Anonymous: Namaste Swamiji, I am married, have two beautiful kids a daughter and a son and live with in-laws. I recently gave up meat. I am educated and have a good job. Yet I am not happy. Something is bothering me. I know I am a perfect freak and try to be perfect in my role as wife, daughter-in-law and mother. My constant worry is what if I don’t perform my duties perfectly. I am always trying to make other people happy as it gives me joy. But recently I have noticed that no matter how hard I try, I cannot make them as happy. And that saddens me. Deep down I am very sad and keep questioning myself where did I go wrong. Can you advise?
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji.

It is a good and pious news that you’ve given up non-vegetarian food. Atharvaveda states that those who give up non-vegetarian food, God forgives them for their earlier sins of eating non-vegetarian. Happiness is a matter of spiritualism and it is not materialistic article or requirement, please.

Materialistic articles like earnings, building, food, car, clothes, gold etc., are the articles to be used by human body only i.e., such articles are the requirements of human body. The soul resides in the body and does not require the same because the food of the soul is spiritual education like listening to Vedas, doing name jaap of God practicing Ashtang Yoga Philosophy under guidance of a learned acharya.

So the peace is attained by such persons only otherwise sorrows and pleasure are result of previous lives’ deeds (luck) which is awarded by God Himself. If somebody wants to destroy the sorrows then he has to go under the shelter of Almighty God by doing worship quoted above, please.

So, you see to make others happy by doing pious deeds is a separate matter which has no concern with present life peace.

So, I would please advise you to continue Vedic worship. I paste my article below for your guidance, please.

GAYATRI MANTRA

Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.

After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.

The Gayatri mantra is as follows —

OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA

DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT

Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.

Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built, Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hirannyagarbha, Vayu and Tejas names occur and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.

VIRAAT = Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of final destruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.

AGNI = From dhatu, “ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is: He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., Omniscient. That is, knows each and every atom of universe and even beyond universe. He who is to be known, to be gained and is worshipful. So Agni is the name of God.

VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is He in whom the universe is entering or He who is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.

HIRANNYAGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.

VAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and is the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vayu.

TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made meaning He who is self made and self-enlightened and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.

ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and He who has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.

ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.

PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made meaning whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every matter and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it is not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.

BHUHU = “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Prann i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.

BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and the soul removes his own all sorrows after coming in contact with Him. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.

SWAHA = i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.

SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.

DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.

VARENNYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.

BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SHUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)

TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.

DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because

YAHA = the God

NAHA = our,

DHIYAHA = mind(i.e., in our minds)

PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)

MEANING
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.

Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gayatri mantra, there are three things —-
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.

Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.

Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.

How to do havan

Please sit in the morning to perform havan. Havan must be in sunlight then it is more beneficial. Then half a bowl of fresh water with a tablespoon must be with you with small twigs especially of mango tree if possible, havan samagri, ghee, camphor and match box must be there with you. Please sit on sukh asan on four times folded blanket and blanket must be on mat.

Sukh asan i.e., sit on duly folded feet in comfortable position. Then first close your eyes and concentrate between two eyebrows and chant Gayatri mantra three times within heart and not by mouth. Then open your eyes.

Take one spoon of water in right palm. Chant this mantra, OM AMRITO UPASTRANMASI SWAHA and drink the water which you have put in your palm. Then again take the spoon of water in right palm then chant the next mantra, OM AMRITA APIDHANMASI SWAHA, and drink the water. Then again take the water in right palm and chant the mantra, OM SATYAM YASHAH SHRI MAYI SHRI SHRAYTAAM SWAHA, and drink the water. Then wash the right palm while sitting, with the same water kept in bowl.

Then put the twigs into havan kund with one piece of camphor and burn it. During this process chant the Gayatri mantra again and again till such time the fire is lighted sufficiently. Then chant the Gayatri mantra and at the last add the word Swaha and offer ghee with tablespoon, quantity equivalent to 4 to 5 drops. And if you are alone then also offer in fire pinch of havan samagri from your right hand’s finger and thumb avoiding forefinger. So this offering may be of 11 times, 21 times or 51 times as the time suits. It is the simplest way and I have not quoted the complete method of Yajyen. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times

Amar: Namskar Swamiji, charan sparsh. Where is in the body Soul located?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. In this regard, I paste my article below-

While awake, soul resides in left eye, while in stage of experiencing dreams, it is in throat and while taking sound sleep, it is in heart.

R: Pranam,gurudev,bramh karma jante unko bramhan kahate hee,yodhako kshatriya kahate hee,to bramhakshtriyako kya kahate hei?yadi ve bramhin hei to konase bramhin hei.krupaya batayiye
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. In this connection, main apna article neechey paste kar raha hoon. Aap issey padein, aur samjhein yadi article padne ke baad bhi koi sanshaye reh jaata hai to kripya apne prashan dobaara bhejein.

“BRAHMANNOASYA MUKHMASEED BAHU RAJANAYAH KRITAH,
UROO TADSYA YADVAISHYAH PADBHYAAM SHUDRO AJAAYAT.”
(Yajurveda mantra 31/11)

Oh! Aspirant (ASYA) in this God’s universe (BRAHMANNAHA) the learned of Vedas and who has realised God (MUKHMASEET) is supreme like a mouth i.e., the knower of Vedas and Almighty God is respectable in this world like a mouth and he is called Brahmin. (BAHU) he who is powerful i.e., has powerful arms (KRITAH) he has been made (RAJANYAH) kshatriye (Tad) he in this universe (ASEET) is (VAISHYAH) is called (Vaishya) i.e., businessman (YAT) Who (UROO) does deeds like (UROO) thighs i.e., he has the power in his thighs to travel here and there quickly for business. (PADBHYAAM) having qualities of service and without pride. (AJAAYAT) generates (SHUDRAH) the man who has no education and good qualities, etc.

