83rd Thirunakshatram of SrI NaarAyaNa Yatheendhra Mahaa Desikan : Prakrutam 45th pattam Srimath Azhagiyasingar: Part 8

November 17, 2009

SrI:

VirOdhi Samvatsaram , Kaartikai Month , Pratamai , VisAka Nakshatram ,November 17, 2009

Dear Sri Matam SishyAs and abhimAnis:

On this day starts the Thirunakshatra Veda PaarAyNam for Devanar

ViLAgam Azhagiya Singar , Sri VeerarAghava Yatheendhra Mahaa Desikan .This will continue for 5 days; immediately will follow the 5 days of Veda/Dhivya prabhandha PaarAyaNam until November 27 , the 83rd

Thirunakshatram day of Prakrutam Periya Azhagiuya Singar, Sri

NaarAyaNa Yatheendhra Mahaa Desikan .

Today , we will focus on the eternal VedAs(nityam) as the first divine utterance by the creator and how that divine speech was bequeathed to man in the form of the four VedAs thru four Rishis by the creator.

The four VedAs are accepted as eternal and as non-man made ( apaurushEya) .The Upanishads(Veda Siras) and the systems of Philosophy ,VedAngAs, UpAngAs and the UpavEdAs arose from the svAdhyAya (Study) and Pravachana( Teaching) of these four VedAs.

The Upanishads are the Veda Siras or the metaphysical essence of the appropriate VedAs . The BrAhmaNAs and AaraNyakAs elaborate on the contents of Veda samhitAs.

The Four VedAs: It is revealed that the divine speech was gifted to the Four Rishis ( Agni , Vaayu , Aaditya and Angiras) in the form of the Four VedAs .Agni recieved Rk , Vaayu recieved Yajus , Aditya recieved Saama and Angiras recieved

Atharva Vedam . These four dispersed them to many places thru the Veda Paramaparais ( tAmAbhrutya vyadadhu: purutrA --Rg Vedam:X.71.3 ).

Rg Vedam has the Rks or the hymns pertaining to Knowledge. Yajus outlines the details of actions in the form of Yajn~As and the Saamans relate to devotional hymns.

The triad of the VedAs ( Rg, Yajus and Saama)/ Trayee Vidhyaa has been extended into a tetrad by adding the Atharva Veda/Brahma Veda (TaittirIya Upanishad: I.5.1). The three Mahaa VyAhrutis ( BhUr, Bhuva: and Suvaha) are expanded to include a fourth One ( Mahas) . TaitirIyam passage states that BhUr is the Rks; Bhuvas , the saman chants ; Svar the prose of Yakur Veda mantrams.Mahas is linked to the sacred knowledge or the Brahma verses ( Atharva Veda mantrams).

Vedaas or Srutis are our Supreme authority and it is accepted that the self-luminous jyOthi of vedAs does not need any other light to establish their validity .VedAs are therefore as the most absolute authority (Sbvata: PramAna) or "the self-evident Testimony".Our Matams that accept VedAs as PramANam are Vaidhika Matams

and those which do not ( Bhauddham , Jainam etc) are declared as Veda-BhAhya matams and rejected by our AchAryAs .

The prayer to vedam viewed in the form of Veda-Mother(Veda Maataa)

is addressed by the Atharva Vedam (XIX.71.1):

stutaa mayaa VaradhA VedamAtA prachOdhayantAm pAvamAnee dhvijAnAm

Aayu: PrANam prajAm PaSum keertim dhraviNam Brahmavarchasam

mahyam datvA vrajata BrahmalOkam

(Meaning): Eulogized by me is the boon-granting Veda-Mother! Let my praises urge on the devotional hymn of the Brahmins (Twice-born) ! May my eulogies of the Veda MaatA grant me the full life-span , the vitality , santati( progeny) , Cattle , keerti

(Fame) , wealth and the splendour ofJn~Anam ; After blessing me with all these auspicousness , May Thou prodeed to the Brahma LOkam !

The Divine revealed Knowledge: The Vedic Speech

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The many mysteries of the Vedic revelation are expounded and elaborated through the Six VedAngAs,the six upAngAs( systems of Indian Philosohy),the four UpavEdAs:

The Six VedAngAs: These are: SikshA ( orthography/Pronunciation) , VyAkaraNa( Grammar) , Nirukta (etymology) , Chandas( poetry/metrics), JyOtisham (astronomy) and Kalpa (rituals).

The Six UpAngAs are: VaisEshikA , NyAyaa, Saamkhyaa, Yoga , Poorva MeemAmsaa

and the Uttara MeemAmsaa .

The Four UpavEdAs are: Medicine , aesthetics , Military arts and economics( Wealth and property Management).

Our Vedic Scholars thru SvAdhyAya (study) and Teaching kept alive the apourushEya VedAs over thousands of years in tact thru oral/aural tradition .

The Veda PaarAyaNams at the Thirunakshatra Utsavams , BrahMOtsavams ,

PakshOtsavams are a rich set of traditions that need protection . Thanks to the foresight and support of AchAryAs, Veda PaatasAlAs have been established at many sites ( Srirangam , Kaanchi , MadhurAntakam , ThirucchAnUr, Thirumalaa et al) . Today's Veda PaarAyaNakkArAs have been trained at such Veda PaatasAlAs .

Let us support the future generation of Vedic Experts to keep the Vedic torch shining bright and steady !

Request for Your support for the upcoming Thirunakshatra Utsavam *****************************************************************

The Thirunakshatram of our revered AchAryan is fast approaching . It will be on Kaartikai 11th ( Nov 27 ,2009).

From Nov 17 to Nov 27 , there will be Ten days of Veda, dhivya Prabhandha PaarAyaNams at the Vijaya YaatrA SthAnam of SelayU(East Tambaram) SrI Matam .Close to 200 PoorNa- adhikAris in the different sakhAs of the Vedhams will take part in these PaarAyaNams and there will be the grand TadhiyArAdhanams every day .

You are all invited to take part and enjoy these sacred AarAdhanams and Veda ViNNappams every day and recieve the anugraham of MalOlan and Srimath Azhagiya Singars.

You are also welcome to contribute Your samarpaNams in support of these special events by sending Your YathA-sakti support to:

Sri Ahobila Muth Inc.,

3160 Manor Bridge Drive

Alpharetta, GA 30004

In India , you can send your samarpaNams to:

Sri Nrusimha Priya Trust

30 Venkatesa Agraharam

Mylapore , Chennai 600 004

Please mark your checks to HH The Jeeyar for the 83rd Thirunakshatram.

NamO SrI NrisimhAya,Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam , DhAsan ,Oppiliappan KOil VaradachAri Sadagopan

November 17, 2009