Swami Shree Haridas Jis Speech- 2

Secret of the Birth and the Death

Episode 2 By Swami Shri Haridas Ji
Translation by Mahendra B. Gurung

The first day of my speech, yesterday, I cited Veda that says, Doi viddhe veditabbehi parachaiva parachate (Rudrahridayopanishad, 28th verse), meaning we need to learn two things: knowledge (gyana) and wisdom (vidya). One is para vidya and the other is apara vidya. One is para gyana and the other is apara gyana. I explained yesterday that within apara gyana, there are three types of knowledge: Satwika gyana, rajasa gyana and tamasa gyana. I showed, referring to the 13th, 8th, 9th and 10th verses of Sharirakopanishad. The knowledge about the truth, non-violence is satwika gyana; the knowledge about I, I am, I am something is rajasa gyana and the knowledge related to laziness, sex and attachment to consumption of worldly matters is tamasa gyana. I also explained the reasons behind knowing to learn these knowledges. One, for cautioning against what types of our deeds take us to the hell (narak); two, what will make it possible for us to come to this world (mrityu loka); and three, what shall we do to get to the heaven (swarga) and enjoy the happiness there. The knowledge related to these. In other words, if somebody wishes to get a passage into the heaven, he will find the knowledge; for someone who wishes to come back to this world, there is the process; and, also, for the one who wishes to visit the hell, can do so. The significance of our sanatana vedic dharma is such that one can choose to go wherever (s)he wishes to. It does not restrict, it tells all the ways. Wherever you want to go, follow this path, process, you can accomplish. Punyena punya lokam nayati, papena manushya lokam (Prashnopanishad) Or, the apara gyana is the knowledge about the world, the body and about the matters that are necessary for the body. This knowledge, apara gyana, extends from the hell to this earthly world and to the heaven. I explained in details yesterday about all the levels of this apar gyana, up to brahma loka. Let there be no confusion, you may think, when we die in mrityu loka, our souls might visit to other areas such as brahma loka, swarga loka and narak loka, so what is the connection of our bodies? I said there are three types of bodies: physical body (sthool shareer), the core body (sukshm shareer) and the causal body (kaaran shareer). These exist even after the death. I explained in details that a form of body will continue to exist until one attains liberation or the God (bhagavad prapti). After the death, the physical body is burnt out but the body remains in the form of core body which continues to exist and perform until the complete dissolution (mahapralaya).

The soul cannot remain without a body and vice versa. Existence of one in absence of other is impossible. Either of the two is necessary for the other. Then, we entered into paragyana. Citing Atmanam shatata gyantwa (Naadabindopanishad, 21st verse), I said that this is the knowledge about the soul. I am soul, I am continually a soul, the knowledge about the soul and the knowledge for the soul. Like the apara gyana is all about knowing the earthly world, in the same manner, para gyana is all about knowing the soul. I said the subjects citing Brahmaveda brahmaiva bhavati from Mundakopanishad. That is, the subject matter for the soul is paramatma, the supreme soul. It has nothing to do with the earthly world, the samsara. Look, try to understand again. There is a philosophy in my speech. You have developed a habit of listening to stories where your wisdom gets subdued. Therefore, I am repeating these and keeping efforts so that I can get the message into your mind. Apara gyana is the knowledge about the body that extends from hell to heaven to brahma loka. Understand that this apara gyana is understood within para gyana, which the knowledge about the soul and for the soul. The subject for the soul is paramatma, the knowledge about paramatma. I also told you the types of paramatma. Vadanti..shavdayate. Or there are three categories: Brahma, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The knowledge about these forms of paramtma is para gyana. Thus, there are two types of knowledge (gyana). In conclusion, understand this way, one is the knowledge about the earthly world, maya (apara gyana or mayik gyana) and the other is the divine knowledge about the spiritual area. Just two elements. Probably you may wish to know in details about these, what is the hell (narak)? the heaven (swarga)? how to accomplish it? To some of you who know something about the divine knowledge, the narak and swarga may not be so important but may wish to gain knowledge about how to get to bhagawan. But I did not want to tell these in the