The secret of The Vedas वेदरहस्य

Based on notes of  a lecture by Dr Narendra Joshi

The Secret of the Vedas

By Sri Aurobindo

वेदरहस्य

Western minds searched for sociology, economy, Aryan invasion myth in it.

Created permanent damage

Even great Indian like Tilak said Aryan was a race and they came from outside: such is the deep rooted divide.

Fortunately, modern era some seers appeared again like Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo and they SAW the Vedas. Their writings are thus very important for us.

The words have two meanings : apparent and mystic. For common people and for deserving initiates.

The Symbolic age when everything was symbolic

The Seer or Drashta was a : Priest   seer  teacher :

Does it have Science  yes:  astronomy, medicine, for sure but other parts  difficult to prove.

Word are not constructed , they are evolved : Words like plants, animals are living growths of sound with certain seed words as their basis.

Seed word or root word have like living beings their   tribes clans families

Initially nerves created words : ie  Agni and Vayu

Not intellect   Indra

General characteristics and quality Guna

With number of applications and possible significances

Finally idea becomes all important and sound is secondary

Shlesh     idea (N) = ONE     word                words (N)= ONE  idea

Later in intellect period and non precision abundance was lost and made precise.

Vruk  tearer or wolf   

Dhenu  Nourisher,  fosterer cow

RIG VEDA   is one in all its parts (all 10 mandalas have same substance ideas and images

Ext    Kratu   action, works of sacrifice         psych power effect of action i.e. will

Sravas     hearing fame                                               revealed knowledge inspiration

Drishti   seeing sight                                                   revelation  

Namas  bending down, prostrate                            inward prostration, surrender to deity

Agni :   Not physical heat and light : symbol of sacrificial fire

Has double aspect of force and light : power that has perfect knowledge

Jatvedas     knower of past births

                     Gods have established Agni as immortal in mortals The divine power within man – energy of fulfillment through which they do their work in him.

This work is symbolized by sacrifice. He is both Satyam and Rhitam

Communication between mortal and immortal medium  Dut

Mortal can become immortal

Agni shines out in the sacrifices. He is the guardian of the Truth. Of the Ritam, increases in his own home – Truth vast

Opening 4 verses (p68)

1)     Truth Consciousness supramental and divine

2)     Invocation of the gods as powers of the truth to raise man out of the falsehoods of the mortal mind

3)     The attainment in and by this truth of an  immortal state of perfect  god and felicity and the inner sacrifice and offering of what one has & is by the mortal to the Immortal as the means of the divine consummation.

All the rest of the Vedic thought in its spiritual aspects is grouped around these central conceptions.

Daksha  will and discernment

Dakshina  female form of Daksha

Four faculties of Truth Consciousness

Ila         Truth Vision revelation

Saraswati             Truth  Audition inspiration Divine word

Sarama        Intuition

Dakshina      Separative  Intuitional discrimination

Indra Mind Power    Indriya    Swar Sur Surya

 Pir..     Hurt Injure   Pishacch, Devil

Vayu   =Prana or Life energy

Indra = Mind

Invite to partake Soma wine= divine delight of being Ananda

powers of the Truth:

Varun= Destroys all enemies and hurters      Mitra= purified judgement

Ghru: clarified butter   bright sprinkle   bright activity of brain power  = Medha

Varun is also Power of wideness and purity : destroyer of all that limits and hurts

Mitra : Love Joy and Harmony

 

***

Theme	मुलधारा	वेद	Verses	Mahavakyas*
Knowing	लक्षण	ऋग्वेद	१०५५२/१०६००	1
Seeing	साक्षात्कार	अथर्ववेद	१८७३	2
Experiencing	स्वानुभव	यजुर्वेद	१९७६/१९७५	3
Explaining	उपदेश	सामवेद	५०३८	4

*The Mahavakyas are:

1.  prajñānam brahma - "Consciousness is Brahman" (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3  of the Rig Veda)

2.  ayam ātmā brahma - "This Self (Atman) is Brahman" (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of the Atharva Veda))

3.  aham brahmāsmi - "I am Brahman" (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)

4.  tat tvam asi - "Thou art That" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda))

Etymolgoy: Mahavakyas; (sing.: mahāvākya, महावाक्य; plural: mahāvākyāni, महावाक्यानि)

That excellence is this you tat tvam asi - "Thou art That"   Teaching	That excellence is this me aham brahmāsmi - "I am Brahman" Experience
That excellence is this consciousness prajñānam brahma - "Consciousness is Brahman" Knowing	That excellence is this self ayam ātmā brahma - "This Self (Atman) is Brahman" Seeing

Model is by Sri G. Narayana