Social media in recent times
is been misused to post articles on subjects that are got from half-baked
knowledge. Jnana (Knowledge) has no limits as the count of the subjects is
numerous. In that sense we all lack the Paripoorna (Complete) knowledge. But
one can access knowledge of a particular subject completely. There are two
dimensions in obtaining knowledge of a subject; one is Pakva (Perfect) and
Poorna (Thorough). When the knowledge obtained is not perfect it will be Apakva
(Half-baked).
A group in Face book which has
members who claim to be Hetu Shastris (Dialectics) have posted a write up
on “Ashwamedha Yagna” without thinking logically as to what it
mean. All most all members in the group belonged to Hindu religion. To give a
chance for those from the other religion to counter the validity of Ahimsa
(Non-injury) practiced in Hindu religion, the post on this Ashwamedha was uploaded. I am
not a Sanskrit scholar but while reading from a few scriptures and a few literature
my understanding about Ashwamedha Yagna is completely different to what is posted.
The author of the post says
that a horse was sacrificed (killed) by King Dasharatha as a part of ritual to
have progeny. As I understand Yagna is an auspicious ritual and there might not
have been bloodshed by killing of a horse or any kind of animal. The word
Ashwamedha has two words which are “Ashwa” meaning horse and “Medha” meaning
sacrifice. These two words are from Sanskrit Dictionary and it seems to be
pointing out to horse killing...isn’t it???
No, the word Ashwamedha can be
found in scriptures dated to the Vedic period
so if we look for the meaning in the Sanskrit Dictionary we are likely to be
misled. Those words which are from the scriptures fromVedic period one has to
refer to Nighantu and Nirukta complied by Yaskacharya in 7th century
B.C, it is the oldest treatise on etymology, philology and
semantics.
In the etymology of the word
Ashwamedha, the Dhatupada (root word) is “ash” which means “to consume” and
that which consumes is called “Ashwa”.
So, is Ashwa in Ashwamedha a
horse???
No, in Sanskrit a word is
understood in three different contexts namely Laukika (worldly sense), Yaugika
(derivative sense) and Yogarudha (etymological sense). The Nighantu
(Vocabulary) clarifies it. Here Ashwa is derived from Ash which is to consume
and in Laukika (worldly sense) that animal is called horse. Yaskacharya gives
the explanation by saying “Ashnati Adhvanam iti Ashwa” Ashnati is consume;
Adhvan is path or road, so, that which consumes the path is Ashwa. This is the
Yaugika (derivative) meaning of Ashwa.
After getting the Dhatupada from
the Nighantu we have to consult the Nirukta (Interpreter) which equates our
Pancha Indriyas (Five Senses) to Ashwa. Nayana (Eyes) consume the Drusti
(Sight); Sravana (Ears) consume Sabdha (Sound); Jihva (Tongue) consumes Ruchi
(Taste); Nasika (Nose) consumes Gandha (Smell) and Tvaca (Skin) consumes
Sparsha (Touch). We can recall the analogy of the chariot in Kathopanishad
where the horses are likened to our senses and the reins holding them is the mind,
intellect is the charioteer and the Self is the traveler going on the road called
life.
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