beginning. Because, this way or the other, we have been listening and knowing these so far. But we got not benefit. Not at all. Either we let it all evaporate whatever we listened to, or we forgot most of them and kept a very little and we used them when we wanted to fulfill our vested interest. Or, no matter what we forgot or memorized the knowledge, we used it only to show off in front of people, but did not implement. There are very few who understand the essence of the knowledge correctly and implement. I gave examples including of a blind person making a rope, etc. So, look, there is one element (tatwa), without knowing which you will have no benefit even after you know all about the heaven, hell etc. What is that tatwa? That is the secret of life and death and about is there life even after the death? The bus stops here. And, without having a complete knowledge about this, we cannot move even a step forward in the spiritual world. This is the conclusion. I give you an example. In olden days a person, probably all, living on the other side of this Begnas lake used to come to Lekhnath or Pokhara to do his business and used to return rowing his boat. Across the lake, with his boat. One day, on the way returning home, he went to
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Shishuwa bazaar in the evening. He saw some people in Shivalaya temple were sitting and grinding something. What is happening here, he asked the people. They replied, Today is Shivaratri day, so here is a great worship (puja) and meditation to Him and we are preparing prashad (holy blessed food). What is it? he asked. It is bhaang (a subtle solution form of hashish), they replied and said, in few minutes the holy foods will be offered to Lord Shiva Ji and then the holy blessed food will be distributed to all devotees. You can also take and then go. He nodded and stayed. After puja, the holy food was distributed. The person also got a glass of bhaang, drank and took his way to his village. By the time he reached the Bank of Begnas lake, the bhaang gradually started to show its effect. He sat on his boat. He thought it is late today due to some time spent in the Shivalaya. He started rowing the boat. Normally, he used to reach the other end of the Begnas lake in half an hour. Today, he was rowing and rowing. He rowed all the night, still he was rowing under the influence of bhaang. In the morning, while the influence was fading away, he was startled to find that the place he reached after rowing all the night looked like the same as he had started yesterday. Looking around, he wondered which place this might be. He was talking to himself. A person was watching him doing all this. He said, Hey!, you are at the same place where you started the boat, not on the other bank. The first person replied, How can it be? I rowed the boat all the night. My palms are even swollen. How can I be at the same place I had started last night? The second person laughed and replied, Look. You forgot to unfasten the hanger rope before you started to row last night. In this situation, not only one night but no matter how many nights you row, you will only stay where you are. Yes, our situation is also exactly like his. Whatever we listened to, and whatever we have been doing, we have so far not achieved the goal. And, our life is about to end. Why? Because what we have been doing is exactly what the person on the boat was doing. As the way the hanger rope was not unfastened for the boat, the same way we have not come to know the correct subject. Now, let us know the subject in proper way. Look. Yesterday, I touched a bit on the subject about the secret of life and death and whether there is the rebirth. The subject of birth and death has remained a subject of secret to the mankind. But death is a reality, however we do not pay attention to it. We are lost in the gimmicks of the world. The reason is, we are not sure whether there is rebirth or not. When we listen to the knowledge of scriptures, and listen to the subject on rebirth, we realize, Oh! yes, there is rebirth, there is a danger, we may have to go to the hell. When we listen to the science, we again feel, Oh! no, there is no rebirth, all is nonsense, we need to turn towards this. And, we turned to this. The divine knowledge, gyana, and science face quite opposite, like north and south. One tells one thing and the other tells just opposite. Yesterday, I cited the great scripture of vedic religion, Jaatas ya hi dhruvo Or one who is borne shall die; who dies shall take the birth again. The line shall take the birth again after one dies simply means that there is life even after the death. This is what the gyana states. It also states that the soul continues to exist, immortal. It is the body that dies.

