Essentials of Hinduism

Essentials of Hinduism

Rig Veda

MANDALA 10

1) WATERS:

There are Suktas addressed to the waters:

1) Bath in the Holy Rivers and the Sea, and in water specially sanctified by the recital of Mantras, occupies the primary place in the Hindu Religion. “O waters! As you are the source of happiness, infuse strength into us, so that we will have great and beautiful vision. You have verily (confidently) created us.”

2) CREMATION:

There is Sukta refers to the process of cremation. Prayer addressed to a dead person as his Body is being cremated refers to the belief regarding rebirth - let your eyes go to the sun; your life to the wind; by the Meritorious Acts that you have done, go to Heaven, and then (for rebirth) to the Earth again.

3) ALL NAMES OF GOD ARE TO BE EQUALLY ADORED:

“O Gods! All your names (and forms) are to be revered, saluted and adored. All of you who have sprung from Heaven, Ether and Earth, listen here to my invocation (Chant or Prayer).”

4) GOD DESCRIBED AS A BOAT:

May we ascend for our welfare the divine boat of Heaven which is spacious, free from defect, comfortable, strong, properly directed, well-oared (well-steered), safe and does not sink.

5) SHARING OF WEALTH AND FOOD:

Death comes to him who eats without giving to others; the wealth of the generous never decreases; the mean-minded amasses food in vein; he who eats alone gathers sin alone.

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6) HYMN OF CREATION:

At that time there was neither non-existence nor existence; neither the Worlds nor the Sky; nor anything that is beyond; Earth was not, nor immortality there; no knowing of Night or Day; that One (Paramatma) breathed without air, by His own strength; besides that, nothing did exist; darkness there was, wrapped in front by darkness.

The time of creation came, because, the idea of creation entered the Paramatma’s mind. From the powers of His mind, He first created the origin of the seeds. Through the intelligence of His heart, He next created the elements that constitute the Universe.

No Man knows and no Man can tell how creation began. Men are ignorant of who performed the act of creation. Even the learned ones were born only after the creation started. The learned ones only know that the Paramatma, the creator, resides above. And even that knowledge is probably suspect!

7) YAMA AND YAMI:

Yama and Yami are the son and daughter of Vivasvana or Surya. There is a dialogue between Yama and Yami that is provided in this Mandala 10 – this does not have significance and therefore not covered.

Some details on Yama –

i) In accordance with an individual’s Karmas, Yama determines the birth place of that individual;

ii) Yama knows the mind of every person;

iii) No one can escape going to the Yama-Loka;

iv) Our Ancestors (Pitrus) live in the Yama-Loka;

v) A dead person goes to the Yama-Loka the place inhabited by his ancestors in the spirit form accompanied by the Yama’s messengers;

vi) Yama and Varuna are the King of Yama-Loka;

vii) Yama and Varuna are pleased with the word Svadha;

viii) Yama-Loka does not have Day or Night time;

ix) A dead person’s Atma goes to the Pitru-Loka;

x) Agni burns the dead body completely and sends the Atma to the Pitru-Loka;

xi) After the body is burned, the eyes go to the Sun and the Prana goes to Vayu;

xii) Yama is the leader for dreams. Dreams originate in the Yama-Loka, come to Bhu-Loka and enter in to us as the dreams. Sometimes, a Person may experience an entremely scary dream and may die during the sleep. Yes, dream is capable of taking away the Prana and capable of killing a Person;

xiii) Only with the help of Yama, the Pitrus can go to the Heaven.

8) RIVERS:

A Sukta is addressed to the rivers. “O waters! I sing hymns in praise of your greatness. I chant them at the home of the one who is performing the Sacrifice. Twenty-one are the rivers that flow, seven for each of the three Worlds.”

“O Sindhu! When you headed for the fertile plains, Varuna himself charted out a Path for you. Excellent is the course that you follow. You are the source of Life for all the living beings. The thunder of your roar is heard in the Sky, above the Earth. Your waters shine as they speed fast. The sound Sindhu makes is like the clouds thundering before the onset of showers. It has been said that the Sindhu roars in the sky before descending on Earth.

White are the waters of the Sindhu and it flows straight ahead. Fast is the Sindhu and its speed cannot be stemmed (stopped). Its water is pure and it abounds in acquatic Plants.

O Ganga! O Yamuna! O Saraswati! O Shutudri (The Shutudri is the Sutlej)! O Vitasta (Vitasta is the Jhelum)! O Asikli (another name for Chenab)! O Sushoma (another name for the Sindhu)! may you all rivers listen to our Prayers.”

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9) SARASWATI:

This Mandala 10, Sukta 30 speaks explicitly of Saraswati’s Significance. Saraswati signifies intelligence and immortality. She encourages those who sing well. The place where she lives is Antariksha the place of Sakthi.

