Jatavedah - the 'fire' in the rig veda -BraHman- the Tadvana !

[Guest guest]

our most beloved ken knightji comments ...

 

"What wood produced it?The use of wood as the

material of creation occurs in many traditions;

clearly, for someone looking around the tree is not

just a beautiful form but it is the source of the wood

for the fire, it extends into the heavens, it is

mighty and produces the forests etc etc. From this

wood ¡the powers manifested earth and heaven¡ but

what that actually mean cannot be discerned by

intellect alone. Notice how the Rishis tells us that:

Ye thoughtful men inquire within your spirit whereon

he stood when he established all things."

 

Kenji- every week in my self-study course, i take up study of one

upanishad and read verses from there and try my best to understand

it! this week, i am focussing on Katha upanishad translated by Swami

Gambhirananda from Adwaitha Ashrama,CALCUTTA.

 

i came across this verse (8) which i would like to share with you for

whatever it is worth!

 

Aranyoh nihitaha jatavedah garbhahiva subhrtah garbhinibih

dive dive idyah jagrvadbhih havismadbhih manusyebhih manusyaih agnih

etat vat tat

 

The Sacrificial Fire lodged in two fire -producing pieces of wood (

as also the Fire lodged in the Heart of the Yogis ) that is well

protected - just as much as the Foetus by pregnant women - and the

Fire that is adorable every day by vigilent men with oblation and

(contemplation) -that fire too is but this *BraHman*

 

another translation

 

Agni, hidden in the two fire—sticks and well guarded—like a child in

the womb, by its mother—is worshipped day after day by men who are

awake and by those who offer oblations in the sacrifices. This,

verily, is That.

 

Rig veda glorifies Agni thus in xi

 

 

" We sages, mortals as we are, adore the mighty name of thee,

Immortal Jatavedas' name."

 

"Ancient, adorablie at sacrifices, Priest from of old, meet for our

praise, thou sittest.

Fill full and satisfy thy body, Agni, and win us happiness by

offering worship."

 

**********************************************************************

 

It is my pleasure to share a wonderful story from Kena Upanishads

and i know in my heart of hearts Kenji and others will enjoy reading

this as much As i did ( or do all the time) ! smiles!

 

Brahman, according to the story, obtained a victory for the gods; and

by that victory of Brahman the gods became elated. They said to

themselves: "Verily, this victory is ours; verily, this glory is ours

only."

 

Brahman, to be sure, understood it all and appeared before them. But

they did not know who that adorable Spirit was.

 

They said to Agni (Fire): "O Agni! Find out who this great Spirit

is.Yes," he said, and hastened to It. Brahman asked him: "Who are

you?" He replied: "I am known as Agni; I am also called Jataveda."

Brahman said: "What power is in you, who are so well known?" Fire

replied: "I can burn all-whatever there is on earth." Brahman put a

straw before him and said: "Burn this." He rushed toward it with all

his ardour but could not burn it. Then he returned from the Spirit

and said to the gods: "I could not find out who this Spirit is,"

 

Then they said to Vayu (Air): "O Vayu! Find out who this great Spirit

is.Yes," he said, and hastened to It. Brahman asked him: "Who are

you?" He replied "I am known as Vayu; I am also called Matarisva."

Brahman said: "What power is in you, who are so well known?" Vayu

replied: "I can carry off all-whatever there is on earth." Brahman

put a straw before him and said: "Carry this." He rushed toward it

with all his ardour but could not move it. Then he returned from the

Spirit and said to the gods: "I could not find out who this Spirit

is,"

 

Then the gods said to Indra: "O Maghavan! Find out who this great

Spirit is.Yes," he said and hastened to It. But the Spirit

disappeared from him.

 

Then Indra beheld in that very region of the sky a Woman highly

adorned. She was Uma, the daughter of the Himalayas. He approached

Her and said: "Who is this great Spirit?"

 

 

She replied: "It is, indeed, Brahman. Through the victory of Brahman

alone have you attained glory." After that Indra understood that It

was Brahman.

 

 

Since they approached very near Brahman and were the first to know

that It was Brahman, these devas, namely, Agni, Vayu, and Indra,

excelled the other gods.

 

 

Since Indra approached Brahman nearest, and since he was the first to

know that It was Brahman, Indra excelled the other gods.

 

 

This is the instruction about Brahman with regard to the gods: It is

like a flash of lightning; It is like a wink of the eye.

 

 

Now the instruction about Brahman with regard to the individual self:

The mind, as it were, goes to Brahman. The seeker, by means of the

mind, communes with It intimately again and again. This should be the

volition of his mind.

 

 

That Brahman is called Tadvana, the Adorable of all; It should be

worshipped by the name of Tadvana. All creatures desire him who

worships Brahman thus.

 

Aum Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi!