be able to differentiate from true to untrue, right from wrong, just from unjust, and you will be able to put together the puzzle of the whole universe.
In the 19th century a great saint, seer and philosopher, vedic commentator, thinker, master mind having impressive personality, an ancient ascetic and yogi, appeared on the scene, who is widely known as Swami Dayanand Saraswati. To expel the darkness of ignorance and spread the true knowledge for the benefit of humanity at large, Swami Dayanand Saraswati established Arya Samaj. Vedic teachings are based on Swami Dayanand Saraswati's writings and teachings.
Author:
Vidya Sagar Garg
For questions, comments, and feedback, please send Email: vsgarg@yahoo.com
Table Of Contents
1. God – Nature, Qualities and Works
2. Worshipping God
3. Meditation
4. Three Eternal Entities
5. Soul
6. Mind
7. Reincarnation – Rebirth
8. Human Body Compared To A Horse Cart
9. Humanity
10. Definition Of Non Violence
11. Meat - Not A Human Food
12. Five Causes Of Sufferings
13. Ten Principles For Self And Social Uplift
14. Social Practices
15. Age Of The Universe
16. Creation of the Universe
17. Vedic Scriptures
1. God – Nature, Qualities and Works
There is one and only one God. Different people call Him with different names. The real name of God is Om (Aum).
God is omnipresent. He is present at all places. He is present inside of our body and outside of our body. He is present inside of all living and non-living things and outside of them. He is present in the smallest thing as well as in the biggest thing. He is present in the mind and in the soul. He is present in the whole universe.
God is never born. He never dies. He has no beginning and no end. He is always living. He is free from aging process. He is fearless. He is flawless. He is free from happiness and misery. He is pure. He is kind. He is unique. There is no one like Him nor equal to Him. There is no one greater or bigger than Him. He is the greatest of all. He is the biggest of all. God creates, supports and runs the universe.
God is formless. He is always without a body. Therefore, there is no picture or statue of God. He cannot be sensed with 5 senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue or skin).God can not be even sensed with the help of a microscope.
However, there are occasions when we realize God’s existence and His actions. Occasions, when in utter disappointment, help arrives or an idea flashes into the mind, and the situation begins to improve. Also, thought of doing bad deeds brings feelings of fear, suspicion and shame; and thought of doing good deeds brings feelings of happiness, encouragement, excitement and fearlessness. All these feeling come from God.
God’s existence is also realized from His works. What a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful creation of the universe. The regular, logical and mathematical motions of the planets; meaningful and rightful functioning of the universe; the beautiful creation and growth of the plants and the living beings – all these works prove existence of some super, intelligent, living power – The God.
God is omniscient. He knows the thoughts in the minds of all.
God is the source of all knowledge. In the beginning of the universe, God gives knowledge to the human beings. God appeals directly in to the minds, he does not need hands to write or a mouth to speak.
God is omnipotent. He is all powerful; He performs his works by himself. He does not need anybody’s assistance to run the universe. He manages all His affairs by himself. He is always just and never does injustice. He always follows His just code.
God is equally accessible to all. He is the father and the mother of all living beings. No agent or broker is needed to approach Him. No body can be a God’s agent. God does not favor any one, nor He disfavors any one.
God is always in a state of ecstasy (bliss). Getting close to Him gives comfort, just like a fire gives comfort to the cold (persons).
God has his own work field, and humans have their own different work fields.
2. Worshipping God
All kinds of God worshipping we do, is not for God. It does not affect God any which way. Any action of ours has no effect on God.
God feeds all. Everything is in God, and God is in everything. Therefore, feeding God does not make any sense.
There is no place where god does not exist. He sees and hears all. He also knows our thoughts. Therefore, there is no need of loud voice, bells or loud speakers, etc. God is out of smell, therefore, God has no use of incense. God has no shape or body, therefore no sense in clothing or decorating Him.
Everything we do is for ourselves. God gives us the good or bad fruit based upon our own deeds. Some deeds get fruit immediately, others get fruit at different times, when and where deserved. This getting fruit at deserving time is called luck or destiny.
Worshipping God means, thinking of qualities of God, and making those qualities part of your life. God is just. He always does justice without any favoritism. He does not accept any approach. He is never unjust. God is always right. He is never wrong. God knows all. God has all the true knowledge. He is never ignorant. God is holy and does not have any weaknesses. God is kind-because of his kindness he has given thousands of things for our use. We too ought to be just, righteous, knowledgeable, holy, kind etc. This is the meaning of God Worship.
3. Meditation
With meditation, soul becomes so much powerful, that it is not afraid of even the biggest hardship, and it will be able to tolerate it easily.
How To Meditate:
Find a clean and quiet place; sit down in a right posture and close your eyes.
First stop the senses from wondering then start the Pranayam.
Point and hold the mind on the heart, navel or throat (at one of these places); get lost in God by thinking of soul and God.
By doing this repeatedly, soul and the conscious are purified, and the person becomes interested only in truthfulness.
4. Three Eternal Entities
God, souls and matter – always exist. They have no beginning and no end.
God – read the topic on ‘God – His Qualities, Nature and Works’.
Souls – There are numerous souls, but fixed in number. The total count of souls does not change ever. Each living being has an individual soul. In the God’s kingdom, one is identified from the soul, not from the body. Because, soul keeps changing bodies one after another. Same soul may become an ant, elephant, man, woman, lion etc.
Soul, when in a human body, is more or less free to do actions; this is not the case when in a body of an animal; animals act on the natural instinct. Therefore, by the God’s justice system, humans face the consequences of their actions. As a result, one suffers or enjoys in his present life, and also may be born as human, animal, bird or insect after the death. When soul and body joins together, it is called birth; its separation is called death (for more detail on soul, read topic on ‘Soul’).
Matter – matter is never destroyed. All we see, smell, taste, touch or hear is matter. Human body and other living beings are made of matter.
Matter changes shape. By burning wood, it changes into carbon, moisture and gases. It just changed its shape. When vegetables grown from seed, basically they are changing shape with the help of soil, water, sun and air. After eaten and digested, they change the shape again.
5. Soul
Every living being – human, animal, bird or insect has a soul. Presence of the soul in a body keeps one alive. Departure of the soul, causes death. Therefore, bodies of people and animals are pure as long as the soul is present, they are impure after the soul leaves.
Soul stays at one place in a body, but it affects the whole body; just like a lit candle, placed at one place, brightens the whole room.
Soul’s place is near the heart in the body.
Soul is so fine in size, that it cannot be seen with the naked eye or with the help of a microscope.
Soul enters the body with food, drinks, air or through the pores of the skin. First, it gets into the male, at the time of mating, it goes into the female.
