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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Dissemination of the scriptures

 

CHENNAI, JULY 22. The scriptures of Sanatana dharma (Hinduism),

the Vedas, have been transmitted through the oral tradition, from

teacher to disciple since time immemorial. The Vedas were not

written down until recently because without proper enunciation

the meaning gets distorted. Hence the Vedas were taught with

utmost care and it is no wonder that it remained a lifetime

pursuit because it was only by constant recitation that it could

be retained in memory and taught to others after attaining

mastery in them.

 

The Vedas are declared to be eternal and infinite and that

revealed to humanity has been codified into four - the Rig, Sama,

Yajur and the Atharvana. There are six auxiliary subjects to the

Vedas and another four which are based on them and hence Vedic

study involved attaining mastery in these 14 subjects.

 

``Veda'' is known by this name as it enables man to know that

which he is unable to know through the means of knowledge

possible for him - through perception and inference. It deals

with the Ultimate Reality and hence is the only source of

knowledge on this subject. The subsidiary subjects to be learnt

along with the Vedas are Siksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta,

Chandas and Jyotisha. These disciplines deal with pronunciation,

performance of sacrifices, the science of phonetics, etymology,

rhyme and astronomy which is necessary for the calculation of

time for performance of rituals.

 

In his lecture, Sri P. Ramanujan said that in this information

age it had become imperative to utilise the modern information

technolgy to document and nurture the Vedas and the Vedic

culture. Sanskrit is a language in which the Swara (sound) is as

important as the script and hence the challenge was in devising a

programme incorporating the Swaras to create a database for the

scriptures.

 

Transmission of the scriptures through the oral tradition is a

``zero distortion system'' which has made it possible for them to

remain intact. But, in modern times the number of people taking

to Vedic study has dwindled due to many reasons and hence it has

become necessary to use modern information systems like the

computer to disseminate knowledge of the scriptures. Easy

accessibility will go a long way in creating interest and the

urge to learn them.

 

Just as in formal education and in healthcare the most modern and

the best techniques are used to ensure the well-being of the

individual, spiritual education must be also provided for all for

the holistic development of the human personality and modern

techniques and aids have to be effectively used for this purpose.

 

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