A treatise on the Vedas
Wednesday, 24.02.2010, 10:03am (GMT+5.5)
THE MOST ancient and sacred of the scriptural texts of the Hindus, the Vedas are believed to have been revealed to seers among the early Aryans and are preserved by oral tradition. Of the four Vedas, the earliest is the Rig Veda, followed by the Yajur and Sama Vedas. The Atharvana Veda was a later addition.
This book, authored by one with excellent credentials, encompasses the first three Vedas, with the Atharvana Veda earmarked for a separate publication. To cite a few of the headings and sub-headings under which they are dealt with: the origin of the Vedas; astronomy in Rig and Yajur Vedas; sin, evil, hostile forces and salvation; the power of the Gayathri, Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi mantras; the supernatural effect of ragas; and the significance of dharma. A quote from the Sage of Kanchi on ‘Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam' transports the reader to the Jambukeswaram shrine.
Gurupriya has drawn attention to the fact that successive heads of the Kanchi Kamakoti Math have hailed from families following the Rig Vedic tradition. The observations she makes on the basis of what she saw and heard during her sojourn in the United States are interesting and informative.
RIG, YAJUR, SAMA VEDAS: P. Gurupriya; Kadalangudi Publications, 38, Natesa Iyer Street, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 175.
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