Episode 01 - Sookthas.

SOOKTHAS

Let us go upstairs - to the Vedas - no less! - and consider some of the stunning, bewildering, mind-blowing proclamations in these. 

We all know that the Rig Veda is the mother Veda. It is believed to be the most ancient - though the staunch theistic Hindu thought would not countenance placing the Vedas in a time-line

We also broadly know that the Vedas are predominantly invocations – from the (Parama) Purusha to the other functional dhaivams - Brahma, Indra, Vayu, Agni, Surya, Varuna, etc. and prescription of the various rituals to propitiate them. 

But the Vedas are also home to some vedantic compositions i.e. a discussion in search of the true nature of the Ultimate, the process of creation, etc.  

The Rig Veda comprises, among other invocations. a number of sUkthams. sUktham translates roughtly to - su - aptly, appropriately, splendidly, uktham - stated, statement.  

We are quite familiar with some of the widely recited among the Sukthas - The puruSha sUktha, SrI nArAyaNa sUktha, SrI sUktha, bhU sUktha, nIlA sUktha - known amongst Sri Vaishnavites as well as Smaarthas, as the pancha sUkthas. 

The Sookthas found in the Rig Veda are listed in Annexure I:

You would find that they are specially-cut sookthams for invoking the Gods for narrowly-defined purposes of life e.g. naShta dravya prApthi sUktham, gnAna sUktham, medhA sUktham (for sharper intellect and assimilation of knowledge). 

Some as I said earlier come through as vedantic works, reminiscent of the Upanishads. Of these, scholars have marvelled at the mind-blowing, bewildering and stunningly audacious statements, nay questions, that the nAsadIya sUktha adminsiters to us. You would find that the Sooktha addresses metaphysical propositions that are nearly impossible for a human mind to comprehend. Let us see what this beautifully poetic piece of our ancient heritage has for us: