what is Rta- an inner force of Law- jungian interpretation ?

June 5, 2004

Dear all,

Ken Kightji has been explaining to us some key words in the Rg Veda.

one of these words is Rta.

It is always interesting to know how these words are interpreted in

different contexts- more so in the realm of Psychology.

In the olden days, it was always fashionable to quote Sigmund Freud,

the father of Psychology.

In most recent times, it is Carl Jung who has come into prominence

espeacially while discussing 'new age' religion...

But we know there is nothing new agey about VEDAS!

in fact, vedas are 'ever youthful' and 'eternal' truths.

it is my pleasure to share with you the following excerpt from Carl

Jung on WHAT IS RTA?

What is rta? An inner force of law

>From Jung's Collected Works 6 Psychological Types (1921)

THE QUOTE BEGINS ...

----

"Rta means established order, regulation, destiny, sacred custom,

statute, divine law, right, truth. According to the etymological

evidence its root meaning is: ordinance, (right) way, direction,

course (to be followed). That which is ordained by rta fills the

whole world, but the particular manifestations of rta are in those

processes of nature which always remain constant and arouse the idea

of regular recurrence: "By the ordinace of rta the heaven-born dawn

was lighted.In obedience to rta" the Ancinet Ones who order the

world "made the sun to mount into the heavens," who himself is "the

burning countenance of rta." Around the heavens circles the year, the

twelve-spoked wheel of rta that never ages. Agni is called the

offspring of rta. In the doings of man, rta operates as moral law,

which ordains truth and the straight way. "Whoso follows rta, finds a

fair and thornless path to walk in."

In so far as they represent a magical repetition or reenactment of

cosmic events, rta also figures in religious rites. As the rivers

flow in obedience to rta and the crimson dawn is set ablaze,

so "under the harness of rta" is the sacrifice kindled; on the path

of rta, Agni offers sacrifice to the gods. "Free from magic, I invoke

the gods; with rta I do my work, and shape my thought," says the

sacrificer. Although rta does not appear personified in the Vedas,

according to Bergaigne a suggestion of concrete existence undoubtedly

attaches to it. Since rta expresses the direction of events, there

are "paths of rta,charioteers of rta,ships of rta," and on

occasion the gods appear as parallels. For instance, the same is said

of rta as of Varuna, the sky-god. Mitra also, the ancient sun-god, is

brought into relation wit rta. Of Agni it is said; "Thou shalt become

Varuna, if thou strivest after rta." The gods are the guardians of

rta. Here are some of the most important associations:

Rta is Mitra, for Mitra is Brahman and rta is Brahman

By giving the cow to the Brahmans, one gains all the worlds, for in

her is contained rta, Brahman, and tapas also.

Prajapati is named the first-born of rta.

The gods followed the laws of rta.

He who ha seent he hidden one (Agni), draws nigh to the streams of

rta.

O wise one of rta, know rta! Bore for rta's many streams.

The "boring" refers to the worship of Agni, to whom this hymn is

dedicated. (Agni is here called "the red bull of rta.") In the

worship of Agni, the fire obtained by boring is used as a magic

symbol of the regeneration of life. Boring for the streams of rta

obviously has the same significance; the streams of life rise to the

surface again, libido is freed from its bonds. The effect produced by

the ritual fire-boring, or by the recital of hymns, is naturally

regarded by believers as the magical effect of the object; in reality

it is an "enchantment" of the subject, an intensification of vital

feeling, an increase and release of life force, a restoration of

psychic potential.

Though he [Agni] slinks away, the prayer goes straight to him. They

[the prayers] have led forth the flowing streams of rta.

The revival of vital feeling, of this sense of streaming energy, is

in general compared to a spring gushing from its source, to melting

of the iron-bound ice of winter in springtime, or to the breaking of

a long drought by rain. The following passage takes up this theme:

The lowing milch-cows of rta were overflowing, their udders full. The

streams, imploring from afar the favour of the gods, have broken

through the midst of the rock with their floods.

The imagery clearly suggests a state of energic tension, a damming up

of libido and its release. Rta apperas here as the bestower of

blessing in the form of "lowing milch-cows" and as the ultimate

source of the released energy.

The aforementioned image of rain as a release of libido is borne out

in the following passage:

The mists fly, the clouds thunder. When he who is swollen with the

milk of rta is led on the straight path of rta, Aryaman, Mitra, and

Varuna who wanders over the earth, fill the learthern sack (=cloud)

in the womb of the lower (world?).

It is Agni, swollen with the milk of rta, who is likened to the

lightning that bursts forth from the massed clouds heavy with rain.

Here again rta appears as the actual source of energy, whence Agni

also is born, as expressly mentioned in the Vedic Hymns.

They have greeted with shouts the streams of rta, which were hidden

at the birthplace of the god, at his seat. There did he drink when he

dwelt dispersed in the womb of the waters.

353 This confirms wht we have said about rta as the source of libido

where the god dwells and whence he is brought forth in the sacred

ceremonies. Agni is the positive manifestation of the latent libido;

he is accomplisher or fulfiller of rta, its "charioteer"; he

harnesses the two long-maned red mares of rta. He even holds rta like

a horse, by the bridle. He brings the gods to mankind, their power

and blessing; they represent definite psychological states in which

the vital feelings and energies flow with greater freedom and joy.

Nietzsche has captured this state in his verse:

You with your fiery lances

Shatter the ice-bound soul of me

Till wit high hope it advances

Rushing and roaring into the sea.

The following invocation echoes this theme:

May the divine gates, the increasers of rta, open themselves...that

the gods may come forth. May Night and Dawn...the young mothers of

rta, sit down together on the sacrificial grass.

The ananlogy with the sunrise is unmistakable. Rta appears as the

sun, since it is from night and dawn that the young sun is born.

----

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/phil.williams/What%20is%20rta.htm - 6k

>From Jung's Collected Works 6 Psychological Types (1921)

----

----------

348 Rta means established order, regulation, destiny, sacred custom,