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Tag: Rigveda

  • Women Can Learn The Vedas Affirm Vedas

    The topic, “Can  women learn The Vedas”, the Scriptures of  the Hindus is very sensitive authentic material on this subject is scarce.

    One group maintains that women are barred from Learning the Vedas.

    Their arguments and references.

    They quote the Smritis which do not carry the weight and authority of The Vedas.

    ”

    There are clear injunctions in various smR^itis and purANas that prohibit women from learning the veda.

    The most famous of these that is quoted by most AchAryas comes from bhagavAn bAdarAyaNa:(Bhadarayana)

     

    strIshUdradvijabandhUnAM tray Ina shrutigocharA |
    karmashreyasi mUDhAnAM shreya evaM bhavediha |
    iti bhAratamAkhyAnaM kR^ipayA muninA kR^itam ||

    “stri-sudra-dvijabandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Because woman class and
    less intelligent class, and these unworthy sons of the brahmanas and
    ksatriyas, they will not be able to understand the original Vedic
    literature,

    Kanchi Peryavar says thus,

    ”

    ஸ்த்ரீகள் படிக்க வேண்டியதைச் சொன்னமாதிரியே படிக்க வேண்டாததையும் சொல்லவேண்டும். இப்படி நான் சொன்னால் கன்னா பின்னா புஸ்தகங்கள் படிக்கக்கூடாது என்பதைத்தான் நான் சொல்கிறேன் என்று எதிர்பார்பீர்கள். அதுவும் வாஸ்தவந்தான். ஆனால் கன்னா பின்னாவே இல்லாத இன்னொன்று, எல்லாக் கன்னா பின்னாக்களையும் போக்குகின்ற இன்னொன்றும் ஸ்த்ரீகளுக்கு வேண்டாம் என்று சாஸ்த்ரம் சொல்லியிருப்பதால் அதையும் நான் தெரிவிக்க வேண்டியிருக்கிறது.

    வேதத்தைத்தான் சொல்கிறேன்.

    வேதத்தின் தாத்பர்யத்தைச் சொல்லும் பல புஸ்தகங்கள் இருக்கின்றன. அவற்றை ஸ்த்ரீகள் படித்துச் தெரிந்து கொள்ளட்டும். நேரே வேதத்தைப் படிப்பதும் அதிலுள்ள ஸூக்தங்களைப் பாடம் பண்ணுவதும், புருஷர்கள் மாதிரியே அத்யயனம் பண்ணுவதும் வேண்டாம்.”

     

    I am providing the Link at the end of the Post for those who know Tamil.

     

    The essence of what He says is that there might have been exceptions in the earlier Yugas and in KaliYug, Women are weak.

     

    They need not learn the Vedas.

     

    The Essene of the Vedas is present in the Dharma Sastras Ramayana and Mahabharata.

     

    If  women are sincere in learning the Vedas, they an follow the Dharma Sastras and the Ithihasas like Ramayana and Mahabharata.

     

    However the Sruthi is clear on Women learning the Vedas.

     

    Women a learn The Vedas,Veda References.

    ”

    1.      The “Brahma” in a yajna is the best trained
    purohit who can correct the others involved in the yajna. BRAHMAA VAA
    RITVIJAABHMISHAKTAMAHA – Shatapatha brahmana 1.7.4.19.


    “Thasyaadyo
    brahmanishtaha syaath tham brahmaanam kurveeth”.“Atha kena brahmtvam
    kreeyathe iti trayyaa vidyayethi, trayya vidyayeti ha brooyaath”
    (Aithareya 5.33).
    2.       A woman can be a brahma as mentioned in Rigveda (8.33.-19).
    “…sthree hi brahmaa vibhoovidhaha” .
    3.      “AachaaryadaNatvam”…Ashtaadhyaayi 4.3.2.49.“ACHHARYASYA STREE AACHAARYAANEE PUM YOGA ITHYEVA AACHAARYA SVAYAM VYAAKHYAATREE”-Siddhaanta koumudi.

    ( the woman who conducts the veda pravachana is called an Achaarya) .
    4.      Aachaarya lakshana :- “UPANEEYA TUM YAHA SHISHYA
    VEDAMADHYAAPAYED DWIJAHA, SAKALPA SARAHASYAM CHA THAMAACHAARYA
    PRACHAKSHATHE”.( The one who can conduct the upanayana samskaara and teaches the Vedas is called the Aachaarya).

