Sri Sadhguro Pahimam Parama Dayalu Rakshamam

[Guest guest]

Dear Members

" Hindu Dharma " is a book published by Bharatiya Vidya

Bhavan which contains English translation of two volumes of the Tamil

Book " Deivatthin Kural " ; which is a collection of invaluable and

engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi

MahaSwamiji.

 

http://kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap36.htm

 

Vedic Sakhas

 

When

the Vedas are said to have no end, how can one talk of there

being an " end to the Vedas (Vedanta) " ? The mesage of

the Vedas, the truths proclaimed by them, the teachings with

respect to self-realisation occur in the concluding part

(Upanisads) of each of the Vedas, that is Vedanta.

 

Why

should the Vedas, which are infinite have been divided into so

many sakhas or recensions? A man must be imparted all that is

necessary to purify his mind and prepare him for

Self-realisation. For this purpose he needs hymns, mantras,

employed in the performance of sacrifices and other works; he has

to examine the principles behind the sacrifices; and, finally, he

has to inquire into the Paramatman adopting the meditative

practice called nididhyasana so as to make the Ultimate Truth an

inner experience. It is not necessary for him to learn all the

countless Vedas; in any case it would be an impossible task. You

remember the story I told you of the great sage Bharadvaja who

could go only three steps up the Vedic mountain. What

a man needs to learn to refine himself, become free from all

impurities and finally mingle in the Supreme Being- the text

confirming to such needs is separated from the unending Vedas to

make a sakha.

 

A

Vedic recension includes all the works relating to a Brahmin's

life from birth to death. A Brahmin must memorise the mantras of

the Samhita, perform sacrifices according to the Brahmanas to the

chanting of the mantras, and later cross the bridge constituted

by the Aranyaka, the bridge that connects the outward with the

inward, that is study intensely the Upanisads that are concerned

exclusively with the inward. In this way he finally becomes

liberated, with the inward and the outward becoming one.

 

For

the wise and the mature a single mantra is enough to free them

from worldly existence. But to become pure an ordinary man needs

to perform many works and conduct worship in many ways. He has to

do japa and meditation. Each sakha contains mantras, rituals and

instruction in the science of the Self to enable him to find

release.

 

(See

Chapter 38 of this part entitled " Sakhas now studied " .

)

JAYA JAYA SANKARA HARA HARA SANKARA

 

Thwameva Maathaa Cha Pithaa Thwameva Thwameva Bhandhuscha Sakhaa Thwameva

Thwameva Vidhyaa Dhravinam Thwameva Thwameva Sarvam Mama Dheva Dheva.