Soul is not capable of doing anything without a body. It performs actions only with the help of a body.
Knowledge, effort, desire, resentfulness, happiness and sadness are the qualities of a soul. Dead body is without a soul, therefore, lacks these qualities.
A body changes, because of the presence of a soul. Right from the conception, the growth begins, because of the presence of the soul. There is no growth without a soul.
Soul is never born; it never dies; it always exists.
Weapon can not cut a soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot spoil it, and air cannot dry it.
Soul, by itself, is neither a male, nor a female, nor an unisex. Its sex depends upon the body it gets. Same soul may move from male to female bodies or vice versa, but only after the death of the present one.
6. Mind
Soul’s actions are done through the mind. Soul connects with mind, mind connects with body and body connects with the outer world; which causes knowledge and action.
If the Mind is not with the body, then no action takes place. If the Mind is not with the eyes, we don’t see; if the Mind is not with the ears then we don’t hear.
A dead body does not feel the pain or pleasure, because of the absence of the mind and the soul. The Mind leaves the body along with the soul. The Mind stays along with the soul in the body near the heart.
Mind itself is not a living thing. Therefore, it cannot do anything by itself.
Mind is made of matter. Food is made of matter as well. The kind of food one eats, has a significant effect on one’s mind.
Mind is a storage box of all impressions. All effects of one’s actions, all the knowledge one has acquired, all the experiences one has gained; in this life and in previous lives, stay in the mind. So, it has everything, one has ever experienced. The stronger impressions appear on the surface, the weaker stay buried deep down. Efforts can bring up the impressions on the surface which are buried deep down.
Three states of mind –
Absence of cruelty, absence of greed, staying balanced in pleasure and pain, cleanliness, practicing truth, being just, being peaceful, acquiring knowledge, having patience, etc.
Wandering nature, impatience, being arrogant, etc.
Not using brain, laziness, lack of desire to work, desiring to sleep more and more, lack of desire to learn, using brain in a wrong direction, etc.
Out of all these, the second is better than the third and the first is the best of all.
Finally, to get rid of a bad habit or action, condemn the bad habit or action, in your mind, again and again. More this is condemned, further away one goes from the vices.
Ref: Upnishad, Manusmriti, Sushrut
7. Reincarnation - Rebirth
Reincarnation simply means rebirth. Soul keeps changing the body one after another. It gets a bodies based on its deeds done in human life.
Soul, when in other than human body – e.g. in an animal, a bird or an insect, does not act independently. It acts either under the direction of a human being or just by natural instinct. It does not and cannot think. All its actions are controlled by others or by natural instinct. Because of that, its actions are neither rewarded nor punished.
When leaving human body, if the good deeds equal bad deeds, one is born as an ordinary human being in the next life. If good deeds exceed bad deeds then one is born as an intellectual human being. If bad deeds exceed good deeds, one is born as an animal, a bird or insect etc. based on the severity of the bad deeds.
Basically, deeds good or bad are done through:
thought,
word and
action
One reaps the fruit good or bad by receiving or paying for the deeds done with similar organs. E.g. harsh talker, liar, back stabber etc gets a life of an animal or of a mute human being.
The soul adjusts in the body it gets, whether it is a human, an animal, a bird or an insect. Soul is like water, without a color. Color makes the water colored. Same way, the soul is known as by the body it is in.
Soul continues to move from one body to another. It starts body at the time of conception, and departs at the time of death. Same soul can be a man, woman, elephant, ant or any other living being, and back and forth as well.
As humans discard worn out clothes and wear new ones, similarly soul discards the useless old body and starts a new body.
8. Human Body Compared To A Horse Cart
5 senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and flesh) are means of learning by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. 5 other parts of body (hands, feet, mouth, sexual and waste organs) perform deeds. All these 10 parts of the body are the 10 horses of the human cart. Where Mind is the control, brain is the operator and the soul is the passenger.
The only way, the passenger will get to its destination, if the operator follows instructions from the passenger and has control over the horses. In a situation, when the operator is sleeping or intoxicated, there will not be any control over the horses, they will go anywhere they wish to go, the passenger will never reach to its destination.
So the brain has to be very clear and strong to control the mind and the body, in order to achieve the soul’s goal. Thus, the brain is the most important part of human life.
The goal of the soul is to achieve (long lasting) happiness. To achieve happiness, one has to:
get the right knowledge,
do the good deeds, and
meditate
There is a process and training of oneself, to achieve this goal.
On the other hand, bad deeds (e.g. untruthfulness, injustice) knowingly and unknowingly, lead to miseries.
The human body is considered to be a rented one. It continuously requires rent in the form of air, water and food.
It is said that the human body is great, but the mind is greater, brain is much greater and the soul is the greatest.
Ref: Kathopnishad
9. Humanity
Humanity is considering others pleasure and pain, profit and loss as your own. Not being afraid of unjust person, no matter how powerful he is, and be afraid of just person no matter how powerless he may be. Working with the full force for the protection and promotion of just person, even if one has to suffer heavy losses, even if one loses ones life during the pursuit.
All the living beings other than humans have a common characteristic. i.e. be afraid of the strong and frighten the weak; they even kill others for their selfish motive. Humans with similar characteristics be considered non-human beings. Being kind and helpful to the weak is a human characteristic.
10. Definition Of Non Violence
Never to have enmity of any kind, towards any living being – human, animal, bird or insect, is defined as non-violence.
Hurting, punishing or killing a living being does not by itself make the action violent. It is the cause behind it that matters.
Killing an animal, which kills people or destroys crops, is not an act of violence. Killing an animal or a bird for food or fun is a violent action.
To punish a person for the crime committed is not violence. Rather, not to punish a criminal is a violence. Because, if the criminal is not punished, he would harm many more innocent people, thereby creating much more violence.
The purpose of punishment is to deter the criminal from committing the crime again and to alert the others not to engage in such an act. Only harsh punishment can reduce the crime and save many people from the miseries of the crimes.
If someone attacks you and you respond with force, it is not violence. Anyone trying to harm the society or the nation, should be dealt with firmly and with force. That will save millions from sufferings. Therefore that is non-violence.
Ref: Translation of Yog Darshan by Maharishi Ved Vyas
11. Meat - Not A Human Food
Meat is not a human food. No flesh of any animal, bird, fish or egg etc. is a human food.
Meat is not only unhealthy for the body; it poisons the mind, the intellect and the soul. Eating meat is totally forbidden in the Vedic scriptures.
Rishi Manu in Manusmiriti says:
"He who does not restrain, kill or hurt the living beings, is pro-life and gets lots of happiness."