    Siddhaanta Koumudi edited by Mahamahopaadhyaaya pandit Shivadatta sarma says,

    5.      “ITI VACHANENAAPI STREENAM VEDAADHYANAADIKAARO    DHVANITHAHA”.(THIS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WOMEN HAS VEDAADHIKAARA) .
    6.      Rigveda 10.159-2.3″THADVIDAHA�….UTAAHAMASMI SAM JAYAA…UTTAMAM”.(May I get a good husband…..Because of Vedas, I will become tejasvi and a
    powerful spokes person…
    May my daughter shine well because of her good
    character) .
    7.      Taandya brahmana (5-6-8) advises that women have to chant
    saamaved along with veena when a yajna is being conducted.
    8.      The Mantra 5.5.29 ordains that the women have to circumambulate the yajna kunda
    chanting the veda mantras.
    .
    9.      .The kumari Gandharva grahathaa story in
    Eithareya proves that the women had all rights for Vedas.
    .
    10.  Laatyayana
    shrouthasootra, Shaankaayana shroutha sootra etc., also confirms the
    rights of women for Vedas.
    There are several other authorities advising women to chant veda mantras. .
    11.  Yajurveda23-23, 25-27, 29;
    12.  Shatapatha brahmana 1-9-2-2-1, 1.9.2.22.23;
    13.  Taittareeya samhitha 1.1.10,
    14.  Aaswalaayana grihya sootra 1.1.9,
    15.  Kaataka grihyasootra 3.1.30, 27-3,
    16.  Paaraskara grihyasootra 1.5.1,2. ,
    17.  Yajurveda 36-24
    “tacchakshurdeva sahitam…” is to chanted only by a woman.
    18.  Rigveda  10-85.48 has to be chanted by husband and wife together.
    19.  Some Names of women who chanted Vedas:-  Ghoshaa, godaa, vishvavaraa, apaalaa, adithi, jahu, indraani, vedavathi, Oorvashi, shachee, shrithaavathi, Siddhaa,
    Shreemathi, Shivaa, Sulabhaa, Svadhaa, Vapunaa, Dhaarini, Romashaa,
    Lopaamudraa, Yamee, Shaashvathee, Idaa, Gaargi, Maithreyi…….
    20.  Some more Authorities for women chanting veda mantras:- Examples of women
    mantradrashtaaras: Ghoshaa, godhaa, vishvavaraa, Apaalaa, Upanishad,
    Jahu, Indraani, saramaa, Romashaa, Oorvashi, Lopaamudraa, Yamee,
    Shaashvathee, Sooryaasavithree,….etc.,
    21.  Rigveda 10-134, 10-39,
    10-40, 8-91, 10-95, 10-109, 10-154, 10-159, 10-189, 5-28, 8-91 ..etc.,
    are from women.
    22.  Taittareeya brahmana 2-3-10..”..
    23.  Tam trayee vedaa anya
    srijantha….vedan pradadow”(Three vedas were given to the woman
    Seetaa-savitri through Soma).
    24.  Manu’s daughter Idaa is described in
    Taittareeya Brahmana( 1-1-4) as Yajnaprakaashinee meaning Yajna tatva
    prakaashana samarthaa.
    (This can be continued…)
    25.  To cite examples of mention in Mahaakavyas:-
    Mahabharata:-
    Udyogaparva 190-18: “Atra siddhaa shivaa naama braahmNee veda paaragaahaa..”
    (A brahmin lady by name Shivaa was a scholar of vedas and she got
    Moksha).
    26.  A non brahmin lady Droupadi was a scholar of vedas.
    Achaarya
    27.  Madhva in his Mahabharata tatparya nirnaya says, “Vedaaschapyuttama
    streebhihi krishnaattaabhirihaakhilaaha.
    ( Good women should learn Vedas like Droupadi).
    28.  Valmiki Ramayana:-
    Sundarakaanda53-26:
    Vaidehi shokasantaptaa hutaashanmupaagatam.
    ( The sad Seeta did homa to Agni)
    29.  VR 5-15-48:- “Sandhyaakaale …..Sandhyaartham varavarninee”.
    (Seetha would certainly come to the river to perform sandhya with pure water).
    30.  Valmikiramayana 4-16-12, 2-20-15 indicate that Kousalya and Kaikeyi also
    were doing agnihotra etc.,
    31.  Vaali’s wife Tara chanted
    swastimantras.

    32.  Puranas :-
    Vishnupurana (1-10) and (18-19);
    Markandeyapurana (52); Brahma vaivarta purana (14-65) etc., may be seen.’

    Shri.Ramanujacharya, Founder of Visishtadvaita, affirms that women an lear the Vedas.

