- Brahmin, Shudra….I don’t care
- The reality of caste system – Next Move
- The reality of caste system – 2
- The reality of caste system – 1
- Is Purush Sukta of Vedas casteist?
- There is no caste-system in Vedas
- Vedas and Dignity of Labor
- Rakshas in Vedas and Hinduism
- Vedas and Daas
- Vedas and Dasyu in Hinduism
- Vedas and Shudra
A predominant theme that pervades the Macaulay brand of education is about Vedas being primarily a description of the struggle between Arya and Dasyu. This theory, which is a favorite of semi-literate Western Indologists and their communist tails, weaves a creative story that:
“Aryans were nomadic tribes with barbaric instincts. They came to India from Central Asia and spread loot and rape all around. The natives of India were called ‘Dasyu’ or ‘Daas.’ After winning over them, they established their Aryan supremacy based on birth-based discrimination. And today, most consider Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma or Vedic Dharma to be characterized primarily by this birth-based discrimination having its origin in the massacre of the Dasyu or Daas.”
It is a shame that this theory has led to the alienation of a large number of our brothers and sisters who consider themselves Anarya (non-Arya) and bear a grudge against those who follow Vedas. These include those who call themselves Dalit or Dravid these days.
Scholars have already explored a lot to debunk the stupid “Aryan Invasion Theory” which has no evidence whatsoever. Even someone like Dr. Ambedkar – considered as the father of Dalit movement – was extremely critical of this theory as well as the myth of subjugation of Dasyu.
‘Dasyu’ in Vedic Mantras
However, the purpose of this chapter is to explore what Vedas exactly say about Arya and Dasyu. After all, Vedas are supposed to be the primary evidence to support this theory of Aryan subjugation of Dasyu or Daas.
Let us review some of the allegations.
Allegation: Vedas describe Arya and Dasyu at several places. Many mantras pray for the destruction of Dasyu and looting of their wealth. Several mantras state that even women should not be spared if they are Dasyu. Hence, one can conclude that Vedas describe the brutal Aryan invasion of Dasyu people.
In total, there are 85 mantras referring to Dasyu in Rigveda. Several refer to Daas as well, which is a synonym.
Refutation: Let us review some of the mantras evaluate what they mean.
Rigveda 1.33.4: O All-Powerful Warrior! You possess a variety of powers and roam alone. Do use your powerful weapon to destroy wealthy Dasyu (criminals) and Sanakah (those who steal from others). May they reach their deaths through your weapon. These Sanakah are devoid of noble acts.
The adjective used for Dasyus are ‘Ayajva’ meaning those who do not perform noble acts or noble resolutions. Obviously, such people would be criminals. The king is advised to destroy such criminals to safeguard his people.
Sayana defines Dasyu as a thief. Dasyu origins from root ‘Dasa’, which means ‘Upakshaya’ or which leads to destruction. Hence, Dasyu refers to those people who are destructive or criminals. It does not refer to any caste or race.
Rigveda 1.33.5: Those Dasyu (criminals) who are themselves devoid of noble resolutions and clash with noble people, flee away due to your protection. O brave warrior, you have destroyed the Avrata (unscrupulous) from everywhere.
In this mantra, two adjectives are used for Dasyu. – Ayajva (those who do not perform noble acts and noble resolutions) and Avrata (undisciplined and unscrupulous).
Very clearly, Dasyu refers to criminals, and they are accorded the same treatment in Vedas, as they deserve in any modern civilized society.
Rigveda 1.33.7: O brave warrior! Destroy and drive away these Dasyu, whether they laugh or cry, from the world and protect those having noble resolutions and those who pray.
Rigveda 1.51.5: O brave warrior! Make those cunning people tremble with fear through your cleverness who consume everything only for themselves. O protector of people! Destroy the habitations of those Dasyu, who spread violence and protect those who are simple and truthful.
In this mantra, Dasyu refers to those who only consume for themselves and are devoid of noble deeds like charity and helping others.
In Kaushitaki Brahman, such people are referred as Asur. Asur and Dasyu, both refer to criminals and not to any caste or race.
Rigveda 1.51.6: O brave warrior! You have been killing those who exploit others and protect those who are saints. To protect those who help others, you trample the most powerful wicked people. You have always been born to destroy the Dasyu (criminals).
The adjective used for Dasyu is ‘Shushna’, which means those who do “Shoshan” or exploit others.
Rigveda 1.51.7: O God! You know very well the Arya and the Dasyu. Destroy the Avrata (unscrupulous) Dasyu for the sake for those who perform noble deeds. I want to follow all the noble actions. Kindly inspire me.
Rigveda 1.5.9: O powerful warrior! For the sake of disciplined people possessing noble resolutions and performing noble actions, you destroy the Avrata (unscrupulous). For the sake of those having polite speech, you keep the rude and undisciplined people under control.
Rigveda 1.117.21: O Powerful warriors! You support the noble people and destroy the Dasyu. In this mantra, word “Arya” is used to denote humans involved in constructive activities.
Rigveda 1.130.8: O Powerful warrior! You indulge in three types of wars – ordinary, competitive and prosperity-enhancer. You protect the Yajaman Arya (noble people indulged in benevolent acts) and destroy the Avrata (unscrupulous) people with darkness in heart who are indulged in violence or plan to indulge in violent activities.
Here ‘Krishnatvak’ is used which is misleadingly interpreted by Hindu haters to mean people with dark skin. However, it means dark exterior in an esoteric sense. The words ‘Tatrisham’ and ‘Asharsaanam’ are also used in the mantra to eliminate any doubt. They mean “desiring to kill” or “involved in the killing.” In contrast, ‘Arya’ is used for benevolent people.
No doubt should remain that Arya means noble person and has nothing to do with any race.
