Fw: [t'venkatam] kANDa r^iShi-s and their significance

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Dear AasthikAs :

 

Sriman VaradarAjan's mail in a

would be of interest to you .

 

NamO Veda PurushAya,

V.Sadagopan

 

-

" kc " <rtvrajan

 

Friday, August 12, 2005 9:48 PM

Re: [t'venkatam] kANDa r^iShi-s and their

significance

 

 

>

> A simple and partial explanation can be provided as follows:

>

> The Yajur veda Samhita portion consists of 7 khAndas.

> But the vedam including yajur vedam consists of brAhmana, Aranyaka,

> and upanishat as well.

>

> In yajur veda upakarma sampradAyam we stress four major rishis of

> Samhita ( prajApati, soma, Agni, viswadeva ), three rishis of

> upanishats( samhiti [taitriya], yAjiki[MahA nArAyana], vAruni),

> svayambhu (of brAhmanam), sadasaspati ( who perhaps made

> contributions to Aranyakam).

>

> The major rishi names incidentally coincide with the major gods of

> the yajur veda ( prajApati, soma, agni, purusha, etc. ). Sadasaspati

> also figuratively refers to Agni.

>

> Thus we do not try to invoke the rishis of each kAnda of the Samhita

> portion but instead try to remember the major rishis behind various

> portions of the yajur vedam.

>

> When the upanishat, brAhmana, and Aranyaka rishis are remembered we

> do not use the term 'khAnda.'

>

> The rishi of each Samhita khAnda is specifically remembered in some

> upAkarma sampradAyams:

>

> They are :

> 1. prajApati

> 2. soma

> 3. agni

> 4. viswedeva

> 5. viswedeva

> 6. viswedeva

> 7. aruna

>

> The remembrance of upanishat, brahmana and arAnyaka rishis is

> interspersed among the seven.

>

> Thus there are 4 major rishis of samhita portion, 3 major rishis of

> upanishat portion, and one each for brAhmanam and Aranyakam.

>

> adiyen,

> RTV Varadarajan

>

> , " sgopan " <sgopan@c...> wrote:

>> Sri:

>>

>> Dear Sri Ramesh Srinivasan :

>>

>> I will get you answers for some of your questions on

>> UpAkarma soon .

>>

>> Your questions are excellent . That reminds me of the adage

>> Rishi Moolam , Nadhi Moolam indicatign the ancient nature of

>> Rishi Paramparai .

>>

>> Meanwhile , I welcome others to resspond to the specific queries .

>> There is indeed a reasoning behind the various steps of

> different

>> SamskArams .

>>

>> NamO Veda PurushAya ,

>> V.Sadagopan

>>

>>

>> -

>> " Ramesh Srinivasan " <ramesh@i...>

>> <Oppiliappan >

>> Tuesday, August 09, 2005 6:46 PM

>> [t'venkatam] kANDa r^iShi-s and their significance

>>

>>

>>

>> Respected elders,

>>

>> Every year, during the upAkarma observance, we offer gratitude

> and homage o

>> the kANDa R^iShi-s associated with our particular veda shAkhA. In

>> particular, for the kR^iShNa yajur veda taittirIya shAkhA, we

> chant the

>> following mantra-s during the kANDa r^iShi tarpaNam:

>>

>> (i) prajApatim kANDarshim tarpayAmi

>> (ii) sOmam kANDarshim tarpayAmi

>> (iii) agnim kANDarshim tarpayAmi

>> (iv) viSvAn devAn kANDarshIn tarpayAmi

>> (v) sAmhitIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi

>> (vi) yajnikIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi

>> (vii) vAruNIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi

>> (viii) brahmANaGM svayambhuvam tarpayAmi

>> (ix) sadasaspatim tarpayAmi

>>

>> It is my understanding that the first four lines above refer to

> the 4 kANDa

>> r^iShi-s - prajApati, soma, agni and vishvedevAH. However, I am

> unsure

>> about

>> the following questions and would be grateful to learn from

> knowledgable

>> elders in this forum:

>>

>> 1. BhagavAn veda vyAsa is the compiler and editor of the 4 veda-

> s. However,

>> the fact that we remember the 4 kANDa r^iShi-s every year during

> upAkarmA

>> and utsarjana indicates that they must have played a momentous

> role in the

>> transmission of the veda-s. In addition, between upanayana and

> vivAha

>> samskAra, every brahmacAri is enjoined to perform the catvAri

> veda vratAni

>> to propitiate each kANDA r^iShi before commencing the study of the

>> associated saMhitA portion. What is the specific contribution of

> the kANDa

>> r^iShi-s that earns them this high place of honor in the vaidika

>> saMpradAya?

>>

>> 2. Since the taittirIya saMhitA consists of 7 kANDa-s, what is

> the division

>> (mapping) of these 7 kANDa-s amongst the 4 kANDa r^iShi-s?

>>

>> 3. During the upAkarma observance, we perform *nava* kANDa r^iShi

> arpaNa.

>> Who are the remaining 5 r^iShi-s whom we worship thus? What is

> the>

>> significance of propitiating them?>

>> 4. Moreover, in the prayoga assoiated with these tarpaNa mantra-

> s, we seem>

>> to differentiate in the manner of pouring water - the first 7

> being r^iShi

>> tIrta, the 8th being brahma tIrtha and the 9th being deva tIrtha.

> Why this

>> distinction and what is its origin?

>>

>> 5. We perfrom tarpaNam by wearing the sacred thread as a garland

> (nivItam).

>> What is the significance behind this?

>>

>>

>> I would be very grateful for your kind elucidation of this

> matter. If I

>> have

>> erred in my understanding as stated above, I would appreciate

> being

>> corrected by the esteemed members of this forum.

>>

>>

>> With respectful namaskAram-s,

>> Ramesh

>

>

>