Na jaayate mriyate .hanyamaane sharire (Geeta 2 20). This soul remains forever, only there is a transformation of body. And, whenever the soul changes its body, we call it death. This is how the scripture has explained. His Holy the Great Jagad Guru Shakaracharya has also preached this education, this knowledge. Punarapi Jananam, Punarapi maranam, Punarapi Janani jathor shayanam; Iham sansaare khalu dustare, ripaya pare pahi Murare Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodhmate Again and again the birth takes place, and again and again the death takes place. Take it granted, Jagad Guru Shankaracharya has emphasized this point, which I dealt in details to you yesterday. I said when the soul leaves the physical body and enters into core body, it is called death; and when it enters back to the physical body, it is called birth, perhaps you remember. Thus on one hand, the divine knowledge tells that there is rebirth, therefore act accordingly. On the other hand, this is the scientific era in which we all live. All our children, grand children have been studying the knowledge of science. They do efforts to study the knowledge of this world for 15 or 18 or 20 years to get an ordinary job, to work under somebody. This knowledge of the present world mostly states that there is nothing like rebirth, whatsoever. People have almost given up studying the spiritual knowledge (gyana). How much time do the people give for the spiritual knowledge? But for the knowledge of the earthly world (vigyana), they spend whole of the life. Look, for the science, and what did it tell us about this (the rebirth)? What is science? Science means the knowledge about various things, things of this world. I told you yesterday, there had been a personality in the sanatana vedic culture itself, Charuvak, and his Charvak Principle, who said, Bhasmi bhutasya dehasya punaragamanam kuta? Or this is life is all about we have, there is no life after the death. Everything will be destroyed after the death, this was his doctrine. There is nothing like the hell, the heaven and the Bhagavan (Almighty), this was his principle. This was followed by the successive scientists. I told you about a Greek mathematician named Euclid who used his theory of straight line geometry to explain that no one returns after the death. Everything is destroyed thereafter. And, the living being is the product of the physical matters. This is the conclusion of this theory. Then there was another popular scientist named Sir Isaac Newton. He also said that the living beings are the product of the physical matters of the word. Everything is destroyed after the death. There exists no life after the death. His theory is known as Mechanistic theory of Universe. Then I told about Charles Darwin whose theory is being studied by the children from the schools to the colleges. It was a total atheist theory called Evolution Theory. Conclusion of all these theories is that there is nothing like rebirth. This life is all about. Therefore enjoy it. There is nothing left thereafter. Look. Here is a subject that you have read all your life. And, here is another, the spiritual subject. These two subjects need reconciliation. The tug of war between the two needs to be concluded so
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that we all have one conscience and we can move ahead towards the goal. So, this is in brief about what I said yesterday. There was a confusion about whether there is life after the death, because the gyana said one thing and the vigyana said just the opposite. Bhagavan Himself said, Agyanshcha shraddha..sanshyatma vinashyati (Geeta 4 40). Meaning, where there is confusion, there is the downfall. I also cited the Poet De Honor from here to justify this. So, this confusion has to be eradicated today. How to do this? Look. Now we have two types of knowledge: Gyana and Vigyana. Obviously there will be two ways to know these. Now we need to have a basis, something both sides will accept. Something both will agree on or a basis to agree on. What is that? Let us know this first and then the confusion shall be put to rest. There are three ways of learnings: Vigyana, Gyana and Param Gyana, which is considered to be the source of the two gyanas. Three types. Understand by how they are evolved. One is evolved from Atma (the soul), the pther by Mahatma (soul of the saint) and the other by Paramatma (soul of the supreme). What we all talk about, consider it as vigyana. All that we tell. Because, among atma, mahatma and paramatma, the atma which is also called jeevatma is under the influence of earthly matters, maya. Or jeevatma is full of ignorance. This is the reason we need to learn, you have all come here. It is ignorant to learn. Mahatma means the mahan (great) atma. He used to be like us before, but later became mahatma. How? Through learning the knowledge of the main, the source. By experience. Then whatever they said became gyana, experience-based gyana. Thus one is