    But Ramanuja thinks that any person wishing to pursue
    the knowledge of Brahman must first learn to chant the
    Vedas (swadhyayam).     He thinks that learning Vedas is a
    Samskaara (refinement or exaltation of excellence) and
    Swadhyaaya forms the object of Samskaara. Taittriya
    upanishad     is quoted to substantiate this"

    Professor Bhatnagar.

    “Prof . Bhargava tell us that in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 6.4.17, there is a ritual “for parents desirous of a daughter who would shine with learning.

    ” The Upanayana ceremony was common to boys as well as to girls.

    The Atharvaveda 9.15.18  says that a girl gets a young and eligible husband only when she has passed a period of brahmacarya.

    The rg Veda mentions women performing yajnas alone and the satapaha brahmana tells us that the Patnikarma of women chanting SamaVeda was later taken over by udgatrs.”

    Harita smR^iti discusses two categories of women:

    1. brahmavAdinI: She is the true brahmachAriNI who can undergo upanayana and agni homa, study the scriptures and live on bhikShA.
    2. sadyo vadhu: Undergo upanayana but enter matrimony early on without the study of scriptures.

     

     

    While venerable commentators point out various technicalities in accepting this pramANa, there is no room for doubt regarding the need for upanayana samskAra if a woman needs to study shruti, if at all such an adhikAra is accepted.

     

    One can find a clear reference to a brahmachAriNI in the gR^ihya sUtra when AshvalAyana talks about the samAvartana samskAra:

     

    ashmanastejo.asi shrotraM me pAhIti maNikuNDale AbadhnIta anulepena pANI pralipya mukhamagre brAhmaNo.anulimpet | bAhU rAjanyaH | agre.anulimpet | udaraM vaishyaH | pUrvavat | upasthaM strI | tadvat ||”

     

    Kalidasa, the Divine Poet affirms this hen he speaks of Goddess Parvati.

    ”

    Kalidasa’s description of bhagavatI parvatI performing agnihotra can be somewhat accepted as reflecting the society in those days:

     

    kR^itAbhiShekAM hutajAtavedasaM tvaguttarAsa~NgavatIM adhItinIm || [kumArasambhava]

    sItA is described as performed sandhyA in rAmAyaNa:

    sandhyAkAlamanAH shyAmA dhruvameShyati jAnakI |
    nadIM chemAM shubhajalAM sandhyArthaM varavarNinI ||’

    To sum up.

    There are some injunctions on women prohibiting them from learning the Vedas.

     

    Kanhi Periyavar says that women in Kali Yuga are weak and hence need not learn the Vedas.

     

    His advice is to learn the Dharma sastra and he does not say learning  the Vedas is prohibited .

     

    His Concern seems more on the the rigorous  practice and Discipline needed to learn the Vedas and that being weak, women need not learn the Vedas.

     

    He does no say the Vedas proscribe women learning the Vedas.

     

    Sruthi is the Highest authority, Smrtis take a backseat, so also  the Purana and The Ithihasas, when compared with the Vedas.

     

    I feel on the strength of the Sruthi, Vedas can be learned by women by following the procedure laid by The Vedas to learn them.

     

    Citations.

    http://jayasreesaranathan.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/should-women-not-chant-vedas-part-1/

    http://jayasreesaranathan.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/should-women-not-chant-vedas-part-3/

    http://www.kamakotimandali.com/misc/womenveda.html

    https://ancientindians.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/can-women-learn-the-veda/

    http://mahaperiyavaa.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D/

    * This post is intended to Highlight this issue and My views are not the final authority.

    I have references from the Vedas,and to me Vedas are the Authority.

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  • Veda Sutras Vedangas Details

    This post is in continuation of the Post Veda essential Details.

    Each Veda has Srautha Sutras.

    Veda Sutra
    Layayana Sutra Sama Veda

    Srautha Sutras explain the Rules for Conducting the Yagas and Yangnas.

    Yagas are condcuted with a specific purpose while Yagna is performed because it is a Duty.

    Puthra KameshtiYaga for example is a Yaga while Brahma Yagnam isa Yagna; the former is performed for begetting  Children, the later is performed because it is a Duty.

    Rig Veda has Sanakayana, Aswalaayana Sutras.

    Shukla Yajur Veda has Kathyaayana Sutra,

    Aapasthamba,Bodhayana,Hiranya Keseeya,Bharatwaja, Manava,Vaikanasa belong to Krishna Yajur.

    Sama Veda has Dhraahyaayana,Laatyaayana,Machaka Sutras.

    Kathyayana and Vaidhaana belong to Atharva Veda.

    (Kathyaayana seems to be common for Atharva and Shukla Yajur- will some one clarify?)

