Vedic Religion
Dr. Shashi Tiwari
Department of Sanskrit, Maitreyi College,
University of Delhi,
New Delhi-110021, India
Shashit_98@yahoo.com
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Vedic Religion -Introduction
• Vedas were not originated or composed by
anyone person
• Revelations = Shabda Brahman
• For the benefit of humanity & all beings
• Treasury of spiritual laws/ knowledge
Vedic Religion includes ritualistic,
philosophical and cultural views of
Vedic seers, thinkers= Rishis
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Region of Vedic Aryans
Vedic Rivers and area
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Aim of Life (1)
• Aim of Life -Happiness
• ‘Human being should be happy physically,
mentally and spiritually.’
• Vedic Mantras/ prayers for prosperity, long
life, wealth, intelligence, family, children
and food
• Good, satisfied and high- quality life
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Aim of Life (2)
Highest goal of life is
-Moksha / liberation / union with Brahman
- Upanishads
• By achieving knowledge (Jnana)
• 'Brahmavid Brahmaiva bhavati '
• Sacrifices and pious works lead to Svarga
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Belief in One Supreme Entity (1)
Atman and Brahman are the same
• Brahman is supreme power
• Ultimate Principle which pervades universe
• Manifested in all beings and every where
‘Tat tvam asi’
- ‘This whole world consists of it, that are you,O
Shvetaketu.’
-Chandogya Upanishad
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Belief in One Supreme Entity (2)
• Isha vasyamidam sarvam yat kinca
jadatyam jagat .
- Ishavasyopanishad
- All this whatever there is changeful in this
changing universe is enveloped by the Lord.
•‘Aham Brahma asmi’. -'I am Brahman’
-Brihadaranyaka
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Belief in One Supreme Entity (3)
• Sahasrashirshah purushah sahasraksha
sahasrapat |
Sah bhumim vishvato vrittva atyatishthat
dashangulam ||
- Purusha, Rigveda
• -The Perfect Being has thousands of heads,
thousands of eyes and thousands of feet.
Having pervaded the whole earth on all sides,
He remains ten fingers in surplus (as He is
endless).
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Belief in One Supreme Entity (4)
• Hiranyagarbha samavartatagre bhutasya
jatah patireka asita |
-Rigveda
• -Hiranya-garbha was produced in the
beginning of creation. He was the born
sole Lord of all beings.
• Purushaivedam Sarvam .- All this is Purusha.
- Rigveda
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Action and Knowledge (1)
Along with knowledge actions
are important in one’s life
• Various rituals prescribed in Vedic texts
• Lead a long life performing actions:
‘Kurvanneveha karmani jijivisheta
cchatam samah’
-Ishopanishad
-Only by performing actions, one should desire to
live a hundred years in this earth.
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Action and Knowledge (2)
Story of Katha Upanishad:
Actions are essential for worldly pleasures, but knowledge is
necessary for liberation.
• Rishi Vajashrava performs Sarvamedha Yajna
• His son Nachiketa says, “To whom are you going to give me?”
Yama grants him three boons :
1.Father’s happiness and mental peace
2. Knowledge of the Divine Fire (Karma)
3. Knowledge of Atman ( Atma-jnana )
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Purification of the Mind (1)
Vedas emphasize on purity of mind
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Mind has tremendous power
It can go any where, on any object
It is illuminator of our senses
Good thoughts lead to good actions
• Auspicious (Shiva) resolution (sankalpa) is
important
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Purification of the Mind (2)
Shivasankalpa-Sukta of Yajurveda
• ‘Tanme manah shivasankalpamastu’
• ‘May my mind be of good resolution’
• Vedas emphasize on cleanliness of mental
thoughts and feelings
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Nature Worship
Vedic Aryans > children of nature
• Prayed due to regard, surprise and fear
• Attributed divinity to nature
• All powers, aspects or activities are
regarded as deities because they are
beneficial to us.