vigyana, or the gyana told by the worldly people who are under the influence of earthly matters (mayik) or the ignorant ones. The other is gyana, the knowledge told by the ones who have experienced the knowledge of the main. And, the third one, paramgyana, the source knowledge of all which is evolved by the almighty Paramatma. It is called mahagyana or paramgyana. See, what is science. Science is all about doing plus and minus of the physical matters that are already present in this world, know about them and then explain. This is the meaning of the science. In gyana, this is well understood and, in addition, there is the knowledge about the main. See, scientists claim that they made many things. But did they really? How did they make? They did not make, rather they searched and researched. Matters were already present here. No scientists brought anything from their mothers ovary that could support their claim. They only discovered. For example, electricity, current. Current existed in water. The scientists did just the plus and minus of it and produced electricity. We see airplanes these days. These were present even during the olden eras. For example, when Lord Rama returned from Lanka, he had used a plane called Pushpak Viman. At that time, the airplane used to be open. Can any scientist design an open airplane and fly? It will crash. That Pushpak Viman belonged to Kuber, which was taken in control by Ravana of Lanka. These things were there. Vigyana is under gyana. The Devas of swarga loka (heaven) possessed both vigyana and gyana. They used to produce super weapons which the scientists have not been able to produce to date. The super weapons upon being fired used to go around the enemies, hit the target and return

again to their commanders hands. The Devas had that capability. Such weapons were used even during the time of Mahabharat war. So, the vigyana was under the gyana. Now, the paramagyana, the knowledge of the supreme, the father of both the knowledges. Let us understand this by an analogy. In the world, when there is a dispute and litigation, what happens? There is a district court where the disputants will file petition. Then there is also an appellate court. When we are not satisfied with their verdicts, what we do? we go to the supreme court. The verdicts given by the supremecourt must be accepted by the appellate and the district courts. Is not so? In the same way, this param gyana is the spreme gyana, the father of all gyanas. What is that gyana? That gyana is Veda. Veda declares, Tatguhyapanishad sugudham. (Shwetashwataropanishad, 5th Chapter, 6th verse). Veda is the supreme gyana. Or whatever there are things to be known, the most confidential ones or the most private ones, all the knowledge is possessed by Veda. Veda is the supreme knowledge. Unlike vigyana or the science or the gyana of the world has been developed by the men and the gyana or the scriptures such as Geeta, Puranas etc were written by saints such as Vedavyas, etc based on their experiences, the spreme gyana, Veda has been written by nobody. It is said the knowledge of Bhagavan; and it is also said that this knowledge has been evolved by the Bhagavan. In actuality, it was evolved not even by Bhagavan. This gyana remained forever, therefore called sanatana gyana, the omnipotent gyana. Anadi nidhana vedah, apourusheyam vakyam vedah. Or a gyana constructed by no men (purush). Then, how come it is called the gyana of Bhagavan? The reason for this is: Nihshwashitamasya Vedah. Meaning, this gyana is evolved from the Bhagavans breathing. When? When the creation begins. Then, perhaps this will end during the great dissolution (pralaya)? Then how is it sanatana? No, it continues to exist even during the great dissolution process. Pralaya kaalepi sukshma rupena paramatmani vedaraashihisthitah. It stays in the heart of Bhagavan. Therefore it is called the knowledge of Bhagavan, sanatana gyan, the main gyana of all. It was produced by nobody. A suspicion may arise here. Someone, who have even a little knowledge on Veda or Upanishad or Brahman or aaranya or any part, may find in Veda that there are many names of saints (rishi muni), they do dialogue among themselves, so how can Veda be sanatana, how cannot we say that it has been written by the saints? This question might arise. The solution for this question is that the saints are not creators of Veda, they are the observers. They did not create, did not make it, they saw. They saw the Veda verses (mantra). Rishayo mantra drashta rah. Saints saw the verses of Veda. Then Drashta rah they memorized the verses. Then, mantra mananaat, they internalized. Then akhya pravachanaat.., they spoke. They saw, memorized, internalized and then gave speech. Saints spoke, therefore it is called that the saints made these verses. But no, they have not made the verses, they have seen them. Now, we may wonder, whatever verses Swami Ji spoke yesterday, we didnt see them. If the saints saw them, we should have also seen them.

