Three legs of Agni and the story of Pururava
Three legs of Agni are metaphors for three Yajna Vedi firepots … Continue readingThree legs of Agni and the story of Pururava
A Yagna performed by Parasara against Rakshasas
In this post, we try to understand the significance of the Yajna performed by Parasara against Rakshasas. Rishi Parasara (Parashar) is the father of the famous Vyasa. Parashar’s grandfather is none other than Vasishta, one among the seven Sapta Rishis. Vasishta brought up Parasara. Parasara, as a young man, came to know the cause of his father’s death. His father had died before Parasara’s birth because of a Rakshasa, a class of being. Firstly, young Parasara was well versed in the art of Yagna. Secondly, he wanted to annihilate the Rakshasas, in revenge. Therefore, he began a Yajna. Using the power of Mantras, he drew Rakshasas, one by one. They fell helplessly into the Yajna fire. Vasishta realized the intention of Parasara and hurried to stop the Yagna against Rakshasas. In addition, Pulastya, another of the seven Sapta Rishis also arrived there. They both explained to Parasara that an entire clan should not bear the punishment for the bad deed of one among
Continue readingA Yagna performed by Parasara against Rakshasas
One Mantra 3 Purposes
Vyasa’s compilation of Vedas Vyasa collected a subset of Mantras at the end of the last Yuga or Era. Certainly, a larger set of Mantras was in vogue earlier. Vyasa created four compilations from the subset. These compilations are today known as the four Vedas, namely, the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Several mantras are common between the Rig, Yajur and Sama Veda compilations. Almost every Sama Veda mantra is also in the Rig Veda compilation. However, not all mantras of the Rig Veda are in the Yajur Veda compilation. In fact, Yajur Veda contains mantras which are not in the Rig Veda. What is the reason for the overlap of Mantras? Let us first review how a Yajna is performed. How is a Yajna performed? The tradition of Yajnas has continued through the ages. We must review some basic facts about how a Yajna is performed before understanding the nature of Mantras in the four Vedas. Overlap among Mantras