Guest guest Posted August 28, 2002 Report Share Posted August 28, 2002 >"Ashwini Kumar" <ashwini_kumarr >Clouds over understanding of the Vedas >Tue, 27 Aug 2002 22:23:16 -0400 > > > > > >> >>CLOUDS OVER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VEDAS >> >> B.D.UKHUL >> >>The Myth of the Holy Cow by D.N.Jha published by >>Verso, London, 2002 is the most damaging book in its >>contents since the sole intention of the author has >>been to prove that all ancient Hindu scriptures >>particularly the Vedas and Shatpath Brahmana etc. >>uphold beef-eating and this has been the way of life >>of the Aryans who were our ancestors since the term >>Hindu came to be introduced much later. The author has >>cited references from the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upnishads >>etc. to prove his thesis which perhaps he chose to be >>the sole mission of his life even though he comes from >>a Brahamin family and he has dedicated his so called >>prestigious book to his kin in Rajrani (a symbol of >>motherhood). Aryans revered cow as a mother and it is >>really an irony that a son of Bharat has taken >>immense pains to prove something which is far from >>truth and also it injures the sentiments of millions >>of Hindus and in order to demolish his thesis an >>effort is being hereby made to trace each and every >>reference cited by him in the book and reveal the >>truth and nothing but the truth. To commence with, >>citations quoted from the Rgveda are being dealt with >>beginning from the very first Mandala of Rigveda. >> >>It is beyond any doubt that the conclusions drawn by >>Mr. Jha are based on wrong interpretations and the >>misleading commentaries by the western scholars and >>also the works of Indian scholars who got patronage of >>the British rulers. Role of such scholars and their >>mission to erase our heritage was under a well planned >>scheme to mould the Indian mind into the western >>thought and culture and create conditions to cast off >>our past. Their mission was to spread Christianity and >>the major players were Macauley and Max Muller and >>their correspondence and writings* will substantiate >>this submission. Hereby it will also be revealed that >>these western scholars could not derive the right and >>intended spirit of our ancient Rishis and have erred >>immensely. In the realm of the Vedic interpretation, >>we owe debt to Swami Dayanand Saraswati(1825-1883), >>the founder of Aryasamaj who took us back to the >>Vedas. His commentaries were based on the Nighantu and >>Yaska’s Nirukta and he thought deep and delved deep to >>arrive at the rightful adhyatmik and yogic spirit of >>the mantras. The opinion of a great saint-philosopher >>Sri Aurobindo Ghosh will be the most pertinent to >>quote in this regard. >>“In the matter of Vedic interpretation I am convinced >>that whatever may be the final complete >>interpretation, Dayananda will be honoured as the >>first discoverer of the right clues. Amidst the chaos >>and obscurity of old ignorance and age long >>misunderstanding his was the eye of direct vision that >>pierced to the truth and fastened on that which was >>essential. He had found the keys of the doors that >>time had closed and rent asunder the seals of the >>imprisoned fountains”. AT THIS STAGE IT IS DESIRABLE >>THAT WE APPROACH THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT TO ENDORSE AND >>ACCEPT THE RIGHTFUL INTERPRETAIONS INSTEAD OF CLINGING >>TO DEFECTIVE LITERAL TRANSLATIONS OF THE VEDAS WHICH >>ARE REVELATIONS BY THE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO BLESSED US >>WITH THIS DIVINE KNOWLEDGE TO GUIDE OUR PATH SINCE THE >>VEDIC REVELATION WAS SYNCHRONOUS WITH MAN’S FIRST >>APPEARANCE ON EARTH. How can our creator prescribe >>offerings of his own creatures? After independence, >>this aspect should have received due attention but it >>is sad that this remained untapped and even the >>Sanskrit language came under cloud when a Rajya >>Sabha nominated Christian member Frank Anthony >>introduced a bill to drop this sacred language from >>the eighth schedule of languages enshrined in the >>Indian constitution in 1977. There is no doubt that >>some Western scholars did an appreciable job to >>introduce the Vedas to the outside world which >>inspired the scholars to learn Sanskrit to benefit >>from the treasure of wisdom of Vedic Rishis but >>unfortunately, it followed a wrong path without >>application of their inner mind or intellect as was >>done by the devoted disciple of Swami Virajanand who >>was actually blind of eyes but he imparted such >>vision and deep knowledge to