Beliefs of Vedism

Beliefs of Vedism

Aachaar–Vichaar (Thoughts and deeds)

As per Vedism – cleanliness of one’s life system is more important than all his religious deeds. Vedism gives priority to a person’s life system over anything else. One will appreciate that some of the rules made for becoming a managing committee member or office bearer in an Vedism are unique in the world, such as such person should not be –

·         Involved in any immoral business

·         Should not be consumer of any kind of stimulants like tobacco, wines, liquors or drugs

·         Should be faithful to wife/husband

·         Should not be a non vegetarian

Swadhyaya and Satsang ( Self study and group study of religion)

Vedism believes in the theory- Practice before you preach.Swadhyaya or self study is a process of sitting with oneself. We can become noble by studying and following noble things.Satsang means sitting in the company of noble people for gaining their knowledge and goodness. Sitting with noble people also gives us an opportunity to learn something good and practice the same in life. There are examples of families in which there have been great religious people known for their noble qualities but whose next generations were not the same- reason was that there was no practice of Satsang in those families.

For an organization like Vedism, which is born out of its fight against wrong practices in Hindu Society, both these practices are like oxygen which will keep the future generation as logical and right as their forefathers.

Yagya  or Yajna (Havan)

 The definition of Yagya is very wide in Vedism. People generally believe that offering oblation to the fire is only Yagya – the fact is that it is only one form of yagya if done with proper system. Vedism calls all those acts – ‘Yagya’ which are done for the welfare of other living beings. All achievements - not only religious but also in other fields – which are with the objective  of welfare of human beings or living beings is Yagya. Unfortunately even the sacred process of Yagya was also contaminated by some people by adding provisions like animal sacrifice to it. Wrong believes were inculcated that by animal sacrifice, one can get whatever he desires or will be sent to heaven after death etc. Vedism is a staunch protester against such cruel practices.

Vedism believes in the theory of Panch-mahayagya; the set of five types of yagya are as follows-

·         Brahm-yagya : Thanksgiving to Ishvar, study of Vedic books etc.

·         Dev-yagya : Purification of atmosphere by performing agnihotra which spreads huge benefit to everyone in surroundings because the offerings which are burnt in the fire gets multiplied of its strength and benefits masses as a whole.

·         Pitru-yagya: The service to the parents, teachers, elders like grandparents and other elders by providing them food, cloths, medicines and whatever they require along with extreme respect and love of heart.

·         Atithi-yagya: Services offered to Sanyasis (Who gave up their families for welfare of world) as well as all other guests.

·         Balivaishvadev-Yagya : Offering food and other helps to all living beings like human, birds, animals etc.

The performer of all these five yagyas can attain the highest respect and love in this world.

Woman’s place in Yagya

Vedism gives equal rights to woman in the yagya or Agnihotras. It is essential for a married couple to perform the agnihotra together whether it is daily havan or on special occasions. Swami Dayanand has emphasized on the need of daily agnihotra by both husband as well as wife; in his bookSanskarvidhi.

Historically, there are references in Ramayan as well as Mahabharta that women used to perform Agnihotra in those times. Unfortunately in later periods some people spread wrong belief that women should not take part in yagya. Swami Dayanand fought to bring back this lost right to womanhood.

Agnihotra ( Ritual of worship with fire)

Vedism has been instrumental in popularizing the Agnihotra in hindu society. Vedism has provided a simple process (vidhi) of performing havan, which is followed by people all over the world. The process involves chanting of ved mantras while offering oblation of air purifiers in the form of ghee and many other dried roots and leaves of vegetation, which are proven as the reliever of so many diseases for mankind and also generate sweet and pleasing smell. The vast atmosphere spreads the benefits widely; people in reach unknowingly get benefitted.

The process includes praise and prayer to Ishvar. It gives an opportunity to the whole family to sit together and thank Ishvar for whatever they have got in life.

Yagyopaveet ( Janeoo - holy thread across chest)

Yagyopaveet or Upnayan Sanskar is one of the sixteen sanskaras of human life recommended by Swami Dayanand in his book Sanskar Vidhi. Ideally this sanskar is due when a child is ready to start his or her basic education. This is a thread which is worn around the neck and one hand diagonally across the chest. The word Yagyopaveet means – getting closer to yagya.

Vedism gives huge importance to this practice because this practice is associated with Education of life. When a newly declared student- boy or girl- wears this around his body, he is given a huge responsibility towards his/her parents, teachers and society at large. The thread reminds him day in and day out of his/her commitments. This responsibility continues during his Student(Brahmcharya) life as well as Married (Grahasth)  and Vanprasth life. Only during Sanyas he is freed from this debt to all.

The major difference in the belief of Vedism and many others is that Vedism gives the right to wear the Yagyopaveet to everyone who is ready to attain education- irrespective of whether he is born as a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra; irrespective of gender too. Hindu Brahmins had spread a belief that this is the right of every Brahmin only, irrespective of his being a student or not; while others , in spite of being excellent students,  because of being born in families of Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra were deprived of this sanskar. Vedism opposed this thought process tooth and nail.

