The Avadhuta Datta Peetham, which was established in 1966, has been promoting Vedic education from the very first day of its inception. The Veda Patashala is now in its 25th year of running; and the Silver Jubilee function is being celebrated,so as to serve as motivation for the continuous effort of preservingsuch education. These celebrations are being conducted at the national level and a large number of Veda students, scholars, and well-wishers have come together, in order to participate in this truly momentous event.
The modern education system development was aimed at meeting the requirements of society. Several types of education and areas of study have come into existence, and all of these serve the needs of society. This is not the case with Vedic education. It is ancient education. The present day learners and people question the utility of studying the ancient Vedas, and the benefits that such education would bestow upon society and the student.
It could be contended that the Veda mantras are essential for conducting pujas, marriages, and other Hindu religious rites. However, the study of the Smartha portions of the Vedas is sufficient for such limited needs, and there is no necessity to study the entire Vedas. These arguments are valid, and finding appropriate rejoinders, to them will promote societal welfare. In order to address these arguments, it is essential to recognise what the Vedas are.
A divine Nada flows in each and every living creature on earth. It is like an internal light. In humans, it demonstrates itself clearly; and it constitutes the light of life that begins at birth and continues till death. However, it is difficult for human beings to perceive it, in the absence of piety, a Satwic nature and purity of thought.
In the Kali era, these qualities are absent in humans. That is why most people do not witness the Divine Nada within themselves. One can witness it by covering one’s ears, which will enable one to hear a buzzing sound. That sound is representative of the Divine Nada.
This barely audible sound is known as the Pranavanada. If an individual listens to this sound with the utmost of concentration, then that person will hear melodious tunes from within. The ancient Maharishis have affirmed that these melodious sounds are the Vedas. They had experienced this sound and realised that it was the Vedas. The Maharishis experienced the meaning of those sounds, which were generated inside them, and they understood the meaning of those sounds.
The Vedas emerged in the Kritha Era, in this manner; and the great entities who had heard these mantras internally, are known as Rishis. These mantras were manifested to them first and they witnessed their meanings, subsequently.
In the normal course of composing a poem, the poet first imagines something and then arrangesthe words in rhyme. However, this system does not apply to the Vedas, which first manifested to the Rishis and thereafter their meaningfollowed.
After hearing a song or poem, we cannot claim that it belongs to us, even though we can sing or recite it. Consequently, the Rishis did not claim authorship of the mantras. They did not know who created the mantras and who had expounded the mantras to them. As such, they called the mantras Apourushas. The Rishis believed that the Lord Paramatma hadbestowed the mantras upon them. They treated the mantras as the instruction of the Lord Paramatma, and changed their way of living, in accordance with the instructions in the mantras they had heard.
Moreover, the Rishis imparted these mantras to those who could not hear them on their own. The Rishis taught these mantras by setting them to melodious tunes. The Maharishis of yore saw that the students who chanted the mantras, in the prescribed manner, developed adequate power to recognise the Pranava Nada that emerges internally. This amazed the Maharishis.
They also noticed that the regular chanting of the mantras revealed by the Lord Paramatma, rendered wild animals docile. Thus, the wild animals in the surroundings of their Ashrams became non-violent. In addition, the chanting of the mantras established peace in society.
With the passage of time, there has been a systematic reduction in the generation of mantras within the soul. Although the succeeding generations chanted the mantras passed on to them by the previous generations, they were unable to witness the Vedas within themselves.
They realised that the Vedas had to be studied continuously, by following the precept Swadhyayaanma pramadaha . Moreover, they explained and drafted the rulesfor studying the Vedas. These entities comprehended the essence and objectives of the Veda and transmitted them to their succeeding generations.
It has been stated that the chant of Vedic mantras provides a variety of outcomes. How do results emerge from the mere chant of mantras?
In the ancient days, the study of Vedas was different from that of the present day. Students were taught a verse and its meaning at the same time. To enhance the understanding capability of the students, special training was provided to them by teaching them the necessary subjects.
Maharishi Patanjali, in his explanatory text on grammar, had written that anena vyakaranamadheetham – enam chandodhyapaya. This can be understood as the student has succeeded in the study of grammar and he is eligible to study the Veda. This example describes the Vedic education system of that period. Furthermore, the student has to receive the outcomes enshrined in the mantra after studying it. That was the level of competence demanded of the student, and progress to the next mantra was dependent on the realisation of the result of the mantra under study.
In the Rig-Veda, there are some mantras, termed the Samidheni Riks. On being chanted the wooden logs should catch fire, and this is what the Veda states.
