The aksharadevatas of gayatri mantra

There are akshara devatas for each akshara of gayatri mantra as follows

1 - Agni
2 - Ashvins
3 - Soma
4 - Vishnu
5 - Savita
6 - Pusha
7 - Marut
8 - Brihaspati
9 - Mitra
10 - Varuna
11 - Indra
12 - Visvedeva
13 - Vasus
14 - Rudras
15 - Adityas
16 - Aditi
17 - Vayu
18 - Bhumi
19 - Antariksham
20 - Dyou (svarga)
21 to 24 - Digdevatas

The five sutras of atharva veda

1. Koushika grihya sutra - naarating the applications of the samhita mantras.

2. Vaitana srouta sutra - application of atharva veda mantras is yajna.

3.Nakshatra kalpa - Worship of nakshatras, nirrutikarma and thirty mahasanthis.

4. Angirasa kalpa - related to abhichar

5. Santhikalpa - Various santhis, rajyabhisheka etc.

Ashtadashavidyah ( 18 branches of knowledge)

Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Shiksha, Vyakaranam, Chandas, Niruktam, Jyotisham,Kalpam. Meemamsa, Nyayam,Puranam,Dharmasastram, Ayurvedam, Dhanurveda, Gandharvavedam, Arthasastram

Renunciation - continues III

Ref : Mahabharata.Santiparva.XII

Here Nakula says

The gods set up their sacrificial fire in Visakha-yupa. They themselves are dependent on the results of their action. The pitrus who support the faithful and the infidel alike with rains are engaged in action. Know them to be atheists who reject the ordinance of the vedas - action.

Renunciation - continued II

Ref : Mahabharata.Santiparva.X

Bhima's comments on renunciation

People who are bereft of prosperity alone have propagated the wrong idea of renunciation in the guise of the vedas.It is not correct for a kshatriya to renounce worldly life.Renunciation is a life of hypocrisy and one who can support himself should never get misled into it.Such people are actually falling from their duty. Only such people who shy away from their duties and do not want to serve gods and rishis, feed sons, grandsons,dependents and guests alone escape into a life of solitude.If success in spiritual life was to come from renunciation, the the mountains and trees would have long back achieved it. One devoid of action can not be succesful.

If those who are concerned about filling their own stomach were to become succesful then animals and creatures of water would have achieved success. Every creature is emplyed in act suitable to its nature and that is how the world moves on.

Action alone can lead to success.

Renunciation - continued

Ref : Mahabharata.Santiparva.XI

Conversation between Sakra and ascetics.

A group of brahmana youth out of ignorance took to forest life thinking it to be a virtue. They had abandoned their wealth and family to become ascetics. Indra out of mercy for them assumed the form a golden bird (Sakra) and advises them.

Sakra - The most difficult act is to be live by the remnants of sacrifice (hutashesha). The lives of those who offer to Gods and live by what remains is only worthy of praise and that is the highest virtue that can be achieved. You surviving on refuse are deeply stuck in a mire.

Of words mantras are the highest. The mantras control and regulate the life of brahmanas from birth to death. That is the vedic way of life. One should live in this world considering his soul as a particular God and he shall achieve success consistent with the nature of that deity. The life of the grihastha is sacred and superior and it is the field (kshetra) for success. This is the path of the rishis and enjoined by the srutis. This itself is the path of Gods and Brahma. The austerest of penances are study of vedas, worship of Gods and pitrus and service of preceptors. The highest virtue is to bear the load of domestic life. Asceticism is achieved by leading a domestic life and not by abandoning it. The householder shares with the guests and his kinsmen what remains of the sacrifice. Everything depends on him. He observes his own duties, adheres to vows, is truthful in speech, is respected and he alone achieves heaven.

Hearing these words, the ascetics abandoned the religion of renunciation saying there is nothing in it.

Meaning of the word "rasah" in veda

In vedic cures, the term "rasah" is often used to mean some dravya which is to be energized with mantra and given for consumtion to the patient.

Dadhi ghritam madhoodakamiti rasah.

The rasas are curd, ghee, honey and water.

These are substances which can abosrb and retain the mantras so that when consumed they get trasferred and absorbed into the body.

Why multiple ahutis are offered in havan ?

In havans such as mrutyunjaya havan multiple ahutis often in thousands are offered. Even in mantropasana the mantra is chanted not just once, but in hundreds or thousands. The principle behind this is " karmabhooyastvat phalabhooyastvam" - the more the karma the more the result.

Anumantranam and abhimantranam

In vedic and mantrik cures, dravyas such as water, ghee, herbs etc. are energized with mantras and given to the patient. There are two methods of doing this.

1. Anumantranam - Doing the chanting thinking about the meaning/purpose of the mantra.

2. Abhimantranam - the above + the dravya being energized is also looked at.

Why perform nyasa before doing japa/pooja

Devo bhootvaa devam yajet

Become God and then worship God.

Nyasa ia the technique by which the divininty is invoked onto one's own body. In more elaborate rituals even praana pratishtaa of the deity is done on one's own body.

Classification of diseases into two types.

1. Aahaarajanyaha - arising from food due to wrong food habits or contamination.Examples are complications arising oput of obesity,cholesterol, ulcer, acidity etc. Various contagious diseases and infections also fall into this category. They should be treated with medicines. The cause is purely material by nature and may not reflect in the horoscope.

2. Anyajanmapapa nimittaha - Those arising out of sins from past lives. They should be treated with vaidik karmas such as japa, havan and daanam.

Renunciation ??????

Can you stop even a single cell out of the trillions in your body from working even for a moment ? and there comes the call for renunciation of action or if it doesn't work renunciation of the the fruits of action.

Renunciation - an excuse for lethargy and laziness.

Fate ????

Neither Veda nor astrology subscribes to the concept of fatalism.

The chief concept of Veda is yajna - action with a goal. If everything is predestined then where is the scope for a goal and need of action to achieve it. It will simply come and fall on your lap.

Astrology prescribes choosing an auspcious muhurta for performing important events. It says that what arises out of the event - good or bad depends on the auspiciousness of the time of performance.

If everything is predetermined and future events can not be influenced then where is the scope for choosing an auspicious muhurta ?

Two types of devatas in yajna

In yajna, two types of devatas take part and visit the yajamana's place. They are Somapas (Hutada) and Asomapas (Ahutada). Somapas are devatas like jala, vayu and surya who directly consume the dravya such as somarasa offered in agni.The second class of devatas are the brahmajnani brahmanas who consume what is not offered in agni (ahutada).

The somapa devatas are propitiated by ahutis and the asomapa devatas (in human form as learned brahmanas) are propitiated by providing suitable dakshina. Pleased by these offerings both types of devatas confer wealth and strength on the yajamana. The brahmanas who conduct the yajna are accorded equal status as that of the devatas.

source - gopatha brahmanam

Adversities and their end

Adverse periods in one's life can trigger problems, but these problems do not necessarily get solved at the end of such period. The solution is dependent on the action taken.

A person may get cancer when he is running the period of a malefic as per his horoscope. It's a trigger. But, he is not naturally cured of it at the end of such period. The cure depends on treatment given and divine blessings etc.

It is not correct to believe that problems will get solved by themselves at the end of adverse periods. Problems get solved on the basis of action taken. Of course, circumstances turn favorable when good period comes, but that alone need not bring in a solution.

Don't wait under the hope that once the bad period goes everything will be fine. It may not happen. Once infected, an antibiotic is required for cure.