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Articles: Devotion | Essence of Vedas
- Sanvi Sarma
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The word 'Veda' is evolved from the root 'Vid' which means 'to know'. In other words one can say that 'knowing' is synonymous to the word 'knowledge'.The term 'Veda' means knowledge.
Vedas are also known as 'Shruti' the word 'Shruti'is evolved from the root 'Shru' which means 'to hear'. It is said that the Gods dictated the Vedas and the Sages first 'heard them' and memorised them. It was passed on to successive generations verbally for thousands of years till it was compiled in the form of books.
There are Four Vedas - Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Atharvaveda.
The Richas of the Rigveda are eulogies and prayers through which deities have been invoked. The Yajurveda speaks of the different types of Yagya (religious sacrifices). The Samveda consists of many a richas which also finds mention in 'Rigveda'. These samvedic richas are famous for their lyrical and musical beauty. The Atharvaveda contains lots of information on both material-world as well as spiritual world.
The Essence of Rigveda:
What is Rigveda? And what are it's contents?
The richas of Rigveda are called 'Suktis, which mean 'beautiful statements'. In other words, a collection of very beautifully composed incantations is a Sukta. The Sukta is also synonymous to Richas. 'Rit' means - an incantation that contains 'eulogies' and 'Veda' means knowledge. It is difficult to understand Rigveda without proper understanding of vedic sanskrit, the language in which 'Richas' or 'Suktas' were composed.
The Richas of Rigveda are in fact eulogies through which deities have been invoked. Apart from that, it also has incantations containing 'brilliant-thoughts', which our ancient sages arrived at after their minute observations, contemplation and analysis of the natural phenomena they came across. Each and every phenomenon of nature was a matter to contemplate upon for the sages. They marveled at the orderly way in which mother nature functions. The rigvedic richas are beautiful expressions to their feelings.
Rigveda is the oldest Veda. It comprises of 10 Mandals, 102 Suktas and contains 10,552 mantras. These mantras are filled with powerful and inspiring thoughts. These richas are inexhaustible source of knowledge. They enlightened the human mind by removing the darkness of ignorance. Darkness symbolizes 'ignorance' or 'lack of knowledge',which makes us no better than an animal.
SAMVEDA
Saam Veda is considered to be the source from which Indian music has originated.It is said in the Chandogya Upanishad that
YAA RIK TATSAAMA
A compilation of richas(shlokas ) is known as 'Saama'.
RICHI ADHYOODHA SAAMA
Richas form the basis of Saam.
VAACHAH RIGRASAH RICHAH SAAMARASAH | SAAMNA UDVITHO RASAH ||
The beauty of speech lies in the 'Richas', the beauty of richas lie in the 'Saama' and the beauty of the 'Saama' lies in the individual's capability to sing it.The richas of Saamaveda are sung in a typical style- the pitch is kept high initially and it is lowered in a gradual manner. The richas of Saama veda when sung in a proper manner has soothing effects on the wavering mind.
None other than Yogeshwar Sri Krishna Himself has eulogised the greatness of Samaveda in the following manner-
VEDAANAMA SAAMAVEDO ASMI
meaning ' Amongst Vedas,I am the Saamaveda”
Saamaveda comprises of two main parts
(i) Purvarchik (2) Uttararchik
The middle portion in between them is called 'Mahaanaam-nyaarchik',which itself comprises of 10 incantations
Purvarchik itself is sub-divided into 4 sections - Aagneya, Endra,Paavmaan and Aaranya.
The distribution of mantras in each skanda (section ) is as follows -
NAME NO.OF MANTRAS
AAGNEYA 114
ENDRA 352
PAAVMAAN 119
AARANYA 55
MAHANAMNYARCHIK 10
TOTAL 650
There are 21 chapters in the Uttararchik which contain 1225 mantras. All together there are 1875 mantras in the Samaveda.
Initially, the Saamveda had thousands of singing styles, each distinct from the other and most of which became extinct with the passage of time. At present there are few scholars who could recite the richas of Saamveda in the traditionally approved way. Such blessed scholars can still be found in south India,especially in and around Mysore.These scholars mainly come from 3 different schools now famous as Raanaayani,Kauthumi and Jaiminiya.
