It is important to understand that Vedas are, not merely some collection of verses handed down to us the utility of which we are not fully aware. Though they are not written down but handed down through oral tradition, now these samhitas and Gana pata is available in print. It is most effective to grasp them using oral recitation and listening. These would resolve issues like phonetics, tone variations, intonations, sandhi or conjunction. Moreover this would effectively merge with meditation and Yoga so that practical purpose for which this was handed down would be served best. Before we delve deeper into the subject we need to keep several things clear in our minds. Vedas are not mere verses or songs, but a practical way to invoke various universal powers and take their help in expanding our Universal consciousness. Care should be taken to avoid various labyrinths that open up the moment we attempt to travel the inner pathways of Yoga and meditation and attempting to unravel the hidden messages of Veda. We should also bear in mind that these tools have negative effects when used improperly or without proper training. The very reason for codifying the Vedas and separating them as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda is to impart a sense of responsibility and moderation and infuse ethical standards of living and moderating human desires that are prone to be driven by ego and its resultant modifications. The practical yagnas can be conducted only when all the experts in these Vedas put up a coordinated effort and are effectively supervised by the expert in Atharva veda. Rigid injunctions are imposed on the yajamana or Kartha whether he is a spiritually accomplished person or just a good human being. In today’s conditions personal credibility is highly diluted as the passage of time and lifestyle has taken a toll on its effectiveness. Secondly we also have come far away from the original purport of these Vedic literatures, Yoga treatises, Meditation techniques etc. They are now looked upon as mere tools that achieve better health, better retention etc. Pursuit of spiritual goals is mixed with materialistic attainments. Earlier they were taught from childhood but nowadays this practice is not followed. Brahmins especially after their Upanayanam were drafted to learn in a methodical manner the chosen Veda and he also systematically followed the practical ritual part right from performing Sandhyavandana and Samidhadana. This laid the foundation for much rigorous pursuit of Athma Vidhya or higher knowledge that enabled him to interact with forces of nature and take their help in advancing his knowledge and skills. This way he also attained spiritual maturity. But today this is not the priority. Only material life and mundane affairs of the world are focused upon. Now we all know that Vedas serve two different purposes. One, they help us to lead our life in a dharmic way avoiding Adharmic ways so that we obtain overall happiness in our present life and acquire merits that will give peace and tranquility in the afterlife. This question of afterlife is to be understood as the basic belief of our philosophy though we may not have any empirical evidence immediately. Secondly we can attempt to unravel the secrets through Veda and enjoy the original self of our being and be detached from the worldly affairs even though we are in the midst of its frantic activity. This of course requires conditioning of mind and body, acquiring one pointed attention through constant sadhana, abstaining from perception driven and desire driven impulses. Keeping our physical being fit to undertake prolonged contemplation and also withstand the descent of higher consciousness without falling sick due to inadequate physical capacity. Thus Rig Veda clearly spells out the forces of nature and their controlling consciousness in the form of its Adidevata. Their qualities, area of operation in the environment and in our physical being. Associated forces of nature that we would encounter while we pursue to attain their domain through their principle and through contemplation. Sama Veda gives us the prayer addressing these forces of nature and consciousness, and the resultant consciousness that we obtain in the process of contemplation, and tells us how to constantly harmonize the resultant consciousness with the onset of higher consciousness, and make continuous progress towards realization. Yajur Veda defines the physical efforts that are to be undertaken to unify our outer physical being and our inner being that is our body and mind and intellect. This is achieved through many yagnas and offering various material objects, food, clarified butter, grains, twigs, and other possessions amid chanting of Vedic hymns. All these individually have great significance related to the force of nature that is being invoked, their operation within our own being and also in our environment. While performing these yagnas care is taken to keep our faith , our sincere approach in focus, and ensure subdued ego. As perfection is required at every level the Yajamana, the Purohit, the chanters, the sacrifice, the ingredients, and the actual performance coupled with chanting perfectly. It is quite possible that there will be many hurdles that are encountered in successful completion of such yagnas. So care is also taken to ward off such disturbances from the forces of nature that are there to counter balance the positive effects. This is achieved by Atharva Veda expert who supervises all these individual activities and ensures that they are perfectly done and also provides hymns for each and every force of nature and also provides physical support through mathematically evolved representation of these forces in Yantras, syllables of sounds that represents these forces called Mantras and Bija (Seed) or akshara (Alphabets). It also outlines the procedures of invocation by tantra! All the above applies to those who pursue the ultimate truth of our existence. For those who would like to lead a peaceful life upon this earth and enjoy its treasures with fairness and compassion, these Vedas have outlined many prayers, rituals, mantras etc. that are effective. They are homas or Ishtis. Homa is performed with specific purpose of obtaining a beneficial outcome that is dharmic in nature and are also some times as atonement for sins we commit knowingly or un knowingly. These can serve more than one individual through their performance, and in fact can include the society or humanity. Ishtis are very specific in nature as they address only a unique desire and is focused upon any of the forces of the nature and makes concerted effort to fulfill that desire. VIA : Samaveda the song of GODS