Once there was a guru, who had two students studying the Veda under his tutelage. As part of their education, these students had to perform service to the guru. One day they took their guru’s cattle to the forest, in order to graze them. As the cows were grazing, they sat in the shadow of a tree and began to repeat the verses they had learnt. One of them could recall the verses faster than the other, and he proudly announced that he was cleverer than his slower companion. The other student disagreed with him, and contended that the mere recall of mantras did not imply that the reciter had learnt them. This led to an argument over the extent to which they had learned the mantras, and they agreed to establish their respective stances by attempting to obtain the outcome of the mantras.
They gathered and made two heaps of dry sticks, and each one of them sat in from of a heap. Then they chanted the Samidheni mantras, and the heap before the first student, who was faster at recalling the mantras, began to emit smoke. However, there was fire in the heap before the second student, by that time. The first student accepted his defeat and began to study the Veda mantras with the same degree of care, as was being employed by the second student. He realised that the mere chanting of the mantras would not provide the result. Therefore, one has to recite the Veda mantras with unswerving concentration.
Mantras will be fruitful for those who have mastered Sabdabrahmopasana. For such people, the effect of the mantras will be manifested immediately. The Maharishis demonstrated this Vedic fact in their life. The Vedas are vast and have several extensive branches. The complete study of the Vedas is not possible for humans, with their limited longevity and limited mental capacity. Recognising this limitation, Maharishi Veda Vyasa simplified the study of the Vedas, and reduced the content for ordinary humans. The subsequent Maharishis established a system, wherein they allocated each branch of the Vedato different families. Thereafter they imposed a duty on these families to protect and promote Vedic study. This system has stood the test of time, and this is borne out by the fact that the study of the Vedas is still in vogue in India. As a result of this, peace is established in India, and our countryhas emerged as the abode of peace in the world.
The capacity of the present day historians to describe the past does not extend beyond four or five millennia. India hadnever conquered any countryor waged war against any other country. Moreover, it had never suffered defeat, from other conquerors in direct wars. A few external forces had occupied this country, by engineering coups and engendering conspiracies. As such, no nation, conqueror or intruder had won over India in a war.
Many foreign historians have acknowledged this fact and documented it in their books. However, they failed to recognise that peace in India had come through the practice of the Vedas. They are still in the process of investigating this secret. A few of these scholars had realised this great truth, but they chose to remain silent, due to their personal commitments and convictions.
Recently, in the US, the Senate commenced with the chant of peace invocations from the Vedas. Americans have been more aware of the power of Veda mantras than the others. Although, the world understands the power of the Vedas, it is disheartening to note that Indians do not recognise the importance of studying the Vedas.
The Veda mantras have to be heard when a Veda scholar is chanting them, in accordance to the Guru tradition. By listening to pre – recorded Veda mantras, the desired effects cannot be obtained. The live chanting of the Veda mantras effectively transmits peace to the entire world. Those who learn the Veda mantras are under a duty to spread Vedic chanting, in order to establish peace. If they fail to do so, then they will be liable for the negative outcomes, attendant upon the wrong pronunciation or non-chanting of these mantras.
The welfare of the society and the world depends on Vedic scholars, who can chant the Veda mantras. This is the major problem being envisaged, because the number of such scholars is limited in the extreme. The present Veda students learn the Veda only to the extent required to perform marriages and other rites. That is not enough, and does not resolve the problem.
The Vedas have to be studied thoroughly, and its students have to fully comprehend the meaning and context of the mantras. This is indispensable for establishing peace in the world.
The ancient Maharishis did not repair to the forests, after learning the Vedas, to live as nomads and forest – dwellers. They established large cities, developed civilization, and established the structure of society, so that the people could lead a peaceful and prosperous life. They taught the people to live in a civilised manner. These Maharishis understood the laws underlying the physical sciences, through the study of the Vedas. For instance, sciences, such as Ayurveda, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Metallurgy, science of light, Economics, Zoology and Botany owe their origin to the Veda mantras. There were several thousand large volumes on these sciences in those days.
Unfortunately, a large number of these scriptures were destroyed by the foreign invaders. The non-Hindu rulers burned Vedic scriptures during their invasion and subsequent despotic rule. The names of some of these books are to be found in the existing literature.
Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji has established the I-Serve institute for the purpose of restoring these lost books. The members of this institution are searching for the remaining books, in all the States of India. In addition, they are studying the books found during their quests.
Consequently, the Vedas constitute the mother of all sciences in the Universe. It provides excellent physical sciences that are useful for humanity rather than destroying it by means of weapons of mass destruction, which are developed through the incomplete physical sciences. If this project is successful, then India will emerge as a Superpower in the future.
In order to accomplish that status, all of us have to perform our duty of studying the Vedas. The processes of learning and reading the Vedas will have to be reviewed and altered to suit modern times. Involving all the families, in this task may not be realisable in practice. Hence, the families that are presently involvedin the study and practice of the Vedas are to be supported.
It is the need of the hour for society to accord the due dignity to those who study and practice the Vedas as their profession. The Vedic profession has to be honoured and provided with all possible support. Those who sponsor Veda scholars must attempt to allot some time to learn and study the Vedas, and the people have to work hard to learn the Vedas.
