(This article was first published in the Oct 2016 issue of 'The Call Beyond', monthly magazine of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, New Delhi.)
In the Veda, there is a
recurring mention of the lost Light which was concealed by the dark forces and recovered
by the gods, but with the special aid of the Angiras.
Angiras is perhaps the
most complex and deeply-layered symbol in the Veda. Sri Aurobindo writes, “the
interpretation of the Angiras myth gives us the key to the whole secret of the
Veda.”[1]
He examined the symbol of Angiras extensively in the book and here, only a part
of the analysis is presented.
Angiras are presented in
the Veda in many ways. Two of the primary presentations are: firstly, as a clan
of Rishis – the original Rishis, the human fathers, who discovered the Light
and ascended to the heaven of the Truth; secondly, in a purely
symbolic sense, as powers and sons of Agni. Sri Aurobindo begins by analyzing
the latter presentation.
The word ‘Angiras’ is
derived from the root aṅg, which is a nasalised form of ag, the root
of ‘Agni’. This root contains, among other meanings, the sense of a forceful
state as also of light. Force and Light are two companion ideas in the Veda.
Agni is not just an aspect of Light but of Force guided by the Light. Agni is
therefore called kavikratuh, the seer-will, the force of action which
works according to the inspired or supramental knowledge.
Similarly, Angiras, sons
of Agni, are active powers of the mind guided by the Light of Truth. They are
referred to as agne aṅgira ūrjo napāta- “O Agni Angiras, Son of Energy”, and
Agni itself is called prathamo aṅgirāḥ, the first Angira. It is evident
that the usage of the word ‘Angiras’ is purely symbolic here.
But why then are they also
referred to as the human fathers, pitaro manuṣyāḥ?
“Our fathers broke open the firm and
strong places by their words, yea, the Angirases broke open the hill by their
cry; they made in us the path to the great heaven; they found the Day and Swar
and vision and the luminous Cows”[2]
- R.V. I.71.2
Were they originally
demigods, powers of the Light and Flame, who became humanised as the fathers
of the race and the discoverers of its wisdom? Or were they originally
human sages who were later deified by their descendants?
Sri Aurobindo rules out
both these processes which are common in European myths. Instead, he brings
forth another tendency, which is peculiar to the Veda.
He explains that
primarily, Angiras represent the ancient human fathers, the first souls to
ascend to the supramental consciousness. Later, the composers of the Vedic
hymns utilized the meaning inherent in the word ‘Angiras’ to represent
psychological powers necessary for such ascent. These powers are akin to the
psychological aspects symbolized by Agni.
“..in this mystic
symbolism the seven Angiras Rishis.. (became) divine powers and living forces
of the spiritual life without losing altogether their traditional or historic
human character”[3]
“In this work of the
sacrifice they appear in a double form, the divine Angirases, who symbolise and
preside over certain psychological powers and workings like the gods, and the
human fathers, pitaro manuṣyāḥ… who have conquered immortality by the work,
have attained the goal and are invoked to assist a later mortal race in the
same divine achievement.”[4]
Sri Aurobindo reminds us here
that the Puranas distinguish between two classes of ‘Pitris’ or ancestors - the
divine Fathers, a class of deities; and the human Ancestors - to both of whom
the pinda is offered.[5]
This is only the continuance of the original Vedic idea. Understanding this
helps us better appreciate our annual traditions related to the Pitris.
While there is much more
to the Angiras legend, such as their association with another important deity,
Brihaspati, but the above are the main ideas behind their symbolism. Sri
Aurobindo summarily states:
“It is for the great
human journey that they are invoked; for it is the human journey from the
mortality to the immortality, from the falsehood to the truth that the Ancestors
accomplished, opening the way to their descendants.”[6]
No comments:
Post a Comment