PM: Swamiji namaskar, I told one man about gayatri mantra. In response I got this long email. kinddly go through it as it raises some doubts:
You have advocated that everyone recites Gayatri mantra and conducts Havan; however I am sure that you are well aware that study of Veda is undertaken only subsequent to vedAraMbha saMskAra which follows upAnayanam (mekhala in KPs) and there are obligatory criteria in this matter as detailed in shAstra on how this should be done. Any other method of erudition would therefore be a travesty and be seriously flawed. Of course there is nothing stopping any man or woman who can read from picking up copies of Veda mantras and reading them; however Veda is not written in Sanskrit but chhandas, their meanings are contextual and cannot be interpreted through use of common dictionaries etc. Only authentic bhASHyas of our revered AchAryas such as mahidhar, sAyana and uvvat can offer their true meaning. Perhaps you will appreciate that just because a person has read books on gynaecology it does not entitle them to perform an internal examination on a patient; they would be arrested and prosecuted by the authorities for sexual assault. Quite contrastingly, prospective medical aspirants must first meet the requirements to gain entry to medical school, pass each stage of the course satisfactorily and then even after graduating must undertake a pre-registration period and thereafter practice medicine according to the statutes of the prevailing medical authority. Should a doctor then transgress any parameter they would be subject to a disciplinary hearing and if serious enough, could lose the very right to practice medicine.
We could propound that men and women are equal; well men cannot gestate or give birth to another human being (notwithstanding their contribution in the process) they do not possess female reproductive organs. No doubt in the future scientists will devise a method of reproduction in men, but would that be natural or indeed ethical? Would it infer that because men cannot reproduce they are inferior to women? We think not.
Of course there is nothing stopping anyone from mimicking others, picking up copies of Vedic mantras, reading them and then conducting ceremonies for themselves or for others; however as has already been demonstrated, this would not constitute Dharma it would be adharma. Furthermore, scriptures enjoin that the consequences of conducting such ceremonies are based on cause and effect; that a ceremony performed by one qualified to do so in the correct manner, will have the desired effect. Should that ceremony not be undertaken by the authorised advocate (Brahmin) and in the prescribed manner, then who knows the repercussions? If the officiating Priest is articulate and can convey the meaning of the mantras and their significance that will make that individual popular no doubt, but it bears little relevance to the outcome of the ceremony. For all Hindu ceremonies their efficacy is incumbent on:
1. The eligibility of the Brahmin (Guru), conduct, purity of lineage etc.
2. The knowledge the Brahmin has of the ritual
3. The shuddhi or purity of the mantras recited
4. That the ritual be conducted in the manner prescribed by Shaastras.
Arguing that nothing forbids a woman to recite Veda or conduct rituals in Shaastra, given the overwhelming evidences provided to the contrary is therefore clearly flawed. The repercussions of those women who conduct such rituals would be devastating. I could tell a patient in their youth to give up smoking because it could cause cancer, but he ignores this advice as he suffers no ill effects from the practice. Then ten years down the line, he coughs more and experiences other health problems but still shrugs them off and continues to smoke cigarettes. Then twenty five years later he is admitted as a cancer patient and his body is riddled with cancer and the prognosis is poor. Of course now taking heed of any advice from a qua
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Upnayan sanskar and vedarambh sanskar are performed at the age of six to eight years, when the child has to enter the gurukul or school etc. But the said system is mostly now not in vogue. So, any person can go to acharya and after wearing janeyu and listening Gayatri mantra can chant Gayatri mantra.
Vedas are written in divine Sanskrit language and cchannd. So, as stated in Vedas, the meaning of Ved mantras are well known by a Rishi who is called mantradrishta. Nowadays, the Swami Dayayand Saraswati’s bhashya of Vedas is authentic and as regards bhashya of Mahidhar, Sayana, Ubhat is not accepted by learned of Vedas being unauthentic. No doubt, a person is not authorized medical practitioner who has read only medical books that is why, Rigveda mantra 1/164/39 also states that who have not studied Vedas by maintaining Brahmacharya, not practised ashtang yoga philosophy with the result they have controlled their senses, perceptions, mind and has not realized God, the mantras will do nothing i.e., mere study of Vedas will be of no use for them. Similarly, Sankhya shastra Muni Kapil states in his sutra 1/23 that mere study of Vedas is of no use because it is beyond away from the experiences. So the comments quoted by you of the gentlemen are not his own but Vedas and Rishis have told it earlier.
