A brief note on Vedic tradition by Dr.L.Adinarayana

Sadaashiva samaarambhaam

vyaasa shankara madhyamaam

Asmadaachaarya paryantaam

 vande guru paramparaam

       My salutations to this great line of Gurus that starts with Lord Narayana, having Vyasa and Shankara in the middle, and extends upto my immediate Guru. This is how we acknowledge our indebtedness and gratitude to the great Gurus for helping us to acquire knowledge. Lord Narayan is the first teacher. Having created the Cosmos, He ensured its stability by creating the progenitors like Marichi. Then Lord Narayana created the Sages; Sanaka, Sanathana, Sanandana and Sanartkumara. He instructed them about the Vedic path of Nivritti Dharma which leads to liberation. Thus the Vedic tradition started.

     Then comes, in the middle, Veda Vyasa who systematized the Vedic instruction by deviding the Vedas into a four fold – scheme: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharvana Veda.

       Sruthi is the term used to refer to all the Vedas. They are believed to have been heard when revealed to ancient seers in states of deep meditation. They in return passed them on orally to their disciples.

(Swamy Vivekananda experienced the vision of one such rishi, who, after bathing in the Sindhu river, was seen reciting the mantra that invokes Gayathri. Swamiji heard that mantra.)

A huge collection of such recitations were preserved, first, under three heads: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. Later four of Vyas’ s deciples helped him to rearrange the Vedas under four heads; Paila-Rig Veda, Vyshampayan-Yajur Veda, Jaimini– Sama Veda and Sumanthu– Atharvana Veda.

Each Veda is divided into two parts; the first one is called Karma Kanda consisting of Samhitha and the Brahmana. The mantras in the Samhitha are practice- oriented. The Brahmana section explains how the Samhitha mntras are to be made applicable in the performance of Homas, Yagas, Yagnas and other rituals. The second part of the Veda, the Aranyaka, is largly contemplative in nature, driven by the quest for the ultimate reality. The Upanishads are included in this part of the Vedas.

Then comes Adi Shankar when the Vedic tradition had got into disarray.

He reestablished the authority and the supremacy of the Vedas. Like Vyasa Shankara entrusted the work of continuing the tradition to four of his deciples after establishing four mathas in the four directions.

East– Govardhana Peetha—Padmapada– Rig Veda

South–Sringeri Sharada Peetha—Surehwara- Yajur Veda

West-  Dwaraka Peetha—Hastamalakacharya– Sama Veda

North– Jyothimatha Peetha– Thotakacharya– AtharvanaVeda

Following the tradition established by Sri Shankaracharya, I receive  initiation from my immediate Guru and pass it on to the future generation.

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