Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.1
yajamaanasya pashuun paahi
Let the livestock that belongs to the one who performs yajna be protected
Synopsis:
This mantra clearly prohibits non-vegetarianism and killing animals.
yajamaana = one who does yajnya
Root: yaju (poojaa sangati karaNa daanEshu)
Yajati iti yajamaanaH
pashuun = cattle and other livestock that belongs to the yajamaana
paahi
Root: paa (rakshaNE) = to protect
The domestic animals live with human beings. They have their roles to play. Mainly, the cow. It’s manure is very useful. May their food be what is thrown by us. i.e. They cleanse what we waste.
It is very clear here that animals are not for meat. i.e. paahi = to be protected. If they are to be protected, it is clear that they are not for eating.
pashu is also known as aghniya
aghniya = not to be killed (to be protected)
They have done no wrong. They only help us live. Why should we kill them?
Also, human physiological structure is meant to digest vegetarian food.
This is the basic concept - that we have to protect animals - not only domestic but other animals also.
They are not to be reared for eating. Why? The basic principle is compassion and love. They have to be loved.
Another Mantra: Yajur 36.18
mitrasya chakshushA samIkshAmahe
Let us look at each other in a friendly manner (including animals)
Animal sacrifices
Many people have misinterpreted that Vedas have animal sacrifice. This is wrong. When the Vedas have prohibited killing in day to day life, the Vedas have clearly prohibited us from killing them in yajna also which is an act of prayer and love.
ghOshaala
In fact, we don’t have to take extra effort to protect them. We merely need to allow them to graze. In the Vedic life, they had allotted certain lands only for the grazing of these animals. No other activity si permitted there. After grazing, they come back to us (to the ghOshaala) to rest and live with us. They are there to contribute to the agriculture, farming and coexistence. Never are they reared for eating.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.2
dyourasi prithvirasi
You are the worlds. You are the stars. (sacchidaananda)
Summary
dyouhu = light around us (in the form of stars and galaxy)
Root: dyuu (dyutou) = you are the light, luminance
prithi = the planet (all the planets around us)
Root: prith (vistArE) = that which has spread, the planet that which has spread
sacchidaananda is omnipresent
This Mantra speaks about the omnipresence of sacchidaananda. sarva vyApi. You occupy every star and planet around us.
sacchidaananda is formless
Another point is indirectly noted here. That which is omnipresent has to be formless. If it has a form, it is limited by the form. If something is omnipresent, it has to be formless.
prithvi has a form. Light has a form. But one who is in every prithvi and every dyou is formless.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.2
vishwadhA asi
You are the support of all
Summary
vishwadhA = vishwa + dhA
dhA = supporter, protector
Root: Dudhainj (dhaaraNa pOshaNa yOhO) = protect
vishwa = everything, all, 100%. No exception.
Root: vishUlRu (vyAptou) = all
Nothing is left that is not within your embrace.
asi = you are
How does sacchidaananda support?
By the rules and regulations. Everything works according to the natural law. Those laws were established by you (the vishwadhA).
Essence of the laws
The relationship between kaaraNa and kArya. Cause and effect. The whole universe is functioning according to those rules and regulations. Who has set it up? Sacchidaananda. You. Because you are holding it, it is there. If you don’t hold it, the whole universe will collapse.
Another mantra: parishaswa jaatE
parishaswa = pari + shaswa
pari = in all respects,
shaswa
Root: shwanja (aalinganE) = embrace
You have embraced the universe in all respects. Because you have embraced it, it is standing, it is functioning. If it looses your embrace, it is gone. You are the cause of this whole universe.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.4
saa vishwaayuH
You are the very essence (life force) of everything in the universe
aayuH = life
Root: yU (mishraNA mishraNE) = life
Summary:
You are the very essence (life force) of everything in the universe.
sacchidaananda has no gender
Another thing to note is that saa is in feminine gender. So is God feminine? No. Vedic grammar is very clear that the gender is for the word. Not for what it signifies.