There are ways of seeing. And, there is something called authority about who possess the capacity to observe them. The saints were the authorities, so they saw them. So, there are categories of observers. One is silent observer (mook drashta), who does not speak; just observe them and internalize. One is future observer (bhavishya drashta), one who can see what is going to happen in the future. The other is time observer (yug drashta), one who understands the current problems and can recommend the solutions. The other is omni-observer (sarva drashta), one who can see all, Bhagavan. And, finally there is voice observer (mantra drashta), one who can see the verses, observe them like saints, great souls. Look. The words, voices can be seen. You may feel surprised. Let me tell you. There are varieties of words (vak) within voices (vani). Para vak, pashyati vak, madhyama vak and vaikhari vak. Four types. The words that we speak have a core element called parah, meaning divine. In absence of this element, one cannot speak even if (s)he has mouth and sound, cannot listen even if there are ears, cannot smell even if there is nose, cannot see even if there are eyes. There is this core element, parah. Second element is pashyati, the element that helps a person to see the invisible, like the saints could see. The other is madhyama, the physical element that helps a person to see. The voices (vani) or the sounds also have physical form. We do not see them, that is different. This is why the verses of Veda meditated Bhagavan, who kindly blessed them. The verses then took to their physical form and enjoyed life as Gopis with Lord Shri Krishn in Brindavan. The Gopis and Gopinis were in fact the verses from Veda in their physical form. So, this is madhyama. The third element is Baikhari, the one we use in our daily dealings. Now, you dont know all the three I spoke to you. You know only the one. The sound that you hear in everyday life is being named baikhari. The word barhakhari, that we use to start to know letters (for children) is derived from this word baikhari. Barhakhari, this is how it is pronounced in our daily dealings. Only the saints can experience the three things. So, the words are observable. The saints (rishi) who could observe the words (verses) include Gudsamat, Vashistha, Vishwamitra, Atri, Bamdev and Bhardwaj. The female saints (rishika) also saw them. In the history, women also gained capacity to see the verses. Today many people comment that women should not listen to Veda and should not act as said by it. This is mockery. This has destroyed the world, has lead the world to declination. They have confined the women to the house servitude. We have examples- Brahmavadini Ghosh, Apalika, Lopamudra, Suryaa wife of Surya (the Sun), Juhu, Bishwabara, etc. They all saw the verses of Veda. So, this is the reason behind the names of saints being noted in Veda. This is meaning and science, whatever way you understand. Therefore the Veda and all other scriptures, the authorized ones, are all Veda related. That is why we follow them, accept them. For example Veda-Byas divided the Rig-Veda into four parts: Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sam-Veda and Atharva-Veda. Veda-Byas, while writing these parts, thought when will the people would read all these one hundred thousand verses, take conclusions and get benefit? Then he wrote six
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of the twelve theist philosophies (aastik darshan). They are: Mimamsa, Saankhya, Vaisheshik, Nyaya, Yoga and Brahmasutra Vedant. The last one, Vedant is the synopsis or gist (sutra) of the Veda, or notes in shortcut. Veda-Byas also wanted to make sure to all users that the Brahmasutra Vedant is the same as Veda, would get the same benefit as from the sole Veda and that there arise no suspicion among users. So, he wrote a formula verse (sutra) and declared: Arthiyam brahmasutranam sarbopanishadamapi. Or, the Vedant-Sutra written by me is the summary of the Veda, dont take it otherwise, dont suspect, he clarified. This is not something out of my pocket, not something I made out of my mind. This Vedant is the meaning of Veda, he said. Today we follow Geeta. Geeta is renowned world over. It has been translated in more than five hundred languages. Immaterial of religion, people keep this epic. One learned person of England read Geeta and made a statement, thus, There used to be a person named Krishn in sanatana Vedic religion. His occupation was cow-guarding. Such an illiterate cow-guard made such a great thing, made such a great speech. I wonder how would be other people who are real literate. So this was the statement he made on Geeta. That means people keep note of it. Anybody in this world, who keeps even a little knowledge on spiritual subject or philosophies, does know about