27th April, 2003 (Sunday) Ãstika Samajam, Venus Colony, Chennai 7.20 p.m. - 7.50 p.m. Vedic Foundation (Excerpts from the ‘anugraha bhãshana’ delivered by His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji at the programme conducted by Vedic Sangeeta Foundation) Sri Swamiji has been rendering ‘Upanyãs’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here. There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãs’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamiji.

‘Anyone who believes that the Vedas is the ‘pramãnam’ is a ‘Vaideeka’, be he of any nationality or religion!’

- Sri Swamiji

Sri Swamiji,

"HARE RÃMA HARE RÃMA RÃMA RÃMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"

" Bharata Desa (the Country of India) is a pure (‘pavitram’) Country. ‘Gangaicha Yamunaicha Godavari Saraswati Narmada Sindu Cauvery’ - all the seven Holy Rivers (‘sapta punya nadi’) run only in this country. The seven Mokshapuriis are also situated in this country. The three and thirty crores Devas desire to be born on this ‘bhoomi’ (land). It is said that this country has derived the name ‘Bharata’ from a king of that name. But, Bharata means ‘Brahma nishtãl’ (those who are ever [in] Brahman) - ‘Bhãroope Brahmani ratah Bhãratãh’. This country enjoys the great lineage of ‘Brahma nishtãl’ beginning from Ãzhwãrs, Nãyanmãrs to Maha Periyava. This country is filled with ‘Brahma nishtãls’. It is this country that all turn to/seek for spiritual fulfillment. This can be seen from the fact that when we visit any ashram of Mahans we find larger number of westerners (‘videshi’) doing japa, dhyana than people of this Country.

The name of our Religion is said to be Hindu. But, this is a name given to our Religion by the westerners. Neither the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhãgavatam, Ramayana or any of the Purãnas mention the name ‘Hindu’ anywhere. The westerners thinking that this civilization has grown on the banks of river Sindu have named this religion as ‘Sindu’; and this later came to be known as Hindu. In reality there is no name for our Religion. If any name were to be given to our Religion then it can only be ‘Vaideeka mata’. Our Religion is based on the Vedas. Now, who is a Vaideeka? Are only these few who chant the Vedas Vaideekãs? No! Anyone who believes that Vedam is ‘pramãnam’ (base) is a Vaideeka - be he of any religion, any nationality!

The period of birth of other religions is easily known as also their founders. The Holy Texts of these religions have been written by man. But, when research was conducted to know the age of our Religion it has been realized that it cannot be known! Even the Buddhists who did not accept the Vedas say that its age cannot be ascertained. Bãla Gangadara Tilak, Aurobindo, Dayananada Saraswati and westerners like Max Mueller, Wilson have all, after conducting research, declared that the age of the Vedas cannot be ascertained; that the Vedas is ‘anãdi’ (beginningless)! “Thene brahma hrudaye ãdikavaye” - The Vedas have sprung from the heart of Brahma says the Bhãgavatam.

Today we speak of the findings of Science. But, all that Science speaks have already been spoken by our Vedas. When I visited Calcutta I visited the planetarium there. The soil brought from the Moon is placed there for view. It is found to be black. What does our Vedas say? ‘Chandramasi krishnam!’ The soil there is black! Did our Maharishis go to the Moon? Did they have any telescope? A Maharishi says, ‘Prãnan ekam anyadve!’ H₂O says the Science! Seeing an apple fall Newton found the theory of gravitation. We say that Sankarshana is below this ‘bhoomi’ (land). ‘Ãkarshana’ means to attract/pull, which is nothing but force of gravity. The Vedas contains everything.

It is now said that the beating of the wings of the butterfly causes earthquake in some other part of the earth! The sound of the Vedas benefits the cosmic. If these ten Vedic scholars chant the Vedas people question, ‘of what use is it?’ But, do we question what is the use of people sitting idle or watching the television or doing useless things? We don’t!

In days yonder in some religion it was believed that the earth was flat. Those who said that the earth was round were put under the guillotine. Galileo later found and proved that the earth was indeed round. At once the words in the Holy Text of that religion was changed. But, in the case of our Religion Science changes its opinion as per the words of the Vedas. The Vedas has the final word.

What does protection of the Vedas mean?
Temples such as Tanjore Temple are huge. We even wonder if there is any need for such big Temples because today it is very difficult to renovate or maintain them. Kings of yonder days have built such huge Temples. But, has any king built a Temple for the Vedas? No! Why? Fostering the Vedas does not mean building a Temple for the Vedas or printing books and placing them safely in glass cases, etc. (Sri Swamiji, pointing to the Vedic Brahmins who had just chanted the Vedas) They are verily the Vedic Temples! Thus, fostering the Vedas means that they (the Vedic Brahmins) should be supported.

It is said that the Gita is not mentioned anywhere in the ‘Nãlãyira Divya Prabandam’ (4000 verses sung in praise of the Lord [Vishnu] by the Ãzhwãrs). But, once
Maha Periyava requested a visiting Vaishnavite to read from the Divya Prabandam the pãsuram containing the words, ‘Mãdhavan odiya’ - ‘Odiya’ means ‘through word of mouth’ - one says and another listens. Here Bhagavãn says and Arjuna listens. ‘Therefore, the Gita has indeed been mentioned in Diyva Prabandam,’ pointed out Periyava. The Vedas is learnt through word of mouth. Ovaiyãr also says, ‘Odãmal oru nãllum irukkavendãm’ - here ‘odãmal’ refers to the chanting of the Vedas. Not a day should be spent without chanting the Vedas.

Everyone has sung the glory of the Vedas. Nãyanmãrs sing, ‘Chanidran chadayil anninda Sankaran Sãma Vedi’ - Siva who wears the crescent on His head is verily a Sãma Vedi. The Ãzhwãrs have sung, ‘Vedamodu ãrangam ayinãnai’.
It has also been sung, ‘Veda neri thazhaithonga.’

If today there are several people supporting and fostering the Vedas it is no exaggeration to say that it is verily Maha Periyava who sowed the seed for it. Maha Periyava worked assiduously in this direction. He is the sole cause for this. Maha Periyava sacrificed His whole life towards this cause.

For any work the support of the general public is required. I, therefore, request you all to lend your best support towards this cause and I pray to Bhagavãn for the good of all.” "

GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
GOVINDA! GOVINDA!”

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

Home • e-MM • Contact

Radhe Krishna