Page 16 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

21oha “krkCnh esa vkpk;Z fouksck Hkkos dh izklafxdrk

Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Vision of the Veda

Dr. Girish B. Jani

Acharya VinobaBhave (1895-1983), one of the eminent philosophers and thinkers of our age,
has explained 1319 out of total 10553 Mantras of the Rigveda. His elucidating exposition of the

content of these Mantras is published in the book entitled ‘VinobaSahitya Volume 1: Veda-chintana’
(in Hindi) published in 1993, by ParamDhamPrakashan, Pavnar, Wardha, Maharashtra. The said

book (referred toas ‘Veda-chintana’ in this paper) covers all the comments or explanations made by
Vinoba on Vedic Mantras.

An attempt has been made in this paper to present some glimpses of Vinoba’s multi-dimensional
vision of the Veda. Some of his comments or expositions of Mantras are discussed here to highlight his

unique approach to the philosophy of visionary Rishis.
It is interesting to see how Vinoba has related the Vedic message with the well-being and

welfare of human beings. He has composed a Sanskrit verse which presents his crystal-clear vision of
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the prominent topics of Indian philosophy. The said verse runs as under : -
osnosnkUrxhrkuka fouquk lkj m)`r%A

czã lR;a txRLQwfrZ% thoua lR;'kksèkue~AA

Vinu (Vinoba) has taken out (extracted) the essence of the Vedas, Vedanta (Upanishads) and
the Gita. That essence is :- (a) Brahman (Ultimate Reality) is real, (b) Jagat (world, whole creation)

is Sphurti i.e. manifestation of vibrant force of Brahman itself, and (c) Jivana (life) is the pursuit for
realization of Satya, the Ultimate Reality – Brahman.

Thus, VinobaBhave regards the world (Jagat) and the seeker of truth (Jiva) as real, and does
not believe in any distinction or discrimination as far as the oneness of Supreme Reality is concerned.

He tirelessly continued his Vedic studies for more than fifty years (1918-1968), and found that
the Gita is the fruit (Phala) of the Veda, and the Veda is the seed (Bija) of the Gita. He asserts that the

Veda aims for the all-round progress and development of human being as world citizen
(Vishvamanusha…Rigveda VIII.7.9), and, therefore,Vedais the heritage of enlightenment for entire
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mankind He agrees with the Vedic researchers who believe that the Vedas are at least 20000 – 22000
years old. He also accepts that the Veda is called ‘Chhandas’ as its deeper meaning is concealed with

the outer layer of words, and no efforts made so far have been successful in revealing its fullest
purport.Thus, he maintains that the real and full meaning of the Veda is yet to be revealed 3

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