Geeta. But, why do we follow Geeta? You might say, because it came from Bhagavan. No, not because it came from Bhagavan, but we follow it because it is in concurrence with the Veda; Because, Veda is the sole constitution of the world. Because it is the constitution of the universe, we follow it. Why do we follow a statute, rules, regulation of any organization? Because, they are in concurrence with the main constitution of the country. Otherwise there is no compulsion. So, the constitution of the universe is in accordance to Veda. Sarvopanishado gaodogdha Gopalnandana:, Let there be no controversy in future, so it has been stated in the significance chapter of Geeta that it is the summary of the Upanishad, which is the core divine part (brahm vidya bhaag) of Veda, where it deals about the topics such as what is the earthly matter (maya)?, what is the divine matter (brahm)?, what is living being (jeeva)?, what is the goal of the jeeva?, and how it is achieved?, therefore, follow it. Not just because Bhagavan spoke it. Then there is Bhagavatam, which is very popular and is in general recitation. Nigam kalpatarou galitam phalam. (Bhagavatam 1-1-3). What is Bhagavat has been defined in Bhagavatam itself. The term Nigam means Veda, and agam means scripture. So, in the very beginning (1-1-3), it has been mentioned that nigam Veda is the tree and Bhagavatam is the ripe and sweet fruit out of the tree. Bhagavatam is in concurrence to Veda, therefore follow it. There are lots of examples in Bhagavatam that verifies that Bhagavatam is in concurrence to Veda. Sarva Vedanta saram yat. (Bhagavatam 12-13-12). Or, Veda-byas divided Veda and wrote Vedant sutra. Then, based on experience, he wrote Bhagavatam. Thus, it has been clearly stated that Vedant is the summary or gist of Veda and Bhagavatam is the gist, say the crme of Vedant. Sarva Vedant saaramhi shri Bhagavat mishyate, again said in Bhagavatam in the verse 12-13-15. Therefore Bhagavatam is acceptable to us.
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Then we have two histories: Mahabharata and Ramayana. These are also in concurrence with Veda. Therefore we accept these. Itihas puranani panchamam vedamishwarh (Bhagavatam 312-39). Mahabharat is also in concurrence with Veda, so we accept it. Then, Nana puran nigamagam sammatam yat ramayane. Tulasidas Ji said, This Ramayana which I wrote, dont think that I created it. All I did is wrote in a simple languages the things that were already present in Veda and scriptures. It is in concurrence with Veda, so follow it. Char Veda kahe sachiyare, said Guru Nanak Dev. He said, Whatever I said to you is the substance of the four true gyana, the Veda, therefore follow it. Its not my words Vedaa kahevakahehu, jhutha jo na vicha, said saint Kbirdas. He is also saying, O! whatever I have said are in concurrence with Veda; I have said the things as said by Veda. All are stamping the seals in one voice. Kabirdas Ji used to live in Kashi. He used to make the people understand the fundamentals of gyana in very layman language. It is the same Kashi where learned people, scholars used to live and will continue to live. Kashi is considered birthplace of Gurus (teachers) or Gurukul of the world. There were great scholars also in the time of Kabirdas. Six-degree holders (shatshastri), four-Veda degree holders (chaturvedi), great knowledgeables, etc. The learned persons used to speak but it did not have any effect on the ordinary people. People used to listen for a while and get going to their ways. Kabirdas Ji used to tell in simple language without referring to Veda and scriptures but, at the end, used to say that what he said was in concurrence with Veda. People used to listen to him, with attention. He used to visit villages and speak. He used to eat whatever he got, used to stay wherever he was given to, and used to offer education and knowledge to the people. On the other hand there were math-chief (mathadheesh), peeth-chief (peethadheesh), mahamandal-chief (mahamandaleshwar), etc who used to live in Banaras city, who required to eat sweet dishes (haluwa puri) while teaching. They used to expect service while they taught the knowledge from Veda and other scriptures, but the benefit was zero. It became a matter of investigation for other scholars to find what is it with Kabirdas that people go to listen to him and follow him. They even employed some detectives after him. But, no use. Finally, the scholar persons went themselves to him and asked, Oh! great saint. We have been preaching the things from Veda and other scriptures. Philosophies. People do not pay attention to what we say. But why do they give so much attention to your layman language? Kabirdas Ji replied, See. You speak what you have in written. I tell what I see. I already said earlier in my speech that the great saints do see. They possess this power. This influences persons. Even then, Kabirdas Ji does not claim that the knowledge that he saw and distributed is due to himself. He states that the knowledge is in concurrence with Veda and it is the Vedas gyana. This is an example of humbleness, politeness and endurance. Now, look. About the controversy between gyana and vigyana, I put forward one sided logics and proofs. All I dealt with belonged to gyana, the spiritual knowledge. Now, let us see what do the scholars who follow science or the western philosophers say about Veda. I am putting in front of you their aspect also. A lot of research and investigation has been conducted over Veda;
