An Introduction to Vedic Religion Part 1

The Vedic corpus and literature interests me tremendously especially that of the Rg Veda. Having read the principal Upanishads earlier, I focused my attention to Vedic religion and the underlying thought; more so because several fundamental tenets of Hindu philosophy have their source in one of the four Vedas. The word “Veda” itself derives from the Sanskrit root, “vid” which simply means “to know” or “to understand”.

The great Rşhi Dirghatamas Auchetya speaks about the home of the Vedas in the Rg Veda at 1.164.39 as follows:

“ऋचो अक्षरे परमे व्योमन् यस्मिन् देवा अधि विश्वे निषेधुः”

“The riks abide in an immutable supreme ether (“parame vyoman”) where are seated all the Gods”.

The Rşhi or Rşhikā received the revelation of wisdom from this plane (“parame vyoman”) when he/she was in a superconscient state. They simply transcribed it into verses or mantrās with appropriate words and metres.

I believe that the Vedas are the only surviving records of the experiences of our forefathers in their spiritual journey – a record which also contains several detailed “clues”, for want of a more appropriate word, about the nature of the path to be followed so that each and every one of us may aspire to and ultimately achieve a state of all-rounded perfection and super-conscience.

This is the goal of the Veda – the all round perfection and state of consciousness – progressing upward from experience to experience finally culminating in the the Supreme Sat Chit Ananda, the triple divine worlds, the highest of which is “satya lokam” – the source of lasting peace.

Vedic thought then centrally concerns itself with the attainment of this state of immortal good and felicity and the underlying journey. This journey that we undertake towards this Vast Righteous Truth is the Vedic sacrifice – a climb from one spiritual mountain to the next, a long and arduous toil to finally arrive at the great waters of light and infinite beatitude.

I will write more about the central concepts of Vedic thought gradually.

आ नो भद्राः क्रत्तवो यन्तु विश्वतः

Peace
S