Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

Page 365

354
V. G. NAIR
Vedas in Tamilnād. But these four Vedas according to Saivaite scholors are not the four Vedas of the Brāhmīnic culture and that Siva was not the originator of these four Vedas. The Brahminic Vedas which were expounded by Rsis originally consisted of three; the Rig, the Sāma and the Yajur. The Atharva was composed later probably in 600 B.C. and held as the fourth Veda of the Brāhminic culture. According to Saivaites, the Vedas expounded by Siva were four called Aram, Porul, Inbam and Veetu, or Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Moksa, the Chaturvidha Purusārthas of the Hindus. But these four Vedas as their names indicate are the four secular and spiritual aspirations of man for the fulfilment of which he should obey the commandments, the precepts and instructions of the Nanmarai or the four Vedic scriptures. The Nanmarai are the real four Vedas of the Saivaites taught by Agasthya to the people of Tamilnād. They are scriptures containing secular and philosophical doctrines for promoting human welfare and the emancipation of man from mundane sufferings. The four aspirations or higher
eals of man are Aram, Porul, Inbam and Veetu. Therefore, the Vedas, the scriptures are entirely different from the doctrines, the ideals and aspirations expounded in them. Tamil scholars while admitting that there are four Vedas for the Tamils have not mentioned their names. I do not find any scriptures called Nanmarai among the Tamil ancient scriptures except an accumulated volume of literature on grammar, history, ethics and philosophy. Therefore, it is as clear as crystal that the Nanmarai, the four Vedas mentioned by Tamil Saivaite Scholars are the four Vedas originally expounded by Bhagavān Rśabha, father of human culture and civilization.
According to the Maha Puranam and other Jaina scriptures Rśabha possessed one thousand and eight names. Among them are Siva, Sankara, Ādideva, Adi Purusa, Ādi Jina, Prajāpati, Brahma and others. Rśabha attained Nirvāṇa on Kailāśagiri, Himālayas. Arjuna in the Gītā has paid homage to Srí Kriņa describing him as "Ādi Deva and Puruša Purāņa.” The Ādi veda expounded by Rsabla contained four parts: Prathamānuyogam,