Dayanand that he clung to >>the soul and spirit of the Vedas and it is our >>bounden duty to follow this path to understand the >>sacred words of God which can never be wrong and are >>ever infallible. >> >>In the context of the commentary/translation of the >>Vedas by Max Muller, it will be relevant to point >>out the opinion of Mr. Boulanger, the editor of >>Russian edition of The Sacred Books of the East >>Series as follows: >> >>“What struck me in Max Mullar’s translation was a >>lot of absurdities, obscene passages and a lot of what >>is not lucid”. >> >>“As far as I can grab the teaching of the Vedas, it >>is so sublime that I would look upon it as a crime on >>my part, if the Russian public becomes acquainted with >>it through the medium of a confused and distorted >>translation, thus not deriving for its soul that >>benefit which this teaching should give to the >>people”. >> >>In his book ‘Vedic Hymns’, Max Muller himself says >>“My translation of the Vedas is conjectural”. >> >>HEREUNDER the glaring difference in substance and the >>spirit of the cited Suktas 162 and 163 of the first >>Mandala of Rigveda is illustrated to establish that >>misinterpretation is at the root of this problem. >>Each Sukta has its risi and devata; risi depicts >>‘drashta’ whereas devata depicts the subject matter >>which facilitates the understanding of the mantras >>under respective Sukta. >> >>Sukta 162- Name of risi: Deerghatama Name of >>devata:Mitradyo Lingokta (As per Sw.Dayanand) >> : Deerghatama >> :Ashav-stuti (As per >>translation of HH Wilson) >> >>Sukta 163- Name of risi: Deerghatama Name of >>devata:Ashvo-agnirdevta(As per Sw.Dayanand) >> : Deerghatama >> :Ribhuganh (As per >>translation of HH Wilson) >> >>The above implies that both the Suktas are in >>glorification of the horse but our Western >>enthusiasts and Mr.Jha along with his Indian ideals >>have even ignored the very basic lead and gone for >>crucification of the spirit of mantras which is left >>to your esteemed judgement. >> >>Sukta 162 has 22 mantras while Sukta 163 has 13 >>mantras. Mr. Jha states that in the ashvamedha(horse >>sacrifice),the most important of the Vedic public >>sacrifices,first referred to in the Rigveda in the >>afore-stated Suktas (p.31 of his book). >> >>Sukta 162 in fact deals with the science of applying >>horse power (automation) of the fire pervading in the >>form of energy. >> >>No mantra supports sacrifice of horses. Of course the >>first mantra has been translated by Max Muller in a >>wrong manner as follows: >> >>“May Mitra,Varuna,Aryaman,Ayush,Indra,the Lord of >>Ribhus and the Maruta not rebuke us because we shall >>proclaim at the sacrifice virtues of the swift horse >>sprung from the god”.(from History of Ancient Sanskrit >>Literature). Similarly H.H.Wilson in his translation >>based on the commentary of Sayanacarya states as >>follows: >> >>“Let neither Mitra nor >>Varuna,Aryaman,Ayu,Indra,Ribhukshin,nor the >>Maruts,censure us;when was proclaim in the sacrifice >>the virtues of the swift horse sprung from the gods”. >> >>Transliterated version of this mantra is given below: >> >>Ma no mitro varuno arymayurindro ribhuksha marutah >>parikhyan >>Yadvajino devajatasya sapteh pravakshyamo vidathe >>veeryani >> >>Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in his Hindi commentary >>has rendered the translation as follows: >> >>We the performers of yajna in all seasons (vidathe) in >>the battle field (yat) whose (vajinah) stormy >>(devajatasya) learned men and borne out of the divine >>virtues (sapte) of the horse (veeryani) unique >>performances (pravakshyamah) we shall describe (nah) >>the daring performances of our horses (mitrah) friend >>(varunah) sublime (aryama) the deliverer of justice >>(ayuh) the knower (indrah) the all-elivated or >>aishvaryavan (ribhuksha) intelligent and (marutah) >>priests (ma, pari,khyan) should never disregard these >>properties. >> >>To easily grasp the spirit of mantra the following >>translation will be helpful. >> >>We shall describe here the energy generating virtues >>of the powerful horses(planets),added with brilliant >>properties of the vigorous force of heat. The learned >>never dispute these properties. >> >>There is vast difference in the above quoted >>translations.Obviously the wrong seeds were sown by >>Sayan and Mahidhar who were the ideals adopted by the >>western scholars, namely Max Muller, Griffith , Wilson >>etc. Sw.Dayanand Saraswati in his book “An >>Introduction to the Vedas” has adversely criticised >>on the commentaries of Sayan and Mahidhar in context >>of some of their interpretations