Preservation of Veds

Preservation of Veds

Ved are Sruthi - that which is heard.

Veds were compiled 28th time by Rishi Krishn Dwaipayana, also known as VedVyas, around 3100 BCE. Compiled around 3100 BCE! 5120 years back.
Ved Vyas is a person who compiles Veds.

Veds were transmitted orally for generations.

UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Vedic chant a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2008.

Max Muller, a German Vedic Scholar wrote in 1860’s-- The sacred hymns of Brahmins stand unparalleled in the literature of the whole world and their preservation may well be called miraculous.

Preservation of Veds:

By writing
By Indexing or Anukraamani-How many mantr, sukt, devata, Rishi, Pads, Anuvakas, Adhyays, Mandala, Khand, Ashtak
By reciting pads in its own swar. Memorizing the Pads of the mantr in the same order of samhita. There are peculiar combinations with prescribed rules, so that the words are not dropped from the samhita of that particular shaaka and the accent, the intonation of the samhita is not changed from its original form. This is the objective of vikriti Paath.

Which tradition is best—oral or written. Remember written knowledge was burnt and destroyed. It was oral tradition which saved us. The common perception is that oral knowledge is not a permanent method of storage. On the contrary most of the ancient libraries of the world, where the books, manuscripts, tablets, palm leaf, etc. were stored, have been burnt down by invaders and rivals. Tibet was invaded by China and all its libraries and books were destroyed. Dalai Lama had to flee. However, their culture and heritage is still alive because of their oral education system. Takshila and Nalanda universities were burnt down in India, Hindu mandirs were looted and destroyed, and books were burnt. However, the Hindu culture is still thriving because of the oral system of education.
Unbelievable truth is that the oral system of knowledge transmission has withstood the ravages of time in spite of their massive content (Rig veda and Yajur veda have 153,826 words and 109,287 words respectively).

In Taittriya Samhita there over 2,000 panchasats पञ्चाशत्(1 panchasat = 50 pads), amounting to 100,000 pads. Usually each pad has 3 syllables, thus totaling 300,000 syllables. In the Ghan method of chanting, each syllable gets repeated 13 times, thus amounting to 3,900,000 utterances. And each of these utterances have to conform to all the six parameters which are:

Varn (letters)
Swar (intonation)
Mantr (duration of articulation)
Balam (force of articulation)
Sama (uniformity)
Santana (continuity)

Our ancient seers probably could see well into the future and realize that the oral transmission of knowledge was the most enduring method of passing knowledge down the generations and hence formed 10 Paath of knowledge transmission.Our ancient Rishis not only compiled scientific knowledge in the form of the Veds and but also ensured that it was preserved for posterity in all its purity by devising an error free and self correcting technique of transmission of Knowledge.

How come Vedic scholar are so sure that what they are reciting today is exactly the same that was said more than 5000 years back, both in the tone and the content?

It was found that each mantra of Ved was transmitted in ten different methods or Paaths to maintain the originality.
There are three Prakriti paaths and eight Vikriti paaths called astha vikriti.

Simple or Prakriti Paaths:

Samhita or Vakya वाक्य Paath
Pad पद Paath( Pad means word and Paath means reading)
Kram क्रम Paath

Vikriti or complex Paaths/Astha Vikriti:

Jaata जटा Paath
Mala माला Paath
Shikha शिखा Paath
Rekha रेखा Paath
Dhwaj ध्वज Paath
Dand दंड Paath
Rath रथ Paath
Ghan घन Paath

जटा माला शिखा रेखा ध्वज दण्डो रथो घनः इत्यस्तौ -विक्र्तयः प्रोक्तः क्रमपुर्व महर्षिभिः

How come Vedic scholar are so sure that what they are reciting today is exactly the same that was said more than 5000 years back, both in the tone and the content? No one was alive 5000 years back to know whether the recitation format followed today is the same as that was recited 5000 years back, but through these 10 recitation methods one can emphatically state that there have been no deviation in the style or content of recitations.

By repeating the words in manifold ways, the correct tally of words was also kept which has naturally ensured its purity.

The time taken to enunciate each syllable of a word was fixed and this unit of time or time interval was called “mantr”.

There are swar chhinh in alphabets which show the way to pronounce the word. These swars were memorized using a specific movement of head, neck, and hands. During recitation of mantr if there is a mistake then the student can easily correct it by looking at the movement of hands, head etc. There is one standard way to recite these swars and this maintains the purity or originality of mantrs.

