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 five great 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 highlighting 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...॥३॥ sūrya yatte'rcistena taṁ pratyarca...॥3॥

Infact, describing 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॥

Speaking of Agni, Rishi Grtsamada of the Rigveda states that Agni is endowed with lustre at creation and speedily illuminates and purifies everything.

त्वमग्ने द्युभिस्त्वमाशुशुक्षणि स्त्वमद्भ्यस्त्वमश्मनस्परि । त्वं वनेभ्यस्त्वमोषधीभ्यस्त्वं नृणां नृपते जायसे शुचिः ॥१॥ tvamagne dyubhistvamāśuśukṣaṇi stvamadbhyastvamaśmanaspari । tvaṁ vanebhyastvamoṣadhībhyastvaṁ nr̥ṇāṁ nr̥pate jāyase śuciḥ ॥1॥

सौरोर्जायाः महत्त्वम् ॥ Importance of Solar Energy

Importance of solar energy, that is the focus of today's world, was pointed out in Vedic thought itself. It is said in the Rigveda that Soma makes the Sun strong.

सोमेनादित्या बलिनः ...॥२॥ somenādityā balinaḥ ...॥2॥

In this context, Soma means the moon. And the rcha refers to the moon transmitting energy from the Sun. While the Yajurveda states that the element of water is established in the sun.

अपाꣳ रसम् उद्वयसꣳ सूर्ये सन्तꣳ समाहितम् । अपाꣳ रसस्य यो रसस्...॥३॥ apāꣳ rasam udvayasaꣳ sūrye santaꣳ samāhitam । apāꣳ rasasya yo rasas...॥3॥

And according to the Atharvaveda, both Agni and Soma elements uphold the water that is auspicious and increases one's lustre.

...अग्नीषोमौ बिभ्रत्याप इत्ताः ।...॥५॥ ...agnīṣomau bibhratyāpa ittāḥ ।...॥5॥

Energy of the Sun (solar energy) is very important. Today, efforts are being made to generate electricity from solar energy. The Vedas mention the utility of solar energy and we should use the energy we get from the Sun. At the same time, we need to pay attention to the conservation of energy as well.