vedabhASya - Vedic Studies

Background Does Brhadharanyaka Upanishad (Br. Up.) Chapter 6.4 talk about wife beating..? When I read the traditional meanings, it does. But when I translated it, I did not find anything like that.  Rather I find a design pattern matching between agni invoked in stri to menstruation in women. I am translating Br. Up. Chapter 6.4.1 to 6.4.13 in part-1. Executive Summary This chapter is talking about how creation happened.  puruSa is the cause of creation and fruits carry the essence of that puruSa, because they carry the seeds and seeds are the basis of creation. Not just that, essence of one form is carried in another for furthering creation and that is the 'model'.  Like stone/mountain/land that emerges out of water, stri emerges out of puruSa to uphold that seed or nurturing creation. puruSa manifests as the 'atmanam' inside this striyam (or feminity). We perceive this atmanas as the 'aham' or 'self' between the breasts (heart) and middle of the eye-br

  On the eve of 75th anniversary of Indian Independence, Song of unity from Rgveda mandala 10 hymn 191 sung in tamil essence in english. Priests performing diverse actions in a Yajna tell Agni, they do diverse roles, but in Unison. In the Yajna of Nation Building, we can use the same verses, addressing them to our National flag, saying we will remain united in words, actions, hearts and mind (though with different roles and views).  Sam Gachatvam - Rg veda Mandala 10 Hymn 191 translation sung in tamil, essence in english with our national anthem  Singers - Latha Balaji, N.R.Chandrakumar

pUrva-mImAmsa - The earliest reflection on Vedas As bramacharin and gRhastas investigated samhitas and brAhmaNAs, a school of thought that emerged was the pUrva mImAmsa. According to it, everything is true, unless it is proved false. So one has to negate something and then negation has to be negated to prove it. This means that there is no 'faith' element. Every idea can be questioned and negated. If one is able to negate the negation, then idea sustains. mI is the root word for words with meaning of reducing, lessening, perishing, destroying, moving away etc etc. ma means not or negation. So mIma-aMsa system could very well mean the system whose aMsa (characteristic) is removing (mI) negation (ma). mImA-aMsa is a method or doctrine of logical analysis that could be used for any subject matter. It's a very useful tool for modern debates and discussion too. It does not prohibit any thought however critical or negative it may be. It does not resort to a 'faith' elemen

Classification of vedic texts The vedic scriptures are seen through classification of saMhita, brAhmaNa, Aranyaka and UpaniSat. There are various ideas about what and how these classifications are meant for. Here is my understanding of it, which could be different from convention. saMhita simply means collections. Collections of mantras are saMhita. The mantras describe various (cosmic in my view) events and happenings. My understanding is saMhitas were for brahmacAris to memorize the events/happenings as they were. brAhmaNas are applications of saMhitas provided for gRhastAs. They describe various yajna rituals with stress on in which part which samhita mantra need to be recited. They are seen as application of saMhitas in day-to-day life by gRhastas. In fact grahastas lead a ritualistic life mostly. But in this process key mantras were continuously memorized and recited. Aranyakas are reflections on saMhitas meant for the vanaprasthins. These are semi-philosophical, semi-ritual, whic

  Analogous to science concepts of today, in matter domain, Shiva is Energy.  Vishnu is the property of ‘mass’. Lakshmi are the ‘wealth’ of matter (land, metals etc) and beings (cattle, ourselves) that undergo birth-death-birth cycle on this property of mass, evolving higher & higher forms. In biological domain, Shiva is Consciousness. Vishnu is the property of ‘manas’. Lakshmi are the ‘wealth’ of thoughts that undergo birth-flow-death-birth cycle in our manas, evolving higher and higher knowledge.  Adi Shankara praises this Lakshmi as the mother who drives this evolutionary cycle of birth-death-birth giving us knowledge, power/health and growth. Since mother Lakshmi keeps providing these to us, mahA-periyavA calls her  as one who keeps rejuvenating us all again and again. mahA-lakshmi are all the matter and biological forms of the Universe together. All natural forms that evolve and help evolve the Universe are mahAlakshmi. The evolutionary process that masks the reality behind ev

Background Rgveda 10.191 is set in the background of a sacrifice (Yajna) by assembly of priests, in which Agni which is the messenger that takes the oblations to devas, is addressed.  It has great message for 'team' or 'groups' of people working together.  Before you move on, check if you would like to subscribe to vedabhasya channel, where we try bringing out meaning of vedic scriptures in tamil, english in the light of words of our gurus as well as modern science. https://www.youtube.com/c/VedaBhasya Rgveda 10.191 - Hymns to Agni Together completely youthfully masculine agni, Universal Lord,  in the altar (place of offering), fill up our wealth. Moving together, Speaking together,  understanding minds together, oh deva, we worship with no divisions, understanding/aligning together before itself. Assembling equal/appropriate mantras, mind with thoughts, chanting equal/appropriate mantras, I offer equal/appropriate havis/oblations. Assembling  actions and appropriately

To help spread the word on vedabhasya channel, which reached 1000 subscribers, based on all your support, we request you to update your social media status in whatsapp, fb, twitter etc with following message.. Also if you have not subscribed yet, please do subscribe. Vedbhasya youtube channel is about understanding our ancient literatures in the light of words of our gurus, modern science and humanities by translating them (verbatim as much as possible) into tamil and english. It has videos, playlists and posts.   Please do click on the link, explore the channel and subscribe if interested.. https://www.youtube.com/c/VedaBhasya Watch above a video that explains the people behind vedabhasya channel