Narrator:
(The sound of a conch shell blowing and ritualistic music playing in the background)
Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, Pranam.
Devotee:
Friends, as you all know, India is a land of spirituality. The Vedas and Upanishads are the soul of India. Unfortunately, in today’s India, we don’t see the practice of Vedas and Upanishads as much as we should. Comparatively, their study has increased significantly in Western countries. However, we believe that the study of Vedas and Upanishads is especially necessary. That is why we are here today to ask Gurudev about this valuable subject. Gurudev, today I would like to ask you to tell us something about the Vedas.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, Veda simply means \"Knowledge\" (Gyan). Nothing else. The Vedas have been used in various ways across our different states. The Vedas are divided into four parts: Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, the Rig Veda is offered to Lord Brahma. The Sama Veda is dedicated to Lord Narayana. The Yajur Veda is offered to Lord Shiva. Thus, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar—the Vedas are dedicated to these three. And the one who wrote the Vedas is God Himself, and Goddess Saraswati helped and approved him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Lord Brahma has four faces. One represents the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda was essentially created by collecting the leftover or \"remnant\" portions of the other Vedas. This Veda is often taught to orphans or children belonging to various tribes who are found on the streets; they are gathered and taught the Atharva Veda. If you visit Puri or other places within the Char Dham, you will see young boys reciting the Atharva Veda. As I said, it consists of the remnants collected and compiled later into a Veda.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, the Rig Veda belongs to Brahma. Its practice is prevalent in places like Rajasthan, such as Pushkar. That is Brahma's place. Next is the Sama Veda; South India has adopted this—it belongs to Narayana. And where we are living now, this region is predominantly the land of the Yajur Veda. So, we have Rig, Sama, and Yajur.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As for the Atharva Veda, it is taught to those who have no parents or identified background. You will find this in Puri and other holy sites. Each Veda has its own rhythm (Rik). When these are recited, they are done in verse form with various meters. The Rig Veda has many meters. The Sama Veda is recited through music; to perform it, you need a harmonium and tabla. And the Yajur Veda follows a specific rhythmic chant. These three Vedas are widely active.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As I mentioned, the Rig Veda is practiced in small pockets, the Sama Veda has been taken by South India, and we have taken the Yajur Veda. The Yajur Veda is dedicated to Shiva and Durga. Sama Veda is for Narayana and Lakshmi. Rig Veda is for Brahma and Saraswati—that is prevalent in the Rajasthan side. This is how they are divided.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is also a Fifth Veda, which is Rasayana (Science of Alchemy/Chemistry). This Veda was used by the physicians (Kaviraj) of the past. It deals with herbs, plants, and chemicals. This is the Fifth Veda.
Devotee:
Does this include the works of Charaka and Sushruta?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. Those are part of the Fifth Veda. They maintained the knowledge of chemicals and medicinal plants. The great physicians of the past worked with this Fifth Veda, also known as Rasayana Shastra.
Devotee:
You were speaking about the recitation of the Vedas. The philosophy contained within them is quite complex.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Vedas are considered difficult for one primary reason: they are no longer taught. The \"Vedic Age\" has ended. The Vedas are Shruti—knowledge that was heard and passed down. Over time, whatever could be preserved was written down. Many Riks (verses) have been lost. A huge number of verses are gone because they weren't preserved. After 20 or 50 generations, the practice faded. When there is no practice, people naturally think the philosophy is very complex.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But the philosophy is one. Today, people are preoccupied with Kali, Tara, and Durga, the Dashamahavidyas, and thousands of other deities. In the original Vedas, these weren't there in the same way. In the Vedas, you find Brahma, Vishnu, and the \"Universal Deities.\" There are 24 basic elements/deities. Even the Gayatri Mantra we see today is accepted by the Vedas, but Gayatri is essentially a Tantra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Gayatri we practice is a Tantra: Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah... It was divided for Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Many discussions have happened over time. It is hard to find the \"original\" Veda now because they have been compiled and edited by different people according to their own understanding.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The 24 elements/deities of the Gayatri are powerful. Before, people worked with these 24 deities and the celestial bodies (Nakshatras). Let me list them: The first deity is Agni (Fire). Fire is the \"witness.\" Without lighting a fire, nothing happens. Even in Durga Puja or Kali Puja today, at the end, Vedic mantras are chanted while lighting a fire. The second is Vayu (Wind)—the life force that moves you. The third is Surya (The Sun)—the science of the Sun. Fourth is Vidyut (Lightning/Electricity). Fifth is Yama (The Controller/Death). Sixth is Varuna (Water). Notice these are all natural elements, not \"Gods\" in the modern sense. Seventh is Brihaspati. Eighth is Parjanya (Rain clouds). Ninth is Indra. Tenth is Gandharva. Eleventh is Pushya (A star/Nakshatra). For us, Pushya is a great constellation; any work done during Pushya is successful. We always check for Pushya. Twelfth is Mitra-Varun. Thirteenth is Twasta. Fourteenth is Vasava. Fifteenth is Marut (Storm deities). Sixteenth is Soma. Seventeenth is Angiras. Eighteenth is Vishvadevas. Nineteenth is Ashwini Kumar (The first Nakshatra). The last is Revati. We follow the path between Ashwini and Revati. Twentieth is Prajapati (Brahma). Twenty-first is Sarvadevas. Twenty-second is Rudra. Twenty-third is Brahma. Twenty-fourth is Vishnu.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
These 24 elements comprise the Gayatri, and the Vedas have accepted this. In ancient times, before the concept of \"Bhagavan\" (Personal God) existed, there was the practice of the Formless Brahman (Nirakar Brahma). They worked with Fire and these 24 elements. Later, they began to wonder, \"Who is causing the storm? Who is causing the lightning? Who is causing the earthquakes?\" Through meditation, they realized the various deities.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But they all accepted one source: Hiranyagarbha (The Golden Womb). He who exists in the sky/cosmos. Everything is created from Him and dissolves into Him. In West Bengal, we didn't have much acquaintance with Hiranyagarbha. Later, while reciting the Vedas, I introduced the name Hiranyagarbha. In South India, Hiranyagarbha is deeply respected. In every temple and every house, they hold Hiranyagarbha in high regard. It is because of this spiritual foundation that South India is so developed and prosperous.