The education system has to be changed, in a manner that conforms to the changing patterns of society and the nation. The government has to implement a new education system that encompasses the study of the Vedas. This Vedic education has to be permitted to develop independently, without seeking the help of the government or the people for resources. This is the immediate duty of the nation.
The young people, who are studying the Vedas have misgiving regarding their career and adopting the Veda as a profession. This is natural, and its cause is the failure of the people to regard the Vedas as the highest science. They fear to adopt the Vedas as a profession because of their limited ideas about the Vedas. Most of the people consider the Vedas to consist of the chanting of Vedic mantras. The problem arises due to such narrow thinking.
The popular and unfortunate belief is that even after procuring the highest academic qualification in the Veda, one has to be on the lookout for donations. This is the general view of the young aspirants, regarding the study of the Vedas. This leads to frustration and resentment towards the Vedic education. The basis for all these undesirable assumptions is the conclusion that the Vedas are solely meant for chanting purposes. The ancient Maharishis had not thought about the Vedas in this way. They went beyond the mere chanting of the Vedas.
Although the chanting of the Veda is great and it spreads peace in society, it is not all that there is to know about the Vedas. The Vedas have a much wider import.
Prathyakshe nanumithya va yasthupayo na budhyathe|
Enam vidanthi vedena thasmadwedasya vedatha||
The Vedas provide superior knowledge, and disclose the secret of Creation. There are several hidden secrets in the Creation, which cannot be disclosed through human endeavours, such as inventions and discoveries. The Veda reveals all the secrets of Creation, and that is why it is termed the Veda.
People, who assume the sea as a body of salt water, may take a ride in the beach and derive pleasure out of it. Those who traverse the waters in boats may venture forth to some distance and engage in fishing. However, people who take pains to go deep inside the sea can gather diamonds and precious stones from the sea bed.
The Veda is akin to an ocean. Those who study the Vedas must learn the other required sciences. The study of other subjects will enhance their mental capability and extend the vistas of their minds. This helps them to perform research on the Veda, along different directions, with the aid of these other subjects. Such multi – disciplinary research has the capacity to reveal a larger number of hidden secrets and facts in the Vedas, to the world. In other words, such research on the Vedas would prove to be beneficial to the world.
Some of the students of the Vedas entertain a feeling of despondency, due to the repetitive nature of their studies, which involves the chanting of the Vedas, throughout the day in school. They compare themselves with the students in modern colleges, and this further escalates their frustration.
However, the students of modern education have to work for a salary in commercial or governmental organisations. They earn a salary, in order to lead their life, and this applies to all the students in the modern education system.
The students in the IITs and residential schools study for fifteen hours a day. They are not given holidays; even to attend celebrations, at their home. Subsequent to around two decades of study in such a system, these students secure highly remunerative managerial jobs.
Similarly, the students of the Vedas should work hard during their education, and learn other subjects along with the Vedas. Such combination will provide them with better opportunitiesto plan their career in research. They can lead a better life and benefit the world with their research on the Vedas. After the completion of their education, they can secure jobs in any field, and also practice the chanting of the Veda mantras. This will increase by twofold their earning capacity.
The chant of the Vedas bestows virtue and peace. The students of the Vedas have a wide choice of employment opportunities. This was not the situation in the past. There are several Vedic institutions in India, which provide good job opportunities, as tutors and research scholars in their schools. Several universities attach much importance to students who conduct research in the Vedas and associated subjects.
There are exclusive universities for Vedic studies, such as Sri Venkateswara Veda University. Their number is bound to increase in the near future. These universities provide new opportunities for research in Vedic studies and principles. Such research work requires the knowledge of other subjects and sciences. Thus, every Veda student should learn other subjects, in addition to the Vedas.
Moreover, Vedic education should not be limited to children from the families of priests and economically backward classes. Every section of society should make their children undergo Vedic education. The increase of Veda students will restore peace in the world and increase the number of discoveries in the Vedas. This should be the aim of each and every traditional family in India.
Jaya Guru Datta
Note
Sri Swamiji declares, “know the meaning of the mantra you are chanting, know the purpose of the work you are doing – know these from the elders, if you do not know.”
In order to understand the meaning of the mantras and prayers chanted daily, one should have knowledge of Sanskrit. Sri Swamiji recommends that everyone should acquire knowledge of Sanskrit. He encourages the people to study Sanskrit, and He instructs devotees to study the Scriptures.
Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Sanskrit Patashala has a separate branch, for the study of the Scriptures. Sri Rani Krishnamurthi Sastry, Sri Telakapalli Viswanadha Sarma, Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthi, and several other scholars of eminence, have studied in this school. They are now teaching the Scriptures, grammar, applications, and the Vedas to the students.