My Belief in the Vedas

My Belief in the Vedas

Dr. Ravindra Kumar*

In many of my articles and works I have been quoting the Vedas, particularly the Rig-Veda, and other Vedic literature from time to time. Those quotations, especially the ones used in my articles, have been part of a critical study of various related subjects. Consequently, one of my friends from the United States asked me about my belief in the Vedas.

I want to clarify that it doesn’t matter to me if the Vedas are divine or composed by men. I am a theist. I am also monotheistic. I have faith in the authority of God. Therefore, wherever the Vedas encourage praying to God and speaking of God’s grace or His supremacy, I wholly and firmly believe in them. Since praying to gods [Devatas] is not a matter of importance to me, whenever there are mentions of praying to Agni, Indra or Varuna, etc., I consider them also to be prayers for the Supreme, God, or Brahman.

Secondly, when the Vedas speak of human equality, freedom, justice, and unity, when they call upon people to accept Ahimsa and values complementary to it in their day-to-day practices, I honour them totally. But I can never agree to any of the arguments that generate discrimination in society; it doesn’t matter if they are quite sound, as in case of the creation of the Varna system.

Thirdly, I cannot accept the use of violence by anyone, even in the pursuit of achieving a goal, unless the intention of the user is entirely free of self-interest. In this regard, violence committed against a person and against another a living being is similar to me.

Change is inevitable. It is a firm principle. No one is beyond the scope of it. All living beings, movable and immovable things, and places are within its range. Therefore, except for God and eternal values like Ahimsa [that too limited to its meaning or definition], all other things mentioned in the Vedas do not bind me in the end, unless they become refined or purified, as per the demand of time and space.

ENDS

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