Devotee:
Could you describe the form of Hiranyagarbha?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hiranyagarbha is egg-shaped. Hiranya means gold—molten gold. A large golden egg that exists in the cosmos. The Upanishads say: \"He who exists in the heavens, the radiant, immortal Being...\" My soul is always dedicated to Him until death. There is no other path but Him. This is Advaita (Non-dualism)—God is one and there is no second. He who is in the heavens is the owner of everything.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I will now chant some Riks (verses) of Hiranyagarbha for you. I will translate them later. (Guru begins chanting Vedic Sanskrit Mantras) \"Hiranyagarbhah samavartatagre bhutasya jatah patireka asit...\" (In the beginning, the Golden Womb existed; He was the sole Lord of all created beings...) This is a massive chapter of the Veda. (Guru continues chanting) \"Ya atmada balada yasya vishva upasate... yasya chaya-mrutam yasya mrutyuh...\" (He who gives soul-force and strength, whose commands all beings obey... whose shadow is immortality and whose shadow is death...)
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
To which deity shall we offer our oblation? To the one who protects me, who is my life-force, who protects this creation. (Guru continues chanting third and fourth verses) \"Yah pranato nimishato mahitwaika idraja jagato babhuva... Yah ishe asya dwipadash-chatushpadah...\" (He who by His greatness became the sole King of the breathing and winking world... who rules over bipeds and quadrupeds...) These are chanted beautifully in a musical rhythm.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Guru continues chanting more verses) \"Yasyeme himavanto mahitwa yasya samudram rasaya sahu... yasyemah pradisho yasya bahu...\" (To Him, whose greatness the snowy mountains and the oceans proclaim... whose arms are these directions...) We perform Homa (fire ritual) and Japa (chanting) with these. This Homa we just performed was for Hiranyagarbha, using these mantras. We offer the oblation to that Supreme Being in the heavens.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Guru continues chanting further verses) \"Yena dyaura ugra pruthivi cha dluha yena swah stabhitam yena nakah...\" (By whom the heavens were made formidable and the earth steady, by whom the sun was established...) Each of these is a Japa. The more you do it, the better. If you light a fire and offer ghee (clarified butter) to these deities, it yields great results. But West Bengal has lost touch with this.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Guru continues chanting final verses) \"Apoh ha yanmahatirvishwa mayan garbham dadhana janayanti-magnim... tata devanam samavartatasurekah...\" (When the great waters pervaded the universe, containing the germ and generating fire... then the one spirit of the gods came into being...) The Vedas have accepted Hiranyagarbha in this way.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Guru chants the Agni Mantra) \"Ma no hinsijjanya yah pruthivya yo va divam satyadharma jajana... yashchapash-chandra bruhatir-jajana...\" (May He not injure us, He who is the creator of the earth, whose laws are true, who created the heavens and the vast, radiant waters...) The Veda believes in fire. The very first word is Agni. When we light the fire, we say: \"Agnim prajwalitam vande jathavedam hutasanam... Suvarnavarnam amrutam vishvatomukham...\" (I salute the blazing fire, the knower of all births, the consumer of oblations... golden-hued, immortal, and facing all directions...)
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is how we light the fire and worship it. Whether it is Durga Puja or Kali Puja, there is always a Yajna (ritual sacrifice) at the end. That is based on the Vedas. Brahmins haven't abandoned the Vedas entirely. At the end of any ritual, fire is lit and a Yajna is performed where wood and bel leaves are offered. We don't realize it, but these are very powerful. If anyone practices these chants, the results are felt very quickly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You won't believe it, but in South India, every household has a space for Homa. They wake up at 4 AM and perform the fire ritual. To increase the oxygen in the air, they mix sun-dried rice and turmeric and offer it to the fire. Their belief is that this significantly increases oxygen and destroys harmful bacteria in the air. This is part of the Yajur Veda. They maintain this, but we don't. We are too busy with petty rituals and \"Toke-Tak\" (superstitions). We have never heard or known these things, so we don't understand them.
Devotee:
Gurudev, we have heard your valuable words regarding the Vedas. You explained the relationship between Tantra and the Vedas, and you also spoke about Hiranyagarbha and the Riks (verses). In the future, we will learn more in detail about these verses from you. Friends, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, \"Gupta Sadhak Shama Kheyapa.\" Also, every Sunday from 4 PM to 5 PM, Gurudev will be on Facebook Live. Please join us to ask Gurudev your questions. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, baba. Pranam.