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its still going on and will continue in future as well. All these researchers have agreed that Veda is the core gyana or the source knowledge. However, despite of agreement, there remains a difference. What is that difference? It is that we take Veda as a eternal (sanatana) gyana, a timeless gyana whereas they say, we do not know whether it is a sanatana gyana, but we know for sure that it is an olden knowledge and the main knowledge. This was accepted by the western researchers also. They said Veda is five thousand years old epic. Other scriptures of the world are no more old than three thousand years. They admit that the five thousand years old scripture is Veda alone. This is the most old and the main one. They accept that other knowledge has been emanated from this. The difference is only that they got hold of Veda during the time it was being scripted into the form of book. They captured that time. When did that happen? Five thousand years ago. Veda was not in written form before that. And, it is not complete even today. Out of the one thousand one hundred thirty branches of Veda, there are only fifteen branches remaining in the world. Others have all disappeared. Veda was written by Veda-byas during that period. Before that it was not necessary to write. When Bhagavan offered this gyana to Brahma, Tene brahma hidaya aadi kabaye murhyanti yat surayah (Bhagavat 1-1-1). Based on this, the world, the universe was created, based on Veda. When Bhagavan offered this gyana to Brahma Ji, he transferred this knowledge to his children, through speech. The saints (rishi, muni) saw those verses in the speech and then picked them up. This way. So, Veda is also called shruti, the knowledge learned through listening only. Shruti means people of those times could gain and retain Veda by listening. Written form was not necessary. But, five thousand years ago, Veda-byas thought that there would be the necessity of constitution even in modern age (Kali yug). Otherwise people will become akarmanya, will become atheists. Our timeless Vedic religion may get worse and disappear. Considering all these reasons, he brought Veda in written form some five thousand years ago, and the researchers accept that and admit it as a main scripture. Anybody who might have done M.A., Ph.D. or D.Lit., cannot challenge the consonants, e.g., ka, kha, ga, gha, etc., numbers e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Because they are the main, the primary. They accept it. Look. There have been many philosophers, researchers, scholars. I will present them very briefly. There was a scholar named Prof. Wilson. He gave a statement on Veda that it is a great epic. No epic in the world can claim equivalence to Veda, not to talk of greater. The western philosophers are telling this. Equivalence means an epic is equal to Veda; no epic can claim this. To be above this is a far cry. Similarly, there was a learned personality of Germany Prof. Max Muller. He said Veda is the most olden scripture of the most olden world. He admitted it is an eternal voice, the divine one. He did an in-depth research and came up with final statement as above. The other was Prof. Hume. He said, I studied Aristotle, Sokarat, etc and other religious scriptures; studied in-depth and spent full life on them. But when I received a brief and partial knowledge of Veda then I felt
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profound peace. Profound peace it gave, he said adding, So this is the highest of the gyanas as it is capable of offering happiness- mental and soulful. There was another statement by Prof. J. Aurk. He said that if there is anything that can help solve the knots of mens internal, mental and social cobweb, it is only the Veda that can do so. This can penetrate into the inner heart and offer something which is not readily possible by other, he declared. There were many other western philosophers. Shappon Hours also advocated in favor of Veda. Similarly there were others such as Winton Reids, Gramson, etc, I have very limited time to go into each detail. Similarly, there was a renowned philosopher named Binova