Four types of swar are:

Anudaatt अनुदात्त (lower tone) - indicated as an underline
Udaatt उदात् (middle tone) - not indicated
Swarit स्वरित (higher tone) -It is indicated as a single line. Deergha Swarita दीर्घस्वरित (High tone extended) is indicated by double mark
Prachaya- not indicated

The Vedanga are ways to study veds. The six vedangas are:

Shiksha deals with phonetics, phonology, pronunciation. This focuses on the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, accent, quantity, stress, melody and rules of euphonic combination of words during a Vedic recitation. This explains the correct and specific way to take breath and recite to have a specific vibrating effect on a specific body part for maximum benefit from the mantr recitation.
Chaandas : This focuses on the poetic meters, including those based on fixed number of syllables per verse, and those based on fixed number of morae per verse.
In early days of Vedic period, study was in the form of oral teaching, and methodical rhythmic recitation was mandatory to keep the purity of text. Rhythmic recitation also helps to develop good memory of the text. Apart from the classical teaching Chhandas were being used in day to day life to remember the verses of worshiping.
Vyakaran : grammar and linguistic analysis.This focuses on the rules of grammar and linguistic analysis to establish the exact form of words and sentences to properly express ideas.
Nirukt: etymology, explanation of words, particularly those that are archaic and have ancient uses with unclear meaning.This discipline focuses on linguistic analysis to help establish the proper meaning of the words, given the context they are used in.
Kalpa : ritual instructions. This field focuses on standardizing procedures for Vedic rituals, rites of passage rituals associated with major life events such as birth, wedding and death in family, as well as discussing the personal conduct and proper duties of an individual in different stages of his life.
Jyotish: Auspicious time for rituals, astrology, and astronomy.This focuses on time keeping.[

Vaakya or samhita paath is to recite a mantra in a sentence straight with appropriate intonations. In sentences, some of the words have to be conjoined in chanting. Samhita is conjunction of words with sandhi and it is with accent. Samhita is Mantr or Rik in Rig Ved. Mantr usually has two sentences. One sentence has two or three paads and paads have words or pads.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

In pad paath, a sentence is broken down to ‘words’ or pads, which gives the student the knowledge of each word. The sandhi of samhita path is maintained in pad path.

1
2
3
4
5

In the kram Paath, the first word of a sentence is added to the second, the second to the third, the third to the fourth and so on, until the whole sentence is completed. Last word of first sentence ends with iti (this is called veshtna). Veshtana in a pad is called pad veshtana and vestana at the end of sentence is called Vaakyaanth veshtana, Veshtana because of different words in samhita and pad is called Vikaaram veshtana. Last word of first sentence is not joined with the first word of second sentence. This method enables the student to understand not only individual words but also how the words combine in recitation with the attendant modification of the swar.

1,2
2,3
3,4
4,5
5,6

In the jaata Paath, the first word and the second word are recited together and then the words are recited in the reverse order and then again in the original order.

1,2,2,1,1,2
2,3,3,2,2,3
3,4,4,3,3,4
4,5,5,4,4,5
5,6,6,5,5,6

Mala Paath:

1 2 ~ 2 1 ~ 1 2 ~
2 3 ~ 3 2 ~ 2 3 ~
3 4 ~ 4 3 ~ 3 4 ~
4 5 ~ 5 4 ~ 4 5 ~
5 6 ~ 6 5 ~ 5 6 ~
6 7 ~ 7 6 ~ 6 7 ~
7 8 ~ 8 7 ~ 7 8 ~
8 9 ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~
9 ~ 9 ~ 9 _ ~

Shikha Paath:

In shikha paath the pattern consists of three words of a mantra, instead of the two of jata.

1 2 ~ 2 1 ~ 1 2 3 ~
2 3 ~ 3 2 ~ 2 3 4 ~
3 4 ~ 4 3 ~ 3 4 5 ~
4 5 ~ 5 4 ~ 4 5 6 ~
5 6 ~ 6 5 ~ 5 6 7 ~
6 7 ~ 7 6 ~ 6 7 8 ~
7 8 ~ 8 7 ~ 7 8 9 ~
8 9 ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~
9 ~ 9 ~ 9 _ ~

Rekha Paath:

1 2 ~ 2 1 ~ 1 2 ~
2 3 4 ~ 4 3 2 ~ 2 3 ~
3 4 5 6 ~ 6 5 4 3 ~ 3 4 ~
4 5 6 7 8 ~ 8 7 6 5 4 ~ 4 5 ~
5 6 7 8 9 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 5 6 ~
6 7 8 9 ~ 9 8 7 6 ~ 6 7 ~
7 8 9 ~ 9 8 7 ~ 7 8 ~
8 9 ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~
9 ~ 9 ~ 9 _ ~

