What is the Fifth Veda?
Bharata Muni’s Natya
Sastra is most known as the Fifth Veda. This Veda is compiled by extracting
words from Rig Veda, music from Sama Veda, movement from Yajur Veda and sentiment
from Atharva Veda.
It was intriguing
therefore to hear of a new book titled the Essence of the Fifth Veda by
Gaurang Damani. A little research revealed that there are other texts which
are also called the Fifth Veda. Ramcharitamanas, Mahabharata, Tamil texts like
Tevaram, Tiruvaymozhi and Ayur Veda have also been conferred the honorific of Fifth
Veda.
Published by Divine
Destination (Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi) the book is about the collective of Itihasas
(Ramayana and Mahabharata) and Puranas which is known as the Fifth Veda.
Three major chapter headings are Tirupati Balaji and
Ramayana, Miracles of God Krishna, and World War Called Mahabharata. The book
recounts lesser-known anecdotes and amazing details of the battles fought and
won in the Mahabharata and Ramayana. All events are connected to present day
locations with maps for reference.
This compact paper-back details how Sri Rama’s name
and fame spread through his sons, his brothers, and their sons to countries as far
as Khyber, Peshawar, Thailand, Egypt and Laos.
Some of the kingdoms which fought on the Kaurava’s side
were from Afghanistan, Nepal, Lanka, China, Turkestan, Iran, Kazhakstan, and North
Africa making it a world war.
Such snippets of information scattered across the
chapters makes for interesting reading. A helpful guide to the Sanskrit names
and pronunciation adds value to the book. The book has an flowing readable
style and will interest the new generation and impress the older.
[The author Gaurang Damani is a Mumbai-based Electronics Engineer, an entrepreneur, and well known for his active participation in civic matters. Do visit http://diehardindian.com/workdone]
#GaurangDamani #FifthVeda #Ramayana #Mahabharata #Puranas #TirupatiBalaji
