Atmagatividya (Vedic Eschatology)

This book entitled Atmagatividya is a close sequal to my book on Vedic Concept of Atman which has been recently published. In these two books taken together, I have fairly covered all aspects of Vedic concept of Atman at the Adhidaivika and Adhyatmika levels. However I am well aware that a few important topics like Pranava concept, the Unified Theory of the Vedic seers etc. which I should have dealt with in the former of these two books, have been left out. I shall cover them in my next book on Bhagavad Gita.

Seventy years old Dr. A. S. Ramnathan is a scientist by career. He retired as Deputy Director General of Metereology, Government of India. He worked as a Research fellow of India. National Science Academy for a few years.

Dr. Ramanathan has made a thorough study of Indian scriptures like Vedas. Gita, Philosophical works of all great Acharyas and great Sanskrit epics.

About fifteen years ago he came across the works of Pandit Madhu Sudan Ojha and Pandit Moti Lal Shastri on Vedas. He came to Jaipur and devoted lot of time to study them. He came to the conclusion that both the scholars had done in the past. Dr. Ramanathan goes to the extent of saying the Pandit Madhu Sudan Ojha was the greatest scholars and is still doing. He is completely dedicated to Vedic works.

For, the past few years he has been writing in English on Ojha’s works. He thinks that the works of Ojha must come to the notice of world scientists and scholars because Ojha has highlighted the scientific aspect of Vedas which deals with the creative process of the universe and evolution. Never before this kind of work was done. Dr Ramanathan firmly believes that Ojha’s work can contribute a lot to the scientific understanding of the Vedas and can lead to more organized studies and research today.

This is the fourth publication of the author. Earlier he has published three books “Weather Science in Ancient India” “What is Veda” and “Vedic Concept of Soma” These days he is working on :Atma Gati”

Dr. Ramanathan is also interested in guiding researchers who wants to go deep into Vedic Science. He thinks, it is high time we unearth this knowledge and propagate it all over the world.

Atmagatividya forms an important section of Pandit Madhusudan Ojha’s writings on Brahmvigyan. Pandit Motilal Shastri, his principal disciple wrote under one main title “Shraddha Vigyan. Atmagativigyanopanisad is the subtitle of fourth and last volume of this work. It deals with not only Atmagati but also many of its material aspects and forms.

Atman as such has no form or visible shape. Many times in Vedic literature it is said to be indescribable (anirvacaniya). It is said to be nirakara, akhanda, nirvisesa, visvatita etc. Actually we are not concerned with that Atmã in this book. We are concerned here with the Atman which functions in the human body and is therefore a confined Atma.

In its life-long association with the human body, Atmã develops some characteristics. These are known as Bhavanas and Prarabdha Karmas. After death, when the body is cre- mated every physical element of the body vanishes but the prarabdha karmas remain and they form the basis of another life after death.

Scientists all over the world are deeply interested in life after death. They want to trace the origin of life also. Vedic concept of life is very scientific. This book deals with life after death but Prarabdha Karmas can also provide some knowledge of life or how the life likes form. Proper interpretation of Bhagavad Gita and thorough study of Atmagati upnishad, enlighten us about life after death and concept of life. Dr. Rammathan has gone deep into the matter.

This is a very vital and important subject to deal with. Dr Ramanathan is a scientist as well as a schalar of Vedas. Vedic literature contains comprehensive details of Atman and its various forms. Dr Ramanathan has dwelt at length on the subject of Atman and Karma. What happens to the soul after it leaves the body? This information available in Vedic literature has been presented to us in very clear terms by Pandit Madhusüdan Ojha in his writings and also by his principal disciple Motilal Shastri in his writings. Dr Ramanathan has been greatly benefited by these writings in his presentation of the subject in this book. He strongly feels that Pandit Madhusüdan Ojha has gone very deep into the scientific aspects of Vedic knowledge and never before a study of this type was made by any other scholar The magnitude of the works of these two scholars of Jaipur has impressed Dr Ramanathan so much that he has decided to dedicate himself to bring Vedic Science to the notice of the English knowing people in general and the scientific community in particular. I, on my part, an quite sure that Dr. Ramanathan is a highly capable and dedicated scholdr to handle this task. He has earlier written papers on Weather Science which were published in a Science Journal. He is also writing books on Vedic Science and Atmagatividyä is the latest one. I hope that the worthy readers of this book will benefit from it.

This book entitled Atmagatividya is a close sequel to my book on Vedic Concept of Atman which has been recently published. In these two books taken together I have fairly covered all aspects of Vedic concept of Atman at the Adhidaivika and Adhyatmika levels. However Jam well aware that a few important topics like Pranava concept, the Unified Theory of the Vedic seers etc. which I should have dealt with in the former of these two books, have been left out. I shall cover them in my next book on Bhagavad Gitã.

I again profusely thank Shri Karpur Chand Kulish Founder Editor Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur for all the encouragement he has given me for writing this book and for kindly arranging the publication of the same.