"You cannot get meat without killing, and killing does not give happiness. Therefore one should not eat meat."
"Because of the way the meat is produced, the killing and torturing the animals; one ought to stay away from eating all kinds of meat."
"Any body, who kills innocent creatures in order to get happiness; he living and even after death does not get happiness."
"He, who orders to kill animals; he who cuts the flesh; he who kills the animals; seller and buyer of animals for killing; he who cooks meat; he who serves meat and he who eats meat these are all killers and sinner.
Vedas speak of caring and protecting animals:
Yajur Veda says: Oh Humans! You do not kill sheep, cow, horse etc.
In Yajur Veda there is a prayer: O God! Protect my people and animals.
Atharva Veda says: Oh cruel man! If you kill our animals like cows, horses, etc. or humans; then we will put you to death so that you will not be able kill them again.
Mahabharta says: He who wants to live, how he can kill others? Humans should wish for others, what they wish for themselves.
Rig Veda tells: Do not kill our cows and horses.
Atharva Veda says: He, who eats raw meat, he who eats human flesh and he who eats eggs: they all ought to be destroyed altogether.
In regards to eating, Vedas talk about grains like wheat, oat rice etc., fruits and vegetables, milk, butter etc. Meat eating is not allowed at all.
Dr. Field writes, every living being knows the life’s happiness and fear of death.
He feels the pain and joy, just like you.
Same one God is the father of all living beings – animals, birds, insects and human beings.
Do the animals and birds want to be killed? No, Not at all. Don’t they feel helpless and miserable when they are being killed? Certainly, they do. Won’t they like to live their full life as we people do? Definitely, they would.
Every living being has a specific purpose for its existence. The purpose, definitely, is other than being killed and eaten by others. Let each one of them be left alone to serve that purpose.
12. Five Causes Of Sufferings
Yoga Philosophy talks about five Causes of Sufferings:-
Ignorance – Root cause of all the other four.
Arrogance
Attachment
Fear of Pain
Fear of Death
Ignorance: There are four types of ignorance.
1. Wrong beliefs – Treating mortal as immortal, immortal as mortal.
Thinking and treating body and things as they will last for ever.
Treating and thinking soul, God and good qualities i.e. truth, justice, etc., as they are not ever lasting.
2. Believing pure which is impure and impure which is pure. Not believing in speaking the truth, being just, helping others and being courteous; rather believing in useless things.
3. Believing the causes of unhappiness as causes of happiness, and causes of happiness as causes of unhappiness. i. e. trying to find happiness in lust, anger, greed, attachment, jealousy, fear of pain; and not finding happiness in the real means of happiness such as love, friendship, contentment, control of senses.
4. Treating living beings as non living and non living beings as living. I.e. believing in stone worship as god worship; No hesitation in hurting, humans or animals treating them as they are non living.
Arrogance: Considering oneself big and arrogant. One attains godly qualities only by being modest.
Attachment: Desire of doing it again, previously done fun things. When one understands that there is always a change in life than this problem goes away.
Jealousy: Getting angry by thinking about the past painful experiences.
Fear of Death: All living beings want to stay alive and do not want to die. This is because of previous life’s experiences. All humans, animals, birds, insects fear death.
13. Ten Principles For Self And Social Uplift
Patience - Having patience during happiness or misery, gain or loss, admiration or insult.
Tolerance - Being tolerant of the harm done to you by someone who is stronger or weaker than you are.
Control of Mind – Keeping the mind away from the bad thoughts and engaging it in the good thoughts.
Refrain from Stealing – Earn money only by just means. No illegal or immoral means be used. No stealing or robbing nor accepting bribe.
Cleanliness – Keep inner cleanliness by shunning jealousies and grudges. Keep outer cleanliness by keeping air, water, food, body, clothes, places and paths clean. Outer cleanliness helps keeping the mind happy.
Proper use of Body – Engage body parts like hands, feet, mouth for a good cause.
Intelligence – Improve intelligence by eating right food, reading good books and keeping good company.
Knowledge – acquire as much knowledge as possible. Learn qualities and uses of all the things around.
Truth – Accepting what you know, saying what you accept and doing what you say.
Avoid Anger – too much anger should be avoided. Normal anger for a right cause may be justified.
Styles of hair and clothes do not make a man or the society. Accepting the truth and rejecting the untruth and following the path of justice, without prejudice, are the real qualities that make a man and the society.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ref: Manusmriti
14. Social Practices
Heaven and Hell defined:
A Person who is particularly in a happy situation is said to be in Heaven and one who is in a particular sad situation is said to be in Hell. There are no special places or planets like Heaven or Hell.
Intoxication:
Use of all kinds of intoxicants – opium, wine, tobacco etc. - is prohibited by Vedic Dharam. These are harmful for the body and the mind. They make a criminal mind, thereby increasing the crime.
Speculation:
All types of speculations are prohibited by Vedic Dharam.
Namaste:
Namaste is a Sanskrit word. It means and stands for – My regard for you or my love for you or my wishes for you, based on the situation.
All our scriptures use the word Namaste for greetings whenever two people meet.
Government:
Just like husk is separated very carefully without breaking the rice, the wicked and criminal people should be separated and punished without hurting the innocent.
As a pregnant female protects the unborn even at the cost of her comfort, the government personnel should watch the public interest even at the cost of their own interests.
PURITY:
Water purifies the external body, not mind and soul.
Mind is purified by being truthful in word, thought, and action.
Soul is purified by being righteous at all costs.
Intellect is purified by analyzing the Universe and the God.
Purity of different kinds of people:
A scholar is purified by having patience
A pervert by giving donations
A wicked by repenting
A vedic scholar by practicing vedic philosophy
Sanskrit and Hindi Languages
Sanskrit language is written in Devnagri alphabet – Sanskrit and Devnagri are as old as the universe itself - about two billion years old. From the beginning of this universe until couple thousand years ago, there has been only one language – Sanskrit, and only one alphabet – Devnagri, in the whole world.
Devnagri is the only alphanet, in the whole world, that has all the possible sounds. And all letters of Devnagri alphabet have natural sounds. All words in Sanskrit language are read and spoken exactly as they are written. Thus, Devnagri is the most scientific alphabet and Sanskrit is the most scientific language.
Arya (Hindi) language is also written in Devnagri alphabet. And, most of the words used in Hindi are from Sanskrit language.
The Dead is Cremated:
After a person dies the body should be burnt and not buried. Burial spoils that piece of land and creates lot of foul smell. Burning a dead body with wood and with stuff that gives good smell like butteroil and saffron does not give foul smell.
