Can we understand Vedas? Special reference to the Riddle Hymns!

Vedas –  Can we understand the Vedas as it is available today? Let us explore further.As mentioned earlier in my previous Blog on Synopsis on Vedas, language evolved from Vedic Sanskrit to Classical Sanskrit to Period of Bhāshya (where Sanskrit was no longer a spoken language). Veda is the Voice of God revealed in Vedic Sanskrit, free from local color and historical facts and therefore this Vedic language has to be interpreted and understood according to its own laws & structure.

If we were to understand the meaning & implications of the mantras of Vedas, a detailed knowledge of the following is also needed:

• Shiksha: The study of phonology, phonetics & pronunciation. This focusses on the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and the way words are combined and expressed in a Vedic recitation.
• Chhandas: Poetic Meter. This includes analyzing the number of syllables per verse and any fixed patterns within them.
• Vyakarana: Analysis of grammar & linguistics in order to establish the precise way in words & sentences were constructed to express ideas. (Grammar of Panini & Patanjali)
• Nirukta: Etymology, the study of the Origin & History of the word. Words & Phrases that have ancient usages but whose meanings have been lost in the present day. (Nirukta of Maharishi Yaska)
• Jyotisha: The study of time keeping, deals with astrological & astronomical aspects.
• Kalpa: Focuses on ritual instructions. It explores the concepts of individual duty and proper conduct.

The above are the known as Vedangas (Limbs of Vedas) and they belong to the period of Sutra Literature. The study of Vedāngas was necessary either for reading, understanding or proper use of Vedas for sacrifices/Yajña. The first two mentioned above are necessary for the studying the Vedas, the next two for understanding it and the last two for employing it at ceremonial sacrifices.

Typical Vedic Mantras from a Rishi who is the Master of Riddles:

We will now look at Rig Veda 1.164 as an example, in order to understand how demanding it is to interpret and understand the Vedas.   There are many RIDDLE HYMNS in this Sukta. This is probably the longest Sukta with 52 mantras and is addressed to Vishvedeva, Vak & Apah, Shaka-Dhuma & Soma, Keshins, Vak & Surya, Samvatsara, Sarasvati, Sadhayas, Surya, Parjanya or Agnis, Sarasvan or Surya. The composer is Dirghatama Auchathya Rishi, who is the master of riddles! His mantras are very difficult to understand. Let us just take three mantras for example:

1. Rig Veda 1.164.2

सप्त युञ्जन्ति रथमेकचक्रमेको अश्वो वहति सप्तनामा । त्रिनाभि चक्रमजरमनर्वं यत्रेमा विश्वा भुवनाधि तस्थुः ॥

sapta yuñjanti ratham ekacakram eko aśvo vahati saptanāmā | trinābhi cakram ajaram anarvaṃ yatremā viśvā bhuvanādhi tasthuḥ ||

Translation: Seven enjoin the one-wheel chariot, drawn by one horse of seven names. The wheel, the wheel of time, un-aging and automotive, has three sub-wheels with three naves and rims and in the orbit of this time and space abide all the worlds of the universe.

1. Rig Veda 1.164.3

इ॒मं रथ॒मधि॒ ये स॒प्त त॒स्थुः स॒प्तच॑क्रं स॒प्त व॑ह॒न्त्यश्वा॑: । स॒प्त स्वसा॑रो अ॒भि सं न॑वन्ते॒ यत्र॒ गवां॒ निहि॑ता स॒प्त नाम॑ ॥

imaṃ ratham adhi ye sapta tasthuḥ saptacakraṃ sapta vahanty aśvāḥ |sapta svasāro abhi saṃ navante yatra gavāṃ nihitā sapta nāma ||

Translation:  Seven are those who ride this chariot, seven motive powers (horses or rays of light) which draw this chariot of seven wheels, wheel within wheel. They are seven sisters who exult, roar and thunder together in reverence & worship of the father, wherein are hidden in depth seven names of rays of light, the seven spheres and seven notes of language.

(This is a highly mystical, symbolic and at the same time a scientific mantra and some say that mantras 1.164.1, 2, 3 & 9 present a Heliocentric model.  However, to understand the meaning & implication at different levels of correspondence (relationship between two or more things), we need knowledge of astronomy, cosmology, physics & astrophysics, language & grammar, music & mechanics. And still the meaning would remain open ended)

2. Rig Veda 1.164.20 (A popular Mantra)

द्वा सु॑प॒र्णा स॒युजा॒ सखा॑या समा॒नं वृ॒क्षं परि॑ षस्वजाते । तयो॑र॒न्यः पिप्प॑लं स्वा॒द्वत्त्यन॑श्नन्न॒न्यो अ॒भि चा॑कशीति ॥

dvā suparṇā sayujā sakhāyā samānaṃ vṛkṣam pari ṣasvajāte |tayor anyaḥ pippalaṃ svādv atty anaśnann anyo abhi cākaśīti ||

Translation:  Two birds of beautiful wings, the individual soul (Jivatma) and the Supreme Soul (Paramatma) of the Universe, both friends & companions, together nest on the same one tree of existence. Of the two, the individual human soul, eats the fruit with relish and enjoys as well suffers the consequence. The other, the Supreme Soul, simply watches comprehensively all round without eating anything.