of the Vedic hymns. >>They could be held responsile for the horrible and >>horried interpretations which suggest as if the Vedas >>were the texts to lay down the modes of sacrifices. Is >>it not a tragedy for the Dharamacharyas/Sanskrit >>scholars of this country that they also could not >>pursue the path shown by Dayanand and got bogged down >>only in the rituals of worship in the temples and no >>attention was paid to the sources of knowledge which >>were the guiding principles of Aryans, our worthy >>ancestors and sons of the mother India (Aryavrat) as >>the Vedas proclaimed man as ‘amritasya putras’ and we >>need to follow this path if we want to be proud of our >>heritage and hold our head high or otherwise we are >>going to be labelled with the legacy of butchers >>and animal killers who desired to please different >>gods by various sacrifices performed in the yajnas. >> >>Eighth mantra of this Sukta is translated as follows: >> >>The fleet of horses is controlled by holding of >>bridles and saddles placed thereon. To make them >>strong,the grass and cereals are fed to them. >>Likewise,the learned people control and regulate their >>power of senses and taking nourishing diet. >> >>Wilson’s translation is as follows: >> >>May the halter and the heel-ropes of the fleet >>courser, and the head-ropes, the girths, and any other >>(part of the harness); and the grass that has been put >>into his mouth; may all these be with >>you,(horse),amongst the gods. >>(THIS IS NOTHING BUT LITERAL AND MECHANICAL TRANSLATON >>BEREFT OF THE SUBSTANCE & SPIRIT OF THE MANTRA) >> >>Ninth mantra again was again wrongly interpreted by >>Max Muller,Wilson and Griffith to translate the word >>’kravishah’ as the flesh. It is an adjective of >>‘ashvasya’ and derived from kramu-padavikshepe. Hence >>it means ‘ the pacing horse’ and not of the flesh. >>‘shamituh’ has been translated by Prof. Max Muller and >>Wilson as of the immolator. Griffith has translated it >>as ‘of a slayer’. But etymologically ‘sam-alochne’ >>means ‘to look at’ (with love and peace) and should >>mean ‘ a person who looks at the living beings with >>love and peace and not slayer’. >> >>Twelfth mantra emphasizes on the qualities of the >>warrior and its translation is as follows: >> >>They who crave for the meat of a horse and declare the >>horse fit to be killed should be exterminated. Those >>who keep the fast horse well trained and disciplined >>deserve to be praised by us for the strength of their >>character and perseverance. (IT CLEARLY DEMOLISHES THE >>THESIS OF JHA AND PROVES THAT HE HAS MERELY QUOTED >>CITATIONS AND HARDLY CARED TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL TEXT >>BUT INSPIRED BY THE FOLLOWING TRANSLATION OF WILSON): >> >>“Let their exertions be for our good who watch the >>cooking of the horse; who say, it is fragrant; >>therefore give us some: who solicit the flesh of the >>horse as alms”. (WHAT AN IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE SPIRIT >>OF THE MANTRA). >> >> >> >>Mantras 13 to 19 deal with the theme of horse or >>automation power while 20 to 22 are devoted to the >>benefits of Yoga exercises and an ideal life. >> >>Sukta 163 >> >>This Sukta deals with various attributes of learned >>person, agni, science & technology. There are >>references to the horse to illustrate its unique >>qualities of its immense energy likened to agni >>(fire), intelligence, bravery and inbuilt attributes >>which are at par with those of the men of wisdom. >>Perusal of some mantras will bring home this point. >> >>First mantra includes or rather ends with ‘arvan’ and >>this word denotes as per Yv 29.12 vigyanvan athva >>ashvaiv veguvan vidvan=O learned person active like >>the horse. >> >>Second mantra includes the term ‘surat ashvam’ which >>means the fast moving agni i.e the fire which enables >>a speedy locomotion. >> >>Third mantra includes the term ‘adityah arvan’ and >>here it means the sun which is all pervading. >>‘arvan’means sarvatrapraptah=pervading all. This term >>was wrongly translated by Prof. Wilson , Griffith and >>others, while both admit in the notes that Yama means >>Agni, Aditya-Sun and Trita-Vayu. How can horse be >>identified with Agni (fire) sun and the air etc.none >>has cared to justify. To take ‘arva’ for agni, there >>is the clear authority of the Taittiriya >>Brahmana.