If a dead body is thrown in water, the water animals will eat the body, but the water will get polluted. If a dead body is thrown in the woods, the wild animals and birds will eat the body but the air will get polluted.
Last rites are performed on around 12th day after the death. After that there is no other ceremony is suggested.
15. Age Of The Universe
The total age of the earth (past and future) is 4.32 billion years. This is called Brahma Day. After this period God converts all matter into Paramanus. It remains in Parmanu form for the same length of time. i.e. 4.32 billion years. That is called Brahma Night. After Brahma Night God again creates the universe. This cycle of Brahma Day after Brahma Night and Brahma night after Brahma day goes on forever.
Brahma day:
In one Brahma day, there are fourteen Manvantras of human life. Each Manvantra has seventy-one Chaturyugis. There are four Yugas in one Chaturyugi. Satyug has 1,728,000 Years Tretayug has 1,296,000 Years Dwaparyug has 864,000 Years And Kaliyug has 432,000 Years ---------------------- Their sum – Chaturyugi 4, 320,000 Years Total Human life on earth, past and future = 14*71* 4,320,000 Years = 4,294,080,000 YearsThis is equal to = 14*71 = 994 Chaturyugis.
Total time of Brahma day is said to be equal to one thousand Chaturyugis. 994 Chaturyugis is the total time of human life on earth. Out of the remaining six Chaturyugis, three Chaturyugis time is spent in creating the universe and three Chaturyugis time is spent in Converting the matter into Parmanu form.
Past age of human life on earth:
Six Manvantras have passed. Twenty-seven Chaturyugis of seventh Manvantra have passed. Of the twenty-eight Manvantra Satyug, Tretayug and Dwaparyug have passed. In February 2000, 5099 years of the Kalliyug have passed.
Thus, the total past age of human life one earth is calculated as:
Past six Manvantras = 6*71*4,320,000 = 1,840,320,000 Years
Past 27 Chaturyugis of Seventh Manvantra
= 27*4,320,000 = 116,640,000 Years
28th Chaturyugi - Satyug = 1,728,000 Years
- Tretayug = 1,296,000 Years
- Dwaparyug = 864,000 Years
- Kaliyug = 5,099 Years
---------------------------------------------------
Total = 3,893,099 Years
Total of all past years of human life on earth.
= 1,960,853,099 Years
Total remaining years of human life on earth.
= 4,294,080,000 - 1,960,853,099 Years
= 2,333,226,901 Years
16. Creation of the Universe
All the matter was in the form of Parmanu, the smallest particle. Omniscient God combined those Parmanus and created the universe.
Sixty paramanus make one Anuu
Two Anuu Make Air
Six Anuu Make Fire
Eight Anuu Make Water
And Ten Anuu Make Earth
After the Paramanus are combined to create the universe, the left out space is the sky.
God firstly made air, then fire, then water, then earth then herbs, then grains, then living beings. Men and women was the last to be created after all the animals, birds, insect’s etc. were created.
In the beginning, God created many men and women, all in their youth. No children or elderly people were created. The reproduction system started after that.
God created the human life at the place now known as Tibet. After some time, when the population grew, some people known as Aryas moved to the place now known as India. And, the place was named as Aryavrat. Thus, Aryavrat is the original name of India. Later, people moved to other parts of the world from Tibet.
In February 2000, number of years passed since God first created men and women on earth is 1,960,853,099. Aryas have been counting each day since the creation for the human life on earth. They have been writing these dates in their calendar and Astronomy books. Even now, while performing certain ceremonies like marriage, an Arya priest reads the date since human life began on earth.
Men and women now are in the same style and shape as were created by God in the beginning. They did not descend from any other species.
17. Vedic Scriptures
All Vedic Ancient scriptures are in Sanskrit language. Sanskrit is the first language on the earth. Most of the languages of the world including English have been derived from Sanskrit. Hindi, English and other translations are available for most of the following scriptures:
Veda: The Vedas are the most important scripture. The meaning of the word Veda is knowledge. The Vedas were revealed in 4 sections at the dawn of the creation to the 4 saints (Rishis):
Rig Veda - Agni Rishi
Yajur Veda - Vayu Rishi
Sam Veda - Aditya Rishi
Atharva Veda - Angira Rishi
Upanishads: The word Upanishad means "to sit near". In ancient days, devotees sat near the Rishis to listen to the discourses. Those discourses compiled into the books are called Upanishads. The Upanishads are many in number, but eleven are considered most important. They are Ish, Ken, Kath, Prashna, Mundak, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taitareya, Chhandogya, Brihdarnayak and Shvetashvetar.
Manusmiriti: The Manusmriti is famous among scriptures, and the author is Manu. Rules for religion, political and social conduct are contained in Manusmriti.
Ramayan: The Ramayan is the first great composition of Sanskrit literature written by Valmiki Muni. It portrays a picture of the society in the Vedic and Upanishadic ages. Religion’s principles of the Vedas and Upanishads were not just found in theory but practiced in real life.
Mahabharat: The Mahabharat is also a great epic written by Vyas Muni. The Mahabharat depicts how people resort to injustice and oppressive means because of their greed, pride, selfishness and hypocrisy. Alongside this picture, it shows how the virtuous have undergone troubles and sufferings in upholding the path of truth and justice.
Bhagvad Gita: The Gita is a part of the great epic, Mahabharat. Its significance is so great that it stands out as a scripture in itself. Commentaries on the Vedas, are found in the Upnishads; while the essence of the Upanishads is containied in the Gita. Arjun was standing confused to fight with his own relatives in the battlefield. It was on this occasion the Yogiraj Krishan imparted true knowledge to Arjun and enlightened him with his course of action.
Darshans: The word ‘Darshan’ means observation and a detailed examination. Darshans explain the relationship between God, Soul and Matter. Their teachings lead us to our goal of God-realization. These teachings have been discussed very deeply in the six Darshans. The six Darshans and their authors are:
NYAYA - Gautam Muni
VAISHESHIKA - Kanad Muni
SAMKHYA - Kapil Muni
YOGA - Patanjali Minu
MIMANSA - Jaimini Muni
VEDANTA - Vyasa Muni
Satyarth Praksash (Light Of Truth):Satyarth Prakash has been written by Swami Dayanand. Just as other Scriptures have been prepared on the teachings expounded by the Vedas, Satyarth Prakash also contains explanations and clarifications of Vedic principles on all walks of life.
Rigved-adi-bhashya-bhumika (Introduction to Vedas): This is also written by Swami Dayanand. Various topics found in Vedas are discussed here. This book is full of knowledge and worth reading.
