Deivathin Kural Series - 50

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 50 of 22 Aug 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days chapter is from his lecture, titled, 'Vaidikamum Tamizhum' ie., 'Vedas and Tamil', in pages 271 to 274, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. There is recording on stone of the times of Karikala Chola in Sanskrit. It says, "Badra kalita vedanam sastra marga anusarinam, tadetu arikalasya karikalasya sasanam." It means that, the Karikala is the destroyer of all enemies. Who were his enemies? All those who do not abide by the directions of Vedas were his enemies. He was a protector of those who followed the preachings of Vedas. His Sasanam or recorded permanent instruction is that such people should be protected.
4. This is a written record on stone, that famous Tamil Kings were very beneficient towards Vedas and Vedic practisioners. A Pandya King of Sanga Kala period was called, 'palyagasalai mudukudumip peruvazhudhi', meaning that he had patronised conduct of many yagnas. Later too all over South India, we have come across many inscriptions on stone, to record the fact of donating real-estate to Vedic scholors. Such villages
as were donated for the growth and protection of all the four Vedas were known as, 'Chatur Vedi Mangalam'. All over Tamil Nadu, there are many villages with the name, Chatur Vedi Mangalam.
5. When any foreign matter comes to our country, for some time it retains its foreign sounding name. Later it gets the name as translated in Tamil, for example, bus, radio, telephone and so on. Not all the Tamil names survive in usage, eg., 'urundai kundi pathiram', for 'round-bottomed-flask'. This is not the case with the Tamil words concerning Vedas and Vedic practices.
6. Some people claim that things like Vedam and Yagam, have come from out side, contrary to erstwhile civilization of South India.
If that was so, there could not be suitable Tamil words for Sanskrit words, for example, Veda and Yaga. In the earliest of Tamil literatures, there are innumerable mention of, 'Marai' for Veda and 'Velvi' for Yaga. Velvi comes from the Tamil word, 'Vettal'. Yagas are a method to offer oblations in fire. The idea is to offer to a particular God, through the Fire God, who is the conveyor, for wish fulfilment. So 'velvi' has derived out of 'vettal'. Similarly, the Tamil word for Veda is 'Marai'. Marai, in Tamil means 'hidden'. Veda is like the 'Root', at the base on which the complete Religion and Civilization and Culture, rest. Like the root, it is 'hidden', from view and not seen. It is also 'hidden or marai', because, it is not known to all and sundry. It is known only to some, who have to sacrifice their entire life, for that purpose, maintaining very severe penances of absinence. Even then, no man could know it all, and some portion of it will remain unheard or ununderstood or unknown, and so 'hidden' form him too. It means that, there cannot be a better word than, 'marai', for the Vedas. It is not a translation but a concurrent Tamil word, by which Veda was known. Unless, Vaidic culture and practices were part and parcel of Tamil life, such a beautiful Tamil word could not have evolved, for a foreign ritual!
7. Veda, was not supposed to be written and read. It was meant to be hreditorily conveyed by word of mouth, heard, repeated, and committed to memory. So, it has another name in Tamil, as 'ezhudak kilavi', meaning, 'unwritten~heard~saying'. Even in Sanskrit, because Vedas are learnt by hearing, it has a name, 'Sruti', meaning 'heard'. So actually, 'marai', defines the Veda better than even the Sanskrit word. Any Vedik function, has six parts, or 'shad-angas', which in Tamil is known as, 'sadangu'. These are all clear indications of the fact that, Veda has been part of life in this part of the world, from time immemorial and is not a foreign input.
8. I am of the opinion that, Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural, which is called the, 'Tamil Marai', is actually, totally harmonious with Vedic teachings and practices. In Vaidic functions, Pithrus, ie., departed souls of ancestors are appeased first, before addressing the Gods. Thiruvalluvar says the same thing. I Quote. "then pulathar, deivam, virundu, okkal, thaan, enru aimbulattar ombal thalai". He says that, pithrus, deity, guests, relatives, self, should be taken care of, in that order. 'Then-pulathar', means 'pithrus', as the direction of Yama, is South, as per Vaidic beliefs, and so 'southerner' or 'thenpulathar', are the pithrus. They are to be appeased even before you invoke the Gods.
9. This five fold distribution, is what we do on our own. Other than this, as the order of the King, one sixth of the produce or earning was given as tax. The balance after the tax, is divided in to five parts, out of which only one part is kept for oneself. For pithrus, some people may be fed. One fifth will go to the temple. One fifth will be used for feeding the guests. Relatives who are not able to take care of themselves, will be given one share. So a man out of his earnings or produce, could keep only, one sixth for himself and his wife and children. Is there a better socialism, than what Vaidikam and Valluvar, have ordained? Instead of living only for oneself, to lead a life of concern and care for the world and society, is the ideal, which is the foundation of Vaidika Dharma. Thiruvalluvar talks of the same thing. Thirukkural and other Tamil books on Ethics and Morals, are evolved out of the 'Marai', that is the Vedas.
10. Thiruvalluvar spoke the truths of Veda only. The Tamil poet Avvaiyar, starts her preachings with, "odaamal oru nalum irukkavendam," meaning, never should a day be spent without chanting of Vedas. All the Azhvars and Nayanmars, have referred to the Vedas and Vedik practices, innumerable times. They address God, by the name of the various branches of Vedas. They talk of 'Veda Sabda Gosham', ie., while describing any city or town, they say that it is resounding with the Veda Chants. The whole city is described to be covered by the smoke from Yaga Salais. In Tamil Nadu, the non-brahmins have contributed immensely, in landed properties, cash and kind as well as labour; for maintaining the Vedik traditions and practices.
11. Even now, for some political reasons, some amount of anti-God / anti-brahmin / anti-veda / anti-traditional, tendencies are apparent; I am of the opinion that, the real under-current is not so. You cannot take away the Tamil Man's Vasanai. (The 'pun', on both the words meant.) His belief in God is not lost. His trust in Vedas is not gone. His love for tradition and culture is not diminished. If only the Brahmin, can mend his ways, and is seen to be more truely observing his rules and regulations; the whole situation can turn the corner, for the better. Then the Veda Rakshanam, will be done very well again.
Sambhomahadeva.