 What is the allegory of this mantra? Seated on the same tree were two birds, one superior & the other ordinary. The superior one was established in its own glory. The other partook of the sweet & bitter fruits on the tree, thereby subjecting itself to pleasure & pain. Whenever it was overwhelmed with pain, it beheld with admiration at the other bird who happened to be poised in beatitude (complete happiness). Every pain made this bird hop towards the serene bird above. As the distance between the two birds narrowed, its afflictions were going away. In the proximity of the superior bird all pain was eradicated; and bliss emanated from within. This bird finally realized that it was merely a reflection of the superior bliss-emanating bird and this reflection got merged into the original one – meaning Jivatman merging with the Paramatman.

The same principle is explained in the relationship between Sri Krishna & Arjuna in Mahabharata. Arjuna had earlier thought Sri Krishna is a mortal (human being) like him until Sri Krishna revealed himself to him on the battlefield.  (Credit for Translation from “The Bhagavad Gita” by Swami Chidbhavananda).

This entire Mandala 1/Sukta164 has some mind blowing mantras, difficult to comprehend. Of course, there are many mantras easy to comprehend also, but I can only guess the meaning is what it is intended to convey. I managed to read the first three Mandalas of Rig Veda completely. It was indeed a herculean task for me and I conclude thus:

Conclusion:

• From the above, that we can say that Vedas are not just arbitrary mantras made by our Rishis. Also, it will not unreasonable to say that Vedas also talk about scientific concepts. It is clear that Rig Veda also talks about the Cosmos and this is evident from Rig Veda 1.164.39 (as one example) which says: “The Rks, Vedas, exist in the omniscient supreme spirit of existence, infinite, imperishable as the eternal & ultimate space time continuum (4D -Three dimensions of Space + Time, a mathematical model that describes the universe as a single entity, where space time are not separate entities but intertwined & inseparable). In That, all divine powers of existence subsist. If one does not know that, what would he achieve with mere words of Rks? Those who know Him, reside in Him”.

• Again, it is very difficult to understand the true meaning of the mantras, because of 1000 years of invasions and the total disconnect with our Vedic roots. Vedic Hymns, if translated literally make no sense. Literal translations will only give us only ridiculous meanings. Vedas are full of riddles and therefore difficult to de-code and understand what our Rishis actually wanted to convey.

• The Vedas are full of Allegory, Metaphor & Symbolism and these are used to explain abstract ideas in cosmology, philosophy & religion. Moreover, the knowledge in Vedas is coded and one word has several meanings. Nothing in Vedas means what it appears to mean! This is the reason there are people who believe that the Vedas are just about some pastoral people asking Gods for cows & horses, gaining wealth & Lord Indra breaking dark clouds to get rain etc. Some even ridiculed it!  Why would our Rishis who lived a meagre life in the forest want cows, horses & wealth?

• Lastly, it is futile trying to make any sense of the Vedas as it is available today. It simply cannot be understood, as we are not living in the period where Vedic Sanskrit is spoken. Vedic scholars have little knowledge of modern science and our Scientists have little knowledge of Vedas and due to this we are unable to understand the true meaning of Vedas. The translations by some Westerners are literal translations done with the help of Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, though some of them claim to have an in-depth knowledge of Sanskrit. Unfortunately, many of them have used Sayana’s rather minimalistic & materialistic perspective and this does not provide a true interpretation of Vedas.

There were no grand temples during Rig Vedic times. There were only Fire Altars or Pits (Havan Kund).  Agni or Fire was the messenger of the Gods. This is why 80% (8 out of 10 Mandalas) of Rig Veda are addressed to Agni. By offering oblations (Ghee, Grains, Soma Juice etc.) to the Fire accompanied by chants of mantras, the desires of man was conveyed to the Gods.  This practice continues even today. Finally, it is best to leave the Learning & Chanting of Vedas to the different categories of Priests (Brahmins) to help with their Yajna (rituals & sacrifices). A Brahmana is born a debtor with three debts; to the Devas by sacrifice, to the Ancestors by progeny, to the Rishis by study. Let them continue with their tradition…

Fire Altar shapes Credit: Roger Burrows

Reference/Credit: Rig Veda by Dr. Tulsi Ram M.A., Phd (London): I have used the English Translation of Rig Vedic Mantras from his book.