Changes

World's ancient literature, Rig veda, has not undergone any change in syllables nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved.<ref>Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>  In the Rigvedic time apart from Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्र || Gotras, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुल)|गुरुकुल || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the Rishis’ lifestyle, the process of protecting secret meanings of Vedas and preserving the right way of reciting the mantras - these were all the root cause of protecting the one integral voice of Vedas.

World's ancient literature, Rig veda, has not undergone any change in syllables nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved.<ref>Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>  In the Rigvedic time apart from Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्र || Gotras, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुल)|गुरुकुल || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the Rishis’ lifestyle, the process of protecting secret meanings of Vedas and preserving the right way of reciting the mantras - these were all the root cause of protecting the one integral voice of Vedas.

== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to historical reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref>Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>   

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to historical reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref>Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>   

Memorization of the sacred Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time.   

Memorization of the sacred Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time.   

==== प्रकृति पाठ || Prakriti Pathas ====

==== प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakriti Pathas ====

These are three systems for memorizing Mantras most commonly known as:

These are three systems for memorizing Mantras most commonly known as:

# संहिता पाठ || Samhita-Patha -   in which Mantra remains in its true form.

# संहितापाठः || Samhita-Patha -   in which Mantra remains in its true form.

# पद पाठ || Pada-Patha-   in which each word of a Mantra is separately spoken.

# पदपाठः || Pada-Patha-   in which each word of a Mantra is separately spoken.

# क्रम पाठ || Krama-Patha-  in which two words of a Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

# क्रमपाठः || Krama-Patha-  in which two words of a Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

==== विकृति पाठ || Vikriti Pathas ====

==== विकृतिपाठः || Vikriti Pathas ====

There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are   

There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are   

# जातपाठ || Jatapatha

# जातपाठः || Jatapatha

# मालापाठ || Malaapatha

# मालापाठः || Malaapatha

# शिखापाठ || Shikhaapatha  

# शिखापाठः || Shikhaapatha  

# रेखापाठ || Rekhaapatha  

# रेखापाठः || Rekhaapatha  

# ध्वजपाठ || Dhvajapatha

# ध्वजपाठः || Dhvajapatha

# दण्डपाठ || Dandapatha

# दण्डपाठः || Dandapatha

# रथपाठ || Rathapatha,  and

# रथपाठः || Rathapatha,  and

# घनापाठ || Ghanaapatha

# घनापाठः || Ghanaapatha

Among them Ghanaa Patha  is most difficult and the longest.

Among them Ghanaa Patha  is most difficult and the longest.

Forms of recitation such as the jaṭā-pāṭha (literally "mesh recitation") is one in which every two adjacent words in the text were first recited in their original order, then repeated in the reverse order, and finally repeated again in the original order.   

Forms of recitation such as the jaṭā-pāṭha (literally "mesh recitation") is one in which every two adjacent words in the text were first recited in their original order, then repeated in the reverse order, and finally repeated again in the original order.   

=== अनुक्रमणिक || Anukramanis ===

=== अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanis ===

Another step was to prepare treatises known as अनुक्रमणिक || Anukramanis in which the names of ऋषि || Rishi, देवता || Devata, छन्दः || Chandas  are mentioned in reference to each hymn of the Vedas. Chandas means meter which also helps in avoiding loss of content by enforcing number of syllables.    

Another step was to prepare treatises known as अनुक्रमणिक || Anukramanis in which the names of ऋषि || Rishi, देवता || Devata, छन्दः || Chandas  are mentioned in reference to each hymn of the Vedas. Chandas means meter which also helps in avoiding loss of content by enforcing number of syllables.    

That these methods have been effective, is testified to by the preservation of the most ancient Indian religious text, the Rigveda, as redacted into a single text during the Brahmana period, without any variant readings within that school.   

That these methods have been effective, is testified to by the preservation of the most ancient Indian religious text, the Rigveda, as redacted into a single text during the Brahmana period, without any variant readings within that school.   

== वैदिक संविधान || Vedic Structure ==

== वैदिकसंविधानम् || Vedic Structure ==

Understanding the way in which the vedas are organized into a definite pattern, gives us an insight as to how integral the learning system was and how it worked impeccably over such a long period of time.   

Understanding the way in which the vedas are organized into a definite pattern, gives us an insight as to how integral the learning system was and how it worked impeccably over such a long period of time.   

Therefore while many Veda suktas disappeared, it is important to note that they were replaced by new suktas with the same meaning and function. All Acharyas accept that studying the Vedas is mandatory for understanding the integral meaning of Vedas. If every one had accepted every Upanishad has different import, every आचार्य || acharya has different conclusions and according to diversity of teacher there are different understanding of Vedas then there would have been no clash among different schools hence this shows that  every one believes that there is only one essential understanding.   

Therefore while many Veda suktas disappeared, it is important to note that they were replaced by new suktas with the same meaning and function. All Acharyas accept that studying the Vedas is mandatory for understanding the integral meaning of Vedas. If every one had accepted every Upanishad has different import, every आचार्य || acharya has different conclusions and according to diversity of teacher there are different understanding of Vedas then there would have been no clash among different schools hence this shows that  every one believes that there is only one essential understanding.   

