Book Review - The Yajurveda by Naveen Goyal



The Vedas have enticed Indian (and foreign) minds since a long time. These timeless scripts of wisdom are considered as the first spiritual texts in the history of literature.

Yajurveda by Naveen Goyal gives a concise insight into this branch of Vedas. Often considered to be a treatise on rituals, the Yajurveda digs far deeper. In the words of the author, 'it is a record of a profound psychological and civilizational shift. It tells the story of how our ancestors stopped being passive observers of nature and decided to become active participants in the cosmic order'.

The author has beautifully narrated the various aspects of Yajurveda. There are four Vedas in all. If Rigveda is poetry, Samaveda is song and Atharvaveda is protection, then Yajurveda is the action. It roughly translates to 'knowledge of rituals'. 

In this book, we learn about the Adhvaryu, the priest who looks after the construction of the altar for a yajna. We learn about the sacrificial ceremony, the mantras and the whole process associated with it. We learn about Sulba Sutras, the earliest mathematical texts in India. I was amazed by the knowledge provided in these timeless aphorisms. The author has explained this in detail and it makes for a wonderful reading. We learn about the earliest known rebel student Yajnavalkya who dared to question the prevailing order of things, created chaos and separated himself from the society, only to emerge stronger. We learn about the creation of Soma, the drink of the celestials. We learn about the Upanishads, timeless texts relevant in every age. 

For those who are interested in the spiritual knowledge of India, this book is a treasure-house of the same, giving a glimpse into the India around three thousand years ago when people lived in harmony with nature, revered it and nurtured it, only to be nurtured by it in return. 

In the epilogue section of the book, the author effectively states the need for this wisdom today as we live in the age of Artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and space travel. The wisdom of the Vedas will be applicable in every age and every generation and only increases in fervor with the passage of time.

I highly recommend this book to all those interested in spirituality and the ancient wisdom of India. It is definitely must-read for every seeker.

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