Yajur Veda Basics
Commonly it is known that there is a shukla yajur veda and a Krishna yajur veda. There is confusion about which is authentic.
When we talk about Yajur Veda, we refer only to shukla yajur veda, This is authentic and authoritative.
In Krishna yajur veda there are some problems. Some very important Mantras are missing. Some contradictions exist.
Example:
Yajur Veda 26.2 Imam kalyAnam vAcham aAvadaaniim janEbhyaH
This Mantra is important to show that Vedas are for all. Vedas are never discriminative. This Veda Mantra is missing in Krishna Yajur Veda.
There are many such examples of discrepancies in Krishna Yajur Veda.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 13.1
mayi gRuhNAmi agrE agnim rAyaspOshAya
I will take sacchidaananda in me first as the priority for my nourishing wealth
suprajAyAstvAya suvIryAya mAmu dEvatAH sachantAm
Let these scholarly people definitely fuse me with all that is worthy to taken
Synopsis:
gRuhNAmi = I will take it
Root: graha (upAdAnE) = to take, to make it our own
agni
Root: agi (gatou) = that which moves ahead
agnim gRuhNAmi = I will take the agni
Adhiboutika level = fire
AdhidEvika = leader
AdhyAtmika = sacchidaananda
Here it refers to sacchidaananda.
agnim gRuhNAmi = I will take sacchidaananda
agrE = forward, top
agrE gRuhNAmi= I will take it first. What? sacchidaananda
mayi = in me
mayi agrE agnim gRuhNAmi = I will take sacchidaananda in me first as the priority
Why?
rAyaspOshAya = for wealth that nourishes me
rAya = wealth
pOsha = that which is nourishing, that which is mine, that which is my welfare
rAyaspOshAya mayi agrE agnim gRuhNAmi = I will take sacchidaananda in me first as the priority for my nourishing wealth
Mere wealth is not enough
If wealth is there and I am not able to use it for my sake, then there is no use. Let’s say there is a lakh of rupees with the bank cashier. Is it his? No. He has to count and get out empty handed. Such wealth is useless. Wealth that is usable by me and nourishing is rAyaspOsha.
dEvatAH = (plural) = Therefore it cannot refer to sacchidaananda
dEvatAH = noble people, scholars.
sachantAm = to unite and to make it our own (fuse it with our life
Root: sacha (samavAyE) = to bring together
Root: shachu (sEchanE sEvanE cha) = to sprinkle and take it into our lives
dEvatAH sachantAm = Let the scholars fuse it into my life.
mAm = with me
vuu = definitely (emphasis)
mAm vuu dEvatAH sachantAm
Let these scholarly people definitely fuse me with all that is worthy to taken
suprajAyAstvAya = for worthy progeny
suvIryAya = for great strength
rAyaspOshAya suprajAyAstvAya suvIryAya
The right wealth
The right progeny
The Right strength
What is the priority?
First I have to open myself to agni (sacchidaananda)
Then I have to take the help of the dEvatAH (scholars)
1. agni
First listen to the guidelines given by the agni (sacchidaananda). It has been given to us through the rules of the universe as well as the guidance through the Vedas.
Listen to the rules of the universe.
Listen to the guidance in the Vedas.
mayi gRuhNAmi = I shall take it
Once this is clear, life becomes easy and manageable. The purpose of life, the goal of life will become clear to me. How to reach it will become clear to me. This makes life easy and happy.
But if I miss the rules and guidance of sacchidaananda, I may miss the path and get lost in the cobwebs of confusions.
mayi agrE agnim gRuhNAmi = I shall take the guidance of sacchidaananda as the highest priority
What is the use? rAyaspOsha = wealth that is usable and beneficial to our life
How does this happen?
When we are masters of wealth
Another Mantra: Yajur 19.44 vayam syAma pathayO rayiiNAm
Meaning: We shall become masters of wealth
When we are masters of wealth, we can control it and use it to our benefit. If we are slaves to wealth, the wealth will control us.
Vedas are never against wealth. It never preaches renunciation. It never says that the whole world is an illusion, get rid of it, etc. Vedas never say that. In fact, Vedas say, get wealth and becomes master of it.
How to become the Master of wealth? Means is important
If you earn the wealth in the right means, you are the Master of wealth. If you earn it by hook or crook, then the wealth is the master of you.
The goal should not be just accumulation of wealth, and not the means,
You should command the means also. The means are also equally important as the goal.
To be precise, means are very important. If you take care of the means, it will take you to the gal automatically. If you are on the right path, today or tomorrow you will reach the goal. If you are on the wrong path, even if you fly you cannot reach the goal.
To do this, I shall take the guidance given by the agni
2. mAm uu dEvatAH sachantAm
Let all the great people, scholars, guide me and infuse me with all that is noble, great and right
What for?
A. suviiryAya = strength (mainly spiritual)
For strength and power. Not just physical strength. It is physical, mental and spiritual strength.
Between these spiritual strengths, a peculiar relationship is there. A person who is physically strong may not be mentally and spiritually strong.
The converse is however true. A person who is mentally and spiritually strong will definitely be physically also strong.
Our focus is on spiritual strength. If spiritual strength is attained, the other two will follow. This strength is most important for human beings.
In the animal world, one who is physically strong will survive. Ne that is physically weak will perish. Humans are not animals. We are better. We have to become better. We have the potential in us. So we overcome the law of physical strength.
Mental Strenth is an additional dimension of human beings. Here too, when one who is mentally strong but has no ethics will result in the loss of spiritual strength. The very purpose of human life is to enrich spiritual strength. Only humans have this capacity. It is a rare opportunity that is given to us.
So, by saying suviiryAya, I certainly mean spiritual strength. The mental and physical will automatically follow.
To achieve that spiritual strength, let the dEvatAH (scholars) infuse me with all the knowledge and guidance without fail.
B. suprajAyAstvAya = for good progeny
There are three ways we are all indebted
i. dEvaRuNa = indebted to sacchidaananda = for the universe an the natural law
ii. pitRuRuNa = indebted to our parents =for giving me the body and taking care of me
iii. AchAryaRuNa = indebted to all my teachers = those who have guided me out of my ignorance
How do you clear the AchAryaRuNa?
Whatever knowledge and experience we have obtained, if we pass it on to our next generation, the indebtedness is cleared. One way is to our own children.
I need such future generation which is capable of taking on the baton and continuing the relay of transferring the knowledge.
How do I do this? By the guidance of the dEvatAH (scholars who can guide me)
suprajAyAya suvIryAya dEvatAH mAm vuu sachantAm
Let these scholarly people definitely fuse me with all that is worthy to taken
In an animal form I am stuck. I can progress only with a human form. I can gain spiritual strength. Through the guidance of sacchidaananda (agni) and through the guidance of the dEvatAH (scholars)
prArthanA vai sankalpaH
Mere prayer is not enough. I have to play my role. I have to practice.