Bhave. He said, Geeta holds a place of mother to me. To anybody, there is only one mother. No one can take that place. So no scripture can take the seat held by Geeta. But, I know Veda is mother of even Geeta, said Binova Bhave. There were renowned poets. They also accepted. Rabindra Nath Tagore stated that Veda is as bright a gyana as the bright sun of the noon; and other gyana is just like the rays of it. See, what a big statement he made. Even our Nepali poets have written: Atmakana chinnu parchha guru ka, vedka vachan le gari. Atma lai chinyo bhanya janun, tyo mukta bho tyas ghadi. Tasmat atma vichar garnu janale, tes rupma hun bhani, Agyan nasht garaunakana awar, chhainan upayai pani. (Pioneer Poet Bhanubhakta Acharya) He was also a devotee. He had the knowledge. Thus he declared that except Veda there is no way to destroy ignorance. So this is Veda. Veda was researched in Russia too. There were renowned scholars such as Ovasyaniko, Kulikonski, etc., who chose Veda as the field of their research. In 1884, Kulikonski chose agni puja, a subject under Veda as his topic of Ph D research work. He gave such an importance to it. See, western scholars also accept that Veda is the main gyana, the knowledge. For us, the Vedic faith followers, there is no confusion in accepting it. In places in the epics, it has been mentioned that Veda is the main knowledge, the gyana, of all the universe. So this is the conclusion. Mens main ancestor was ManuJi Maharaj. He delivered his instruction, Shrutismriti vihito dharmah. O! boys and girls. O! my children. Pay attention. Obey religion. He also stated the meaning of dharma. The one which is adoptable is known as religion, dharma. Do according to Shruti, meaning Veda, and Smriti, meaning shaastra, or the scripture, he said. Now if there arise some curiosity, what to do? He showed the way out in such situations as well, Dharma jigyansa samananam, pramanam paramam srutih. (Manusmriti). While adopting something, if you get into confusion about whether it is a right one or not, verify from Sruti. Compare with Veda, whether it is in concurrence. Go ahead, if it is and dont, if it is not. And, also be careful to consider not only what is happening at present; but also what happened in the
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past and what is going to happen in future, verify all with Veda. You will find all noted- what happened, what is happening and what will happen, all in Veda. Verify them. Bhutam bhavyam bhavishyancha sarvam vedatprasidati. (Manusmriti). Follow only after verifying with Veda. See. These days, there is a rumor in the world that the world is going to the process of complete dissolution (pralaya) after 28 or 30 years. Many say the complete dissolution will take place in 2012. These are all rumors, gossips and are making fool of people. To the extent time will permit, I will deal with the worlds dissolution process and, based on Veda, will tell you when the dissolution will take place and what is its feature. Because now we have a basis. So this is Veda. It is the ultimate gyana. So there is one, gyana and the other, vigyana, and the yet other is their father, Veda. So, whatever it says says right. Veda pranito dharmas. (Bhagavatam 6-1-40). Whatever Veda states take that as religion, says Bhagavatam. Now I am approaching to the conclusion. But, what is Veda? Why to be followed? And, the second line says, vedonarayanah sakshyat. Pay attention. It says, vedonarayanah sakshyat. Veda by itself is the God, Bhagavan, therefore follow it. Swayam bhuriti susrubhah (Bhagavatam 6-140). Read it. Whatever I will prove here, Veda will be the prime basis. Together with it, Veda related scriptures such as shat darshan, 18 puranas, sub-puranas, smriti grantha will be referenced. I will also take reference from Bible, Kuran etc., but the main basis shall remain to be the Veda. If you do not follow Veda, then there are quarrels among our own scriptures. See, we have so many puranas such as Shiva Purana, Devi Bhagavat Purana, Brahma vaivartya purana, Brahma Purana, Garud Puran, etc. One purana says one thing and the other purana says the opposite. How to decide? Read Devi Bhagavat purana, you will find all appreciation of Devis. All the same. In Shiva purana, all description given is about Bhagavan Shiva Ji. In Ganesh recital (stotra), all that is described about is Lord Ganesh. A person will get confused. The proof that we have to draw conclusion with is Veda. So, through this Veda, we have to find conclusion about the suspicion that I mentioned yesterday: the suspicion that whether there exists life after death. What is the secret of life and death? What does Veda says about all these? So, I have to tell you about these, but, tomorrow, not today. Shrimad sadguru bhagavan ki, Jay!

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