Index A Ahina 56 Antaratma 118 Aranyaka Literature 81 Ashwamedha 43 Atharva Veda 59 K Karmayoga 192 Kathopanishad 117Kauthuma 56 Kenopanishad 103 Krishna Yajurveda 66 Kshudra 56 B Bhaktiyoga 192 Brahmanas 65 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 99 M Mahanamni Archika 56 Maitra- Varuni 77 Mandukya Upanishad 145 Mr. Ayer 174 Mundaka Upanishad 153 C Chaturmasya 43 Chhandogya Upanishad 92 N "No Man's Land" 230 D Dasharatra 56 P Patanjali 192Prayashchitta 56 Prithivi sukta 61 Purusho

18 Kathopanishad WE may now turn to the Kathopanishad which contains secret knowledge of the soul and the self and which has been described in terms that evoke sense of authenticity and assured experience. The Upanishad contains two cycles, each having three chapters. The first chapter of the first cycle narrates the story of the offering of Nachiketas by his father in a fit of anger to Yama, Lord of Death, and the bestowing of three boons to Nachiketas by Yama. It also covers the account of the boons asked by Nachiketas, and we are told that while the first two boons are granted readily, the third boon asked by Nachiketas is so very special that Yama tries his b

Introduction THERE are a number of people in our country who have heard of the Veda but have practically no idea of the Vedic literature and its contents. There is, therefore, a need to present to them a few introductory notes, which might provide some basic information about the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, which constitute the core of the Vedic literature. It is to meet this need to some extent that these notes have been attempted. These notes avoid scholarly discussions. They do not even touch the fringe of the Vedic literature and, therefore, the series of these notes has been entitled "Glimpses of Vedic Literature". It is hoped that these notes

Vedic literature is a most precious treasure of Indian wisdom. The literature is vast, and includes not only the four Vedas but also Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upani-shads. As a part of the history of India; this literature constitutes a source material for understanding various aspects of Indian culture as it has grown and developed over millennia. For every lover of India, therefore, it becomes essential to turn to the portals of the Vedic literature. An attempt has been made in this book to present to a beginner some of the most important portions of this vast literature. The Veda contains secret knowledge, and the language used to express that

20 Taittiriya Upanishad JUST as the Kathopanishad belongs to the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda, even so the Taittiriya Upanishad also belongs to the same Veda. Both these Upanishads have internal connection. In particular, the knowledge of the soul, which we find in the Kathopanishad, is confirmed and elucidated in the Taittiriya Upanishad. And it is to this aspect that we may turn at once. The Kathopanishad speaks of three fires and five fires, indicating that the soul that is fire is to be found at three levels, the level of the body, the level of the vital being and the level of the mental being. The Kathopanishad also tells us that the mental being is not

24 Mundaka Upanishad LIKE the Mandukya, Mundaka also belongs to the Atharvaveda. Mundaka is, however, in poetic form and is much longer, consisting of three chapters, each having two sub-sections. It is one of the most popular and favourite Upanishads. In almost every collection of Upanishads, it finds a place. Even Badarayana devotes to it three of the 28 parts in which he has dealt with the doctrine of Brahman. Shankara cites it 129 times in his commentary on the Brahmasutra. This Upanishad contains in its pure form the old Vedanta doctrine. The beauty of its poetry has also contributed a great deal to its pre-eminent position. The first part of the Upanishad

9 Atharva Veda THE Atharvaveda has been looked upon as the Veda of secret and occult knowledge. It contains numerous mantras, which are common to the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda. The Atharvaveda has 20 Kandas, which have 34 prapathakas, 111 anuvakas, 739 suktas and 54,849 mantras. About 1200 mantras are common with those of the Rigveda. The one-sixth of the Atharvaveda is in prose, while the rest is poetic. There is a legend in Gopatha Brahmana about Atharvan and Angiras, after whom the fourth Veda has been named. According to this legend. Brahman undertook intense tapas for the creation of the universe. Consequently, two streams of sweat began to flow on his

12 Amnyaka Literature ARANYAKA literature is rather small as compared to the Brahmana and Upanishadic literature. It is quite possible that originally the Aranyaka literature was larger,but much of it was lost in course of time. Today only six Aranyakas are available: 1. Aitareya Aranyaka } which belongs to the Rigveda 2. Shankhayana Aranyaka 3.Talavakara Aranyaka which belongs to the Samaveda 4. Taittiriya Aranyaka which belongs to Krishna Yajurveda 5. Brihadaranyaka which belongs to the Shukia Yajurveda 6. Maitrayaniya Aranyaka which belongs to the Charaka recension of the Shukia Yajurved

8 Samaveda AFTER the Rigveda and the Yajurveda, we turn now to the Samaveda. This Veda is shortest of all the four Vedas, and most of its hymns have been taken from the Rigveda. The total number of verses in the Samaveda is 1875. Samaveda has this speciality that its hymns are chanted by the priest called Udgatri (singer). In the ritualistic tradition, these hymns are sung at those important sacrifices in which the juice of the Soma plant, clarified and mixed with milk and other ingredients, was offered in libation to various deities. In the process of chanting or singing, the hymns are prolonged and repeated; some syllables are inserted, and there are prescription

6 Yajurveda MANTRAS of the Rigveda are all in poetic form. But Yajurveda is principally in prose form. The word "Yajus" is derived from the root "Yaj," which means to consecrate, to offer, to sacrifice. The mantras of Yajurveda are, therefore, devoted to acts of sacrifice. Sacrifice is understood primarily in its ritualistic sense, and Yajurveda itself speaks of various kinds of ritualistic sacrifices. Rituals of various sacrifices were laid down in detail and they are expected to be performed with meticulous care. There is a belief among ritualists that the rites, if properly performed, are effective and produce desired results. The important rites are relat