THE
VEDIC HYMN THAT HYPTONIZED THE WORLD GATHERING
--Inaugural recording of HMV
(DISCOURSE
BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, MARCH 2013)
INTRODUCTION
Vedas are the oldest literature of the human
race. “Agnimeele purohitam” is the first mantra of Rig Veda, the oldest among
the four Vedas. “In the most primordial time when the people of Europe were
jumping like Chimpanzees, from tree to tree and branch to branch when they did
not know how to cover their bodies, but with fig leaves, did not know
agriculture, lived by hunting and lived in caves, at that remote past, Indians
had attained high civilization and they gave to the world universal
philosophers in the form of sages” said Max Muller in his speech addressing a
learned audience. The words Europe,
Hindu and India were later coined after the
deliverance of Rigveda. Max
Muller had no idea as to the date of Vedas and he only knew that it existed
long before the dawn of civilization in Europe. Christianity later tried to
equate itself with the date of Vedas
and even said Bible appeared much earlier, based on the personal opinion of a
Christian religious authority.
Gramophone was invented by Thomas Alva Edison as
you all know which could record human voice for posterity. Edison wanted to record the voice of an
eminent scholar on his first piece.
His obvious choice was Max Muller, a great
Sanskrit scholar of the 19th century. His voice was recorded in a disc. This disc
was played to eminent scholars of Europe who had gathered in England for the
Inaugural ceremony. Max Muller surprised the scholarly audience chanting the first Mantra of Rigveda in the inaugural
recording for HMV (His Masters Voice).
But why did Max Mueller think of a hymn from
Rigveda though a Christian? He was a
Sanskrit scholar well versed in the study of Rigveda. Even to-day the word
Religion is not found in Sanskrit dictionary. The Institutionalized worship and
Service was designated later as religion. This was the origin of great
religions of the world--Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Vedas say that there
is One Truth called Eternal Supreme Principle and One Tradition called Dharma.
This is what the then humanity called as Sanathana Dharma. Followers of this
Dharma were later designated as Hindus and Indians by others who took to
institutionalized approach. Later these
Hindus also started copying some aspects of Institutionalized Worship as is
practiced today by many. Universal Dharma
got restricted in practice, and certain aspects of it were glorified which
brought out institutionalized groups who called themselves as belonging to a
religion (Latin: religious). Neither
Jesus nor Buddha or the other prophets started any religion named after them;
they only fought against the tendency to go out of the spirit of Sanatana
Dharma; their followers did and gave it a name after their chosen leader as is
popular today.
The first Rigvedic Hymn is in praise of the Supreme Principle
(Brahman) sung for Its (Brahman is neither male nor female) service and worship
by the sages. Impressed by Max Mueller’s speech and motivated by Sanaatana
Dharma Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of Electricity got this Vedic Mantra
recorded in the inaugural gramophone record of His Master’s Voice and played it
to the august assembly of learned scholars. It brought him world tributes and success.
THE
TEXT
Rigveda starts with this first Mantra: “Agnimeele purohitam | yajnasya devam ritvijam\hotaaram
ratnadhaatamam”. Its meaning and explanation runs as follows:
Approximate
meaning of Vedic words:
Agni= Fire God Agni; (the Illuminator)
Ee(dh)ye=praise
Purohitam=the household priest; (to sacrifice)
Deva=the divine qualified with good qualities
like charity; shining self (to shine with power)
Ritvijam=(to guide rightly, steer)
Ritvik=officially authorized priest - Ministrant
Yajnasya=of the sacrifice; (to exalt; to offer
oblation)
Hotaaram=special priest who recites the prayers of
the Rigveda(saman) at a sacrifice; (call)
Ratnadhaatamam - the best one who bestows wealth
(ratna=please; Dhaatamam=put)
Hotri is the Purohita who is like the spiritual
advisor of the king in all his religious duties who fullfils his wishes; so Agni, the Hotri offers
oblations in Fire (homa) of the sacrifices.
The meaning within brackets suggests the alternative.
Meaning
of the Mantra:
I praise Agni, the household priest, the divine,
Ministrant of the sacrifice, the Hotri and one who is the best who bestows
wealth. (By Sayana)
[I praise the Illuminator (Supreme Principle),
the foremost Leader of exalted action, the glorious one who is aroused in the
performance of righteousness, who reveals himself, the Creator and the
Sustainer of all that is pleasant.]
