Summary of my reflection on some recent controversies, outbursts, concerns, escalations.
The central concern is what is the Vedic Tradition, the bedrock of our Civilization? And how do we protect it.
Way forward is not clear. But reflections are very essential.
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The central concern is what is the Vedic Tradition, the bedrock of our Civilization? And how do we protect it.
Way forward is not clear. But reflections are very essential.
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First, what are the Vedas? What is the Category to which it belongs? What is the Value it brings to our Civilization?
How do we protect it? Who must protect it? How must we indulge in it?
More than anything else, what do we do given where we are?
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How do we protect it? Who must protect it? How must we indulge in it?
More than anything else, what do we do given where we are?
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Are the Vedas a Text? - Yes, they definitely are. Are they only a Text? - Absolutely, No. That is where enormous difference begins.
Vedas can be studied as a Text. Much First Principles, Devata Tatva, Yagna Tatva, Karma - you will get a good peek into them through the Vedas.
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Vedas can be studied as a Text. Much First Principles, Devata Tatva, Yagna Tatva, Karma - you will get a good peek into them through the Vedas.
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Yet, you will only get a peek into it. You will not get everything from it. Worse, if you dont have sufficient readiness, you may not even get this. Even worse, if you dont have the guidance and the wisdom of a learned person, you might not get much.
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What makes it very very complex is - without the guidance of a Traditional Acharya and a Traditional Method, you may not be able to go beyond a point at all. And I am just talking about mere scholarship. I am not getting into other dimensions of it. We will go there gradually.
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Is this very complex to imagine? Is this very strange and unfamiliar?
Not at all. Just take Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics. It is likely to have a similar gradation in terms of reaching a pinnacle of understanding.
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Not at all. Just take Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics. It is likely to have a similar gradation in terms of reaching a pinnacle of understanding.
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You can read stuff and do a few things by yourselves - you will not be able to go beyond a point. This is common knowledge and common experience. We have Universities for a reason.
You have the adhikAra to read by self but to be in a University you need a different adhikAra.
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You have the adhikAra to read by self but to be in a University you need a different adhikAra.
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If it were just this, there would not be any controversy. Vedas come with stricter indulgence guidelines. At the very outset it has 3 dimensions.
- Textual (Scholarship)
- Chanting (not singing)
- Performative (Yagna, Karmakanda)
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- Textual (Scholarship)
- Chanting (not singing)
- Performative (Yagna, Karmakanda)
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Lets begin the Textual Tradition.
Even here, the Tradition has been quite strict. Nobody is an all Vedas Scholar. One is a scholar of a particular Veda but one is well indulged in associated texts such as Vykarana, Shiksha, Kalpa and so on.
It takes years to get there.
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Even here, the Tradition has been quite strict. Nobody is an all Vedas Scholar. One is a scholar of a particular Veda but one is well indulged in associated texts such as Vykarana, Shiksha, Kalpa and so on.
It takes years to get there.
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To be very very specific, Traditionally we did not have indulgences like ours. People who merely read various books and with some peek into the Tradition.
In the modern era, we can have some idea of the Vedas by reading Dr. KS Narayanacharya, Sri. Aurobindo and so on.
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In the modern era, we can have some idea of the Vedas by reading Dr. KS Narayanacharya, Sri. Aurobindo and so on.
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The reason being - Explanatory Scholarship had little value in the H Tradition. But modern west is an Explanatory Tradition. Our Universities indulge in & build Explanatory Models (EM).
Hence, we need scholars who can build EMs of the Vedas. We cant ignore it. Deal with it.
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Hence, we need scholars who can build EMs of the Vedas. We cant ignore it. Deal with it.
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The Explanatory Models must be accessible to everybody. It can be. It ought to be. No two ways about it. On this plane there would be to universal equality. Good for us.
But - expertise on this plane should mean nothing on the other two dimension - Chanting & Karma Kanda.
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But - expertise on this plane should mean nothing on the other two dimension - Chanting & Karma Kanda.
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Lets come to the 2nd Dimension - Chanting.
Veda Chanting is an extraordinary performance. It is a divine experience. If you listen to it for a long time, you will develop an appreciation for it and a want to indulge in it. You will develop certain other abilities.
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Veda Chanting is an extraordinary performance. It is a divine experience. If you listen to it for a long time, you will develop an appreciation for it and a want to indulge in it. You will develop certain other abilities.
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And it is not singing.
Chanting has dimensions of toughness, certain emphasis & press. Makes it difficult for everybody to indulge in it.
The levels of Pada, Jata, Krama, Ghana. They serve many purposes. They maintain sanctity, perfection & transformation over generations.
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Chanting has dimensions of toughness, certain emphasis & press. Makes it difficult for everybody to indulge in it.
The levels of Pada, Jata, Krama, Ghana. They serve many purposes. They maintain sanctity, perfection & transformation over generations.
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Yet - Chanting is much more.
Mantras are associated with Devatas. Mantras are Devatas. Chanting is not like mere scholarship. A mistake in the latter has no consequence. Here they do.