== Gurukulas ==

== गुरुकुलम्॥Gurukulas ==

Gurushishya parampara was the main foundation that preserved Sanatana Dharma since ages. From upanayana or initiation until the age of 20, Brahmachaaris study vedas, conducting yagnas and yagas, collecting the samidhas (thus they learn Plant Sciences), raising and domestication of cattle (they learn Animal Sciences) and different ashrama dharmas (they learn Human Sciences) and living harmoniously with nature.   

Gurushishya parampara was the main foundation that preserved Sanatana Dharma since ages. From upanayana or initiation until the age of 20, Brahmachaaris study vedas, conducting yagnas and yagas, collecting the samidhas (thus they learn Plant Sciences), raising and domestication of cattle (they learn Animal Sciences) and different ashrama dharmas (they learn Human Sciences) and living harmoniously with nature.   

It becomes a powerful prayer for the well-being of an advanced society, and very logically the next Mantra expounds a prayer for a full hundred years and more of life and health.<blockquote>"तच्चक्षुर्देवहितम् पुरुस्तत् ||" (Yaju. Veda. 36.24)"</blockquote><blockquote>"tacchakshurdevahitam purastat ||" (Yaju. Veda. 36.24)</blockquote>Swami Dayananda wrote in the post-colonized context after independence whereupon he called upon his countrymen "to go back to the Vedas" for eradication of social evils as he opined that the cause of degradation and slavery of Indian nation was the ignorance of true Vedic teaching on which our culture was based and also thrived. It is true that we became independent in 1947, but then we got freedom and not independence. We continue to function as an Anglo-Saxon cultural satellite mainly as a market for its ideology through the English language and a nursery to train a new generation of sepoys and Coolies.

It becomes a powerful prayer for the well-being of an advanced society, and very logically the next Mantra expounds a prayer for a full hundred years and more of life and health.<blockquote>"तच्चक्षुर्देवहितम् पुरुस्तत् ||" (Yaju. Veda. 36.24)"</blockquote><blockquote>"tacchakshurdevahitam purastat ||" (Yaju. Veda. 36.24)</blockquote>Swami Dayananda wrote in the post-colonized context after independence whereupon he called upon his countrymen "to go back to the Vedas" for eradication of social evils as he opined that the cause of degradation and slavery of Indian nation was the ignorance of true Vedic teaching on which our culture was based and also thrived. It is true that we became independent in 1947, but then we got freedom and not independence. We continue to function as an Anglo-Saxon cultural satellite mainly as a market for its ideology through the English language and a nursery to train a new generation of sepoys and Coolies.

== वेदाः - नव्य अध्ययन विधानम्|| Modern Vedic Education ==

== नव्य वेदाध्ययन विधानम्|| Modern Vedic Education ==

The Vedas were likely written down for the first time around 500 BC.  However, all printed editions of the Vedas that survive in the modern times are likely the version existing in about the 16th century AD.   

The Vedas were likely written down for the first time around 500 BC.  However, all printed editions of the Vedas that survive in the modern times are likely the version existing in about the 16th century AD.   

With the discovery of paper and through the centuries improved stationery material, was the main means of preserving the vedic literature.  Western Indologists have generated volumes of their interpretation of vedas and took many manuscripts from India to other places like Germany.  However, the main drawback was the non-availability of a voice preservation method since early 18th century. Vedic language which primarily depends on the accents and pronunciation, was not preserved and thus many shakas have been lost with those learned scholars since few centuries. Today many manuscripts and valuable literary treasures can be found in remote corners of the world.     

With the discovery of paper and through the centuries improved stationery material, was the main means of preserving the vedic literature.  Western Indologists have generated volumes of their interpretation of vedas and took many manuscripts from India to other places like Germany.  However, the main drawback was the non-availability of a voice preservation method since early 18th century. Vedic language which primarily depends on the accents and pronunciation, was not preserved and thus many shakas have been lost with those learned scholars since few centuries. Today many manuscripts and valuable literary treasures can be found in remote corners of the world.     

== सम्वाद ||Discussion ==

== संवादः ||Discussion ==

Computers and modern digital techniques revolutionized the way vedic knowledge is read and disseminated in the present day. Many works have been compiled lately as an attempt to reconnect our Vedic heritage to our people from which we have been disconnected since the 800-year foreign domination (first by the Arabs and then by the Anglo-Saxons) of our land. As many acharyas say unless our people give up the Asuric principles of Western economists and return to the Vedic path, no progress is possible in social,political, economic and spiritual spheres.   

Computers and modern digital techniques revolutionized the way vedic knowledge is read and disseminated in the present day. Many works have been compiled lately as an attempt to reconnect our Vedic heritage to our people from which we have been disconnected since the 800-year foreign domination (first by the Arabs and then by the Anglo-Saxons) of our land. As many acharyas say unless our people give up the Asuric principles of Western economists and return to the Vedic path, no progress is possible in social,political, economic and spiritual spheres.