Note: At the time this first Mantra was revealed
to humanity there was no Yajna (sacrifice) taking place; there was no fire;
there were neither priests nor Hotara to sing the saman. Nothing existed other than the Supreme principle
hailed as Brahman, the Ever-growing.
Therefore the second meaning is suggested though the first meaning
suggests the actual translation. Also the second meaning seems to be more
logical if you see the echo and reflection of this mantra in Bhagavadgeetaa. [In
this context the discourse on The Yagna in Purushasookta as posted on the Blog
Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> is worth comparing. Then also
there existed neither the fire, nor the provisions nor the seasons celebrated
in the most ancient and sacred hymn.]
Here are two verses from Bhagavdgeetaa that
echoes the thoughts conveyed in the premier mantra of Rigveda:
“Aham
kratur aham yajnah svadhaaham aham aushadham |
Mantroham
aham eva aajyam aham agnir aham hutam || 9-16 ||
[I am the ritual. I am the sacrifice, I am the
offering, I am the herb (fagots), I am the mantra, I am the clarified butter, I
am the fire, and I am the oblation.]
“Brahmaarpanam
Brahma havih Brahmagnau Brahmanaa hutam
Brahmaiva
tena gantavyam Brahma-karma-samaadhinaa || 4-24 ||
Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the
clarified butter, etc., constituting the offerings; the oblation is poured into
the fire by Brahman (he is the one performing the Yajna); Brahman verily shall
be reached by him who always sees Brahman in all actions.
As has been said before Geetaa is a compendium
of all Vedas and Upanishads and not a spontaneous emergence of new thoughts in
a battle-field where two armies were facing each other to win a great battle
challenging Dharma. We all know Vedas contain all the wisdom and nothing can
enhance or decrease their value. “Vedokhilam
dharmamoolam” – Vedas are the ultimate authority on the path of Dharma.
Geetaa has been cleverly put through the spokesman Bhagavaan as a narration
between the fighting warrior Arjuna and his charioteer and counsel Lord
Krishna.
We all are familiar with this Mantra from Mahaa
Naaraayana Upanishad:
“Om
antascharati bhooteshu guhaayaam viswamoortishu | tvam yajnastvam vishnustvam vashatkaarastva(ga)m
rudrastvam brahma tvam prajaapatih ||
[Thou who art called by the name Om, move within
the cave of the heart of all beings as the inner controller. Thou art the Yajna
(sacrifice), Vishnu, Vashatkaara (Sung by Hotri), Rudra, Brahman and Prajapati]
This mantra is also invariably chanted at the
conclusion of Shoedasa Upachaara Pooja (16-steps Hindu Worship in temples and
at homes) as Mantra Pushpa (mantra offered as flower) along with the first
mantra of other three Vedas. Those are
reproduced with meaning in the Appendix. A sacred Mantra is offered in lieu of a
flower used in worship called Mantrapushpa. Krishna suggests offering one flower with devotion in his worship
in Geetaa most (than abundace of offer without devotion)“Patram pushpam phalam toyam
yoe may bhktya prayacchaati” whose meaning is familiar to all. There can be
no better Matrapushpa than this one premier Mantra of Rigveda Agnimeele purohitam tochant in the
prayer.
The Supreme Spirit is but ONE who is responsible
for creation, sustenance and dissolution. Vedas
praise deities like Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra, Vaayu, Vishnu, Rudra, Soorya and others
and suggest their worship. This has been clarified in the Vedas themselves: “Ekam sadviprah bahudhaa vadanti | Agnim,
yamam, maatarisvamaanuh” –The ONE the worshippers call by many names as Agni,
Yama Matarisva and so on. There are also other Mantras in Rigveda Samhita
indicating God as only one:
“Ya
Eka ittamushtuhi krishteenaam
vicharshanih | pratirjagne Vrishakrituh ||( Rigveda VI-45-16).
Praise the one and only Indra who over-sees
everything, who brings rain and who is the Lord of all people. (Here Supreme Spirit is addressed as Indra.
He should not be confused with the Puranic Indra)
“Tvamagne
varunoe Jaayase yattvam mitroe bhavaci yatsamiddhah | tve viswe sahasasputra devaastvamindroe daasushe
martyaaya || ( Rigveda V—3—1)
Oh Agni (Fire God)! When you are born you alone
are Varuna (water). Night friendly Varuna when he prospers he becomes God Mitra.
