By: Chinmay Bajekal
January 16, 2005

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Vedas the most ancient 

The Vedas which form the core of Hindu scriptures are the oldest texts in the library of man. India of today which traces back its origins to the Vedic civilization is the oldest living civilization in the world. A Hindu is the inheritor of the oldest and the highest spiritual culture known to human history. The Vedic culture existed and flourished world over at a time long before any of the religions we know today came into existence. 

Universality of Vedic teachings 

If we study the philosophy of the Vedas, we learn that it speaks of many great ideals which the thinkers of the modern world espouse today. Long before the modern era had set in the Vedas declared “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” – The world is one family. The ultimate dream of any sincere humanist can also be found in the verse “Loka samastha sukinau bavanthu” – May the world live in peace. The Vedic people did not stop at just praying for the happiness of mankind alone. They prayed for the well-being of every living creature in the world.

“Sarve sukina santhu, sarve santhu niramayaha” – (May every living being be free from ills and miseries and attain peace). 

Environmentalism in Vedas 

Vedic philosophy also contains the ideals of environmentalists who are concerned about the destruction of nature and mother earth. The Vedic people held nature in great reverence and they considered the rivers, trees, mountains, as sacred. The rivers are given the position of goddesses whereas goddess parvati is believed to be the daughter of the mountains. Every Vedic deity is associated with a particular animal or plant. Lord Krishna was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Today the cow has almost become a symbol of Hinduism. As opposed to the West, where the cow is widely considered as nothing better than walking hamburgers, in India, the cow is believed to be a symbol of the earth - because it gives so much yet asks nothing in return. 

Vedic Sciences 

Vedas are not just about philosophies, but science as well. The Vedic literature also contains sciences like Ayurveda (science of medicine) Stapathya Ved (Science of architecture) Gandharva Ved (Science of music) Dhanur Veda (Science of warfare). Ayurveda is unique due to the fact that its treatment causes no side-effects. The rustless ashoka iron pillar in Delhi speaks volumes of the capability of Vedic sciences. One of the most distinctive features of Vedic sciences has been its coherence with the laws of nature. The Vedic Sages who had mastered the science of spirit and knew the mysteries of the universe were well aware of the laws of nature. Thus the development and progress of Vedic sciences never caused any destruction to Mother Nature.  

Women in Vedic culture 

Hinduism is the only religion where God is worshipped in feminine form. The famous verse from one of the Hindu scriptures say, “Matru devo bhavah” – Revere your mother as God. This shows the respect Hinduism gives to Motherhood. It is important to note that when God is worshipped as ‘Divine Couple’ by Hindus, the name of the feminine typically precedes that of masculine. For instance, we say that we are worshipping ‘Sita-Ram’, ‘Radhe-Shyam’, ‘Uma-Mahesh’ or ‘Shri Vishnu’ and so on.  

The idea of equality was most forcibly expressed in the Rig Veda (Book 5, hymn 61. verse 8). The commentator explains this passage thus: "The wife and husband, being the equal halves of one substance, are equal in every respect; therefore both should join and take equal parts in all work, religious and secular." No other Scripture of the world have ever given to the woman such equality with the man as the Vedas of the Hindus. 

Freedom of thought in Vedas 

In today’s world of conflicts and sectarian violence understanding the Vedic philosophy can bring about a positive change. The Vedas say, “Ekam Sat Vipraha bahudah Vadanti” – “Truth is one but the wise see it in different ways”. Thus the Vedic thinkers were aware of the nature of Human mind, and respected the diversity of thoughts and perceptions. One great spiritual figure from India named Ramakrishna paramahansa who was the spiritual master of Swami Vivekananda suggested, “As many minds so many paths to God”. 

In the words of Thoreau a great American thinker, “In the great teachings of the Vedas there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climes and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of great knowledge.” 

Thus the Vedic culture and philosophy is as much relevant today as much it was centuries ago. As Hindus and the inheritors of this great ancient most culture it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on the great teachings of the Vedas and share it with the rest of the world.  

Once a great British historian named Arnold Toynbee after realizing the significance of the Vedic culture in the progress of Mankind wrote,  

“It is already becoming clearer that a western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the Human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in history the only way of salvation for mankind is the ancient Hindu way.”

Chinmay Bajekal