Energy Conservation (तेजसः संरक्षणम्)

Energy Conservation (तेजसः संरक्षणम्) elaborates on the importance and conservation of energy in the form of fire and the Sun ie. Solar energy as described in the Vedas.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Fire is one of the great five elements or Panchamahabhutas. In the Vedas, fire has been considered fundamental in the creation of the environment. The heat of fire is present in the form of energy in the entire universe.

वेदेषु अग्निः ॥ Agni in the Vedas

In Vedic discussion, Fire has been referred to as Vaishvanara. It means the power that keeps the world engaged in work. This fire has been considered as the main factor in the creation of the universe. Viewing Agni as the benefactor of all, Rishi Madhucchanda Vaishvamitra, in the very first verse of the Rigveda, says,

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं ... ॥१॥ agnimīle purohitaṁ ... ॥1॥

Meaning: I praise Agni. Worshiping him and propounding the importance of fire, Rishi Kashyapa, in the Rigveda says,

अग्निर्जागार तमृचः कामयन्तेऽग्निर्जागार तमु सामानि यन्ति । अग्निर्जागार तमयं सोम आह तवाहमस्मि सख्ये न्योकाः ॥१५॥ agnirjāgāra tamr̥caḥ kāmayante'gnirjāgāra tamu sāmāni yanti । agnirjāgāra tamayaṁ soma āha tavāhamasmi sakhye nyokāḥ ॥15॥

Meaning: Agni is always awake. Hence, the rchas always wish for him, the Samas yield to him and Soma finds his dwelling in him.

In this verse, awake refers to being constant and continuous. Indirectly, it points towards the use and protection of fire energy. While, metaphorically, the Rishi is emphasizing that knowledge yields only to those who are always engaged in efforts. It is such people that Sama approaches and in them, Soma in the form of great intellect dwells.

अग्नेः महत्त्वम् ॥ Importance of Fire

In Vedic contemplation, Fire has been described in three forms.

1. Earthly fire ie. fire on the earth.
2. Space fire
3. Dyusthani Fire ie. the solar fire.

In this way, Vaishvanara is spread everywhere. The whole earth is resplendent with this fire.

While enlightening the importance of fire, the Rigvedic Rishi prays to space fire to protect people from the disturbances of the space.

सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षात् । अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः ॥१॥ sūryo no divaspātu vāto antarikṣāt । agnirnaḥ pārthivebhyaḥ ॥1॥

Meaning: May the sun protect us from celestial disturbances, wind from space disturbances and fire from earth's disturbances. The Atharvavedic Rishi also prays to the Sun for protection. He says,

सूर्य चक्षुषा मा पाहि स्वाहा ॥३॥ sūrya cakṣuṣā mā pāhi svāhā ॥3॥

Meaning: O Sun! May you protect me with the power of your vision. Further, the Sun is asked to illuminate people with his life force.

सूर्य यत्तेऽर्चिस्तेन तं प्रत्यर्च योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥३॥ sūrya yatte'rcistena taṁ pratyarca yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥3॥

Infact, describing the Agni and Surya as amongst the deities with the inner strength to scorch, the Atharvavedic Rishi prays to them to destroy any hatred in them towards people or vice versa.

अग्ने यत्ते तपस्तेन तं प्रति तप योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥१॥ agne yatte tapastena taṁ prati tapa yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥1॥

the importance of conserving fire (energy) in the Vedas.

• To know the importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas; and

• To understand the basic importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas.

10.1 IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF FIRE (ENERGY) IN VEDAS

Pointing to the importance of solar energy, the kaanv sage of the Rigveda says that the Continuous energy is received from the Sun -

विद्युद्धस्ता अभिद्यवः शिप्राः शीर्षन्हिरण्ययीः । शुभ्रा व्यञ्जत श्रिये ॥२५॥

(RigVeda 8.7.5)

That is, the rays of the sun continue to spread everywhere with the help of its superlative power.

The energy of this sun (solar energy) is currently very important, so we need to pay attention to solar energy. We should use the energy we get from the sun.

Sage Gritsamad (x`rLen) of the RigVeda states that energy is produced by the rays of the sun which have the power to burn instantly.

त्वमग्ने द्युभिस्त्वमाशुशुक्षणिस्त्वमद्भ्यस्त्वमश्मनस्परि । त्वं वनेभ्यस्त्वमोषधीभ्यस्त्वं नृणां नृपते जायसे शुचिः ॥१॥

(Rigveda 2.1.1)

The importance of solar energy was pointed out in Vedic thought, which is getting our focus today. Today, efforts are being made to make electricity (electricity) from solar energy.

It is said in the Rigveda that the Sun makes the Som (lkse) strong. The earth also gets stronger with Som (lkse).

सोमेनादित्या बलिनः सोमेन पृथिवी मही । अथो नक्षत्राणामेषामुपस्थे सोम आहितः ॥२॥

(Rigveda 10.85.2)

In this context, Som (lkse) means the Moon at some places and Somalata at some places means the gas(Hydrogen, Helium) at some point in reference to the Sun. Earlier 'Richa' states that Som (lkse) makes the Sun strong. Here the meaning of Som (lkse) can be derived from hydrogen and helium gas, because Som (lkse) transmits energy from the Sun.

It is said in the Yajurveda that the element of water is established in the sun -

9.3

अपाꣳ रसम् उद्वयसꣳ सूर्ये सन्तꣳ समाहितम् । अपाꣳ रसस्य यो रसस् तं वो गृह्णाम्य् उत्तमम् । उपयामगृहीतो सीन्द्राय त्वा जुष्टं गृह्णामि । एष ते योनिर् इन्द्राय त्वा जुष्टतमम् ॥

(Yajurveda 9.3)

Here, the Sun of Water is (upholder). Proper combination of hydrogen and oxygen. From the point of view of Sage above, the element of water indicates hydrogen and the element of hydrogen only indicates helium.

The Atharvaveda states that both fire and Som (lkse) elements are mixed in water

आपो भद्रा घृतमिदाप आसन्न् अग्नीषोमौ बिभ्रत्याप इत्ताः । तीव्रो रसो मधुपृचामरंगम आ मा प्राणेन सह वर्चसा गमेत्॥५॥

(Atharvaveda 3.13.5)

Fire means oxygen here, Som (lkse) means hydrogen. In this way, the combination of the two can be considered as indicated in the Atharvaveda.

In the Yajurveda, indicating the importance of the energy of the Sun, it is said that; the Sun is the energy given by you and the energy generated by that energy is the accomplishment of deeds, so you should combine us in the best deeds.

• The importance of fire in the Vedas

• Reflections on fire protection in the Vedas

• The utility of solar energy in the Vedas