Secret of the Veda

1. The Veda: A Secret Scripture of Inner Transformation

The Vedic hymns were conceived and constructed on this principle. Their formulas and ceremonies are, overtly, the details of an outward ritual devised for the Pantheistic Nature Worship which was then the common religion, covertly the sacred words, the effective symbols of a spiritual experience and knowledge and a psychological discipline of self-culture which were then the highest achievement of the human race.

Beyond Ritual: The Rig Veda is not merely a collection of ancient hymns for nature worship, but a profound scripture of inner transformation. Its rituals and ceremonies are symbolic, designed to conceal deeper spiritual truths from the uninitiated while revealing them to those prepared for them. The Veda is a guide to self-knowledge and spiritual growth, using concrete images to represent abstract concepts.

Esoteric Knowledge: The Vedic Rishis, or seers, deliberately veiled their wisdom in symbolic language, recognizing that true knowledge of the self and the divine is sacred and not for the profane. This approach created an outer worship for the masses and an inner discipline for the initiated, ensuring the preservation of profound spiritual insights.

Psychological Depth: The Veda is not just about external rituals but also about internal processes. It explores the human psyche, using symbols and figures to represent psychological experiences and states of consciousness. This makes it a guide for self-culture and spiritual enlightenment, not just a record of ancient religious practices.

2. Agni: The Divine Will as the Core of Transformation

Agni in the Veda is always presented in the double aspect of force and light. He is the divine power that builds up the worlds, a power which acts always with a perfect knowledge.

Dual Nature: Agni, the Vedic god of fire, embodies both force and light. He is not just a physical flame but the divine will acting with perfect knowledge. This will is the active power of the Truth-consciousness, driving the transformation of the human soul.

Symbol of Transformation: Agni is the immortal in mortals, the divine power in man. He is the energy of fulfillment, the force that purifies and leads the soul towards the divine. The Vedic sacrifice is a symbolic representation of this inner transformation, with Agni as the priest and the driving force.

Psychological Significance: Agni represents the divine will, perfectly inspired by divine wisdom. He is the active power of the Truth-consciousness, the force that enables man to apply the Truth in all actions. He is the purifier, the leader, and the means by which man connects with the divine.

3. Varuna and Mitra: The Twin Pillars of Truth and Harmony

By Truth Mitra and Varuna, truth-increasing, truth-touching, enjoy (or, attain) a mighty work.

Complementary Forces: Varuna and Mitra are two of the four gods representing the working of the Truth in the human mind. Varuna embodies wideness and purity, destroying all that limits and hurts, while Mitra represents love, joy, and harmony, establishing the right working of the luminous intellect.

Working Together: They are invoked together to perfect the intellect and enlarge actions. Varuna purifies the discernment, while Mitra brings harmony, allowing the Truth-Consciousness to work effectively in the human mentality.

Psychological Functions: Varuna and Mitra represent the dual aspects of the Truth: its purity and its harmony. They work together to create a state of perfect good and happiness, freeing the soul from evil and suffering. They are the powers that enable the mind to become a clear mirror of the divine.

4. The Ashwins: Masters of Bliss and the Journey Beyond

O Riders of the Steed, swift-footed, much-enjoying lords of bliss, take delight in the energies of the sacrifice.

Twin Powers: The Ashwins, often depicted as riders on a horse, are twin divine powers that perfect the nervous or vital being in man. They are associated with action, enjoyment, and healing, bringing back youth, health, and wholeness.

Symbolism of Movement: They are swift-footed and fierce-moving, representing the rapid and irresistible progress of the soul on its journey. Their chariot is a symbol of the vehicle that carries man beyond the limitations of the human mind.

Lords of Bliss: The Ashwins are also lords of bliss, bringing the divine Ananda into the human experience. They are seekers of honey, physicians, and creators of joy, representing the transformation of ordinary sense-enjoyment into spiritual ecstasy.

5. Saraswati: The River of Inspiration and Divine Word

May purifying Saraswati with all the plenitude of her forms of plenty, rich in substance by the thought, desire our sacrifice.

Goddess of the Word: Saraswati is the goddess of the divine Word, the stream of inspiration that descends from the Truth-consciousness. She is the power of revelation and inspiration, the source of the sacred mantras.

River of Consciousness: She is also one of the seven rivers of the Vedic world, symbolizing the flow of consciousness and the power of the divine word. This connection highlights the link between the physical and the spiritual, the outer and the inner.

Psychological Function: Saraswati represents the faculty of truth-audition, the ability to hear the divine word and receive inspiration. She is the force that awakens the consciousness to right thinking and upholds the sacrifice, guiding the soul towards spiritual enlightenment.

6. The Symbolism of the Vedic Waters: A Journey of Consciousness

The Rishis speak of three cosmic divisions, Earth, the Antariksha or middle region and Heaven (Dyaus); but there is also a greater Heaven (Brihad Dyau) called also the Wide World, the Vast (Brihat), and typified sometimes as the Great Water, Maho Arnas.

Multiple Oceans: The Veda speaks of two oceans: the subconscient and the superconscient. These oceans represent the depths of our being and the heights of our consciousness. The journey of the soul is a movement between these two infinities.

Rivers of Truth: The seven rivers of the Veda are not just physical streams but symbolic currents of consciousness. They represent the different aspects of the Truth-Consciousness flowing through the human being, purifying and illuminating the mind and soul.