Sandhya

Vedism performs its expression of prayer and worship to Ishvar with the mantras from Vedas only. Each handpicked mantra in the set of such mantras is full of deep meaning and treasures of great thought. The worship by reciting this select set of mantras is called Sandhya.  The contents of mantras of Sandhya include Ishvar’s creation and destruction of shrishti – this helps a human in staying away from false pride and wrong notions. There is prayer to Ishvar to give us noble mind so that we may do only noble deeds. The process of Pranayam (Breathing exercises) also form part of Sandhya. And the conclusive part of Sandhya is profund thanks giving to Ishvar with special mantras and bhajans ( devotional songs).Vedism recommends Sandhya twice in a day- once in morning and once in evening. 

Sanskar

Sanskar is the name of the set of rituals which are recommended for every human being by Swami Dayanand Sarswati in his book – Saanskarvidhi. Every ritual has great impact on the whole family in different ways. A systematic and uniform ritual for every occasion makes the human life organized. Vedism follows the sixteen sanskars suggested by Swami Dayanand, which covers different periods of life right before birth till the death of a person. The names and descriptions of the sixteen sanskars are as follows-

Garbhadhana: This sanskara is performed for the fulfillment of one's parental obligation and a continuation of the human race. This sanskara is performed after marriage and before the conception of a child. In this sanskara, the couple chants Vedic mantras for a healthy, loving and happy married life and the wish for a son or a daughter that would bring new joy in the home.


Punsavana: During the third or fourth month of pregnancy the Punsavana sanskara is performed for proper physical growth of the child.


Simantonnayana: This sanskara is performed during the seventh month of pregnancy. The parents to be and their relatives offer prayers to the Almighty for mental growth of the child.


Jatakarma: The Jatakarma sanskara is done immediately after the birth of the child. This sanskara is done to welcome the new-born child. The father writes AUM on the tongue of the child with a thin bar of gold dipped in honey. He whispers the word "VEDO-ASI" (You are Veda – the knowledge) in the ear of the child.


Naamkaran: In this sanskara the child is given a name to be addressed as during his life which expresses good qualities or which is after some Great people. This sanskara should be performed on the 11th day after the birth of the child.


Nishkramana: The 4th month after the birth of the child, the Nishkramana sanskara is performed. Here the child is taken outside the home for the first time to be exposed to the different elements of nature.


Anna-praashan: Anna means 'food' and Praashan mean 'eating or feeding' thus, giving solid food to the child for the very first time performs this sanskara.


Mundan: This sanskara can be performed between the ages of 1-3 years old. In this sanskara the hair from the child's head is shaved off for the very first time. Prayers for good health and development are being recited.


Karnavedha: The piercing of the lower lobes of the child's ears at the age of three is the activity of Karnavedha sanskara. Prayers are offered to the Almighty for the physical well being of the child.


Upnayan: Upnayan or the thread ceremony is performed anytime between the ages of five to eight years old. In this sanskar the child is given the yagyopaveet (sacred thread), which is made from three strands representing the three letters of AUM. The three strands also symbolize the three discipline of life, which are knowledge, action and devotion.


Vedarambha: This sanskara is done immediately after the upanaya sanskara. Now the child becomes a student. The child will now gain knowledge from the Vedas and other religious text as well as the other branches including mathematics and science. Thus the child will be able to progress in life spiritually as well as materially.


Samavartana: Between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five years this sanskara is performed. This student should have now completed all his/her studies and start a new life of self-realization and independence.


Vivah: Vivah sanskara means marriage. This is one of the most important sanskara among the sixteen Vedic sacraments. This is the foundation that forms the very basis for a coordinated family life. The recommended age of marriage for men is 25 years or more and for woman it is 18 years or more.


Vaanaprasth: At an age over fifty years , a person performs the vaanaprasth sanskara by relinquishing all his worldly activities such as livelihood from which he/she will gain personal benefits. All the family responsibilities will be given to the children. This sanskar signifies the gradual detachment from worldly pleasures.


Sannyaas: This sanskara is performed at or after the age of seventy-five years. In this sanskara a person forsakes all material things and starts to lead a life of meditation and contemplation onto the Almighty somewhere away from his home. There is also a different dress code for a sanyasi.


Antyeshti: The antyeshti is the last sanskara performed when a person dies. After death this sanskara is performed when the body is cremated. As the atma (soul) is immortal, it cannot be destroyed; but the body which is made of clay, water, fire, air and ether once again returns to these elements. The lifeless human body is cremated with ghee and saamgri along with chanting of ved mantras. The material offered to the fire is designed to purify the air in spite of burning of human body. 

Yog-vidhya

‘Yog’ in Sanskrit as well as in hindi means – ‘addition’. In spiritual sense yog means addition of mind with soul, thereafter addition of soul with Ishvar . Yog is the only way to connect to Ishvar. Famous sage of history – Maharshi Patanjali has mentioned 8 components of complete Yog-Darshan (Philosophy of Yog) .These 8 components are the following- 1. Yam 2. Niyam 3. Aasan 4. Praanayam 5. Pratyahar 6. Dharna 7. Dhyan and 8. Samadhi. These components are sequential. First two – Yam and Niyam are the ideal rules of a noble life. 