Dhwaj Paath:

1 2 ~ 8 9 ~
2 3 ~ 7 8 ~
3 4 ~ 6 7 ~
4 5 ~ 5 6 ~
5 6 ~ 4 5 ~
6 7 ~ 3 4 ~
7 8 ~ 2 3 ~
8 9 ~ 1 2 ~
9 ~ 1 ~

Dand Paath:

1 2 ~ 2 1 ~ 1 2 ~ 2 3 ~ 3 2 1 ~ 1 2 ~ 2 3 ~ 3 4 ~ 4 3 2 1 ~ 1 2 ~
2 3 ~ 3 2 ~ 2 3 ~ 3 4 ~ 4 3 2 ~ 2 3 ~ 3 4 ~ 4 5 ~ 5 4 3 2 ~ 2 3 ~
3 4 ~ 4 3 ~ 3 4 ~ 4 5 ~ 5 4 3 ~ 3 4 ~ 4 5 ~ 5 6 ~ 6 5 4 3 ~ 3 4 ~
4 5 ~ 5 4 ~ 4 5 ~ 5 6 ~ 6 5 4 ~ 4 5 ~ 5 6 ~ 6 7 ~ 7 6 5 4 ~ 4 5 ~
5 6 ~ 6 5 ~ 5 6 ~ 6 7 ~ 7 6 5 ~ 5 6 ~ 6 7 ~ 7 8 ~ 8 7 6 5 ~ 5 6 ~
6 7 ~ 7 6 ~ 6 7 ~ 7 8 ~ 8 7 6 ~ 6 7 ~ 7 8 ~ 8 9 ~ 9 8 7 6 ~ 6 7 ~
7 8 ~ 8 7 ~ 7 8 ~ 8 9 ~ 9 8 7 ~ 7 8 ~ 8 9 ~ 9 ~ 9 8 7 ~ 7 8 ~
8 9 ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~ 9 ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~ 9 ~ ~ 9 8 ~ 8 9 ~
9 ~ 9 ~ 9 ~ ~ 9 ~ 9 ~ ~ ~ 9 ~ 9 _ ~

Rath Paath:

1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 1 ~ 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~
2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 2 1 ~ 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~
3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 3 2 1 ~ 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~
4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~
5 6 ~ 9 ~ 6 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 6 ~ 9 ~
6 7 ~ ~ 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 6 ~ 9 ~ 6 7 ~ ~
7 8 ~ ~ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 6 ~ 9 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ 7 8 ~ ~
8 9 ~ ~ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 6 ~ 9 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ 7 8 ~ ~ 8 9 ~ ~
9 ~ ~ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ~ 9 8 7 6 5 ~ 1 2 ~ 5 6 ~ 2 3 ~ 6 7 ~ 3 4 ~ 7 8 ~ 4 5 ~ 8 9 ~ 5 6 ~ 9 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ 7 8 ~ ~ 8 9 ~ ~ 9 ~ ~

The Ghan Paath is the most difficult one.

If the original order of words in a sentence is: 1/2/3/4/5
The ghan recital goes as follows:

12/21/123/321/123/
23/32/234/432/234/
34/43/345/543/345/
45/54/45/
5 iti 5
or 45/54/456/654/456

इसे निम्न उदाहरण द्वारा समझा जा सकता है :-

संहिता पाठ =एषां पुरुषाणां -एषां पशूनां म भेर -म रो -मो एषां किन्चान अममत //

पदपाठ =एषां /पुरुषाणां /एषां /पशूनां /म /भेः /म /अराः /मो -इति -मो /एषां /किं /चन /अममत /अममद -इत्य -अममत /