Hence, correct pronunciation is necessary. Learning under a Traditional Acharya is critical.
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Mantras are associated with Devatas. Mantras are Devatas. Chanting is not like mere scholarship. A mistake in the latter has no consequence. Here they do.
Hence, correct pronunciation is necessary. Learning under a Traditional Acharya is critical.
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This much would have been easy. But Tradition seems to impose constraints on who has the Adhikara to indulge in Chanting & who does not.
In particular, it seems to impose restrictions on women.
I am using the words “seems to impose” with full consciousness & responsibility.
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In particular, it seems to impose restrictions on women.
I am using the words “seems to impose” with full consciousness & responsibility.
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Firstly, its important to recognize that organisations such as Chinmaya Mission and RKM have already taught Veda Chanting to many women.
I have learnt alongside many women in CM. They learnt it with the same rigour as others. They were as proficient as men.
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I have learnt alongside many women in CM. They learnt it with the same rigour as others. They were as proficient as men.
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In their respective spaces, they anchored Tradition so outstandingly. They were flag bearers & have lit the lamp of Tradition in many a lives which would have otherwise been lost to the onslaught of modernity.
In Karnataka, 1000s of women have learnt Veda Chanting & practise.
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In Karnataka, 1000s of women have learnt Veda Chanting & practise.
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We do not understand why such a restriction was practised and why certain texts anchored thus. Tradition has not sufficiently explained this dimension. Explanations that go around are not satisfactory.
We should not forget that we have women Mantra-Drashtarini-s. Yet…!
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We should not forget that we have women Mantra-Drashtarini-s. Yet…!
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Of course, we dont need to push for Universal Equality of everything. Ours is a Tradition of Universal Exclusivity. But the lack of explanation in the Tradition is somewhat baffling.
Its one thing to have a First Principles without an explanation. One can understand that.
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Its one thing to have a First Principles without an explanation. One can understand that.
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Deep realities of Nature are perceived only by the Sages. Considerations of Rta, Sthiti are beyond mortals like us. There the Rishi-Vakya is supreme and is the sole possibility.
But, a Nishedha Vakya of Smriti-s to not have a reasonable explanation is somewhat puzzling to me.
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But, a Nishedha Vakya of Smriti-s to not have a reasonable explanation is somewhat puzzling to me.
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Yet, we need to reflect upon whether we need these constraints/restrictions people eager to indulge at home for their own self-satisfaction. I wonder if there is a class of Mantras that everybody can indulge in.
Nevertheless, we have already crossed that line centuries ago.
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Nevertheless, we have already crossed that line centuries ago.
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Lets now come to the 3rd Dimension - Karma Kanda.
This is where we ought to have the highest restrictions of the Tradition completely honoured & observed.
Vedas are fundamentally a Performative Text. 20 years back I would have not understood it, now I understand that fully.
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This is where we ought to have the highest restrictions of the Tradition completely honoured & observed.
Vedas are fundamentally a Performative Text. 20 years back I would have not understood it, now I understand that fully.
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The real knowledge embedded in the Vedas are nothing but the Sacred Experiences associated with it which are revealed only through specific Rituals and for specific purposes. The same Mantra brings different sacred experiences in different purposes through different rituals.
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There is no Rationality that can reveal it. Be part of the Tradition and only then gain it. Absolutely no short cut.
Nobody with access to the Textual Scholarship and mere Mantra Chanting should have any special place in Karma Kanda.
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Nobody with access to the Textual Scholarship and mere Mantra Chanting should have any special place in Karma Kanda.
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Life in Bharatavarsha is organised around the Sacred Experiences from these Mantras and through the Karma Kanda. Even Vedantins will not deny the special place associated with these performances. All aspects of life are guided by it.
Here, it is worth observing all Nishedha.
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Here, it is worth observing all Nishedha.
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The Method in particular is of the highest importance in Karma Kanda.
There is a beautiful story in Mahabharata where Brahmana Yavakreeta seeks Veda knowledge through Tapas rather than traditional Shastra-Adhyayana. Indra discourages & warns. Yavakreeta will have none of it.
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There is a beautiful story in Mahabharata where Brahmana Yavakreeta seeks Veda knowledge through Tapas rather than traditional Shastra-Adhyayana. Indra discourages & warns. Yavakreeta will have none of it.
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Finally, Yavakreeta is granted but unable to use the knowledge towards the right purpose Yavakreeta ends up giving in to the Ego & creates a series of disasters.
Thus, to acquire/use the performative dimension of the Vedas being part of the maintained Tradition is critical.
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Thus, to acquire/use the performative dimension of the Vedas being part of the maintained Tradition is critical.
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Coming back, we may not need to object every single transgression - perceived or real - that comes our way.
We just need two things
1. Get a First Principles perspective of why certain restrictions exist.
2. Place these restrictions adequately not universally.
🙏🏼
We just need two things
1. Get a First Principles perspective of why certain restrictions exist.
2. Place these restrictions adequately not universally.
🙏🏼
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