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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00130 Oct 2003

 
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Dear all,
I respectfully disagree with the proposition that the rig vedic 
suktas are like "Masters degree" and the other Riks are like high 
school syllabi.
Examination of Rig veda mandalas would directly answer whether this 
proposition is tenable or not. 
Assume that the suktas devoted to Vishnu are indeed esoteric in that 
they are 'superior' somehow with respect to other Rik suktas. What 
should be the arrangement of the mandalas if this assumption is true?
The suktas on Vishnu would form a separate mandala by itself. 
That is not actually the case...

Vishnu gets his own suktas in
(a) Rig 1.154 - Vishnu
(b) Rig 1.155 - Indra-Vishnu (first 3 verses to the diad, last 3 
exclusively to Vishnu)
(c) Rig 1.156 - Vishnu

These rigs are immediately preceded and succeeded by suktas to Mitra-
Varuna and Ashvins. There are 191 suktas in first mandala. Of course 
Vishnu is mentioned along other "gods" in lot of suktas (to 
Vishvedevas, ashwamedha mantras etc. etc.).

It is interesting to note that Soma-Pavamana gets his entire mandala. 
Not surprisingly, soma yaaga is one of the most important vedic 
ritual - Sama gaanas' existence owes specifically to this yaaga - 
Samans are to be sung in Soma yAga.

I pointed out earlier that the "Paramam padam" mentioned in Rig Veda 
is not the "Abode of Vishnu" but "Vishnu's third step" symbolizing 
the third phase of Sun's movement.

Things don't improve in Krishna yajur veda either. When Vishnu is 
mentioned, he is mentioned along with other deities like Aditi, Agni, 
Soma, Sarasvati, Indra and not in some special fashion. (Things do 
improve in Shathapatha BrahmaNa of Shukla yajur veda - Purusha 
Naryana debuts here).

Vishnu's steps symbol is used for a different purpose in Yajur veda - 
abhichara (black magic - mostly the domain of Atharva veda...)

For a sample, here is mantra I.6.5.5 through I.6.5.8 from Taittriya 
Samhita, a curse against enemies...

(5) Thou art the step of Visnu, smiting enmity; with the Gayatri 
metre I step across the earth; excluded is he whom we hate.

(6) Thou art the step of Visnu, smiting imprecations; with the 
Tristubh metre I step across the atmosphere; excluded is he whom we 
hate.

(7) Thou art the step of Visnu, smiter of him who practiseth evil; 
with the Jagati metre I step across the sky; excluded is he whom we 
hate.

(8) Thou art the step of Visnu, smiter of the hostile one; with the 
Anustubh metre I stop across the quarters; excluded is he whom we hate


Regards,
Kasturi Rangan .K


--- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Mohan Ramanujan" 
<mohan_ramanujan@xxxx> wrote:
> Dear all,
> 
> Though I consider myself as a kid as far as this discussion is 
considered, I also want to start participating. I hope you all don't 
mind.






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