There are some scholars who are of the belief that most of the richas of Samaveda are in fact extracts from the Rigveda with few exceptions. However,It is worth noticing here, that the recitation styles of both Samaveda and Rigveda are evidently distinct.Vedic sanskrit being a complex language, its meaning and context are susceptible to mis-interpretation particluarly if we try to understand it with the help of modern sanskit grammer, which has undergone a sea change from the vedic times.
As it has been already said earlier, the richas of Samaveda being metrical,hence they can be sung. At the time of 'havan', deities are invoked with these mantras. There are specific mantra for the invocation of each vedic deity. The use of all the 7 musical notes adds to the mesmerising effects of the richas of Saamaveda. As mentioned earlier. Indian music owes its origin to Saamveda. Saam Veda holds special significance with respect to the evolution and growth of Indian music. One gets divine peace while listening to the incantations of Saama-Veda.
ATHARVAVEDA
The Essence of AtharvavedaThe fourth veda is Atharvaveda. The word 'Tharva' means fickle or unsteady.Therefore, the word 'Atharva' means that which is unwavering, unchanging or steady. This is beautifully said in sanskrit as follows THARVA GATI KARMAA NA THARVA ITI ATHARVA |The philosophy of Yoga speaks that-YOGASH CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHAH | i.e. controlling the fickle impulses of the mind and consequently the senses is 'yoga'. The Gita reiterates that when the mind is free from impure thoughts,it becomes steady and the person becomes resolute or 'Sthita-Pragya'. The term 'Atharva' therefore refers to positive moulding of personality by controlling our senses and steading the thought processes of mind. The 'Atharvaveda' speaks comprehensively on wide ranging subjects Social structure, Yoga, the human anatomy and different ailments it suffers from, spirituality and of course religion apart from many other important subjects. This knowledge is of immense value to humanity and is hence worth bringing in practice.
The Atharvaveda is a fusion of prose and poetry. A number of valuable informations related to Ayurveda find mention here, and for this very reason Ayurveda is also considered to be the Upaveda (Sub-Veda) of Atharvaveda.
The Essence of Yajurveda
The desire to implement the thoughts into actions is natural.Good thoughts naturally culminates into good actions. Yajurveda inspire human-beings to walk on the path of Karma (deeds) . That is why it is also referred to as Karma-Veda. The mantras of the Yajurveda inspire us to indulge in good deeds.
The first incantation of Yajurveda commands us to perform action
DEVO VAH SAVITAA PRAARPAYATU SHRESHTHA TAMAAYA KARMANE |
Meaning : O Creator of the universe ! inspire all of us to perform supreme deeds.
Similarly, the second mantra of the 40'th chapter of the Yajurveda commands us to perform our Karma -
KURVANNE VEHA KARMAANI JIJIVISHECHCHAT SAMAAH|
Meaning : Desire to live for a 100 years performing your Karma.
There are many branches of Yajurveda just like the rest of the three Vedas but 2 branches namely Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajurveda are prominent. There is a beautiful story associated with this Veda.
Rishi Yagyavalkya acquired the knowledge of Yajurveda from his maternal uncle Vaishampayan. Later on, due to some reason the Guru became angry at his disciple and ordered him to return whatever he had tought. Yagyavalkya had no option but to obey the command of his Guru. He forsook everything he had learnt from his Guru by vomiting out all the knowledge of Yajurveda. On the orders of the Guru, the other disciples consumed all the knowledge assuming the form of Partridges (Teetar). This is how Yajurveda came to be known as 'Taitteriya- Samhita'. Later on, sage Yagyavalkya pleased Lord Surya by his tremendous devotion and was blessed with Shukla-Yajurveda. Due to the evil effects of impure minds the Mantras (Yajus) turned black in colour and this was how it got the name 'Krishna-Yajurveda'.
Shukla Yajurveda is composed in verses just like the Rigveda. Terms like 'Yagya' and 'Yajuh' are derived from the root -
' Yaja deva Pujaa Sangati karana daaneshu'
The Yajurveda includes mantras which are in fact eulogies through which different deities have been invoked. It also contains mantras describing the procedure of vedic rituals and religious sacrifices(Yagya). The Yajurveda comprises of 40 chapters and 1975 mantras.
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