Yam: Yam are of five kinds- Ahimsa (Non violence) ; Satya(Truth); Asteya ( Not to steal things from others) ;Brahmcharya ( Full control of one’s own body) ; and Aparigrah(Non-attachment) . By practicing these yamas one can get rid of all the negativities of the mind.

Niyam: Niyam are also of five kinds – Shauch (Cleanliness of body and mind); Santosh (Contentment) ; Tap (Hard work) ;Swadhyaya ( Self study) and Ishvar Pranidhan (Total surrender to Ishvar) . These niyamas develop cleanliness and strength of body, a content life, the immunity against major crisis in life, a base of knowledge from scriptures and finally ones devotion to Ishvar.

Aasan: A yogasana is a posture in harmony with one's inner consciousness. It aims at the attainment of a sustained and comfortable sitting posture to facilitate meditation. Asanas also help in balancing and harmonizing the basic structure of the human body, which is why they have a range of therapeutic uses too. The regular practice of yogasanas has an immense amount of therapeutic value. Besides various physiological benefits, they positively affect our minds, our life force energies as well as our creative intelligence.

Pranayam: For attainment of complete Yog, one has to be the master of Pranayam too. The process of pranayam is practiced sitting in a comfortable aasan (posture)- generally in ‘sukhasan’. There is a set of exercises of inhaling and exhaling the breath in a particular fashion. Praanayam helps one in attaining longer stretches of inhale as well as exhale. Such practice makes him perfect for meditation. In fact Asanas and Pranayams make a complete package for the body to remain fit, as both are complimentary to each other.

Pratyahar: Pratyahar involves rightly managing the senses and going beyond them instead of simply closing and suppressing them. It involves reining in the senses for increased attention rather than distraction. The practicner of Ishvar Pranidhan (described above) gradually gets devoted to get attached to Ishvar.It is essential to practice pratyahara for achieving the three meditative stages of dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Perfecting this technique of yog-vidhya is also essential in order to break out from the eternal cycle of rebirths.

Dharana: The last three limbs of Ashtanga-yog  are the three essential stages of meditation. Dharana involves developing and extending one’s powers of concentration. This consists of various ways of directing and controlling his attention and mind-fixing skills, such as concentrating on the chakras or turning inwards.

Dhyan: Dhyan is the state of meditation, when the mind attains the ability to sustain its attention without getting distracted. Strictly speaking, unlike the other six compnents of Ashtang- yoga, this is not a technique but rather a state of mind, a delicate state of awareness. This state rightfully precedes the final state of samadhi.

Samadhi: Samadhi, or total absorption, is the ability to become one with the True Self and merge into the object of concentration. In this state of mind, the perceiver and the object of perception unite through the very act of perception—a true unity of all thought and action. This is the acme of all yogic endeavors—the ultimate 'yoga' or connection between the individual and the universal Soul!

While discussing different types of Yog practices, it is essential to know what Yoga is not ! In today’s world people have a tendency to sell everything as Yoga. The famous Hath-yoga is no form of yoga. Practices like basti, tratak, neti and dhauti are practices of naturopathy and are not the part of Yoga. Another spread out belief that by Yoga one can enter into someone else’s body is also absurd and not acceptable. Lots of false stories are moving around in the society in the name of Yoga. Western world’s curiosity to understand Yoga created a market for so called half informed Yogis to open shop and start selling falsehood.

Naam-Jaap

Vedism believes in the need of understanding God and of surrendering  oneself to him. The purpose of remembering him is a self commitment against doing anything wrong or forbidden against his system.  However Vedism disagrees with the blind practice of chanting certain names like – RAM-RAM, HARE-RAM, HARE KRISHNA etc. To remember Maryada Purushottam Ram and Yogeshvar Shrikrishna , one should follow their great qualities in his life and that is true tribute to them.

The chanting of AUM in ones heart is chanting of Ishvar as AUM is the name of Ishvar and not a mortal person. There is no need of shouting loudly to address Ishvar as he is everywhere, including within us.

Vedism - Not A Cult Or Sect

A Cult or Sect is identified by its founder such as a Paigambar, Guru, Avtaar, Tirthankar etc. as the followers follow the systems and rituals suggested by him. The books of a Cult or Sect are to explain their own rituals and history.

Vedism is neither a Cult nor a sect as its basis of philosophy is the most ancient scripture of the world- Vedas; which is the book for the total humanity and not just for a group of people. Vedism agrees the beliefs and scholars of all religions as long as they don’t contradict Vedas and the logical thinking based on Vedas. It does not believe anything contrary to Vedas even if that is suggested by an Vedism Scholar for that matter.

The Ten Golden Principals of Vedism do not talk about Swami Dayanand Sarswati or his written books; however it talks about Vedas and the philosophy of Vedas.