Understanding "rta"

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Thank you Madhavaji, for bringing up one of the fundamental ideas in

Vedic philosophy.

 

Monier-Williams Dictionary lists these meanings of this word.

 

" satyameva jayate naanR^itam.h . " R^ita, dharma, satya have been

used interchangeably in the Upanishads.

 

The emphasis on movement, chakra, &c. may not quite fit into advaitic

perspective! [ for example, ref. to Mandukya Karika, last chapter on

alaata-shaanti - quenching the fire-brand ].

 

The extension of the analogy to revolve round with the wheel may also

be countered by the fact that the only immovable part is the hub of the

wheel, and that is what one needs to seek!

 

 

 

Regards,

 

s.

 

 

 

 

Entry Rta

 

Meaning

mf(%{A})n. met with , afflicted by (with instr.) TS. v ;

 

proper , right , fit , apt , suitable , able , brave , honest RV. VS. xvii ,

82 ;

 

true MBh. BhP. Mn. viii , 82 ; 87 Bhag. &c. ;

 

worshipped , respected L. ; enlightened , luminous L. ;

 

m. N. of a Rudra MBh. ; of a son of Manu Ca1kshusha BhP. iv , 13 , 16 ; of a

son of Vijaya VP. ;

 

(%{am}) n. fixed or settled order , law , rule (esp. in religion) ; sacred

or pious action or custom , divine law , faith , divine truth (these

meanings are given by BRD. and are generally more to be accepted than those

of native authorities and marked L. below) RV. AV. VS. S3Br. &c. [223,3] ;

 

truth in general , righteousness , right RV. AV. MBh. Mn. viii , 61 ; 104

Pan5cat. &c. ;

 

figuratively said of gleaning (as the right means of a Bra1hman's obtaining

a livelihood as opposed to agriculture , which is %{anRta}) Mn. iv , 4 ff. ;

 

promise , oath , vow Ta1n2d2yaBr. La1t2y. ;

 

truth personified (as an object of worship , and hence enumerated among the

sacred objects in the Nir.) ;

 

water L. ; sacrifice L. ; a particular sacrifice L. ; the sun L. ; wealth L.

;

 

(%{a4m}) ind. right , duly , properly , expressly , very RV. BhP. ; (%{Rtam}

%{i} , to go the right way , be pious or virtuous RV.) ;

 

(%{e4na}) ind. right , duly , properly , regularly , lawfully , according to

usage or right RV. AV. ;

 

truly , sincerely , indeed RV. MBh. i.

 

>"Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava

>advaitin

>advaitin

> Understanding "rta"

>Tue, 6 Jun 2000 18:15:07 +0300

>

>I would request the list members to contemplate on this word "rta". The

>"rta" which is mentioned here is very important for understanding the

>divine.

>

>"rta" is pronounced as "aruta" it is a very well defined movement. As per

>Rigveda, the movement of the universe is well defined in advance.

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[Guest guest]

Blessed Madhvaji

 

Salutations.The notes on "rta" are informative and for one's contemplation.

Thank you.

 

Yasodha.

[Guest guest]

I would request the list members to contemplate on this word "rta". The

"rta" which is mentioned here is very important for understanding the

divine.

 

"rta" is pronounced as "aruta" it is a very well defined movement. As per

Rigveda, the movement of the universe is well defined in advance. This is

"rta". We call the wind as "mAruta" because it can change its movement

any time, it is not predictable. And we call a Monkey as "mAruti" because a

monkey's movements are unpredictable.

 

The world has its name as "rta". The life that you brought with you is

called as "rta". i.e The prarabdha which you brought along with you can not

be changed --- it is "rta". TaittiriyOpanishad advises the serious seeker

to contemplate, meditate and discourse on this "rta" -- "arutaMca svAdhyAya

pravacanEca"... (taittireeyOpanishad).

 

A well defined movement will have three phases (a) a beginning (b) a

continuum © an end. This end part is also called goal (the reachable

point). Mathematicians and Physicists calculate the path of a mission to

Mars, they can exactly predict on which date, hour and second the Space

Voyager is going to land on Mars. This is achieved because the path is very

well defined... that is "rta".

 

The life that we are living in is a "arta", a well defined movement. We

move from one phase to the other. We see the birth as the beginning and

death as the ending part of this "arta". One can not die with out being

born! Going one step deeper in to this "rta" will reveal us that this

physical birth and death are really a part of continuum --- i.e. birth is

not the beginning and death is not the end, there is more... It is a

cycle. "rta" is a cosmic cycle, a very big one. This cycle has to be

understood. Imagine a big circle. You start at one point, after marking

your beginning, you travel continuously. You think that you are going

straight, where are you are going to finish the circle. Finally, after

traveling a lot you will reach the point where you have started. It is

just like traveling around the globe, finally you will reach where you have

started from. This cosmic cycle is identified at many places in our epics.

(EvaM pravartitaM cakraM nAnuvartayatee hayaH, aghAyuriMdriyArAmO mOghaM

pArtha sa jeevati --- 13- ch3 Bhagawad Gita)

 

If we understand the life we are living in as a big circle "rta", then it is

easy for us to understand the end of it. The end is nothing but the

beginning. It ends where it has started. Everybody knows that at the end

we attain Liberation (moksha). Everybody wants to be liberated (mukta).

Obviously, you were a liberated one - mukta - in the beginning. If we keep

undergoing the movement of Prarabdha, in this life, with out any attachment,

then we reach the end where we have started. Now this question, "what if

we have any attachment in between this cycle?"

 

Have you ever been to a circus? In that you can see two big wheels

revolving next to each other. The performer starts at one wheel and at one

point detaches himself from one wheel and jumps in to the other wheel. Life

is the same, you start your life as per your prarabdha cakra, in the middle

of the chakra you find something attractive and you jump in to the other

chakra, and that creates another life, like this we create an endless array

of wheels for ourselves. What is the answer to this problem? The answer is

very simple: Stick to the chakra (wheel) which you are revolving in. Keep

the goal in mind (that you were a liberated one and you will be liberated

one). Do not attach to the other wheels, how ever attractive they may be...

Keep going, keep revolving, one fine day you shall reach where you have

started...

 

Ascaryavad vadati kaScidEnaM AScaryavad vadati tathaivacAnyaH

AScaryavaccaina manyaH SRUNOti SRUtvApyEnaM vEda nacaiva kascit || 29-Ch2

Bh.Gita

 

One sees This as a wonder; another speaks of This as a wonder; another hears

of This as a wonder; yet, having heard none understands This at all!

 

 

I remain yours,

Madhava