घन पाठ =

एषां -पुरुषाणां -पुरुषाणां -एषां -एषां पुरुषाणां -एषां -एषां
पुरुषाणां -एषां -एषां पुरुषाणां -एषां /
पुरुषाणां -एषां -एषां पुरुषाणां पुरुषाणां -एषां पशूनां
पशूनां -एषां पुरुषाणां पुरुषाणां -एषां पशूनां /
एषां पशूनां पशूनां -एषां -एषां पशूनां -म म पशूनां -एषां -एषां पशूनां -म /
पशूनां -म म पशूनां पशूनां -म भेर -भेर -म पशूनां पशूनां -म भेः /
म भेर -भेर -मम भेर -मम भेर -मम भेर -म /
भेर -मम भेर -भेर -मरो आरो म भेर -भेर्म अराः /
म रो आरो मम रो मोमो आरो म म रो मो /
आरो मो मो आरो आरो मो एषां -एषां मो आरो आरो मो एषां /
मो एषां -एषां मो मो एषां किं किं -एषां -मो मो एषां किं / मो इति मो /
एषां किंकिं -एषामेषं किं -चान चान किं -एषां -एषां किं -चान /
किं चान चान किं किं चानममद -अममत चान किं किं चानममत /
चानममद -आममक् -चान चानममत /
अममद -इत्यममत /

The Lakshan Ghan Paath includes study of characteristics of each letter, its origin, way of emphasis in mantra, its varn, its preciding Devi/Devta, etc.

Brahmin capable of reciting the entire ved in the kram format is given the title kramvit, for Jaata format, title is Jaatavallabha, for Ghan format, the title is ghanpathi.
Dwivedi are people who know two veds, Trivedi knows three veds, and Chaturvedi knows four veds.

Benefits from different ways of chanting are:
संहितापाठमात्रेण यत्फलं प्रोच्यते बुधैः
पदु तु द्विगुणं विद्यत क्रमे तु चा चातुर्गुनं
वर्णक्रमे सतगुनं तयन्तु साहस्रकं

What Are Solfege Hand Signs? Solfege hand signs, or more accurately Curwen hand signs, are hand movements which represent the different pitches in a scale. Often, these are associated with the solfege pitches: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti. Image From The Kodaly Method on Slideshare These hand signs are also used at different height levels to show the relative pitch intervals between the solfege pitches. • Do = in front of belly button • Re = In front of chest • Mi = Shoulder level • Fa = Mouth level • Sol = Eye level • La = Forehead level • Ti = Top of head level • High Do = Just above head level Baton, conductor, hand movement telling rhythm, speed, intensity, pitch etc.

Whats app forward:

हमारे ऋषियों ने वेदों को कैसे सुरक्षित रखा ???
〰️〰️🔸〰️〰️🔸〰️〰️🔸〰️〰️🔸〰️〰️ जाने वेदों में रत्ती भर भी मिलावट क्यों नही हो सकी ? जब कोई सनातनी ये बताने की कोशिश करता हैं की हमारे ज्यादातर ग्रंथों में मिलावट की गई है तो वो वेदों पर भी ऊँगली उठाते हैं की अगर सभी में मिलावट की गई है तो वेदों में भी किसी ने मिलावट की होगी....परन्तु ऐसा नही हैं क्यों नही हैं जानते हैं..वेदों को सुरक्षित रखने के लिए उनकी अनुपुर्वी, एक-एक शब्द और एक एक अक्षर को अपने मूल रूप में बनाये रखने के लिए जो उपाय किये गए उन्हें आज कल की गणित की भाषा में 'Permutation and combination' (क्रमपरिवर्तन और संयोजन) कहा जा सकता हैं.. वेद मन्त्र को स्मरण रखने और उनमे एक मात्रा का भी लोप या विपर्यास ना होने पाए इसके लिए उसे 13 प्रकार से याद किया जाता था.... याद करने के इस उपाय को दो भागों में बांटा जा सकता हैं.... प्रकृति-पाठ और विकृति-पाठ.... प्रकृति पाठ का अर्थ हैं मन्त्र को जैसा वह है वैसा ही याद करना.... विकृति- पाठ का अर्थ हैं उसे तोड़ तोड़ कर पदों को आगे पीछे दोहरा-दोहरा कर भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार से याद करना.... याद करने के इन उपायों के 13 प्रकार निश्चित किये गए थे--- संहिता-पाठ, पद-पाठ, कर्म-पाठ, जटा-पाठ, पुष्पमाला-पाठ, कर्ममाला-पाठ, शिखा-पाठ, रेखा-पाठ, दण्ड-पाठ, रथ-पाठ, ध्वज-पाठ, धन-पाठ और त्रिपद धन-पाठ.... पाठों के इन नियमों को विकृति वल्ली नमक ग्रन्थ में विस्तार से दिया गया हैं.... परिमाणत: श्रोतिय ब्राह्मणों (जिन्हें मैक्समूलर ने जीवित पुस्तकालय नाम से अभिहित किया हैं) के मुख से वेद आज भी उसी रूप में सुरक्षित हैं जिस रूप में कभी आदि ऋषिओं ने उनका उच्चारण किया होगा... विश्व के इस अदभुत आश्चर्य को देख कर एक पाश्चात्य विद्वान् ने आत्मविभोर होकर कहा था की यदि वेद की सभी मुद्रित प्रतियाँ नष्ट हो जाएँ तो भी इन ब्राह्मणों के मुख से वेद को पुनः प्राप्त किया जा सकता हैं.... मैक्समूलर ने 'India-What can it teach us' (प्रष्ठ 195) में लिखा हैं ---- आज भी यदि वेद की रचना को कम से कम पाच हजार वर्ष (मैक्समूलर के अनुसार) हो गए हैं... भारत में ऐसे श्रोतिय मिल सकते हैं जिन्हें समूचा वैदिक साहित्य कंठस्थ हैं .... स्वयं अपने ही निवास पर मुझे ऐसे छात्रों से मिलने का सोभाग्य मिला हैं जो न केवल समूचे वेद को मौखिक पाठ कर सकते हैं वरन उनका पाठ सन्निहित सभी आरोहावरोह से पूर्ण होता हैं.... उन लोगो ने जब भी मेरे द्वारा सम्पादित संस्करणों को देखा और जहाँ कही भी उन्हें अशुद्धि मिली उन्होंने बिना किसी हिचकिचाहट के उन अशुद्धियों की और मेरा ध्यान आकर्षित किया.... मुझे आश्चर्य होता है उनके इस आत्मविश्वास पर जिसके बल पर वे सहज ही उन असुधियों को ध्यान में ला देते थे जो हमारे संस्करणों में जहाँ-तहाँ रह जाती थी.... वेदों की रक्षा के लिए किये गए इन प्रयत्नों की सराहना करते हुए मैक्समूलर ने अपने ग्रन्थ 'Origin of Religion' (धर्म की स्थापना) के प्रष्ठ 131 पर लिखा हैं।

