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The vedic sages posed the question of perfection in each
activity. What is the source of ability of the human being to
perform certain activities? Can s/he develop capacities to do
actions like singing, painting or composing which s/he may not
currently possess? The vedic sages declare that each deva is a
conscious being associated with a particular type of cosmic power.
By following certain psychological practices such as aspiration,
faith and by chanting the verses, each human being can enter into
a conscious relationship with these cosmic forces or devās.
The relationship can be very intimate like father, son, friend,
spouse and so on. Then the particular deva is pleased to
manifest his power in that human being. These powers continue to
increase or grow in the human as the corresponding degree of
aspiration increases. This idea of the deva manifesting his
power in a human is called as the birth of the deva
referred to in the RV in hundreds of verses by words like
janayan or jagnāna etc. These powers increase in man
indicated by the words like vardhayan, ūti. Hence each
deva has two births dvijanma in Veda, one at the cosmic
level, the other in each human being.
The first to take birth in man is Agni, the leader. There are many
verses such as (1.68.4) which declare that he sits inside us and
guides us. We should remember that man is primarily a thinker,
secondarily a doer. Agni infuses the energy and makes the
will strong and makes him/her do the work. All the work is done by
Gods. Agni worships on behalf of man. He is prayed to perform
yajňa (2.9.4). Agni is the leader of yajňa, the
collaborative effort.
Becoming acquainted with these
psychological powers may take a long time. Once some degree of
mastery is established, then the person embarks onto the second
stage. In this stage, s/he enquires whether each psychological
power that has come to his attention has a universal fount or
source from which the corresponding power in all other humans is
derived.
According to the vedic sages, education means getting the
knowledge or power directly from the main source. The book is only
an instrument.
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