Meaning – Oh! Aspirant, in this God’s universe the learned of Vedas and who has realised God is supreme like a mouth i.e., the knower of Vedas and Almighty God is respectable in this world like a mouth and he is called Brahmin, he who is powerful i.e., has powerful arms has been made kshatriye. He in this universe is called Vaishya i.e., businessman who does deeds like thighs i.e., he has the power in his thighs to travel here and there quickly for business. He who has qualities of service and without pride generates the man who has no education and good qualities etc.

Four Ashrams

There are four ashrams in the life, Brahamcharya ashram up to age of 25 years, Grihastha ashram up to 50 years, Vanprasth ashram up to 75 years and Sanyas ashram up to 100 years. So one should try to discharge his duties of every ashram knowing duties thereof and then must take sanyas, but if anybody else is interested to take sanyas being ascetic by true speech etc., then he can take sanyas even at an early age.

I have already written about caste system (varn vyavastha). Yajurveda mantra 31/11 says that caste is based on present deeds (karmas) and not by birth. The sense of Mantra is that if a son of shudra studies Vedas, controls senses/organs and mind, does practice of Ashtang yoga, then he will be considered Brahmin and a Brahmin who has no such qualities he will be treated as shudra etc., etc. There is no caste system in Vedas based on birth and the other holy books like Manusmriti, six shastras, Upnishads, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharat (Bhagwad Geeta) etc., were written by ancient Rishis/Munis based on only the knowledge of Vedas, so no caste system exists therein based on birth.

In this connection Yajurveda mantra 31/11 also says that he who knows Vedas and God, he is Brahmin being most supreme in the world like a mouth in the body. So anyone (of any caste) can be a Brahmin by hard studies of Vedas, practising Ashtang yoga therein and thus realizing God. One who has physical power in his arms, he is Kashtriye-Rajput to protect the country. So anyone can be a Rajput, holding the said qualities. One who has powers in his thighs to travel and to do hard work to establish business, he is Vaishya (businessman). One who has not studied, based on his qualities that he could not gain the qualities of Brahmin, Kashtriye and Vaishya, he is shudra (may be of any caste).

There is a symbolic story in Mahabharat. That once Yudhistar saw that his brother Bhima was caught by a huge python. Yudhistar asked python that my brother is a great warrior having sufficient power that you could not catch him. So really you are not python, tell me, who you are. Python replied that he was a yaksha. O Yudishtar, if you would answer my question, then your brother would be released. Yaksha asked Yudhistar that if a son of Brahmin takes wine, meat, gambles and does bad deeds then whether he will be considered as Brahmin and when a shudra (lowest caste) reads Vedas, does practice of Ashtang yoga, controls his five senses, five organs and mind and does always pious deeds then whether the son of such shudra will remain shudra? Yudhistar replied that the Brahmin will be treated as shudra and shudra will be treated as Brahmin.

King Janak called all the emperors/anybody to break the bow to prove to be the best powerful emperor amongst all to marry his daughter Sita. So King Janak did not make any objection of caste system. So was the case of marriage of Draupadi where in the dress of a Brahmin Arjuna pierced the eye of the fish with arrow and Yudhistar married Draupadi. Draupadi was daughter of Khastriye, Rajput whereas in the dress, Yudhistar was Brahmin. So qualities are to be checked either of boy or girl.

Caste System

Caste system has not been made by God. So punishment etc., mentioned by people in caste system were against the Vedas and every spiritual book but now its all okay as per Government. But yet the hundred percent implementation of govt. orders is to be made.

Holy books cannot give an order to anyone to avoid preach to any cost because preaches like Vedas or other holy books are for human beings/souls and not for any special caste. But better if society will help. Such things are occurring only due to lack of study of Vedas, please.

So at present spreading of knowledge of Vedas will sure finish the ravages of hatred. When sun rises, the darkness of the night is over, similarly when knowledge of the Vedas will spread, the illusion will automatically be over. When sun rises, the darkness from the earth is removed from that portion only which comes towards sun. And rest of the portion remains dark. Similarly wherever the Vedic knowledge will spread and be gained, the ignorance/illusion from those human beings will be over. Therefore spreading of knowledge of Vedas and other holy books, is must.

RPK: Please kindly translate Shatpath brahmana 1:7:4 From verse 1 To 7. Some Critics are saying it as god married her own daughter ,,which is wrong as per Vedas.
Swami Ram Swarup: First of all we must try to understand the fact please that Almighty God is Formless and Omnipresent. God has unlimited divine qualities. So, being Formless how can a learned person even imagine about the marriage of Almighty God. Actually, after final destruction, as also stated in all Vedas like in Yajurveda mantra 23/ 53-56 and in Yajurveda mantra 31/4 that a smallest part of divine alive power of almighty God acts in non-alive prakriti and as a result creation starts. So, in personified form, anybody can say that God is our father and non-alive prakriti is our mother, from which the whole non-alive universe including bodies of all living beings are created.

You have asked for translation of Shatpath Brahmin Granth, shloka 1:7:4, 1-7 which is lengthy job which can only be sent by post on receipt of your postal address. However, the idea of shlokas is based on Rigveda mantra 10/61/7 and Yajurveda mantra 2/11.

In the shloka meaning of Prajapati is Yajyen and not Almighty God and you see Yajyen does not marry.