The Ṛtanca Satẏañca (Ritancha Satyancha) incantation of Ṛgveda (Rigveda) [10.190.1–3] is an Aghamarṣana (Aghamarshan) verse. This purifying incantation is chanted at the beginning of the evening prayer during the sacred thread ceremony, beginning from āpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuvastā na ūrje dadhātana to āpo janaẏathā ca na. It is recited for purifying the water meant for drinking […]

In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that the discourse on God Nārāyaṇa (Narayana) is the essence of all scriptures. By way of comparison, the has said, it is as if, Āraṇyaka is among the Vedas. To develop the analogy, it is said, as we get navanīta (navanita;buttermilk) from the churning of curd, as we collect […]

Aruṇa (Aruna) is one of the varga(s) or gaṇa(s) (gana; genus or sect)of the ṛṣi(s)(rishi; sage) , as mentioned in Taittirīya Āraṇyaka (Taittiriya Aranyaka). Here it is said that Prajāpati (Prajapati; Lord of the people) Brahmā (Brahma)sat in meditation, for conceptualising the Creation. Contemplating on how the Creation would be, he shook the mass of […]

The dhātu (dhatu; verbal-root) ‘ṛṣ‘ (rish) means ‘to go’; and it is also applied to denote śruti (hearing), satya (the truth) and tapasyā (tapasya; to practice asceticism). Those who possess such qualities and engage themselves in the thought of Brahman, are called ṛṣi (rishi)– ṛṣityeṣu gatau dhātuḥ śrutau satye tapasyatha etat sannirataṁ tasmin brahmaṇā sa […]