Vedic Myth, Ritual and Philosophy : A Study of Dvaita Interpretation of Veda by Madhva (An Old and Rare Book)

This work intends to take into account the ideas of Sri Madhvacarya (1238-1317 A.D.) relating to the Vedic religion such as mythology, ritual, cosmogony, rsi, chandas and devata and apauruseyatva, svatahpramanava and istasadhanatva of the Veda and to study in the light of these, his interpretation of the RV (important portions of the 40 hymns on which he has commented avoiding repetitions) with a view to understanding his method of Rgvedic interpretation.

Since Madhva, the celebrated founder of Dvaita school of Vedanta, is a pre-Sayana personality, his ideas on the Veda and his interpretation of the same have some unique and special value. It is interesting to note how Madhva has (throughout his numerous writings) endeavoured to delineate the supremacy of Visnu as the ultimate purport of all the scriptural propositions. Since a clear picture of the background of Madhva's ideas regarding the Veda and Vedic interpretation is a pre- requisite of the proposed study, an attempt has been made in Chapter I (Introduction) to trace the history of Vedic interpretation before Madhva's time. It is shown therein why Madhva proceeds to interpret the RV a fresh and how the contemporary environment has shaped his exegesis. The influences on Madhva of some earlier philosophical systems like Pancaratra etc., are naturally traced.

In Chapter II (Madhva on the apauruseyatva, svatahpramanatva and isfasadhanarva of the Veda) are discussed Madhva's ideas on the authority of the Vedas, on philosophical grounds. His differences with the Carvakas, Buddhists, Jainas, Naiyayikas and Purva-Mimamsakas have also been noted.

In Chapter III (Madhva on the rsi, chandas and devata), three most important aspects of Madhva's Vedic exegesis are studied, viz. the knowledge of the seers, metres and deities, as viewed by Madhva. His views on fatarcitva and evolution of the Vedic Samhitas have also demanded attention. Also it is found that he has his own belief and notions regarding the seers and metres of the hymns and these are at variance with the Sarvanukramani and the Bṛhaddevata. These render valuable help in understanding the notions regarding the development of the Vedic Samhitas among the respected authorities for Madhva.

The Rgveda happens to be the oldest book of the world. It has maintained its textual sanctity for five thousand years. This polychromatic text was approached from every possible angle through the past four millennia. With every extraordinary reading it has become more illusive than ever before. It was once lost to posterity under inconceivable circumstances and was partly recovered by determined disciples of Vedavyasa after painstaking research. It was compiled and analyzed in a scientific manner to ward off any omission, commission or addition in future. 'Immortal' and 'immortalizing' massive pyramids and structures were ravaged by time, pillaged by bandits, damaged by zealots, buried under sand and forgotten for centuries. Rgveda remained unsullied by time, surviving in millions of minds through hundreds of generations, and still stands as a miraculous web blown out of time and space.

But Rgveda is also the text, which was subjected to scholastic abuse by self-assured scholars and schools to serve their sectarian needs. The more reverent the scholar, the more ruthless he was. These erratic approaches rendered the text irrelevant, and in fact there were sensible scholars who is their disgust had to confess that the Vedas are meaningless-nirathaka vai vedah or merely a jumble of syllables, vedah aksaramatrikah. This reduction suited those who intended to use the rics for there proclaimed magical power, mantrasakti.

**Contents and Sample Pages**