Gender is only for the body. The soul, jiivaatma does not have a gender. paramaatma is still above it. It does not have gender at all because it is formless. Sacchidaananda is genderless. lingAtiita = beyond gender
In Veda Mantras, sacchidaananda is sometimes referred to masculine, feminine and neutral genders.
saH, sA, tat. Any gender is ok. Because the gender is only to the word. Not to the one it refers.
Misconception
If the God is referred to in the masculine we have to imagine the Masculine form of the God. This is wrong. This is the effect of puranic influence. It has no Vedic bearing.
An Example of Vedic Grammar
kalatram = wife
kalatra the word is in the neutral gender
God sees everything
Does that mean God has eyes? No. He is omnipotent. He has no limitation. He doesn’t need physical eyes.
You are the very breath of the whole universe. If it is not there, if the system collapses, the whole world will get into the state of pralaya (doom). If we are not in doom and the whole world is functioning, it is because the sacchidaananda’s system is in place.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.4
saa vishwakarma
You are the creator of all
Summary:
karma
Root: Dukrinj (karaNE) = one who has created
vishwakarma = creator of all
You are the generator of all. You are the creator of all. Any rule, system that we see at the micro or macro level is your creation. Your gnyAna (conceptualization) and karma (execution)
Don’t we make things as human beings? Doesn’t that make us the creator?
Of course, we manufacture. We create a car. But the natural resources that we use to create the car is created by the Vishwakarma – sacchidaananda. We can create a car only because he has created and made the basic raw materials available.
Another mantra: vishwakarmANi pashyata
Look at the whole world that has been created.
Look at the world. Observe it. Look at the flower. Look at the water. Every atom. He has created. It was conceptualized by the omniscient. Because he is omnipotent, he didn’t need any help. He created everything.
Protect God’s Creation
If you are able to see that the great power is the creator, we will see the creation with love. We will use it with love. We won’t misuse it. We won’t abuse it.
Our own creation involves a lot of effort and time. God’s creation is so easy.
Go to the place where there are a lot of trees. It is so easy. When we need that level of oxygen, we need to create the oxygen cylinder, a clean space, hospital, doctors, money, etc. What God has given us is to easy and free.
If we realize this, we will protect what God has created.
Another Mantra: (Address to be given)
vishNOH karmANi pashyata
Steadfast in protecting the creation of God and utilizing it the right way
Summary
Can I create a seed in a lab? I can sprout the seed. But the seed has to be created only by sacchidaananda’s system. That sprouting nature is one of the karma of the Vishwakarma
When the sperm and the ovum meet and becomes life and a soul gets into it… It is such a mystery. We cannot do it. In the lab we can get the two to meet. We cannot make it create life. That system cannot be reproduced. That system is created by the vishwakarma.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 1.4
vishNO havyam raksha
O sacchidaananda! Please protect all that we give and take, all that is worthy to be given and taken
Summary:
raksha = protect
vishNO = O sacchidaananda
havya = all that material that we give and take, all that is worthy to be given and taken
Root: hU (dAna adana aadaana) = give, consume and take
Please protect everything so that whatever we use and is worthy of being used is clean and useful and abundant.
Protect the planet
If we understand it correctly, we won’t pollute the things around us. We have wonderful air and water and land and rain. We keep polluting it. Can we recreate it? No. I won’t get another planet.
Global warming, compounds of carbon, water pollution, acidic rain, etc. are all problems we ourselves have created. Let us not do it. Let us protect and pray to sacchidaananda to protect.
To construct takes years and decades. To spoil takes only a moment. It is invaluable. Irreparable. Irreversible.
How will God protect?
If we open up our hearts, he will guide us by giving us the thought to protect, the conscience to protect, the strength to protect.
Human Body
I have this rare human body. I have the opportunity to use the intellect given to me to protect everything around me. Let me do it. Handle the things around me with diligence.