Essence of the Fifth Veda- Book Review

 

 

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]

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