Know Your Vedas

 ### **Whom Should We Worship?** Here a question naturally arises: **Why should we worship the Supreme God?** What is the need for devotion to God? Why should we not worship inert objects or limited human beings? What benefit do we gain from devotion to God? This question is truly profound and worthy of deep reflection. The scriptures state that **one becomes like that which one worships**. Whatever a person constantly contemplates, he is colored by it; whatever he meditates upon deeply, he gradually imbibes its nature. Just as an iron ball, when kept in fire for a long time, first becomes warm, then red-hot, and finally takes on the very nature of fire, similarly, a human being who constantly focuses on a particular object or entity gradually assumes its qualities. If we worship human beings, there is no doubt that we will acquire the qualities of those whom we worship. But since all human beings are limited in knowledge and power and possess weaknesses, it is natural that along w...

 Happy Republic day to all ### **Nationalism in the Vedas** **“May no thief or corrupt ruler govern us.”** *(Yajurveda 1.1)* **“May we all be those who offer sacrifice for our motherland.”** *(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)* **“Let us always strive for self-rule.”** *(Ṛgveda 5.66.6)* **“May we conquer all directions with the bow—that is, with the means of warfare.”** *(Yajurveda 29.39)* **“May we repel the attacking enemy.”** *(Ṛgveda 1.8.4)* **“The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.”** *(Atharvaveda 12.1.12)* **“O human being, serve this mother-earth.”** *(Ṛgveda 10.18.10)* **“Salutations to Mother Earth, again and again our salutations to Mother Earth.”** *(Yajurveda 9.22)* The entire **12th Kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda** is a clear indicator of national duties. **“Whether in villages, forests, assemblies, councils, or battlefields, may we always speak well of you, O Mother Earth.”** *(Atharvaveda 12.1.56)* O Motherland! Whether we are in your villages, forests, assemblies (councils, parlia...

   **Dharma and Adharma** **Dharma** is that whose essence lies in faithfully following the command of God and in rendering impartial justice for the welfare of all. That which is thoroughly examined through direct and other valid means of knowledge, and which is in accordance with the Vedas, alone is worthy of acceptance by all human beings—this is called *Dharma*. Let us reflect upon the true nature of *Dharma* and *Adharma* and resolve to always practice *Dharma*. Shri Swami Dayanand Ji Maharaj, while defining Dharma, foremost emphasized the necessity of faithfully obeying the command of God. Through this, acceptance of God is automatically established. One who does not accept God cannot be considered truly righteous according to this definition. Often, we encounter people who do not believe in God, yet they accept and follow the laws of nature. Such individuals cannot be called fully righteous, because they do not accept the regulator—the essential element without which th...

  🌞 Introduction to the Vedas 🌞 The supremely compassionate Supreme God granted human beings eyes so that they might behold His wondrous creation. To enable sight through the eyes, He created the Sun; and to guide life itself, He created the Sun in the form of the Vedas. The timeless Supreme Teacher, God, at the very beginning of creation, imparted knowledge at every moment for the welfare of the entire world into the hearts of four Ṛṣis—this knowledge is called the Vedas. The Ṛṣis were not the creators of the mantras; they were only the direct seers of their meanings. Therefore, the Vedas are apauruṣeya —the divine word of God, not of human origin. What is this world? Why and how does it exist? Who am I? What are my duties toward myself, my family, society, the nation, and the world? What is the nature of God, and why should He be worshipped? All this knowledge is found in the Vedas. Hence Manu declared, “Sarva-jñāna-mayo hi saḥ” —the Vedas are the treasury of all knowledge. “Ve...

  **🌷The Existence of God 🌷** The Vedas affirm faith in the existence of God and are promoters of theism. They oppose atheism. However, there are some people in the world who do not accept the existence of God. The Vedas express astonishment at the intellect of such people and strongly censure them. *“You do not know Him who has created all this. The Indweller within you is different from you. Covered by ignorance, people indulge in meaningless chatter, and those who merely talk seek only the satisfaction of the living beings.”* — *(Ṛgveda 10.82.7)* **Meaning:** You do not know Him who has brought all this into existence. The Inner Controller (Antaryāmī) within you is distinct from you. Yet, being covered by ignorance, human beings engage in vain talk and are absorbed only in the satisfaction of bodily life. Now we shall attempt to establish the existence of God on the basis of reason and the order of creation. The world and all the substances within it are formed by the combinat...

  🔥 **Realization of God** 🔥 • *We also wish to behold God in a strange way* • Everyone longs for the vision of God. Every believer says, “Show me God.” But in truth, the reality is that we are all afraid of God’s vision. We fear that God might ask us: *You take My name, but your love is for evil. Why are you sinful? Why do you fight with your own brothers? Why do you engage in false trade? You do not wish to abandon dishonest practices—then why do you call upon Me? Your heart lies elsewhere, while your lips merely chant My name. Remember, you may deceive the world, but you cannot deceive yourself, nor can you deceive God.* God may further ask you: *Why are you calling Me? What do you really want? What answer do you have? Do you perhaps wish that your own shop prospers while your neighbor’s shop suffers loss and closes down?* God will smile and say that you are asking for something driven by selfishness, jealousy, hatred, and hostility. That is why I often say that people fear Go...