(I.36,4). >> >>Fourth mantra includes the word ‘arvan’ where it is >>used to mean the learned and wise people. >> >>Eighth mantra includes the word ‘arvan’ through which >>the mighty and active person has been likened to the >>horse who bears such characteristics. >> >>Ninth mantra includes the word ‘arvantam’ which means >>vegavantam agnim ashvam=the rapid horse in the form of >>Agni (fire, electricity etc.) >> >>Tenth mantra includes the word ‘ashva’ where it means >>the bright swift horses in the form of fire, air, >>water etc. >> >>Eleventh mantra includes the word ‘arvan’ and the >>following translation of this mantra will endorse our >>stand that the unique qualities of the horse are >>emphasized in Sukta-163: >> >>“O brave person! You are active like a horse, your >>body is like a swift vehicle, your mind is like the >>wind in motion. Your sublime actions are initiated >>from the proper use of fire and electricity. These are >>spread in all directions like the hoary creatures in >>the forests”. One can see that this mantra is in >>praise of highly skilled technicians. >> >>Wilson’s translation reads as follows: >> >>“Your body, horse, is made for motion , your mind is >>rapid (in intention ) as the wind: the hairs (of your >>mane) are tossed in manifold directions; and spread >>beautiful in the forests”.(ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF >>MECHANICAL TRANSLATION) >> >>Twelfth mantra includes the term ’vajyarva’ which >>means agni swift(vegavan) like a horse and here in >>this mantra use of agni is highlighted. >> >>Thirteenth and the last mantra of this Sukta contains >>the word ‘arvan’ where it means agnyadashvan= horses >>in the form of fire, electricity etc. >> >>ASVAMEDHA has been translated as horse sacrifice as >>referred above by Jha and the conclusions drawn >>accordingly and this has been the root cause of >>varied wrong interpretations and in order to >>illustrate its scope and meaning the following is >>stated: >> >>At the sight of words >>‘asvamedha,gomedha,purushmedha,ajmedha’ there ia >>general tendency to interpret it to denote as >>hinsa/sacrifice/killing. ‘medha’ word’s verb or >>dhatu is ‘medhri’. ‘medhrisangame hinsayam cha’ i.e. >>to enhance pure intellect , to inculcate love and >>integration among the people and also hinsa i.e >>killing (this dhatu conveys these three meanings).But >>it does not always mean killing or sacrifice and in >>Sanskrit no literal translation will do where a >>particular word carries varied meanings and it has to >>be applied judiciously and thoughtfully keeping in >>view the context of the text. The words ‘purushmedha’ >>and ‘nriyajna’ are synonyms. In manusmriti the word >>‘nriyajna’ has been defined as’nriyajnoatithipoojanam’ >>(manusmriti -3.70) it means the pooja or honour of >>the guests. If we take the meaning of the root >>‘medhri’ as sangamanarth it will come to be >>interpreted as to organize the people for virtuous >>deeds or to enhance the love and equanimity among them >>i.e. it would be ‘nriyajna’or ‘purushmedh’. It may be >>pertinent to mention here that ‘nrimedha’ is a rishi >>of some vedic hymns of Samveda. It can never mean the >>one who kills or sacrifices the human beings. >>Consequently, the terms followed by medha always do >>not signify killing/sacrifice and therefore the >>interpretations made by the Western scholars are >>utterly wrong and unacceptable. >> >>In Shatpath Brahmana (13.1.6) it is stated “Rashtram >>va asvamedhah” i.e. Asvamedha means to manage or run >>the affairs of the rashtra (country) in a befitting >>manner. >> >>In the Shantiparva of Mahabharata (3.336) there is >>mention of asvamedha of the king Vasu in which >>numerous rishis and learned men participated.In this >>context it is clearly mentioned “n tatra >>pashughato-abhoot” i.e. there was no killing of any >>animal. Further in this Parva at 3.327, the following >>is stated in context with ‘ajamedh’: >> >>Ajairyajneshu yashtavyamiti vai vaidiki shruti >>Ajasanjnani beejani chhaganno hantumarhatha >>Naishah dharmah satam devah yatra vadhyeta vai pashuh >> >>It means that whenever it is stated to use aja for >>performance of yajna, it means the seeds called ‘aja’ >>have to be used. Here it does not mean a goat. It is >>not proper to kill goats and it does not behove the >>virtuous people to indulge in killing of the animals. >> >>Sw.Dayanand Saraswati in his book “An introduction to >>the Vedas” at p.448-449 states that God is Jamadagni >>i.e. Ashvamedha. An empire is like a horse and the >>subjects like other inferior animals. As other >>animals,the strength, so the subjects are weaker than >>the state assembly. The glory and splendour of an >>empire consists in wealth,gold etc. and in >>administration of justice”.