Read the following passage and answer the question:
The syllable 'OM' is first uttered by Udgata priest in the sacrifice. Here it explained the meditation on the Udgitha. The essence of all creatures and objects in the earth. The essence of earth is water. The essence of water is plants. The essence of plants is Mann. The essence of Mann is speech. The essence of speech is Sama (chant). The essence of Sama is Udgith. This is supreme essence among all essences. This is the symbol of supreme self.
Speech itself is the Rik, the prana is the Sama, and the syllable 'OM' is Udgitha. That pair consisting of speech in the form of Rik and prana is the form of Sama is well known. Just as the union of male and female fulfills each other's desires, similarly from the conjunction of this pair the Omkara is produced.
It is through the syllable 'OM' that the threefold Vedic knowledge becomes active in ritual. By saying 'OM' the 'Hotr' priest begins his recitation and the Udgata priest begins the Sama chant. All sacrificial rites are performed for the worship of this very syllable 'OM'.
Explanation of Veda Mantra Recitation Initiation
The passage details the significance of the syllable 'OM' in Vedic sacrifices and rituals. It explains that 'OM' is not just a chant but represents the essence of various elements, ultimately symbolizing the supreme self.
Role of 'OM' in Initiating Recitation
According to the provided text, the recitation of Veda mantras is initiated with the sacred syllable 'OM'. The passage explicitly states:
- "By saying 'OM' the 'Hotr' priest begins his recitation..."
- "...and the Udgata priest begins the Sama chant."
This indicates that 'OM' serves as the crucial starting point for both general recitation and specific chanting (Sama) within the sacrificial context.
Significance of 'OM' in Rituals
The passage emphasizes the supreme importance of 'OM' (also referred to as Udgitha in the context of meditation on the Udgitha):
- It is described as the "supreme essence among all essences."
- It is stated that "the threefold Vedic knowledge becomes active in ritual" through the syllable 'OM'.
- The text concludes that "All sacrificial rites are performed for the worship of this very syllable 'OM'".
Therefore, the initiation of Veda mantra recitation with 'OM' highlights its foundational role in activating Vedic knowledge and conducting sacrificial rites.
Essence Chain
The passage outlines a chain of essences leading up to 'OM' (Udgith):
- Essence of Earth is Water.
- Essence of Water is Plants.
- Essence of Plants is Mind (Mann).
- Essence of Mind is Speech.
- Essence of Speech is Sama (chant).
- Essence of Sama is Udgith ('OM').
Connection to Priests
The passage connects specific priests to the utterance and function of 'OM' and related chants:
- The Udgata priest is associated with uttering 'OM' and beginning the Sama chant.
- The Hotr priest uses 'OM' to start his general recitation.
The union of Speech (Rik) and Prana (Sama) is symbolized by the conjunction that produces 'OM' (Omkara), further explaining its central role.
Important Questions from Vedic and later Vedic periods
Which of the following statements are not correct?
(A) Vinay Pitaka does not describe the rules for monks.
(B) Buddhism grew only after the death of Buddha.
(C) Sutta Pitakaare the verses composed by bhikkunis.
(D) Punna was a rich land-lady.
(E) The word Chaitya may have been derived from the word chita.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Which one among the following may not be called the non-vedic upanishada?
The veda which deals with the rituals is known as________
As per Vedic Literature how many loans are there in humans life?
- Which of the following are features of later vedic period :
(i) Atharveda refers to leading river water channels.
(ii) First reference of money lending occurs in Shatapata Brahmana.
(iii) Rice was the Staple food.
(iv) Weaving was practised on wide circle scale.