All divines are in you only. Oh God of Strength! To the performer of the
sacrifice who offers fagots you alone are Indra. [Agni referred here is none other than the Supreme
Principle. All divines are in Agni only
shows its universal manifestation and he is that ONE god. Upanishads repeatedly
say that He is in all Beings and all Beings are in Him (Tasmin sarvampratishthitam; Yah asarvabhooteshu tishthan]
Sacchidaatmanyanusyoote
nitye Vishnau prakalpitaah | Vyaktayoe vividhaah sarva haatake katakaadivat || (Aatmabodha—9)
All the manifested world of things and beings are projected by imagination upon the substratum which is the Eternal All-pervading Vishnu, whose nature is Existence-Intelligence; just as the different ornaments are made out of the same gold.
APPENDIX
VEDIC MANTRAS CHANTED DURING 16-STEPS POOJA
1.
RIGVEDA
“Harih Om! Agnimieelae puroehitam
yajnasyadeva mritvijam | hoetaara(g)m
ratnadhaatamam | Harih Om!”
Hail! & Glory! To Agni Deva! He, the Lord of
the Yajnyas in Whom all our karmas culminate; He who is to be worshipped
without fail at the junction of each seasonal time cycle of the year; He who
has been present from time immemorial before the commencement of life of every
Jeeva (Aatman); He who is helpful to every one for no reason; He who delivers
the food offered in the sacrificial fires to the respective divines; He who
grants the sublime knowledge and divine happiness that are like precious gems
in life; He who stays at the tip of life and draws and attracts the devotees to
Himself, I pray to that great Paramaatma who is in the form of Agni and I sing
in praise to His endless and eternal glories.
2.
YAJURVEDA
“Harih
Om! Ishetvoerje twaa vaayavasthoe paayavastha devoevassavitaa praarpayatu
sreshthatamaaya karmana aapyaayadvam-agniyaa devabhaagam oorjasvateeh
payasvateeh prajaavateeranameevaa ayakshmaa maavastena-ee-satamaaghasa(ga)msoe
rudrasya hetih parivoe vrinaktu dhruvaa asmin goepatau syaata barheer
yajamaanasya pasoon paahi | Harih Om”
Hay Bhagavan! I pray to you to grant me the
necessary cooked rice and food that are needed and worthy of being offered to You; Give me the strength to lead this life.
Oh! People of the land who have all come from
Him, be prepared to reach Him again; May you all lead a noble life worthy of
conducting Vedic rituals. The body that you possess is meant for performing
Vedic Sacrifices. May it flourish!; May you all lead a life full of noble
qualities with good health and strength and enjoy life blessed with noble sons
and grand- children; let there be no sickness nor fear from thieves; May you
not be provoked to do evil deeds; May you be protected by the weapon of Rudra; May
you have unflinching faith in the Paramaatma that resides in you; May the Lord
guard your senses (indriyas) and make them worthy of participating in the
Yajnyas conducted by the yajamaana (performer).
3.
SAAMAVEDA
“Harih
Om! Agna aayaahiveetayae ghrinaanoe havyadaatayae nihoetaa satsi barhishi Harih
Om! ”
Oh! Agnideva! You who is intent on leading us
forward, please come to us for uniting the earth and the celestial sky; please
respond to our prayers and accept the Havis (fagots offered as food) offered by
us in the sacrificial fires.
4.
ATHARVAVEDA
“Harih
Om! Shanno deveer-abhishtaya
aapoe-bhavantu-peetayae sam yoer-abhisravantu nah | Harih Om!”
Oh! Gods of the Waters! Be beneficial to us with
regard to our requirements for quenching our thirsts. Grant us the boon to be
always happy devoid of sorrow; pray, make available to us milk and curds in
plenty always.
[Note: You hear these first Mantras of four
Vedas at all worships of the Lord, be that Siva, Vishnu or Sakti or their
emanations or family members. You in these prayers do not refer to individual
but the community offering services. So the prayer is Universal in nature, a
unique feature of Sanatana Dharma, unlike the customary individual’s prayer in
Institutionalized religions.]
References:
1) S. M. Krishnamachar, Srivaishnava Dinachari,
Sanathana Dharma Sabha, Saraguru,
Karnataka, India.
2)
N.S. Anantrangachar, Rigveda Ratna Samputa, DVK Moorthi Publishers, Mysore.
India.
3)
N.R.Srinivasan,Sixteen-steps Worship of Deity at Vishnu Temples and at Home,
<nrsrini.blogspot.com>; Internet.
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