If you are a thinker, curious, confused about the universe as a whole, if you have a strong desire to your questions answered, then you must continue reading this philosophy. It will open your eyes, you will be able to differentiate from true to untrue, right from wrong, just from unjust, and you will be able to put together the puzzle of the whole universe.
In the 19th century a great saint, seer and philosopher, vedic commentator, thinker, master mind having impressive personality, an ancient ascetic and yogi, appeared on the scene, who is widely known as Swami Dayanand Saraswati. To expel the darkness of ignorance and spread the true knowledge for the benefit of humanity at large, Swami Dayanand Saraswati established Arya Samaj. Vedic teachings are based on Swami Dayanand Saraswati's writings and teachings.
Author:
Vidya Sagar Garg
For questions, comments, and feedback, please send Email: vsgarg@yahoo.com
Table Of Contents
1. God – Nature, Qualities and Works
2. Worshipping God
3. Meditation
4. Three Eternal Entities
5. Soul
6. Mind
7. Reincarnation – Rebirth
8. Human Body Compared To A Horse Cart
9. Humanity
10. Definition Of Non Violence
11. Meat - Not A Human Food
12. Five Causes Of Sufferings
13. Ten Principles For Self And Social Uplift
14. Social Practices
15. Age Of The Universe
16. Creation of the Universe
17. Vedic Scriptures
1. God – Nature, Qualities and Works
There is one and only one God. Different people call Him with different names. The real name of God is Om (Aum).
God is omnipresent. He is present at all places. He is present inside of our body and outside of our body. He is present inside of all living and non-living things and outside of them. He is present in the smallest thing as well as in the biggest thing. He is present in the mind and in the soul. He is present in the whole universe.
God is never born. He never dies. He has no beginning and no end. He is always living. He is free from aging process. He is fearless. He is flawless. He is free from happiness and misery. He is pure. He is kind. He is unique. There is no one like Him nor equal to Him. There is no one greater or bigger than Him. He is the greatest of all. He is the biggest of all. God creates, supports and runs the universe.
God is formless. He is always without a body. Therefore, there is no picture or statue of God. He cannot be sensed with 5 senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue or skin).God can not be even sensed with the help of a microscope.
However, there are occasions when we realize God’s existence and His actions. Occasions, when in utter disappointment, help arrives or an idea flashes into the mind, and the situation begins to improve. Also, thought of doing bad deeds brings feelings of fear, suspicion and shame; and thought of doing good deeds brings feelings of happiness, encouragement, excitement and fearlessness. All these feeling come from God.
God’s existence is also realized from His works. What a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful creation of the universe. The regular, logical and mathematical motions of the planets; meaningful and rightful functioning of the universe; the beautiful creation and growth of the plants and the living beings – all these works prove existence of some super, intelligent, living power – The God.
God is omniscient. He knows the thoughts in the minds of all.
God is the source of all knowledge. In the beginning of the universe, God gives knowledge to the human beings. God appeals directly in to the minds, he does not need hands to write or a mouth to speak.
God is omnipotent. He is all powerful; He performs his works by himself. He does not need anybody’s assistance to run the universe. He manages all His affairs by himself. He is always just and never does injustice. He always follows His just code.
God is equally accessible to all. He is the father and the mother of all living beings. No agent or broker is needed to approach Him. No body can be a God’s agent. God does not favor any one, nor He disfavors any one.
God is always in a state of ecstasy (bliss). Getting close to Him gives comfort, just like a fire gives comfort to the cold (persons).
God has his own work field, and humans have their own different work fields.
2. Worshipping God
All kinds of God worshipping we do, is not for God. It does not affect God any which way. Any action of ours has no effect on God.
God feeds all. Everything is in God, and God is in everything. Therefore, feeding God does not make any sense.
There is no place where god does not exist. He sees and hears all. He also knows our thoughts. Therefore, there is no need of loud voice, bells or loud speakers, etc. God is out of smell, therefore, God has no use of incense. God has no shape or body, therefore no sense in clothing or decorating Him.
Everything we do is for ourselves. God gives us the good or bad fruit based upon our own deeds. Some deeds get fruit immediately, others get fruit at different times, when and where deserved. This getting fruit at deserving time is called luck or destiny.
Worshipping God means, thinking of qualities of God, and making those qualities part of your life. God is just. He always does justice without any favoritism. He does not accept any approach. He is never unjust. God is always right. He is never wrong. God knows all. God has all the true knowledge. He is never ignorant. God is holy and does not have any weaknesses. God is kind-because of his kindness he has given thousands of things for our use. We too ought to be just, righteous, knowledgeable, holy, kind etc. This is the meaning of God Worship.
3. Meditation
With meditation, soul becomes so much powerful, that it is not afraid of even the biggest hardship, and it will be able to tolerate it easily.
How To Meditate:
Find a clean and quiet place; sit down in a right posture and close your eyes.
First stop the senses from wondering then start the Pranayam.
Point and hold the mind on the heart, navel or throat (at one of these places); get lost in God by thinking of soul and God.
By doing this repeatedly, soul and the conscious are purified, and the person becomes interested only in truthfulness.
4. Three Eternal Entities
God, souls and matter – always exist. They have no beginning and no end.
God – read the topic on ‘God – His Qualities, Nature and Works’.
Souls – There are numerous souls, but fixed in number. The total count of souls does not change ever. Each living being has an individual soul. In the God’s kingdom, one is identified from the soul, not from the body. Because, soul keeps changing bodies one after another. Same soul may become an ant, elephant, man, woman, lion etc.
Soul, when in a human body, is more or less free to do actions; this is not the case when in a body of an animal; animals act on the natural instinct. Therefore, by the God’s justice system, humans face the consequences of their actions. As a result, one suffers or enjoys in his present life, and also may be born as human, animal, bird or insect after the death. When soul and body joins together, it is called birth; its separation is called death (for more detail on soul, read topic on ‘Soul’).
Matter – matter is never destroyed. All we see, smell, taste, touch or hear is matter. Human body and other living beings are made of matter.
Matter changes shape. By burning wood, it changes into carbon, moisture and gases. It just changed its shape. When vegetables grown from seed, basically they are changing shape with the help of soil, water, sun and air. After eaten and digested, they change the shape again.
5. Soul
Every living being – human, animal, bird or insect has a soul. Presence of the soul in a body keeps one alive. Departure of the soul, causes death. Therefore, bodies of people and animals are pure as long as the soul is present, they are impure after the soul leaves.
Soul stays at one place in a body, but it affects the whole body; just like a lit candle, placed at one place, brightens the whole room.
Soul’s place is near the heart in the body.
Soul is so fine in size, that it cannot be seen with the naked eye or with the help of a microscope.