    These are Gruhya Sutras,

    Vedas also have Dharma/Gruhya Sutras which advise the House holder on Righteousness or Dharma for Gruhastha.

    Gautama, Vasishta,Hiranyakeseeya and Vaikaanasa are some of these Sutras.

    The Vedas stress the importance of Dwani, tone and pronunciation.

    Details of this is provided in the Prathisaakyas.

    Each Veda has Anugrahamani on this subject.

    To  explain the meaning of the Vedas there is a special Group called Niruktham.

    There are six sub texts of the Vedas called Vedangas.

    They are Siksha,Vyakarana,Chandas,NirukthamJyothisham and kalpa.

    Please read my post filed under Hinduism, Vedas.

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  • Vedas Essential Details

    I am providing some essential information on the Vedas, The Sacred Text of the Hindus.

    Vedas are transmitted by word of mouth and it is ordained that The Vedas must be learned by “Listening’

    Though Five thousand years have passed , the intonation across the length and breadth of India or wherever the Vedas are recited, there is no difference  in the Text or intonation.

    If there is a variation, as it does in some texts, recitation, it has been grouped and one who knows the Vedas  follows only what is ordained for him .

    The Veds, Hindu Scripture
    The Vedas

    The Vedas are four in Number.

    Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.

    Yajur has Sukla Yajur and Krishna Yajur.

    The Vedas were compiled, not composed by Ved Vyas.

    The term Vyas means ‘Compiler’.

    He gave it to his four disciples,

    Rig Veda to Pailar,

    Yajur Veda to Vysampayana,

    Sama to Jaimini and

    Atharva to Sumanthu.

    ( Sage Yagnavalkya compiled the Sukla Yajur after having learnt it directly from Surya , the Sun God, for more on this read my post Sukla Yajur)

    The disciples of these four transmitted the Vedas through their disciples and this practice continues even to-day.

    There are 1181 Sakais(Divisons)

    Rig Veda has 21,

    Yajur 101,

    Sama 1000 and

    Atharva 9

    * 50 Saakais are not accounted for here.There is another information which differs as to the number, see the Link.

    Out of this only Nine are available and are being practiced now.

    They are,

    Saakala Saakai-Rig veda,1

    Sukla Yajur, Kaanvam and Madhyandhinam-2

    Krishna Yajur Taittriyam and Maitrayaneeyam-2

    Sama Veda, Gauthama,Raanayaneeyam,Jaimini 3,

    Atharva Veda Saunakam and Paippalaatham 2

    Sayanachariar had written the Commentary, Bhashyam for all the Vedas.

    Rig Veda belongs to Hotha Gana,

    Yajur Athvaryu,

    Sama Veda Uthkaathru,

    Atharva, Santhika and Paushtika and in Yagas relate to Brahma.

    Each Veda has,

    Samhitas, Hymns addressed to Devatas and Mantras,

    Brahmanas,explain the duties relating to daily ife and performance of Yagas and Yagnas,

    Aranyakas, continuation of  the Brahmanas and

    Upanishads deal with the knowlege of Reality, Brahman

    Rig Veda Brahmanas- Aithreyam,Kausheetaki:; Aithearanyakam and Aithreyopanishad, Kaushakyaaranyakam and Kayshathheylupanishad,

    Yajur Veda.

    Taittriya Brahmana,Taittriya Aranyaka,Taittriya,Svetasvara, Katha, and Maithryani  Upanishads.-Krishna Yajur.

    Sathapatha Brahmana , Bruhatharanyaka and Isavasya Upanishads-Sukla Yajur.

    Sama Veda, Aranyakeya Ganam,Chandokya UpanishadSama Vidhan Brahmanam,Devathaathyaya Vamsam.samhithoupanishad Brahmanam,Thalavakaara/Jaimini Brahmanam,Panchavimsa Brahmanam,Arshveya Brahmanm

    Atharva veda,

    Gopatha Brahmanam,Prasna, Mundaka,Mandukya,Jaabala,Nadhabindu,Kaivaya andNrusimhathaapini Upanishads.

    More to follow on Veda Sutras.

    Slightly different information at,

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas

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  • Purusha Suktam Verse 1 Reality Two Fingers Breadth

    Purusha sukta (puruṣasūkta, पुरुष सूक्त) is hymn 10.90 of the Rigveda, dedicated to the Purusha, the “Cosmic Being”

    Purusha means ‘Male’ in Sanskrit.

    Purusha in Tantric system
    Tantric representation of Purusha.

    Here in the Purusha Sukta the term is applied to mean a Principle,which is virile containing the seeds of Immanence.

    (Feminists need not take offence for this term contains, in this context, Female Principle Prakriti is immanent.

