Page 1/2: Nature of knowledge of Vedas
The knowledge in Vedas is called Aapurusheya. This word translates as non-human origin. Even if we go into deeper distinction, the knowledge of Vedas is given no source to it. Yet every section of Vedas is attributed to a Rishi. Osho pointed this out in one of his discourses. How could knowledge given by a Rishi have been called without origin?
There is no source to Vedas but multiple deities are associated with Vedas. Vishnu’s, Hayagiva and Varaha avatar are the protector of Vedas from demons. Vishnu’s Matsya avatar saved Vedas from a celestial catastrophic event. God Brahma is supposed to have all of the four Vedas in his four hands. So does his wife Saraswati. Brhama’s wife’s extension Gayatri is called to be the very manifestation of Vedas. Now, none of these deities are associated with the origin of Vedas. They are personifications, saviours, rescuers or holders of Vedas but none of them are the origin of Vedas.
Rishis who are titled to be discoverers of Vedas, themselves do not claim to be the origin. They just discovered what existed. Just like Einstein discovered Relativity, he did not make Relativity. Relativity always existed. Similarly, Rishis are discoverers of Vedas, not the origin.
Knowledge could have multiple origins. Some knowledge is just mutually agreed upon. The whole community of English speakers with good colour perception will consider a spectrum of colour as Red. This is the way any language works. Some knowledge makes sense mathematically and regardless of the language, people of understanding will reach the same conclusion. Two plus two is four, in every language. Some knowledge comes from working on things and discovering more about them, like how science proceeds. Some knowledge is intrinsic, no one teaches a bird how to fly. So there are multiple types of Knowledge.
I will personally consider Veidic knowledge as an intrinsic understanding of Nature. A normal human has two eyes. Now this is a fact but why? Physiological science will answer this question by explaining from a basic understanding of the body to a deeper understanding of DNA These are the answers to the how. The why part of this understanding deals with multiple aspects like philosophy, physiology and theology. If someone perceives Vedas correctly, the how and the why part of the question about the existence of eyes will be available to the person without any search and experimentation like we do in the field of science.
Vedas is not magic that a person will just know things. In science we need to work on things and spend time in observation, similarly, Vedas have different approaches. Many Rishis were never classed as humans either. They existed since the origin of Brhamanda. Their spirits manifest with different names and different bodies but these souls are timeless. In each cycle of time, they are again supposed to restore the knowledge which has been corrupted. They work on their Vidhayas to know and to utilise. So the knowledge written down as Vedas never claims to be perfect, the Veda is a realisation rather than a finite set of knowledge. You never know if the written Veda is completely available or even if it is corrupted.
When I say spirits of Rishis manifest with different names and bodies. In Hinduism, no one knows who truly is the manifestation of the Rishi or God or even something evil. Even you could be a manifestation of a higher class of spirit. The literature explains spirit as both unitary and melting into a higher non-singular existence. In time of God Krishna, Ved Vyasa, Krishna’s cousin Shishupal and some other people too possessed Narayana Tattva. Shishupal was raised in a way to believe that he was the complete avatar. In his astral form, he possessed four hands like God Narayan. This raised the dispute between Krishna and Sishupala which resulted in Sishupala’s end. So it’s very hard even to determine who truly is a Rishi or not.
Spiritually we all possess something divine or evil or both. The seat of God is not reserved for holy sons and prophets. You are equally divine, and so is the whole of existence.