"वेदों का पाठ हमें इस तरह की सटीकता के साथ सौंप दिया गया है कि काम की उचित समझ में शायद ही कभी पढ़ा जा रहा है या पूरे ऋग्वेद में अनिश्चित पहलू भी है।"

Regeda Vol. I भाग XXV में मैक्समूलर ने पुनः लिखा (जहां तक हम निर्णय लेने में सक्षम हैं, हम शब्द की सामान्य अर्थ में वैदिक भजनों में विभिन्न रीडिंगों की शायद ही कभी बात कर सकते हैं। संग्रह पांडुलिपियों से इकट्ठा होने के लिए विभिन्न रीडिंग, अब हमारे लिए सुलभ हैं। ")

वेदों को शुद्धरूप में सुरक्षा का इतना प्रबंध आरम्भ से ही कर लिया गया था की उनमे प्रक्षेप करना संभव नही था.... इन उपायों के उद्देश्य के सम्बंध में सुप्रसिद्ध इतिहासवेत्ता डॉ.भंडारकर ने अपने 'India Antiquary' के सन् 1874 के अंक में लिखा था।

"The object of there different arrangements is simply he most accurate preservation of the sacred text of the Vedas.

( "उनकी विभिन्न व्यवस्थाओं का उद्देश्य वेदों के पवित्र पाठ का सबसे सटीक संरक्षण है।)

वेदों के पाठ को ज्यों का त्यों सुरक्षित रखने के लिए जो दूसरा उपाय किया गया था वह यह था की वेदों की छंद- संख्या, पद-संख्या, तथा मंत्रानुक्र्म से छंद, ऋषि, देवता को बताने के लिए उनके अनुक्रमणियां तैयार की गई जो अब भी शौनकानुक्रमणी, अनुवाकानुक्रमणी, सुक्तानुक्रमणी, आर्षानुक्रमणी, छंदोंनुक्रमणी, देवतानुक्रमणी, कात्यायनीयानुक्रमणी, सर्वानुक्रमणी, ऋग्विधान, ब्रहद्देवता, मंत्रार्षार्ध्याय, कात्यायनीय, सर्वानुक्रमणी, प्रातिशाख्यसूत्रादि, के नामों से पाई जाती हैं,साथ ही समस्त शिक्षा ग्रन्थ ....इन अनुक्रमणीयों पर विचार करते हुए मैक्समूलर ने `Ancient Sanskrit Literature' के प्रष्ठ 117 पर लिखा है की ऋग्वेद की अनुक्रमणी से हम उनके सूक्तों और पदों की पड़ताल करके निर्भीकता से कह सकते हैं की अब भी ऋग्वेद के मन्त्रों शब्दों और पदों की वही संख्या हैं जो कभी कात्यायन के समय में थी। इस विषय में प्रो. मैकडानल ने भी स्पष्ट लिखा हैं की आर्यों ने अति प्राचीन कल से वैदिक पाठ की शुद्धता रखने और उसे परिवर्तन अथवा नाश से बचाने के लिए असाधारण सावधानता का उपयोग किया हैं.... इसका परिणाम यह हुआ की इसे ऐसी शुद्धता के साथ रखा गया है जो साहित्य के इतिहास में भी अनुपम हैं।

