Understanding the Vedic Message, by Dr. B.V. Venkatakrishna Sastry
This article is extracted from a paper titled ‘Challenges faced by Hindu Youth in USA - Living a Vedic life in global religious and irreligious villages’ presented by Dr. B V Venkatakrishna Sastry of the Hindu University of America at the Vedic Conference, Saltillo, Mexico during March 30-31, 2006. The last hundred and twenty five years have seen a spread of the Hindu Renaissance movement, with an interest among the scholarly in the true interpretation of the Vedas.
Understanding the Vedas
Traditional understanding of the Vedas rests on the use of six auxiliary disciplines of Vedic studies- namely: Chandas, Vyākaraṇa, Shikṣhā, nirukta, Jyotiṣha, Kalpa. The revelation in the Vedas is interpreted according to the grammar rule base provided by Pāṇini. Each Vedasakha is structured into chapters (adhyayas, Kandas) consisting of hymns. Each hymn is considered a mantra whose notation of recitation of is fixed. Each mantra is ingrained with the power of its words if recited in the manner determined by the seers. The fullest benefit from the Veda mantras can result only if no word is changed; and no unauthorized upward or downward drift in the note occurs in the recitation.
How the Vedic knowledge was transmitted
Vedas are called Śhruti or that which is heard. Without being recorded in writing, the Veda-śhākhās have been passed from generation to generation, in the ancient method of learning, by word of mouth, by listening and repeating, in the guru-śhiṣhya (master-disciple) tradition. One main reason for not learning from written text is that several sounds do not lend themselves to be accurately reproduced phonetically. They fall in between two syllables and can only be transmitted orally.
A foolproof method of Veda recitation is to chant each mantra in various patterns and combinations known as saṃhitā, pada, karma, jatā, mālā, śhikhā, rekhā, daṇda, ratha and ghana. The main objective of reciting in so many modes or patterns is to make no mistake in the original meaning and sound pattern of the words. i.e. the accurate preservation and transmission of the original sounds. This system of complex recitation was devised in very early times in order to preserve the purity of the word, sound, intonation, pronunciation, accent and sound- combination of the mantras. By repeating the words in manifold ways, the correct tally of the words is always kept which automatically ensures the purity of the texts. Using this technique, Vedic mantras have been preserved by the ancient seers, without resort to writing, by very exacting methods of recitation.
Reinterpreting the Vedas with changing times
The Vedas are not considered as belonging to any time period or to the authorship of any one individual or race. Every historic period (Yuga cycle) has lived its version and understanding of the Vedas while the Vedas themselves haven’t changed. Each period has its way of living Vedic life style. The living of Vedic tradition in Tretā Yuga period according to the description in Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki is redefined in the Dwāpara-yuga period of Mahābhārta by Sage Vyāsa. Lord Ŝrī Kṛṣṇa, the God incarnate recommends the distilled essence of Vedas placed in Bhagavad-gīta for the kali-Yuga. The Bhāgavata-Purāṇa marks the next redefinition of the Vedas for a society which is dynamically changing. These series of Dharma-śhāstra’s have provided seamless connectivity between the revelations and the model to live Vedic life style in each period of time.
Prof Venkatakrishna Sastry has been teaching at the Hindu University of America (www.hindu-university.edu) for the last 4 years. He teaches courses on Hinduism in general, Hindu philosophy and practices, meaning of various rituals and symbols, Sanskrit language and deeper meaning of its various words, Yoga Sutras, Spiritual linguistics, etc. He holds a doctorate degree from India. You can reach Prof Sastry at sastry_bvk@hindu-university.edu.
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