The Vedas, since the dawn of human civilisation have been regarded as the first Source Books of knowledge, given to man for his individual and collective welfare. They speak of eternal truth and not the history of earlier people as understood by many today. There is no primitivism in the revealed knowledge. It would be erroneous on our part if we interpret the Vedic verses anthropologically or archaeologically.
The Atharva Veda is a collection of 5977 verses spread over twenty books (Kanda). In its massive character, this text comes next to Rigveda. The term "Atharva" stands for perfection and conservation. Brahma, the title conferred on the expert who represents this Veda in a fire ritual is supreme over the representatives of the other three Vedas. His words are final. This Veda is superb in contents both of physical sciences and spiritual wisdom.
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Priyavrata Das
Priyavrata Das was born on 1st July, 1932, Odisha (India)- graduated from Bihar College of Engineering, Patna (1954) in Civil Engineering, did Post-graduation from Brighton College of Technology, (U.K)- served in different highway projects for thirty four years- worked as Chief Engineer, R & D, Works Dept, Odisha state-represented India in World Roads Congress (1966). Wrote biographies of eminent engineers Dr. M. Visweswaraya, Dr. A.N. Khosla.
Under the guidance of his scholarly father, he studied Vedic grammar and Texts in childhood. At the age of twentysix, his first book “Veda Manushya Kruta ki ?' (Are the Vedas a creation of man) in Odia was a landmark in Vedic Literature. The book received Odisha Sahitya Academy Award in the same year. Rigveda Saurabha, Yajurveda Saurabha, Sama Veda Sourabha, Atharva Veda Saurabha, Upanishad Prakash (Vo I and II), Shuddha Manusmruti, Patanjala Yoga Darshan are a few to mention out of forty and odd books edited and published.
Established the Arya Samaj and Vaidika Anusandhan Pratisthan at Bhubaneswar for propogation of Vedic knowledge.
A crusader against social evils- encouraged and conducted inter-caste and widow marriages- supported women priest-hood in Vedic worship and ceremomies- fought against caste system, slaughter of animals in religious places etc.
A few outstanding recognitions and awards- Meghji Bhai Puraskar, Mumbai (1994), Maharshi Dayandan Puraskar, Nasik (2005), D. litt. Utkal University (2006), D. litt. Tirupati Sanskrit University (2014), Ganga Prasad Upadhyaya Puraskar, Allahabad (2008), Rastriya Vaidik Sahitya Puraskar (2015), Hindon city Rajasthan, Upadhi- Vidya Vagish, Arya Bibhusana, Arya Ratna, Acharya etc.
Widely travelled in UK, U.S.A, Germany, France, Russia, Mauritius, Kenya, Holland, South Africa, Singapore, Thailand on lecture tours.
