There are four vedas. Rig veda, Yazue veda,Sama veda and Atharvana veda. Vedas are regarded as revelation by the Hindus. It includes Bhraamanas, Upanishads and sutras. Vedas are the sacred knowledge that the Aryans brought into India which was later developed in the sub continent. The vedas are the search of the Indian saints for the truth.
God does not have a fragmented plan for the earth which will embrace every doctine. He does have a singular plan that unifies every culture and fulfills the promises He has made known to every diverse people throughout time. He has heard the cry of every sincere seeker throughout the ages.He is not limited by our dimension of time, He will answer all (Who did, who are or who will diligently seek Him). It must be known that God has already revealed Himself to many throughout the world.The most common themes are monotheism, the efeects of sin and the concept of a singular divine saviour. The Bible tells us
And he has put (written) Eternity in their hearts (Ecclessisates 3:11)
Even in vedic period the saints felt that they were born in sinful nature.The prarthasnana mantra which is chanted before the gayathri mantra goes like this.
Papokam, papa karmaham, papatma, papa sambhava, thrahimam pundarikaksha, sarva papa hari hare.
This prayer is chanted before taking bath. By doing this the saints remembered that water cannot cleanse their sins. The meaning of this prayer is "I am born in sin, doer of sin, a sinful self. I am the worst sinner. Lord save me from all sins." (Sarva papa can be by Manasa = thinking; Vasa = words; Hastapyam = look, Drehimam = body).They asked God (did not know who that God is, but yet they said "Hari Hare") to forgive their sins.
Baja Govindam Says " Punarapi janana punarapi marana; Punarapi janani jadarey sayana; In sansarey wah dustarey; Krupya parey pahi murarey" meaning repeated birth, repeated death and repeated lying in mothers womb.This worldly process is too difficult to cross.Save me O destroyer of death by your Grace.
All animal sacrifices both in Vedic times in India and in Old Testament times in Palestine are shadows for the real sacrifice of God or Prajapatti. (Praja = People; Pathi = God, so God is called God of people).
Atonement for Sins
In the beginning, God allowed mankind to sacrifice animals, so as to make them understand that there is atonement for everyone's sins, as it is written in Thertiriya Aranyaka verse 3, Sarvapapa pariharo raktha prokshna mavasyakam, which means that the atonement is through shedding of blood only.
"Yagnovai Bhuvanasya Nabhih"- "Sacrifice is the mainstay of the world".
"Yagne Sarvam Pratishthitam" - "It is sacrifice that bestows all things".
"Yagnovai Sutarmanowh"- "Sacrifice is the bark (boat) that enables one to live well".
"Yagnena Va Deva Divangatah" - "Only by means of sacrifice, the gods attained heaven"
"Rutasyanah Pathanaya Ati Viswani Durita"- "Deliverance through the path of sacrifice"
The above doctrines proclaimed by the Vedas emphasize that sacrifices should be the foremost of all penances that must be performed for the atonement of sins.
Tandya Maha Brahmanam says, "Yagnota avati tasyachhaya kriyate" - "It is a sacrifice that saves. What is being performed, is the shadow of sacrifice".
In Rig Veda, we read, "Atmada baladah yasya chhaya-mrutam yasya mruatyuh" - "He whose shadow and death become nectar shall, by his shadow and death, confer the spirit and strength".
The above sayings clearly reveal that the sacrifices performed do not themselves confer salvation but they are the type and the shadow of a great salvation-giving sacrifice.
Though the animal's blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent and turn away from his sinful ways by seeing the animal, which is being sacrificed on his behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into condemnation.
If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse says again, "thad raktham Paramatmena punyadana baliyagam" which means that-blood has to be through the sacrifice of God himself.
Aitareya Brahmanam says, "Yaja-manah pashuh yajamanameva suvargam lokam gamayati" - "He who offers the sacrificial animal; therefore, he who performs sacrifices goes to heaven"
In the Satpatha Brahmanam, we read, "Prajapatir yagnah" - "God Himself is the sacrifice".
In Tandya Maha Brahmanam of Sama Veda, we read, "Prajapatir devebhyam atmanam yagnam krutva prayachhat" - "God would offer Himself as a sacrifice and obtain atonement for sins"
Satapadha Brahmanam says, "Tasya prajapatirardhameva martyamasidardhamrutam" - God became half mortal and half immortal". This means that He united in Himself the human and the divine.
The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha Prajapati. Purushao vava yagna (Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is the sacrifice.
Bagvat Gita 11:53 says " Naham vedair na tapasa na danena na c'ejyaya; sakya evam vidho dhristavan asi mam yatha" which means neither by vedic studies, nor by austerities, nor by charities, nor by sacrifices could one behold Me. Nor by any works you have done.
Yazhur veda 32.3 says " Nathasya prathima asityasya namma hastha" means God has no image. His name is Holy.
Bruhat aranya upanishad 1.3.28 says "Asatoma sath gamaya; Tamasoma Jyothir Gamaya; Mruthyoma amrutham gamaya;" which means Deliver me from untruth to truth, Deliver me from darkness to light, Deliver me from death to eternal life.
Hear the audio track on some vedas with meaning in Tamil by clicking the play button in the audio player provided below.
Hear the audio track on some vedas with meaning in Tamil by clicking the play button in the audio player provided below.
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