Waves of VEDAS- by late prof Harimohan jha

VAIDIKA TARANGAM WAVES OF THE VEDAS It was Holi festival that day. Uncle had two rounds of bhang and was getting ready for the third. He saw me and said, “Come on, son. Come. Now saffron bhang is getting ready. You also have some.” “No, Uncle. I don’t take bhang.” Uncle was quite tipsy. He swayed and said, “Arey! What makes you give “How does consuming bhang qualify as Vedic tradition, Uncle?” “Read the Veda. Then you would know how our ancestors drank. There’s no count of the hymns of eulogy on somsras in the Vedas. At some places, it quite simply dominates everything else.” “What is the evidence to show that bhang then was known as somras?” “Not one or two but many evidences. Look, it was pounded in kalvam. It was ground on a stone. It was filtered with cloth. It was mixed with water or milk. Many spices were mixed with it. It was made in three colours, green, white and yellow. That means regular bhang, milk bhang and saffron bhang.” “But some say that somaras means knowledge or the rays of the moon. Is “Whoever says that, their mind must have been filled with bhang. For some, aswam in Veda hymns means the grain of rice; gow means rice and ghrutaysa dhara means the voice of knowledge. But I think logically. If somras was knowledge, how was it pounded with the pestle? If it were the rays of the moon, how was it ground on stone?” “Is there no doubt that somam is bhang, Uncle?” “Not in the least. In Rigveda, in many chapters, there is a continuous description of this. At one place, there is the description of filtration and at another, mixing. The sages and gods derived immense pleasure in drinking this. Indra, the king of gods, used to consume so much that he would get tipsy. You know how he drank? His beard and moustache would be drenched in the drink. He would shake off the juice flowing down the beard. ‘Drink and drink until falling on the ground...’” “If somras was bhang, how could the rishis preach such solemn things?” “Arey! Only when they were filled with it could they think of solemn things? That’s how those visionaries could express an opinion on the most secret matters. The man’s adi granth (the first book) contains a lot on adi ras (sex). There’s nothing comparable to the Vedic description of the coitus in the world “What? Coitus in the Vedas!” I said. “Arey! It’s none too subtle. In the stream of somaras, sringara (romance) ras swelled up in thousand streams. That’s why I say the students and the bachelors should not study the Vedas.” “Uncle! I am astounded by what you say. How could there be discussion of sexual intercourse in the Vedas?” I said. Pounding bhang in kalvam, Uncle smilingly said, “Then listen to this. ‘The somalatha leaves were being pounded like this. The pestle was pounding.’ The ruchakar uses simile now – “Uncle! What does it mean?” “It says when a woman has parted her thighs and opens the mouth of her vagina, then...You’re my brother’s son. How can I explain it to you more “Uncle, after hearing your words, there is no need for me to say anything Uncle tied a cloth around the mouth of the cruse and placed on top the ball of bhang. Then to filter it, he poured water over it and began to move the fingers in that. Then he smiled and said, “A sage in Gayatri hymn says about moving the “What’s the meaning of this, Uncle?” “It says the lass who is amorous is signalling her paramour with her fingers “Was there adultery in the Vedic times too?” “Not only had it existed but the sages derived great pleasure out of it.” Uncle began to pour bhang in the kalash and he said smilingly, “Look! A sage who was excited watching ras being poured into kalash like this said – ‘The sprayer filled with the fluid spurts and sprays into the pitcher, into the “They were all rishis, persons who did penance. How could they think of employing such similes?” I asked. “The simile gave so much pleasure to the rishis that they used it on many occasions. Hear this mantra- ‘That means, the way this juice flows is like the paramour’s ... flows into “My god! Description of the paramour in the Veda?” I said. “Arey! The importance attached to the paramour can be gauzed from this in “That means, O! Somadeva, like a woman who accepts her paramour, I “There is mention of the paramour in the Veda one thousand times. I guess those days, paramours were assigned greater importance than the husbands.” “These slokas are proof that the women in the Vedic times had great deal of “Is there any doubt about that? The Vedic women were quite independent. At one place, a young girl would invite her paramour and at another a married woman would worship her paramour. How would the paramour make love his lover? What was the kind of satisfaction derived by the young woman in the company of a young paramour? There are descriptions of this kind too in the “If that were so, there must have been illegitimate children also in the “Not one or two but many. Vasishta was born out of Oorvasis’s womb. Dirghathama’s pregnant mother had intercourse with Brihaspathi and gave birth to a child of mixed caste. Purukutsu’s wife begot Trasadasyu thanks to Saparshi. How many women had delivered secretly? What all do you want me to tell? If I recount all the occasions of adultery, it would be the fifth Veda. That’s why I don’t keep the commentaries on the Vedas at home lest women would go astray. That’s probably also the reason why women are not allowed to study the Vedas. ‘Women and the Sudras shall not study the Vedas.’” “Uncle, whatever you said amazes me,” I said. “I have been under the impression that the drum beats of bachelorhood rent the air those days.” Uncle smiled and said, “Now you know what kinds of drums were played on, don’t you? Just see how the rishis lost their consciousness, being drunk and tipsy on account of Somaras- “How is it possible to say anything so sleazy? Uncle, what’s the exact “It means –‘the organ desires to enter ... covered with hair. O! Somadeva! You begin to ooze.’ Tell me this. Who but a drunkard would speak like this?” I was distressed. “I always thought that the rishi and rishinis were tatwadarsulu, philosophers,” I said. Uncle sipped saffron bhang and said, “Even the prostitutes would be abashed when they hear the mantras that rishinis wrote. Listen to what Ghosha, a ‘I invite you to this yagna with the same warmth as a widow would invite her brother-in-law into her bedroom.’” “My goodness! Such shameless words from an unmarried girl?” I said. “You’re petrified with this! See how Angira rishi’s daughter Saswathadevi turned ecstatic looking at the organ of a young man. ‘Seeing the strong, long one dangling between the two thighs, Saswathi said, “Aha! You have such a beautiful one which is an open invitation for I was dumb struck. “This is the limit, Uncle. Unless one is fully drunk and senseless, such words would not escape the lips.” “Arey! They were all drunkards, weren’t they? That’s why even the prostitutes were not their equals in lewd talk. Look at what Surya spinster said - “I don’t understand this,” I said. “Well, ‘uruu’ means both thighs; ‘visram’ means open; ‘sefe’ means the organ; ‘praharama’ means to hit. Put them together and try to understand. If you don’t still follow, ask any Vedic pundit.” “I didn’t know that the Vedas contained such obscenity, Uncle,” I said. “To know about what obscenity means I suggest you read the tenth mandala of Rigveda where Indra and Indrani indulge in sexual intercourse ecstatically. Indrani slaps her thighs and says- “That means, ‘Pound me like a horned bull bellows and mounts.’ Kashmira kokkokasastra is no match to the description of intercourse thereafter.” I interjected and said, “Uncle” but I found him unstoppable. He was excited and said, “Your head will reel if you read the description of Lomasa’s sexual frenzy who in her youthful lust went berserk. She removed all her embellishments “That means, ‘You come close to me and hold me tightly. Look at how like the hair of a ram, how big...big...!’ “Can there be anything more vulgar than this that can be uttered by a woman? Then, the Uddama sex game that goes on is something which I cannot tell you and which for you is not worth hearing. He was so full of Lomasa that he choked and gave her a certificate of Rathimallatha (top notch wrestler in sex)- “That means, his body is covered by the body of this young woman completely and she is engaged in the act of sexual intercourse ecstatically. ” I couldn’t believe it. “Uncle, I suppose you are not telling this under the influence of bhang, are you?” “I’m not drunk. Those who vividly describe sex between the siblings, between father and daughter were intoxicated. You will be shocked to hear about Brahma’s intercourse with his daughter. ‘...’ (Father impregnated his daughter.) I can’t utter the kind of obscene words that are there in it even when I am under the “Uncle, what then is the difference between the Vedas and Vama marga?” “In so far as I’m concerned, I think the Vedas are the source of Vama marga. From where else would have the followers of Vama marga got it? Look at what is written in ‘Kali tantra’- ‘Liquor, meat, fish, vigina and sex have been the five instruments of liberation all though the ages.’ “Jnana Sakala Tantra says this – ‘Whoever gets relieved of worldly shame or the ties of the society would become Sadasiva or Jeevanmukt.’ “Liquor is assigned the same importance in Vama marga as Somaras in the Vedas. In Matrika Tantra, it is said – “That means, O! Goddess! Without drinking liquor, spiritual knowledge cannot accrue. That’s why Brahmins must drink liquor. “Kamakhya Tantra even goes further – ‘Whoever doesn’t drink liquor after taking diksha of Kalika or Tharini, the water that he offers is equal to the dog’s urine.’ “Of the five means of liberation, the greatest importance has been given to sex. ‘Kulavarna Tantra’ says this – ‘O! Goddess, the fifth one is as dear to me as my life. Chandi mantra shall not be recited in any case without having sexual intercourse.' “Then, consider how distinctive is the method of japa as described “That means, ‘those who follow the caste practices, and who worship caste have to get fixed in a sexual pose and do japa in that pose only’. This they called as Kulachara or Kulapuja. ‘Sarasarvaswa’ contains this – “That means, whoever does japa one thousand times gazing at a naked woman, he will become experts in all the fields. He will have known all Vedas. “Further, Kulasarwaswa says this- “That means, ‘Whoever does japa ten thousand times gazing at the menstruating vagina, his speech of word and verse would have the desired “Uncle, followers of Vama marga also practised caste and religion, didn’t ‘...’ (Whoever gets to Bhairavai Kshetra (where puja is performed in panchamkara) they all will become chaste Brahmins and the women assembled there would be reckoned as women of virtue (kula stree).) “In Utpatthi mantra, it is said – “That means, ‘O! Parameswari, the woman of the caste has to be fucked unmattamga. Particularly, a young woman who is kamonmatturalu, vilasavathi. “Gupta Sadhana Tantra mentions- “That means, ‘a gypsy woman, kapalika, a prostitute, a washerwoman, a barber woman, a Brahmin woman, a Sudra woman, a cowherd woman, a gardener woman – women of all these castes are fit for the secret practices.’ “In Rudrayamala Tantra, it is said- “That means, Chandalini is equal to Kasi, Charmakarini to Prayaga, Kanjari woman to Ayodhya, a washerwoman to Mathura.’ Intercourse with these women would earn the same merit as pilgrimage to these places. “Yoga is explained like this in ‘Gnanarnava Tantra’- ‘That means, O! Parvathy! Yog is union of the Nature (woman) and man (semen). There’s no doubt about it.’ “Puja secret is told like this- “That means, the orgasmic sound ‘sii, sii’ is the mantra. The words uttered at that time are the true mantras and slokas. Massage is tarpana. Flow of semen is “Kularnava Tantra says this- “That means, O!Parvathy! Siva ought not to be worshipped without liquor and meat. O, nitambini, I (Shiva) shall not be satisfied without bhaga lingamruta “This seems to have no limits, Uncle. Even Charvaka hadn’t gone this far.” “Arey, they were grandfathers of Charvaka. Agastya told Lopamudra that a human being has to indulge sexual intercourse happily all his life. (Rigveda 1/179/ 2). Charvaka too said the same but he has been labelled as an atheist. Agastya was a sage. Arey, whatever I say intoxicated that I am of bhang are dismissed as funny but whatever they said consuming samaras have become the Vedas. Son, say this. Have my words crossed all limits? Tell me.” “Uncle, on the festival of Holi, everything is all right.” “True. Obscene words uttered on Holi day are exempt from blame. Do you know the reason for this? ‘Dharmasindhu’ says this- ‘The wicked ogre Holika will get satiated only when you go around it uttering extremely obscene words such as bhagam, vagina, penis and the like.’ “In ‘Shyama-Chandrika’ it is said – ‘The organ is the bliss. Vagina is the ultimate thing. Praising the penis is most desirable. Praising the vagina is most pleasurable.’ “That probably is the source of the tradition of abusing on the day of Holi. I guess it’s on the day of Holi that some made this sloka and sang it- “In Kali Yug, everyone becomes a philosopher much like everybody turns a child during the festival of Holi.” “Some commentators ascribe spiritual meanings to the obscene words, “Just listen to this mantra – “That means –‘Your organ must grow so big that it should be like a strong horse’s or donkey’s...!’ So, here the donkey too is spiritual, isn’t not? Arey, the words they said in the name of gardabhesti (a yagna performed as a penance for committing the sin of breaking the vow of celibacy) and aswamedham (horse sacrifice) are so crude that even Charvaka called them fakes, deceivers and ogres- “Those Veda writers who said the wife of the person who performs horse sacrifice has to receive the horse’s organ are fakes, deceivers and ogres.” Just then our aunt arrived there with kheer. Uncle was joyous. He said, “Take it. It is Holika’s Prasad. The sweets are the lifeline of our Vedic culture, aren’t they? Since the Vedic times, we have been lavishing praise on sweetmeats. Just hear this- ‘Let all the produce of the Nature be filled with honey. Let water also be sweet. The sky too must be filled with sweets.’ “They wanted the entire world to be immersed in sweet- ‘Let the wind be sweet. Let the rivers be sweet. The trees, the nights and the mornings be sweet! The dust on the earth be sweet! The sky which is like our father be sweet! Let the Sun be sweet! Let our cows be sweet.’ “Arey, in which other country would you find such interest in the sweets? Here even after death too, the ancestors are satiated saying ‘om, madhu, madhu, madhu’. Aha ha! Now let us follow the adage that we should conclude everything Seeing me accepting Prasad, Uncle began to recite Vedic hymns tunefully- ‘Let honey be at the tip of my tongue. Let honey be at the base of my tongue. Let the words that escape my mouth be sweet. Let the food that enters my mouth be sweet. Let all my activities be full of sweet. Let me be as sweet-natured Uncle said, “You know its meaning, don’t you? Let there be sweet all though the life on the tongue; eating sweets, let us talk sweetly; get sweets and distribute sweets. Let all that we see be sweet. This, my son, is the sweetest of all While saying this, Uncle’s eyes began to close in drowsiness. Aunt saw that and said, “Leave him to me now, son. I’ll take care,” and she led Vikatakavi Uncle inside. English version by Chandrahas, Hyderabad ***