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Important Vedic hymn

CHENNAI: The Vedas are a fountainhead of knowledge. Their objective is to enable human beings experience happiness in worldly life by realising material ends and the ultimate goal of liberation from bondage. The Vedas deal with Karma (rituals), Jnana (Self-knowledge) and Upasana (worship) so that every individual can pursue the end he wishes and also the spiritual goal. This is catering to basic human psychology as every individual is unique and should have the choice and freedom to realise whatever he desires. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Gita that there were four types of devotees, and He fulfilled the aspirations of all of them. But, it is the devotee who aspires for Self-knowledge who reaches Him and is dear to Him.

In his discourse, Sri Muralidhara Sarma said the Supreme Being revealed the Vedas at the time of creation and He was ever present in them in the form of sound (Sabda Brahman). This is a matter of experience which a spiritual seeker has to realise for himself. In his teaching to His mother Devahuti, the Lord in His manifestation as Kapila has reiterated that it is only through the grace of the Guru that the truth enunciated in the Vedas can be experienced. The Vedas are eternal in nature and are revelations.

The Vedic mantras were intuited by seers (Rishis) and codified into four by Vyasa. They are referred to as Sruti as they are traditionally transmitted in the oral tradition by preceptor to disciple to ensure that there is no distortion. As knowledge of the Absolute cannot be grasped by the senses and the mind, the Vedas are the primary and the ultimate authority on spiritual knowledge.

Sri Rudra Prasna is one of the important Vedic hymns, which is in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajur Veda, and is in two parts namely Namakam and Chamakam. The Panchakshari mantra in praise of Siva occurs in this hymn. Lord Maheswara is known as Rudra as this name etymologically means one who destroys sins and sorrows. The hymn is divided into 11 sections (Anuvaka) and begins with obeisance to His anger (because man commits sins) and to His weapons, addresses Him by His several names, and concludes with a prayer seeking His grace.

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