By Swami Ram Swarupji
All four Vedas, preach us three divine educations i.e., Gyankand (Rigveda) Karma kand(Yajurveda) and Upasana Kand(Samveda).
Upasana i.e., Worship of God has especially been taught in Samveda. That is why, Yogeshwar Sri Krishna Maharaj himself praises Samveda in Bhagwad Geeta Shloka 10/22 saying Oh! Arjun, “ Vedanaam Samvedaha Asmi” i.e., in all four Vedas , I’m Samveda. Worship and the science of music, including singing of spiritual bhajans etc., is also preached in Samveda. The description of one Samveda mantra pertaining to worship (Tapasya) is mentioned below:-
“ Pavitram Te Vitatum Brahmannaspatey Prabhurgatranni Puryeshi Vishwatah,
Ataptatanoorna Tadaamo Ashnutey Shritaas Idvahantaha Sum Tadaashat.”
(Samved mantra 565)
(Brahmannaspatey) Oh! Lord of Brahma, here Brahma means Shabda Brahma i.e., for Vedas, so the mantra states Oh! Lord of Vedas i.e., God (Te) your (Pavitram) purity (Vitatum) exists everywhere (Prabhuhu) Oh! Master/Ruler, You (Paryeshi) reside (Sarvatah) everywhere i.e., in every part of (Gatranni) our body. But (Ataptatanuhu) persons who are devoid of austerity i.e. , lack Tapasya (Aamaha) are unripened (Tat Na Ashnutey) are not liable to attain purity. Only (shritaasaha) the ripened (tapasvi) dignitaries (Sum Aashat) very well attain (Tat) the purity.
Meaning:-Oh! Lord of Brahma, here Brahma means Shabda Brahma i.e., four Vedas, so the mantra states Oh! Lord of Vedas, i.e., God Your purity exists everywhere. Oh! Master/Ruler, You reside everywhere (being Omnipresent) i.e., in every part of our body. But, persons who are devoid of austerity (lack Tapasya) are unripened, so they are not liable to attain purity. Only the ripened dignitaries (tapasvis) very well attain the purity.
Idea:-Those who indulge completely in austerity, only they have attain purity of heart, mind and intellect and it is only in pure heart that God manifests and not in impure heart and mind.
In the Vedas, God has been defined by several pious words based on His divine qualities. In this mantra also the word “Brahmannaspatey” applies to God. Why? Because the word “Brahma” means ‘Shabda Brahma’ i.e., Vedas and ‘Patey’ means Lord. So, Brahmannaspatey means the Lord of Vedas i.e., God. We must know that Vedas (ved mantras) have not been written by any Rishi-muni, man-woman, saint etc., it is an unchangeable law of God and universe that when creation starts automatically, the knowledge of the four Vedas, emanates directly from God and originates in the heart of four Rishis (Rigveda mantra 10/181/1,2 also refer). That is why, the God is also the Lord of four Vedas.
In the mantra, the God has been stated as the purest. The quality of God being purest is also natural. As is also stated in Yajurveda mantra 40/8 that God is “Shuddham Apaap Viddham” i.e., (Shuddham) God is the purest (Apaap Viddham) ever away from committing sins. So, purity is the nature of God and has therefore been mentioned in the above Samveda mantra. As we know that God is Omnipresent, so His purity is also Omnipresent.
Prabhuhu i.e., the Lord, our Master, due to His said divine quality of purity also resides in every part of our bodies. Naturally, His purity resides and effects every part of our body. Similarly, His purity is in every atom of universe which we must retain by doing Tapasya (austerity). Due to lack of Tapasya, the five senses of a person (eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin) including mind and intellect indulge in illusion. As a result, the impious deeds (sins) like violence, ravages of hatred, fundamentalism, corruption, deeds based on blind faith, insult of women, unnecessary command on others i.e., an innocents and poor etc., are being witnessed everywhere in universe. So, the main motto of human life is to do Tapasya, based on knowledge of four Vedas to retain purity within heart as well as in every atom of universe. Tapasya means
(1) Shrutam Tapaha- to listen to Vedas and holy books which promote/teach the path of salvation etc.
(2) Dum tapaha- to control five senses, mind and intellect by means of following eternal Vedic path, holy granths true preach of learned.
(3) Shum Tapaha- to get the result of Tapasya in the form of controlling the mind that the mind never allows illusion, bad thoughts, illusion to enter into it.
(4) Daanam tapaha- to donate to right persons and in right places.
(5) Swaha tapaha -to attain truth and to do daily agnihotra/yajyen
(6) Swadhyaye Tapaha- to listen and to study Vedas, pious holy books.
(7) Yajyum Tapaha- to do Yajyen etc.
the said Tapasya is required to be adopted in human life to kill all the previous lives’ deeds (sins) etc., to retain divine purity because further the mantra states- Ataptatanuhu- Atapta Tanuhu. Aamaha i.e., persons who are devoid of austerity are unripened i.e., persons who lacks Tapasya does not retain the purity instead he indulges in impure materialistic materials and always remains sorrowful. Only the person with purest heart, due to Tapasya, retains/attains the purity and also realises The Purest God.
So, our life is not only to settle ourselves or our children by completing the education or doing business etc., but God states in all Vedas that a man should listen to Vedas, pious book and do hard Tapasya mentioned in Vedas etc., to realise God. Which? We waste our human life, remain in sorrows right from birth till death and the same process is repeated in the future births.
Hence, to maintain the said purity everywhere, we should do Tapasya daily. Lack of Tapasya invites impurity in the heart of human-beings as well as in the universe which further creates ravages of hatred etc. So, we don’t have any right to spread the impurity in the pure atmosphere. Otherwise, Almighty God punishes us.
(Also published in the Speaking Tree)