(Shatpath Brahmana: >>XIII.2.2.14-17) >>It is further stated that God’s name is Ashva >>also,because , He pervades the whole universe (Ashva >>comes from the root ‘Ash’ which means to pervade). >> >>The above derivations call for our cautious approach >>and take upon ourselves the task of removing the mist >>caused by misinterpretations to see the truth which >>can be one and only one and feel proud of our >>heritage. >> >>Rakshabandhan: 7th Bhadrapada, 2059 >> 22nd August,2002 >> >> >> (To be continued) >>(The author expresses his gratitude to Shri Bharat >>Bhushan Vidyalankar for his guidance,encouragement and >>valuable suggestions in compilation of the write-up) >> >> >>*It was February, 1835 , a time when the British were >>striving to take control of the whole of India. Lord >>Macaulay, a historian and a politician, made a >>historical speech in the British Parliament, commonly >>referred to as The Minutes, which struck a blow at the >>centuries old system of Indian education. His words >>were to this effect: I have travelled across the >>length and breadth of India and I have not seen one >>person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I >>have seen in this country, such high moral values, >>people of such calibre, that I do not think we would >>ever conquer this country, unless we break the very >>backbone of this nation , which is her spiritual and >>cultural heritage, and , therefore, I propose that we >>replace her old and ancient education system, her >>culture, for if the Indians think that all that is >>foreign and English is good and greater than their own >>,they will lose their self-esteem, their native >>self-culture and they will become what we want them, a >>truly dominated nation. >>(Source:The Awakening Ray,Vol.4 No.5, The Gnostic >>Centre) Reproduced in Niti issue of April,2002 at >>p.10- a periodic publication of Bharat Vikas >>Parishad, Delhi. >> >> Bibliography >> >>Dayanand Saraswati. An introduction to the Vedas ; >>translated from the original Sanskrit by Ghasi Ram. >>3rd edn. Delhi,Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi >>Sabha,1998. >> >>Bharat Bhushan Vidyalankar. Vedon ke sambandh men >>bharant dharnayen –mss. Delhi,2002. 11pp. >> >>Rgveda Samhita with English translation by Swami Satya >>Prakash Sarasvati and Satyakam Vidyalankar. >>Delhi,Veda Pratishthana,1977. >> >>The Rigveda with Maharishi Dayanda Saraswati’s >>Commentary. Translated into English by Acharya Dharam >>Dev Vidya Martanda. Delhi,Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi >>Sabha,1974. >> >>Rgveda: Hindi Bhashya –pratham mandal by Maharishi >>Dayanand Saraswati. Delhi,Sarvdeshik Arya >>Pratinidhi Sabha,1972. >> >>Rgveda Samhita:Sanskrit text,English translation and >>notes according to translation of H.H.Wilson and >>Bhasya of Sayanacarya edited and revised with >>exhaustive introduction and notes by Ravi Prakash Arya >>and K.L.Joshi. Delhi,Parimal Publications,1997. 4 >>vols. >> >>Vidyanand Saraswati. Aaryon ka aadi desh aur unki >>sabhyata. Delhi,Arya Prakashan,2002 >> >> { Author is a former >>Librarian of Indian National Science Academy,New Delhi >> >> Presently up-pradhan of >>Aryasamaj , C Block, Janakpuri,New Delhi. >> Postal Address: C2A/58, >>Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058. Telephone: 5525128} >> >>ANNEXURE: >>The synopsis on the jacket of the book entitled ‘The >>myth of the holy cow’ by D.N.Jha reads as follows: >>“The growth of religious fundamentalism in India is >>symbolized by the existence of a BJP government >>committed to the Hindutva. There is growing pressure >>to declare the cow a sacred, national animal and to >>ban its slaughter. The Myth of the Holy Cow is an >>illuminating response to this crazed confessionalism. >>It challenges obscurantist views on the sanctity of >>the cow in Hindu tradition and Culture. Dwijendra >>Narayan Jha, a leading Indian historian, argues that >>beef eating played an important part in the cuisine of >>ancient India, long before the birth of Islam. It was >>very much a feature of the approved Brahamanical and >>Buddhist diet. The evidence he produces from a >>variety of religious and secular texts is compelling. >>His opponents, including the current government of >>India and the fundamentalist groups backing it, have >>demanded that the book should be ritually burned in >>public. It has already been banned by the Hyderabad >>Civil Court and the author’s life has been >>threatened”. >> >> >> >> >> >>Everything you'll ever need on one web page >>from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts >>http://uk.my. > > > _______________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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