Soul enters the body with food, drinks, air or through the pores of the skin. First, it gets into the male, at the time of mating, it goes into the female.
Soul is not capable of doing anything without a body. It performs actions only with the help of a body.
Knowledge, effort, desire, resentfulness, happiness and sadness are the qualities of a soul. Dead body is without a soul, therefore, lacks these qualities.
A body changes, because of the presence of a soul. Right from the conception, the growth begins, because of the presence of the soul. There is no growth without a soul.
Soul is never born; it never dies; it always exists.
Weapon can not cut a soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot spoil it, and air cannot dry it.
Soul, by itself, is neither a male, nor a female, nor an unisex. Its sex depends upon the body it gets. Same soul may move from male to female bodies or vice versa, but only after the death of the present one.
6. Mind
Soul’s actions are done through the mind. Soul connects with mind, mind connects with body and body connects with the outer world; which causes knowledge and action.
If the Mind is not with the body, then no action takes place. If the Mind is not with the eyes, we don’t see; if the Mind is not with the ears then we don’t hear.
A dead body does not feel the pain or pleasure, because of the absence of the mind and the soul. The Mind leaves the body along with the soul. The Mind stays along with the soul in the body near the heart.
Mind itself is not a living thing. Therefore, it cannot do anything by itself.
Mind is made of matter. Food is made of matter as well. The kind of food one eats, has a significant effect on one’s mind.
Mind is a storage box of all impressions. All effects of one’s actions, all the knowledge one has acquired, all the experiences one has gained; in this life and in previous lives, stay in the mind. So, it has everything, one has ever experienced. The stronger impressions appear on the surface, the weaker stay buried deep down. Efforts can bring up the impressions on the surface which are buried deep down.
Three states of mind –
Absence of cruelty, absence of greed, staying balanced in pleasure and pain, cleanliness, practicing truth, being just, being peaceful, acquiring knowledge, having patience, etc.
Wandering nature, impatience, being arrogant, etc.
Not using brain, laziness, lack of desire to work, desiring to sleep more and more, lack of desire to learn, using brain in a wrong direction, etc.
Out of all these, the second is better than the third and the first is the best of all.
Finally, to get rid of a bad habit or action, condemn the bad habit or action, in your mind, again and again. More this is condemned, further away one goes from the vices.
Ref: Upnishad, Manusmriti, Sushrut
7. Reincarnation - Rebirth
Reincarnation simply means rebirth. Soul keeps changing the body one after another. It gets a bodies based on its deeds done in human life.
Soul, when in other than human body – e.g. in an animal, a bird or an insect, does not act independently. It acts either under the direction of a human being or just by natural instinct. It does not and cannot think. All its actions are controlled by others or by natural instinct. Because of that, its actions are neither rewarded nor punished.
When leaving human body, if the good deeds equal bad deeds, one is born as an ordinary human being in the next life. If good deeds exceed bad deeds then one is born as an intellectual human being. If bad deeds exceed good deeds, one is born as an animal, a bird or insect etc. based on the severity of the bad deeds.
Basically, deeds good or bad are done through:
thought,
word and
action
One reaps the fruit good or bad by receiving or paying for the deeds done with similar organs. E.g. harsh talker, liar, back stabber etc gets a life of an animal or of a mute human being.
The soul adjusts in the body it gets, whether it is a human, an animal, a bird or an insect. Soul is like water, without a color. Color makes the water colored. Same way, the soul is known as by the body it is in.
Soul continues to move from one body to another. It starts body at the time of conception, and departs at the time of death. Same soul can be a man, woman, elephant, ant or any other living being, and back and forth as well.
As humans discard worn out clothes and wear new ones, similarly soul discards the useless old body and starts a new body.
8. Human Body Compared To A Horse Cart
5 senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and flesh) are means of learning by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. 5 other parts of body (hands, feet, mouth, sexual and waste organs) perform deeds. All these 10 parts of the body are the 10 horses of the human cart. Where Mind is the control, brain is the operator and the soul is the passenger.
The only way, the passenger will get to its destination, if the operator follows instructions from the passenger and has control over the horses. In a situation, when the operator is sleeping or intoxicated, there will not be any control over the horses, they will go anywhere they wish to go, the passenger will never reach to its destination.
So the brain has to be very clear and strong to control the mind and the body, in order to achieve the soul’s goal. Thus, the brain is the most important part of human life.
The goal of the soul is to achieve (long lasting) happiness. To achieve happiness, one has to:
get the right knowledge,
do the good deeds, and
meditate
There is a process and training of oneself, to achieve this goal.
On the other hand, bad deeds (e.g. untruthfulness, injustice) knowingly and unknowingly, lead to miseries.
The human body is considered to be a rented one. It continuously requires rent in the form of air, water and food.
It is said that the human body is great, but the mind is greater, brain is much greater and the soul is the greatest.
Ref: Kathopnishad
9. Humanity
Humanity is considering others pleasure and pain, profit and loss as your own. Not being afraid of unjust person, no matter how powerful he is, and be afraid of just person no matter how powerless he may be. Working with the full force for the protection and promotion of just person, even if one has to suffer heavy losses, even if one loses ones life during the pursuit.
All the living beings other than humans have a common characteristic. i.e. be afraid of the strong and frighten the weak; they even kill others for their selfish motive. Humans with similar characteristics be considered non-human beings. Being kind and helpful to the weak is a human characteristic.
10. Definition Of Non Violence
Never to have enmity of any kind, towards any living being – human, animal, bird or insect, is defined as non-violence.
Hurting, punishing or killing a living being does not by itself make the action violent. It is the cause behind it that matters.
Killing an animal, which kills people or destroys crops, is not an act of violence. Killing an animal or a bird for food or fun is a violent action.
To punish a person for the crime committed is not violence. Rather, not to punish a criminal is a violence. Because, if the criminal is not punished, he would harm many more innocent people, thereby creating much more violence.
The purpose of punishment is to deter the criminal from committing the crime again and to alert the others not to engage in such an act. Only harsh punishment can reduce the crime and save many people from the miseries of the crimes.
If someone attacks you and you respond with force, it is not violence. Anyone trying to harm the society or the nation, should be dealt with firmly and with force. That will save millions from sufferings. Therefore that is non-violence.
Ref: Translation of Yog Darshan by Maharishi Ved Vyas
11. Meat - Not A Human Food
Meat is not a human food. No flesh of any animal, bird, fish or egg etc. is a human food.
Meat is not only unhealthy for the body; it poisons the mind, the intellect and the soul. Eating meat is totally forbidden in the Vedic scriptures.