That is why, but first the study of Vedas will have to be continued traditionally that is after understanding all the secrets of pious deeds, one should practice the same practically. In most of the cases, it is being done.
So, Vedas already have stated, for example- Yajurveda mantra 40/10 states that an experienced Yogi/Rishi should only preach and no other. However, in the case of Vedas, nobody is entitled to spread the fear of listening Vedic philosophy. Because shastras still says- “Shrutam tapaha” i.e., listening/chanting of Vedas is itself a tapasya (austerity). In the matter of listening, studying and doing havan/yajyen, the example of giving birth of a man to another man is not suitable please. To listen, to do daily havan etc., is Vedic dharma which everybody must follow being the order of Almighty God in Vedas.
Pious desires are always appreciated by Vedas and not sinful desires. That is why, first six mantras of chapter 34 of Yajurveda pray God that Oh! God, May I should have pious/benevolent desires only otherwise who will have the desire to worship, serve parents, elders, to study, to earn to live upon etc.
So, that is why, God has made the process of performing daily havan/yajyen to fulfill the desires. As regards authorization, I have stated above that learned acharya/purohit is entitled. The popularity is not the motto. God states in Vedas “Krinnvanto Vishwam Aryam” that is, knowledge of Vedas should be popularized.
1. Yajurveda mantra 31/11 clarifies that he is the Brahmin who knows Vedas. Caste system has not been made by God. Caste system is not based on birth.
2. Ritual means pooja and the meaning of pooja is to render services, respect, honour. The best worship of Almighty God in Vedas has been stated to perform the holy yajyen from ved mantras only. How? Because God has stated several times in Vedas to do yajyen, yogabhyas, services of parents and learned acharya of Vedas and to donate the right/authorized Rishi/Muni etc.
Therefore, then we do services by obeying His order of performing Yajyen etc., and such obedience is the best worship of God.
3. Atharvaveda mantra 9/10/6 states that Vedvanni helps in pronunciation. Because as per Atharvaveda mantra 19/71/1, vedvanni is our spiritual mother and every devotee first learns from his guru who is his spiritual father.
So, the pronunciation will hundred percent be correct in due course.
4. The best shastra is called Veda. So, we must follow being Self-proof.
Knowledge of the Vedas which emanates direct from God is equally applicable for man and woman. You see, the soul in the body of the man and woman is same. So, the Vedas are applicable for soul and not body. If the Vedas had been applicable only to men then the God would be stated to be partial. However, he is not at all partial.
Bal Brahmcharini Gargi and Katyayini were learned of Vedas and Gargi was even an acharya of king Janak.
The example of the youth smoking etc., does not apply here, please.
Several Ved mantras have inspired girls and women to study Vedas and follow the same.
P: Sir, Charan Sparsh, Mein Ved aur ashtang yog ko janney key liye aapsey milana chahta hu mujeh kitney din key liye aapki sharan mein rahna hoga. Regards
Swami Ram Swarup: Filhal to aap keval teen din ke liye mere paas aayein. Sab ko mera aashirwad.
Gautam: What is the correct method for maa kali pooja?
Swami Ram Swarup: Maa kali pooja does not exist in Vedas. So, learned of Vedas do not accept it.
Jyoti: mera pichala janam & about future
Swami Ram Swarup: Picchle aur agle janam ke bare mein koi nahi janta. Vartaman ke achche karam jo Vedic hone chahiye weh picchle janam ke kiye paap karam aur unkey phal, Dukhon ka naash kar detey hain, jisse future bhi bright ho jata hai.. Isliye aap Vedic bhakti kee aur agrasar hoyein. Meri pustak “Vedic pravachan sangrah” worth Rs.120/- (excluding postal charges) padne ki advise karoonga. On receipt of your postal address. Book can be sent, if you desire.
FUTURE
Future is based on pious deeds, hard working towards a right path and God helps those who help themselves.
It depends on your hard working and pious deeds. One should worship God daily to get His blessings in every matter. Good job, education, richness, happiness etc., is the result of previous life’s pious deeds and present life’s hard working, dedication, devotion, hardworking, honesty etc. And in this life one should always also do real worship of God to finish the obstacles if any which may be due to previous life’s bad deeds. So worship is always required along with hard working, devotion, dedication towards right path to get progress in the life.