Symbolic Journey: The crossing of the waters is a metaphor for the soul's journey from the mortal to the immortal, from the limited to the infinite. The rivers are the pathways of the Truth, leading the soul towards its divine destination.

7. The Herds of Light: The Illumination of the Mind

The word go means both cow and light and in a number of passages evidently meant light even while putting forward the image of the cow.

Double Meaning: The Vedic word "go" means both cow and light, reflecting the dual nature of the Vedic symbols. The physical cow is an image of the inner light, the divine knowledge that illuminates the mind.

Symbol of Knowledge: The Vedic cows are not earthly herds but symbolic representations of the rays of light, the illuminations of the divine knowledge. They are the herds of the Sun and the Dawn, representing the awakening of consciousness.

Psychological Significance: The wealth of cows and horses, often mentioned in the Veda, symbolizes the richness of mental illumination and the abundance of vital energy. These are the fruits of the Vedic sacrifice, the rewards of the soul's journey towards the Truth.

8. The Angiras Rishis: The Human Path to Immortality

The Rishis arranged the substance of their thought in a system of parallelism by which the same deities were at once internal and external Powers of universal Nature, and they managed its expression through a system of double values by which the same language served for their worship in both aspects.

Dual Nature: The Angiras Rishis are both human and divine, representing the human soul's journey towards immortality. They are seers, sages, and warriors, embodying the qualities of both human aspiration and divine power.

Discoverers of Light: They are the ancient fathers who discovered the path to the Truth, the path to immortality. They are the ones who broke open the cave of the Panis and released the herds of light, showing humanity the way to overcome darkness.

Symbolic Figures: The Angiras Rishis are not just historical figures but also symbolic representations of the human faculties that lead to spiritual enlightenment. They are the powers of vision, inspiration, intuition, and discrimination, all working together to achieve the divine goal.

9. The Panis and Vritra: The Forces of Darkness and Obstruction

These Vritras, Panis, Atris, Rakshasas, Sambara, Vala, Namuchi, are not Dravidian kings and gods, as the modern mind with its exaggerated historic sense would like them to be; they represent a more antique idea better suited to the religious and ethical preoccupations of our forefathers.

Powers of Limitation: The Panis and Vritra are not human enemies but symbolic representations of the forces that obstruct the soul's progress. They are the powers of darkness, division, and limitation, hindering the free flow of light and energy.

Psychological Obstacles: The Panis represent the miserly and possessive tendencies of the lower mind, while Vritra embodies the forces that cover and conceal the Truth. They are the internal obstacles that must be overcome on the path to spiritual liberation.

Symbolic Battle: The struggle between the gods and the demons is a representation of the inner battle between the forces of light and darkness, truth and falsehood. This battle is not just an external conflict but an internal struggle for self-mastery and spiritual growth.

10. The Vedic Sacrifice: A Symbolic Path to Spiritual Growth

The Vedic sacrifice consists of three features, — omitting for the moment the god and the mantra, — the persons who offer, the offering and the fruits of the offering.

Inner Transformation: The Vedic sacrifice is not just an external ritual but a symbolic representation of the inner transformation of the human soul. It is a process of self-offering, a journey towards the divine, and a battle against the forces of darkness.

Symbolic Elements: The different elements of the sacrifice, such as the priests, the offerings, and the fruits, all have symbolic meanings. The priests represent the different faculties of the soul, the offerings symbolize the surrender of our actions, and the fruits represent the rewards of spiritual growth.

Path to Immortality: The sacrifice is a means of spiritual progress, a way to exchange the falsehood for the Truth, the mortal for the immortal. It is a process of self-culture, a journey towards the divine, and a battle against the forces of limitation.

11. The Vedic Gods: Powers of the One Divine Being

The Rishis arranged the substance of their thought in a system of parallelism by which the same deities were at once internal and external Powers of universal Nature, and they managed its expression through a system of double values by which the same language served for their worship in both aspects.

Multiple Forms: The Vedic gods are not separate entities but different forms, powers, and personalities of the one universal Being. They represent the various aspects of the divine working in the cosmos and in the human soul.

Internal and External: The gods are both internal and external powers of universal nature. They are forces of the cosmos and also forces within the human being, representing different aspects of consciousness, will, and energy.

Psychological Functions: Each god has a specific psychological function, representing a particular aspect of the divine working in the human being. Agni is the divine will, Indra is the luminous mind, Varuna is the vastness and purity, and so on.

12. The Vedic Path: From Mortality to Immortality

The Rishis arranged the substance of their thought in a system of parallelism by which the same deities were at once internal and external Powers of universal Nature, and they managed its expression through a system of double values by which the same language served for their worship in both aspects.

Transition from Falsehood to Truth: The central idea of the Vedic Rishis is the transition of the human soul from a state of death to a state of immortality. This is achieved by exchanging the falsehood for the Truth, the limited for the infinite.

The Great Passage: The Vedic path is a journey from the mortal state of matter to the immortal state of infinite being, consciousness, and bliss. It is a process of self-discovery, self-culture, and self-transcendence.

The Goal of Immortality: The ultimate goal of the Vedic path is immortality, a state of infinite being, consciousness, and bliss. This is achieved by the exchange of the Falsehood for the Truth, of divided and limited being for integrality and infinity.

Last updated: January 26, 2025