VOICE OF THE RISHIS - 17 COURTESY : SHRI R.JANARADHANA RAO

[Guest guest]

My Dear Bhagavat Banduvullara,

 

VOCIE OF THE RISHIS - 17

 

ASMAANAM TANVAM KRIDHI

 

-- ADHARVA VEDA 1-1-2

 

As already explained (V.O.R. 11) while the first two vedas

deal with evocations to the creator and several aspects of nature,

Sama veda is a musical chanting, Atharava Veda deals with problems of

community, man's health, Ayurvedic medicine, secrets of war and other

ground realities. This Atharva Veda here tells us how the human body

should be kept up.

 

" Your body (tanvam) should be as strong as stone

(Asmaanam). So make it (Kridhi) " . This epigram reveals how much

importance has been given to the strength of the body and how it is

ordained to be made as strong and formidable as a granite.

Unfortunately some philosophers of later times derided the aspect of

the body looking down upon it as, physical, mere flesh and blood, and

giving priority to the metaphysics of an unkonwn spiritual world.

This vedic saying strikes at the root of the concept and instructs

man to keep his body strong and healthy.

 

Another saying " Deho Devalaya Prokto " , tells us that the body

(Deho) is the temple (Devalaya) of the indwelling spirit. Here the

word 'stone' should not be construed as an insensitive one, but

indicates that in strength it should be strong as granite

(asmaanam). So prepare it (Kridhi) accordingly means continued

rigorous practices as is done in army training and never to neglect

the body, the vehicle of our being.