Why should we preserve our Culture?

The fact that the Vedic revelations have survived the tides of time so long testifies to some divine phenomenon catering to the material and spiritual aspirations of the people. Institutions engaged in the analytical study of these divine statements have been fascinated by the wealth of information, touching all aspects of society as well as human behaviour.

Digging into the mine of Vedic knowledge has resulted in unearthing several secrets which the scientific talent has discovered at a later stage.

It may surprise many to know that a reference to the atom and nuclear fission is contained in this treasure of ancient wisdom. Generation of scholars who studied God’s utterances, have provided details of various truths embedded in them in Sanskrit. It is a misfortune that this Divine language is now being described as a ‘dead’ one. On the other hand, since it has eternal value and relevance, it should be called ‘never dying ‘ one. The Divine revelations were rendered in Tamil by subsequent masters and this language is compared to ‘honey’.

Sanskrit and Tamil have been equal importance by our forbears who considered them as the eyes of a person. Apart from integrating all parts of the country, they brought out the hidden values. In their outpourings, apostles have rendered the translations of these Divine revelations and hence people vied with one another in mastering both the languages.

There has been a gradual decline in the standards of spoken Tamil but pure state, this language, particularly in the written style was admirable. The Saiva Agamas and the Pancharatra and other texts spelling out the systems of spiritual knowledge reflect the glory of these two languages.

Explaining how town planning in ancient days received society’s attention. Sri Andavan swami ina discourse said, an ancient Tamil text compared the formation of a city to that of a lotus with its central stalk surrounded by eight petals and containing the pollen grains, a few within and some fallen down. They represent the central portion of the city, the streets, the houses and the human beings.

Likewise the texts mention about the natural smell of Mother Earth. Granite dug out of it may not give any smell but when powdered, these will emanate a fragrance. The Mahabharata reveals how a Tamil emperor supplied food for the army engaged in the Kurukshetra battle. The works of kalidasa and chanayaka provide enormous details about cultural ethos and political sagacity. Samudragupta’s strategy in war bewilders one. It is hence necessary to preserve the sanctity of these two eyes and bring out, through research, more vital facts governing the state and the society.