Rivers, Mountains, Rains, clouds, Sky,
Earth, Air, Water, Plants, Trees,
Sun, Moon etc…
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Vedic Deities
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Devata means divine, divinity
Which is bright, strong, donor, powerful
Natural elements or activities are prayed
as Agni, Indra, Vayu, Earth, Soma, Varuna,
Vishnu, Aditya, Usha, Aditi, Parjanya, etc.
Power of all natural elements is one :
Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti ' -RV
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Vedic Symbolism
• Deities are worshiped because: Helpful,
essential, & part of our environment
• Divine qualities should be developed for gains
Gayatri Mantra
• Tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi /
dhiyo yo nah prachdayat//
Savita Deva (Light) can give Intelligence
( hidden meaning)
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Vedic Rituals (1)
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Vedic Rituals ( 2)
• Vedic rites and rituals have a definite influence
• Yajna, chanting mantras, and special offerings,
based upon scientific principles
• Vedic rituals provide purity to environment
• Provide Blessings of the deities
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40 or 48 or 25 basic forms of rituals – Vedic text
• Agnihotra a simple rite to please Agni Devata
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Chanting of Mantra
• A mantra is a sacred verbal formula
• Repeated in Vedic prayer or meditation
Tatsaviturvarenyam…. –Gayatri Mantra
• Mantras are powerful & effective when chanted
with concentration & understanding of meaning
• Helps to open mind to consciousness
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Chanting of OM (1)
Om is the sacred sound of Brahman
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Chanting of OM (2)
• Pranava or Om symbol of Hinduism/
Vedic culture
• Om has been extolled highly in the Vedas
and Upanishads
• Before chanting a mantra Om is
pronounced
• All rites start with chanting of OM
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Chanting of OM (3)
• Om is Akshara,
• OM is imperishable syllable
• Om is Parabrahma ,
• Om is the Absolute Self
'AUM',
Vishnu is 'A’, Brahma is 'U' , Shiva is 'M'.
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Concept of Social Unity
• Samjnana Sukta of Rigveda - a unique prayer
for social unity and Harmony
'Samjnana' = unity in thoughts
= unanimity, harmony
• Sam gacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo
manamsi janatam.
• -You should move together, speak together and
think together.
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Concept of welfare
• Full span of life but it should be auspicious
• Prayer in Yajurveda for Goodness among all
beings
• ‘Bhadra’ = goodness =welfare =global peace
Bhadram karnebhih s'unuyama devah,
Bhadram pas'yemakshabhir yajatrah .
-VA.S. 25.21
-O Gods ! may we listen with our ears to what is
good (Bhadram), may we see with our eyes
what is good.
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Wish for Swasti
• Swasti = auspicious, favorable , good, positive
• Sanskrit word Swasti = su (good) + asti (being)
• Swastivachana from Yajurveda:
Om Swasti na indro vradhashravaha,
Swasti nah pusha vishvavedaha /
Swasti nastarkshyo~aristanemih
Swasti no brihaspatirdadhatu //
• Vedic religion gives importance to Swasti
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Symbol of Swastika
Swasti developed as Swastika symbol in Hinduism
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Vedic Morals (1)
• Vedic religion based on ethics and morality
• ‘What should be done and what should not be done’
• Long list of moral instructions; Values in life
• cosmic order= Ritam : Satyam = truth
• ‘ Satyen Adhrita Prithivi.’
-Earth is sustained by Satya
• ‘ Satyam eva jayate nanritam’
-Truth is always victorious, not untruth
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Vedic Morals- (2)
Similarity of all/ unity among all human-beings
is the main principle of Vedic religion
• ‘Satyam vada dharmam cara swadhyayat ma
pramada.’
-Always speak truth, do right deeds and don’t
leave study.
• Vedic texts: ‘whole universe is like a nest’
- Yajurveda
• Vedic prayers are in plural
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Conclusion
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Vedic religion is eternal and universal
Recommends rituals for worldly pleasures
Emphasizes Self- Knowledge
Aims for the purity of mind
Views of Vedic seers on philosophy, ritual, society
and culture constitute ‘Vedic Religion.’
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Thank You.
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