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GFaAZ5SYm0&list=WL&index=43

Why should Veda Mantras be chanted in Sanskrit only? Why not translate them into other languages and chanted?
A beautiful explanation given by Shri T Sadagopan Iyengar, an erstwhile genius from IIT Kanpur. He is also the Founder Director of the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore - a new generation Institute, promoted jointly by the Government of Karnataka and IT industry in 1999. He has been admired for his simplicity and complex knowledge.
Sharing an anecdote: -
Once at a Shrad Ceremony, the person performing Shrad had some revolutionary thoughts. He was translating all the Mantras recited by the Shastri into it's Tamil meaning..... instead of repeating it in Sanskrit.
The Shastri did not like it and told him "Do not say the Mantras in Tamil. It can only be said in Sanskrit."
"Why not? Doesn’t God understand other languages like Tamil?" The person provokingly asked the Shastri.
At this, Shri T Sadagopan Iyengar Ji, who was nearby, said the following:-
"What you are saying is audible only for the people sitting near you, but on a radio broadcast from a TV station, your speech can be heard thousands of kilometers away, why?"
"This is because of the Electro Magnetic Waves," the person said.
"So what does it mean?" Iyengar Ji asked.
"Changing to Specific Frequency the voice can be carried far," the person replied.
Iyengar Ji said "Well then, there are some frequencies that we can listen to, some are annoying, some may even cause ear damage. Some Ragas even have the ability or properties of healing diseases. What’s so significant about these?”
"What does it mean?" The person asked.
"The effects vary depending on what kind of sound waves we make. Is that right?"
"Yes"
"Say ‘Darbe Swasinaha’ with a mic on an oscilloscope. Then say ‘I sat on the bench’. Will the wave form be the same for both?"
"Will not be"
"Sanskrit Mantras are set up with the knowledge that certain vibrations, when made with voice from the mouth will create a worthy mood and there will be a corresponding effect in the atmosphere."
"Well what do you say now?"
"Mantras are uttered not for translation or communication. They are set for specific sound waves."
"Is it not possible in Tamil?"
"Yes it is possible, but not by its literal translation, as it is. You have to form words which should mean and also produce the same frequency waves as Sanskrit words when you form sentences."
"So?"
"Merely translating mantras is like drawing the Sun on paper. No matter how beautiful and realistic it is, we can't get light or heat from that Sun on the paper. Simple translation of Sanskrit Mantras are just like the Sun drawn on a paper. Nothing more."
"Hope we understand the underlying message.....
Hari Om."
"Mantras are different from Shlokas, Dohas, etc. What’s being said here is about such Mantras.
Srimad Bhagavat Gita, Srimad Ramayana and Srimad Bhagavatha are all Shlokas in the Meters of Anushtup and Drushtup. They don’t include any tonal modulations called as Svaras. They are great works giving out the essence of all the Vedas either in prose or poetic form in order to convey the Vedic vision. Hence any number of translations in any number of languages will carry the same value and efficacy of the original Sanskrit and indeed such translations do a great help for many to know about them. These scriptures are called as Pourusheya Sastras (written by men) and are looked upon to understand the vision of Vedas.
Here the discussion is about the Mantras from the Vedas and the Vedas are called as Apourusheya Sastras (not written by humans). They all are chanted with Svaras (intonations - voice modulation) in order to derive the declared benefit of such mantras. Why is it so? It’s because they are all arrangements of sound forms invoking the necessary forces from the nature in order to bless the person chanting them, by granting him that wish. Mantras are called as 'Mantras' because 'Mananath Traayathe Iti Mantra.' Which means - That which protects by repetition is called Mantra.
Hence the efficacy of Mantras lie in such chanting and as they are originally arranged in Sanskrit, it is recommended not to tamper with that tradition and practice."

Bharti Raizada