Rishi Manu in Manusmiriti says:
"He who does not restrain, kill or hurt the living beings, is pro-life and gets lots of happiness."
"You cannot get meat without killing, and killing does not give happiness. Therefore one should not eat meat."
"Because of the way the meat is produced, the killing and torturing the animals; one ought to stay away from eating all kinds of meat."
"Any body, who kills innocent creatures in order to get happiness; he living and even after death does not get happiness."
"He, who orders to kill animals; he who cuts the flesh; he who kills the animals; seller and buyer of animals for killing; he who cooks meat; he who serves meat and he who eats meat these are all killers and sinner.
Vedas speak of caring and protecting animals:
Yajur Veda says: Oh Humans! You do not kill sheep, cow, horse etc.
In Yajur Veda there is a prayer: O God! Protect my people and animals.
Atharva Veda says: Oh cruel man! If you kill our animals like cows, horses, etc. or humans; then we will put you to death so that you will not be able kill them again.
Mahabharta says: He who wants to live, how he can kill others? Humans should wish for others, what they wish for themselves.
Rig Veda tells: Do not kill our cows and horses.
Atharva Veda says: He, who eats raw meat, he who eats human flesh and he who eats eggs: they all ought to be destroyed altogether.
In regards to eating, Vedas talk about grains like wheat, oat rice etc., fruits and vegetables, milk, butter etc. Meat eating is not allowed at all.
Dr. Field writes, every living being knows the life’s happiness and fear of death.
He feels the pain and joy, just like you.
Same one God is the father of all living beings – animals, birds, insects and human beings.
Do the animals and birds want to be killed? No, Not at all. Don’t they feel helpless and miserable when they are being killed? Certainly, they do. Won’t they like to live their full life as we people do? Definitely, they would.
Every living being has a specific purpose for its existence. The purpose, definitely, is other than being killed and eaten by others. Let each one of them be left alone to serve that purpose.
12. Five Causes Of Sufferings
Yoga Philosophy talks about five Causes of Sufferings:-
Ignorance – Root cause of all the other four.
Arrogance
Attachment
Fear of Pain
Fear of Death
Ignorance: There are four types of ignorance.
1. Wrong beliefs – Treating mortal as immortal, immortal as mortal.
Thinking and treating body and things as they will last for ever.
Treating and thinking soul, God and good qualities i.e. truth, justice, etc., as they are not ever lasting.
2. Believing pure which is impure and impure which is pure. Not believing in speaking the truth, being just, helping others and being courteous; rather believing in useless things.
3. Believing the causes of unhappiness as causes of happiness, and causes of happiness as causes of unhappiness. i. e. trying to find happiness in lust, anger, greed, attachment, jealousy, fear of pain; and not finding happiness in the real means of happiness such as love, friendship, contentment, control of senses.
4. Treating living beings as non living and non living beings as living. I.e. believing in stone worship as god worship; No hesitation in hurting, humans or animals treating them as they are non living.
Arrogance: Considering oneself big and arrogant. One attains godly qualities only by being modest.
Attachment: Desire of doing it again, previously done fun things. When one understands that there is always a change in life than this problem goes away.
Jealousy: Getting angry by thinking about the past painful experiences.
Fear of Death: All living beings want to stay alive and do not want to die. This is because of previous life’s experiences. All humans, animals, birds, insects fear death.
13. Ten Principles For Self And Social Uplift
Patience - Having patience during happiness or misery, gain or loss, admiration or insult.
Tolerance - Being tolerant of the harm done to you by someone who is stronger or weaker than you are.
Control of Mind – Keeping the mind away from the bad thoughts and engaging it in the good thoughts.
Refrain from Stealing – Earn money only by just means. No illegal or immoral means be used. No stealing or robbing nor accepting bribe.
Cleanliness – Keep inner cleanliness by shunning jealousies and grudges. Keep outer cleanliness by keeping air, water, food, body, clothes, places and paths clean. Outer cleanliness helps keeping the mind happy.
Proper use of Body – Engage body parts like hands, feet, mouth for a good cause.
Intelligence – Improve intelligence by eating right food, reading good books and keeping good company.
Knowledge – acquire as much knowledge as possible. Learn qualities and uses of all the things around.
Truth – Accepting what you know, saying what you accept and doing what you say.
Avoid Anger – too much anger should be avoided. Normal anger for a right cause may be justified.
Styles of hair and clothes do not make a man or the society. Accepting the truth and rejecting the untruth and following the path of justice, without prejudice, are the real qualities that make a man and the society.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ref: Manusmriti
14. Social Practices
Heaven and Hell defined:
A Person who is particularly in a happy situation is said to be in Heaven and one who is in a particular sad situation is said to be in Hell. There are no special places or planets like Heaven or Hell.
Intoxication:
Use of all kinds of intoxicants – opium, wine, tobacco etc. - is prohibited by Vedic Dharam. These are harmful for the body and the mind. They make a criminal mind, thereby increasing the crime.
Speculation:
All types of speculations are prohibited by Vedic Dharam.
Namaste:
Namaste is a Sanskrit word. It means and stands for – My regard for you or my love for you or my wishes for you, based on the situation.
All our scriptures use the word Namaste for greetings whenever two people meet.
Government:
Just like husk is separated very carefully without breaking the rice, the wicked and criminal people should be separated and punished without hurting the innocent.
As a pregnant female protects the unborn even at the cost of her comfort, the government personnel should watch the public interest even at the cost of their own interests.
PURITY:
Water purifies the external body, not mind and soul.
Mind is purified by being truthful in word, thought, and action.
Soul is purified by being righteous at all costs.
Intellect is purified by analyzing the Universe and the God.
Purity of different kinds of people:
A scholar is purified by having patience
A pervert by giving donations
A wicked by repenting
A vedic scholar by practicing vedic philosophy
Sanskrit and Hindi Languages
Sanskrit language is written in Devnagri alphabet – Sanskrit and Devnagri are as old as the universe itself - about two billion years old. From the beginning of this universe until couple thousand years ago, there has been only one language – Sanskrit, and only one alphabet – Devnagri, in the whole world.
Devnagri is the only alphanet, in the whole world, that has all the possible sounds. And all letters of Devnagri alphabet have natural sounds. All words in Sanskrit language are read and spoken exactly as they are written. Thus, Devnagri is the most scientific alphabet and Sanskrit is the most scientific language.
Arya (Hindi) language is also written in Devnagri alphabet. And, most of the words used in Hindi are from Sanskrit language.
The Dead is Cremated:
After a person dies the body should be burnt and not buried. Burial spoils that piece of land and creates lot of foul smell. Burning a dead body with wood and with stuff that gives good smell like butteroil and saffron does not give foul smell.