10) VISHVAKARMA:

There is a Sukta for Vishvakarma. Vishvakarma is regarded as the architect of the Gods. Vishvakarma was the first Priest. He performed a Sacrifice so that all the Worlds and the riches could be created. He offered oblations to Agni. Vishvakarma recited Hymns such that the riches that are typified in Heaven might be created. Vishvakarma is the lord of all the riches at all Sacrifices. He is the lord of speech. He is as swift as the speed of thought. We call upon Visvakarma so that he may offer us protection at the time of this Sacrifice. May he accept our oblations and grant us protection. He is the one who is the source of all happiness and the source of all Righteous Action.

11) URVASHI AND PURURAVA:

There is a Sukta for these Divinities. The entire Hymn is in the form of a dialogue between Urvashi and Pururava that is presented in a condensed format. Pururava has been interpreted as the morning Sun and Urvashi as the dawn. The Sukta in question is however based on a more Earthly legend. Urvashi was an Apsara (enchanting damsel) from heaven who was banished to the Earth. There she encountered King Pururava. Pururava wanted to marry Urvashi. Urvashi agreed provided the King agrees to meet her two conditions. The first is that Pururava should always take care of two Rams (Male Sheeps) that Urvashi possessed. The second condition was that Urvashi should never see Pururava naked. The King agreed, they got married and lived together for four years. The Gandharvas (the semi-divine devatas well versed in fine-arts) plotted a Plan to take Urvashi back to the Heaven. One night, they stole one of the rams. In an attempt to catch the thief, Pururava rose from his bed, without having the time to put his clothes back on. At that moment, there was a flash of lightning and Urvashi caught a glimpse of her naked Husband. Since her conditions got violated, Urvashi vanished and returned to Heaven. Pururva begged her to return to him and she agreed only until a Son was born to them. Pururuva said the son will not like his parents being separated. Urvashi said when the son cries, I will pray for his welfare. I will make sure that he has no reason to cry. Urvashi also said after your death, you will go to Heaven and be happy.

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12) HERBS:

There is a Sukta to praise the herbs. Many are the forms that herbs take. They are full of juices. The Gods themselves gave birth to herbs in three different periods of time – during spring, monsoon and autumn. “O herbs! You are like our Mothers. You are to be found in a hundred different places. Many are the Acts that you are capable of performing. May you cure us of all ailments. You are the possessors of Divine qualities. You are praised by Mankind. Some herbs Ashvati, Somavati, Udojasa and Urjayanti heal the Body. All sorts of powerful juices emerge from the herbs. O Man! These herbs will serve your Body and keep you in good health. You cure ailments and banish diseases.

O herbs! The juice of one herb is mixed with that of a second. The juice of a second herb is mixed with that of a third. May the herbs be united in listening to my Prayers. May I be protected. Brihaspati created the herbs in order to cure the patients. The herbs descended from the heaven.

Soma is the King of the herbs. Soma is blessed with many qualities. O soma! You are the best of the herbs. May you fulfill my desires and may you bring happiness in to my life.”

13) PRAJAPATI:

There is a Sukta addressed to Prajapati or Hiranyagarbha, the Creator. Prior to the action of Creation, only Hiranyagarbha was there. Hiranyagarbha is the Paramatma. He is the one and the only one who created the Universe. He is the one who bears aloft the Earth and the Atmosphere. The Paramatma is the source of all happiness. It is Him that we worship through our oblations. He is the one who provides the Knowledge of the Atma. He is the source of all strength. All the Worlds and all the Gods follow His instructions. He alone is the King of all things, mobile and immobile. The snow-clad Mountains have been created by his power. The rivers that flow and the Earth that moves have been created by Him. It is He who created the Oceans and the Sky. The four directions owe their origin to His strength. It is through His grace that the Earth has been made firm. He created Heaven and He established the Sun in the Atmosphere.

14) FORESTS:

There is a Sukta addressed to the Goddess of the forests. “O Goddess of the forests! You can be seen in the forests and in the wilderness. There are Animals that roar in a loud voice. There are Animals that call in a soft voice. It is as if the Animals are chanting the praise of the Goddess of the forest. All sorts of fragrances can be found in the forest. There are foods in the form of fruits and roots. The forest is a fertile region. It is the Mother of a Deer. Is it not natural that we should sing the praise for the Goddess of the forests?”

15) SHRADDHA:

There is a Sukta addressed for Shraddha. It is through the devotion that the fire is kindled in every household. It is through the devotion that the oblations are offered at a Sacrifice. We praise Shraddha. It is the best of all riches. “O Shraddha! May the desires of one who gives alms be fulfilled. O Shraddha! Ensure the welfare of One who is generous. Grant the desired fruit to those who are performing the Sacrifice. We pray with devotion in the Morning. We pray with devotion in the middle of the day. We pray with devotion in the Evening. O Shraddha! Grant Devotion to those of us who live in this World.”

16) SHACHI:

Shachi is Indra’s wife. There is a Sukta addressed for Shachi (Indrani Sukta). The Sun which is established in Heaven has risen. It is Indra himself who adopts the form of Surya. May my good fortune also dawn like the Sun. I know my Husband and I know he will be devoted to me. Even when I am angry, I can persuade my Husband to utter sweet words to me. My Husband Indra gains his strength from the oblations that are offered.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.