|
|
|
Written by Sri Swami Chandrashekarendra
Saraswati |
|
|
|
When the Vedas are said to have no end, how can one talk of there being
an "end to the Vedas (Vedanta)"? The mesage of the Vedas, the truths
proclaimed by them, the teachings with respect to self-realisation occur
in the concluding part (Upanisads) of each of the Vedas, that is
Vedanta.
Why should the Vedas, which are infinite have been divided into so many
sakhas or recensions? A man must be imparted all that is necessary to
purify his mind and prepare him for Self-realisation. For this purpose
he
needs hymns, mantras, employed in the performance of sacrifices and
other works; he has to examine the principles behind the sacrifices;
and,
finally, he has to inquire into the Paramatman adopting the meditative
practice called nididhyasana so as to make the Ultimate Truth an inner
experience. It is not necessary for him to learn all the countless
Vedas; in
any case it would be an impossible task. You remember the story I told
you of the great sage Bharadvaja who could go only three steps up the
Vedic mountain. What a man needs to learn to refine himself, become
free from all impurities and finally mingle in the Supreme Being- the
text
confirming to such needs is separated from the unending Vedas to make
a sakha.
A Vedic recension includes all the works relating to a Brahmin's life
from
birth to death. A Brahmin must memorise the mantras of the Samhita,
perform sacrifices according to the Brahmanas to the chanting of the
mantras, and later cross the bridge constituted by the Aranyaka, the
bridge that connects the outward with the inward, that is study
intensely
the Upanisads that are concerned exclusively with the inward. In this
way
he finally becomes liberated, with the inward and the outward becoming
one.
For the wise and the mature a single mantra is enough to free them from
worldly existence. But to become pure an ordinary man needs to perform
many works and conduct worship in many ways. He has to do japa and
meditation. Each sakha contains mantras, rituals and instruction in the
science of the Self to enable him to find release.
(See Chapter 38 of this part entitled "Sakhas now studied".) |
|
|