If a dead body is thrown in water, the water animals will eat the body, but the water will get polluted. If a dead body is thrown in the woods, the wild animals and birds will eat the body but the air will get polluted.
Last rites are performed on around 12th day after the death. After that there is no other ceremony is suggested.
15. Age Of The Universe
The total age of the earth (past and future) is 4.32 billion years. This is called Brahma Day. After this period God converts all matter into Paramanus. It remains in Parmanu form for the same length of time. i.e. 4.32 billion years. That is called Brahma Night. After Brahma Night God again creates the universe. This cycle of Brahma Day after Brahma Night and Brahma night after Brahma day goes on forever.
Brahma day:
In one Brahma day, there are fourteen Manvantras of human life. Each Manvantra has seventy-one Chaturyugis. There are four Yugas in one Chaturyugi. Satyug has 1,728,000 Years Tretayug has 1,296,000 Years Dwaparyug has 864,000 Years And Kaliyug has 432,000 Years ---------------------- Their sum – Chaturyugi 4, 320,000 Years Total Human life on earth, past and future = 14*71* 4,320,000 Years = 4,294,080,000 YearsThis is equal to = 14*71 = 994 Chaturyugis.
Total time of Brahma day is said to be equal to one thousand Chaturyugis. 994 Chaturyugis is the total time of human life on earth. Out of the remaining six Chaturyugis, three Chaturyugis time is spent in creating the universe and three Chaturyugis time is spent in Converting the matter into Parmanu form.
Past age of human life on earth:
Six Manvantras have passed. Twenty-seven Chaturyugis of seventh Manvantra have passed. Of the twenty-eight Manvantra Satyug, Tretayug and Dwaparyug have passed. In February 2000, 5099 years of the Kalliyug have passed.
Thus, the total past age of human life one earth is calculated as:
Past six Manvantras = 6*71*4,320,000 = 1,840,320,000 Years
Past 27 Chaturyugis of Seventh Manvantra
= 27*4,320,000 = 116,640,000 Years
28th Chaturyugi - Satyug = 1,728,000 Years
- Tretayug = 1,296,000 Years
- Dwaparyug = 864,000 Years
- Kaliyug = 5,099 Years
---------------------------------------------------
Total = 3,893,099 Years
Total of all past years of human life on earth.
= 1,960,853,099 Years
Total remaining years of human life on earth.
= 4,294,080,000 - 1,960,853,099 Years
= 2,333,226,901 Years
16. Creation of the Universe
All the matter was in the form of Parmanu, the smallest particle. Omniscient God combined those Parmanus and created the universe.
Sixty paramanus make one Anuu
Two Anuu Make Air
Six Anuu Make Fire
Eight Anuu Make Water
And Ten Anuu Make Earth
After the Paramanus are combined to create the universe, the left out space is the sky.
God firstly made air, then fire, then water, then earth then herbs, then grains, then living beings. Men and women was the last to be created after all the animals, birds, insect’s etc. were created.
In the beginning, God created many men and women, all in their youth. No children or elderly people were created. The reproduction system started after that.
God created the human life at the place now known as Tibet. After some time, when the population grew, some people known as Aryas moved to the place now known as India. And, the place was named as Aryavrat. Thus, Aryavrat is the original name of India. Later, people moved to other parts of the world from Tibet.
In February 2000, number of years passed since God first created men and women on earth is 1,960,853,099. Aryas have been counting each day since the creation for the human life on earth. They have been writing these dates in their calendar and Astronomy books. Even now, while performing certain ceremonies like marriage, an Arya priest reads the date since human life began on earth.
Men and women now are in the same style and shape as were created by God in the beginning. They did not descend from any other species.
17. Vedic Scriptures
All Vedic Ancient scriptures are in Sanskrit language. Sanskrit is the first language on the earth. Most of the languages of the world including English have been derived from Sanskrit. Hindi, English and other translations are available for most of the following scriptures:
Veda: The Vedas are the most important scripture. The meaning of the word Veda is knowledge. The Vedas were revealed in 4 sections at the dawn of the creation to the 4 saints (Rishis):
Rig Veda - Agni Rishi
Yajur Veda - Vayu Rishi
Sam Veda - Aditya Rishi
Atharva Veda - Angira Rishi
Upanishads: The word Upanishad means "to sit near". In ancient days, devotees sat near the Rishis to listen to the discourses. Those discourses compiled into the books are called Upanishads. The Upanishads are many in number, but eleven are considered most important. They are Ish, Ken, Kath, Prashna, Mundak, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taitareya, Chhandogya, Brihdarnayak and Shvetashvetar.
Manusmiriti: The Manusmriti is famous among scriptures, and the author is Manu. Rules for religion, political and social conduct are contained in Manusmriti.
Ramayan: The Ramayan is the first great composition of Sanskrit literature written by Valmiki Muni. It portrays a picture of the society in the Vedic and Upanishadic ages. Religion’s principles of the Vedas and Upanishads were not just found in theory but practiced in real life.
Mahabharat: The Mahabharat is also a great epic written by Vyas Muni. The Mahabharat depicts how people resort to injustice and oppressive means because of their greed, pride, selfishness and hypocrisy. Alongside this picture, it shows how the virtuous have undergone troubles and sufferings in upholding the path of truth and justice.
Bhagvad Gita: The Gita is a part of the great epic, Mahabharat. Its significance is so great that it stands out as a scripture in itself. Commentaries on the Vedas, are found in the Upnishads; while the essence of the Upanishads is containied in the Gita. Arjun was standing confused to fight with his own relatives in the battlefield. It was on this occasion the Yogiraj Krishan imparted true knowledge to Arjun and enlightened him with his course of action.
Darshans: The word ‘Darshan’ means observation and a detailed examination. Darshans explain the relationship between God, Soul and Matter. Their teachings lead us to our goal of God-realization. These teachings have been discussed very deeply in the six Darshans. The six Darshans and their authors are:
NYAYA - Gautam Muni
VAISHESHIKA - Kanad Muni
SAMKHYA - Kapil Muni
YOGA - Patanjali Minu
MIMANSA - Jaimini Muni
VEDANTA - Vyasa Muni
Satyarth Praksash (Light Of Truth):Satyarth Prakash has been written by Swami Dayanand. Just as other Scriptures have been prepared on the teachings expounded by the Vedas, Satyarth Prakash also contains explanations and clarifications of Vedic principles on all walks of life.
Rigved-adi-bhashya-bhumika (Introduction to Vedas): This is also written by Swami Dayanand. Various topics found in Vedas are discussed here. This book is full of knowledge and worth reading.
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