    As the explanation is about things before creation some term is to be used ”He’; is used and She is not used because the import of the Female term is different.This will be clear as the explanation will reveal later)

    The Purusha ukta describe the process of manifestation as Indian Philosophy does not use the term Creation, but only manifestation.

    Creation involves bringing forth some thing new which has not been in Existence before.

    As everything is Eternal there is no question of Creating something.

    Contrary to what many belive the Pursh Sukta is not about Vishnu or Narayana.

    Separate Suktam on these Deities appeat later as Narayan Suktam and Sri Vishnu Suktam.

    While Narayana is an Amsa of Purusha, Visnu is an Amsa of Narayana.

    As Lakshmi and Durga are.

    Therefore to complete the Chanting one has to recite all the Five Suktas .

    This is the actual Panchamrutha. not the dish we prepare and offer to God as an item to bathe Him with.

    When some one says in the Pooja, whether in the Temples or Homes, Panchamrutha Snanam Samarppayami, the Five Suktas are to be chanted.

    The Vedas have Four Parts,

    Samhitas, which contain Prayers to Gods,

    Brahmanas about the Oblations/Yagnas,

    Aranyakas, the efforts to realize Reality from the forest, and

    The Upanishads, where Reality is described.

    The Purusha Sukta is unique in that it contains all the four parts in one Sukta,

    Purusha Sukta appears in the Rig Veda 10.90 verses.

    सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् ।
    स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशाङुलम् ॥१॥
    Sahasra-Shiirssaa Purussah Sahasra-Akssah Sahasra-Paat |
    Sa Bhuumim Vishvato Vrtva-Atya[i]-Tisstthad-Dasha-Angulam ||1||

    Meaning:
    1.1: The Purusha (The Universal Being) has Thousand Heads, Thousand Eyes and Thousand Feet (Thousand signifies innumerable which points to the omnipresence of the Universal Being),
    1.2: He envelops the World from all sides (i.e. He pervades each part of the Creation), and extends beyond in the TenDirections ( represented by Ten Fingers ).

    Purusha-Reality,

    Sahsra Seersha-has over 1000 heads-In Sanskrit , innumerable is often called as ‘Sahasra’ or Thousand.

    Aksha-has 100 eyes(Aksha-eyes)

    Sahasrabath-has over 1000 feet.

    Bommim-The Earth,

    Viswatha-everywhere,

    Vruthvaa-Spread and immanent,

    Dasa Angulam-Stands at 10 Inches.

    Athyathishtath-Stands, remains.

    Angulam means ‘by a measurement of two fingers’

    “The fact that the unit of angulam of 1.763 cm could match very well the dimensions of historical monuments establishes the continuity of India’s engineering tradition through the ages for as long as 3,900 years’

    In Hindu Theology the personal God Iswara who resides in the heart measures one inch .

    In Hinduism, the Psychological heart is said to be on the Right side of the Chest as against the left side for the Physical heart.

    In this verse, the external manifestation of the Universal Principle , as can be grasped by the Human mind, is expressed,just as camera film records the size, not in real-time.

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  • Purusha Suktam An Introduction

    The Purusha Suktam is one of the earliest compositions that occurs in the Rig Veda.

    There are Five most sacred mantras that are revered and chanted by the Hindus in Temples and at Homes on auspicious occasions.

    People perform this on a Daily basis as a part of their Daily Pooja.

    These Five Suktas are,

    Purusha Suktam,

    Nayanayana Suktam,

    Vishnu Suktam.

    Sri Suktam and

    Durga Suktam.

    These five Suktas are to be recited at the time of Bathing the Deity.

    Details on How a God is to be Bathed may be seen in my Post filed Hinduism.

    If one looks the Universe and its workings it would be evident that everything in the Universe takes place in a rhythmic pattern.

    Stars are formed, decay, Die and are regenerated.

    Plants , animals and Man are born grow, decay and die.

    Seasons come and go.

    Everything in the world takes something from the Universe and gives it back.

    Plants give out Oxygen and we need Oxygen ‘we give out carbon and Plants need them

    Despite our mishandling of the Universe, the Universe takes back what we have taken from it, including our Life and Body.

    The Laws of Universe do not expect anything.

    Gravitation,Light,Heat and the other elements do not care whether we understand them or not.

    They just go about their jobs..

    In the Vedas performance of an action because it ought to be performed is called Yagna.

    The Purusha Suktam describes the evolution of the Universe at two levels. describing the process at two levels.

    One by performing a Yagna and another as Yaga where a specific result is required.

    Full Text meaning and explanatory note follows in a seires of articles.

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