  🔥 **Atheism vs Theism** 🔥 ## Denial of the Existence of God by an Atheist Believers wake up very early in the morning, even while it is still dark, and with deep emotion perform various religious rituals before their chosen deity—such as devotional songs, hymns, rosary recitation, storytelling, worship, offerings, sacred food, meditation, and chanting. They offer long prayers saying: “O Lord! Grant us wealth and prosperity, keep us healthy and free from disease, give us children and grandchildren, provide us with business or employment, help us pass examinations, make us win court cases,” and so on. They pray just as an orphaned child cries out to his parents when suffering from hunger, thirst, cold, or heat. Yet no one listens. The condition of these God-believing devotees is similar. Every day, for hours, they describe their personal and family sufferings, shortages, worries, and sorrows in a pitiful voice before an imagined God; they plead and weep, yet none of their trouble...

  **The Beneficial Teachings of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati** 1. Human beings should dedicate their entire lives—body, vital energies (*prāṇa*), inner faculties (*antaḥkaraṇa*), the ten senses, and the best of their resources—to *yajña* (selfless, righteous action). By doing so, one becomes free from sin, performs worthy deeds, attains God through yoga, and enjoys happiness in this life as well as in the next.    — *Maharshi Dayanand* (Yajurveda 22.33) 2. Just as the sun shines in every universe, so does the Supreme God illuminate the entire cosmos. Those who, through the practice of yoga, unite that indwelling Supreme Being with their own soul attain illumination from all sides.    — *Maharshi Dayanand* (Yajurveda 23.5) 3. Just as God teaches all living beings that He pervades the entire world of cause and effect, so too must it be understood that without Him not even a single atom exists unpervaded. Where the world does not exist, He still remains infinitely c...

  “Vidya (Knowledge)” — The Eighth Characteristic of Dharma Swami Dayanand has, at many places, strongly inspired people to acquire vidya (true knowledge). Ignorance should be destroyed and knowledge should be increased. The study and teaching of knowledge is the highest of all pursuits. One should never abandon svādhyāya (self-study) and pravacana (teaching/preaching). The firm resolve of the mind lies in a powerful effort to acquire vidya and other noble virtues. It is the foremost duty of parents, teachers, and relatives to adorn children with excellent knowledge, education, virtues, conduct, and character. Adorning a person with ornaments of gold, silver, rubies, pearls, or coral can never truly beautify the soul, because such ornaments only increase bodily pride, attachment to pleasures, fear of thieves, and even the risk of death. All other forms of wealth diminish when spent, and heirs take their share of them; but the treasure of knowledge has neither thieves nor claima...

  **Karma, Its Fruits, and Rebirth** **“Ye rūpāṇi pratimuñcamānā asurāḥ santaḥ svadhayā caranti | Parāpuro nipuro ye bharanty agniṣṭāṁllokāt praṇudāty asmāt ||”** — *Yajurveda 2.30* **Meaning:** Those wicked people who, through false conduct of mind, speech, and body, cause suffering to other beings by injustice and seize others’ possessions for their own pleasure—God subjects them to sorrow and gives them birth in lower wombs, so that they may undergo the fruits of their sins and then again become fit for a human body. Therefore, all people ought to avoid such wicked persons and sinful acts and should always practice righteousness. --- **“Ayaṁ devāya janmane stomo viprebhir āsayā | Akāri ratnadhātamaḥ ||”** — *Ṛgveda 1.20.1* **Meaning:** A person attains birth and experiences in accordance with the deeds he performs. --- **Rebirth is also established by the following statements:** When Lakṣmaṇa is struck by a powerful weapon and falls unconscious, Śrī Rāmacandra, seeing his condit...

  ## 🌷 ** (Theism / Faith in God)** 🌷 Prāṇāyāma, brahmacarya, austerity, study of the Vedas, righteous conduct, and similar disciplines are indeed invaluable means for attaining **“amṛta”**—victory over death. However, to gain **complete and final conquest over death**, one must take refuge in another unfailing means. That means is **āstikatā**—supreme faith, firm trust, and deep devotion to the Divine Reality. The cry of the soul, afflicted by the suffering of death, has always been a cry for victory over death. The devotee prays: **“Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya”** —Lead me from death to immortality. “O Lord! Remove the bondage of death and grant me immortality. O Lord! This death troubles me greatly; I am frightened by it—it causes me immense suffering. Before I can even properly plan the duties of my life, death appears as an obstacle in my path. Ultimately, I have reached the conclusion that **You alone** can free me from it forever. I know that You alone are my object of wor...

  **Reflection on the Saccidānanda Nature of God** *Dr. Vivek Arya* **Sacchidānanda**—this term is composed of three words: **Sat + Chit + Ānanda**. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, in the first chapter (*Samullāsa*) of *Satyārtha Prakāśh*, uses this term while explaining the various names of God. --- ### Reflection on the word **Sat** Swami Dayanand writes that the word **Sat** is derived from the verbal root *(as bhuvi)*. He explains: **“Yad asti triṣu kāleṣu na bādhate tat sat brahma”**—that which exists eternally and is never negated in the three periods of time (past, present, and future) is called **Sat**, that is, God. In the Vedas, the word **Sat** occurs in *Yajurveda* 32.8: *“Venas tat paśyan nihitam guhā sat atra viśvaṃ bhavaty ekanīḍam.”* This means that only a knower of Brahman directly experiences that **Sat** (the Eternal One existing in all three times) who resides in the cave-like intellect. In that Supreme Being, the entire universe finds its single refuge. In the follow...