Rigveda 3.34.9: ‘Arya’ should be protected, and ‘Dasyu’ should be destroyed.
‘Varna’ is used for Arya. Varna means “worthy of being accepted.” ‘Arya Varna’ means one who is worthy of being accepted as Arya.
Rigveda 4.26.2: I provide land to Arya, rains to charitable people and other resources to people as well.
Very clearly, Arya is an adjective here in line with Charitable.
Similarly, one can go through the following mantras
Rigveda 4.30.18
Rigveda 5.34.6
Rigveda 6.18.3
Rigveda 6.22.10
Rigveda 6.25.2
Rigveda 6.33.3
Rigveda 6.60.6
Rigveda 7.5.7
Rigveda 7.18.7
Rigveda 8.24.27
Rigveda 8.103.1
Rigveda 10.38.3
Rigveda 10.43.4
Rigveda 10.40.3
Rigveda 10.69.6
All these mantras clearly elaborate that Arya is an adjective for noble, benevolent, and peaceful people. And Dasyu/ Daas denotes unscrupulous people with criminal tendencies. This fact is amply evident from the adjectives used along with Arya and Dasyu/ Daas in these mantras.
In fact, Rigveda 6.22.10 states that ‘Daas’ should be made ‘Arya.’ How could it be possible if these were to denote races!
Rigveda 6.60.6: Even those people should be destroyed who were Arya so far but now got into criminal activities. The same sentiment is repeated in Rigveda 10.69.6 and Rigveda 10.83.1. Even Arya is not a permanent adjective. One has to continue earning it, or else he or she deserves the same punishments as accorded to those who are historically or habitually Dasyus.
Atharvaveda 5.11.3: No one can overrule the laws created by Supreme, be it a Daas or an Arya.
Doubt: Skeptics attempt to distort the meaning of this mantra by claiming that the mention of Daas and Arya implies two different races. Because if Daas were to mean criminals, why is God allowing them to do crimes when this mantra states that no one can overrule His laws.
Explanation: By the laws of God, one does not imply restrictions on free will. The soul has free will in the human incarnation and can very well choose to indulge in crime or noble deeds. This freedom is also a law of God. However, one cannot escape the consequences of his or her deeds, and this is what emphasized in this mantra.
The next two mantras of same Sukta – Atharvaveda 5.11.4 and Atharvaveda 5.11.6 clarify that further. They state that even the rogues are scared of unchangeable laws of God. However, they continue to disturb humans because they are not scared of humans. Hence, the devotee prays to God that may these rogue criminals be subdued, and scholars be promoted.
Note that Daas or Dasyu are not the only words used to denote the rogue. Many mantras mention the word “Brahmadvish” which means one who hates penance, knowledge and noble deeds.
For example, Rigveda 3.30.17 and 7.104.2 pray that Brahmadvish, cannibals, dangerous and corrupt people should always be fought against to keep them under control. Now just as a cannibal, dangerous and corrupt people do not form a race. Similarly, Daas, Dasyu, and Brahmadvish do not form any race. They only denote criminal nature of certain people.
Rigveda 7.83.7: This mantra makes it clearer by stating that even ten kings indulged in criminal tendencies cannot defeat a single righteous king because the prayers of noble people become true and many powerful people and resources partner with missions of such noble people.
Again, the word used for criminals is ‘Ayajva’, which is used with Dasyu also in some of the mantras discussed before.
It is a matter of pity that in this mantra many semi-literate biased Western Indologists try to prove a story of the war between ten kings!
Summary
I would conclude with another excellent mantra from Rigveda, which summarizes the whole concept of a fight between Arya and Dasyu/ Daas/ Avrata/ Ayajva.
Rigveda 7.104.12: This mantra proclaims that: “The wise should know that Truth (Sat) and Falsehood (Asat) compete. Truth attempts to destroy Falsehood and vice versa. However, only the Truth (Sat) and Fundamental Truth (Rit) are protected by the Supreme.”
May we all destroy the False ego and become crusaders of Sat and Rit!
In next chapter, we shall discuss the word Daas and see how it has nothing to do with Shudra and is merely a synonym of Dasyu.
This article is also available in Hindi at http://agniveer.com/vedas-and-dasyu-hi/
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Vedas and Dasyu (http://cli.gs/7JmLn) Exploring the real meaning of… http://cli.gs/7JmLn
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Hi Agniveer ji,
Even after many scholars said that Aryans doesnot mean any race …
Scientists and archeologists are trying to prove the invasion theory by telling that DNA Test proves it…etc.
They also say even if there was no Aryan Invasion but there must be Aryan Migration….
http://www.hindunet.com/forum/showthreaded.php?Ca…
http://jorde-lab.genetics.utah.edu/elibrary/Bamsh…
Even most Hindus today also believe in these things… that there was a Aryan Invasion , because we are in scientific age and we are not fools to be fanatic and support that Vedas do not mention Aryans as Race…etc
Please also give some rebuttals to these articles regarding " DNA tests proving Aryan Invasion/migration theory"..
Would you kindly show where these tests took place and the methodology they followed to carry out these tests. You see we are rational people and not blind fanatics to take anything that someone says at face value.
dear ji,
for a normal persons there will be the differention amoung colours, body fitness, physical appearance and characters. like wise the blood related to the human is also different not only at national level but also at the international level. So please try to understand it..
http://www.Aryan-Dravidian%20Controversy.com
first read the above mentioned file and try to know about the history. I can also write an imaginery theory on history. the thing is that we have to prove with evidence.
This link :
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/Recent…
also says that Vedic supporters are wrong and there was an Aryan Invasion.
Please do provide rebuttals to this also!
Inst this a website run by Xtian Missionaries? Just asking, because it has now been proven that Jesus never existed. Dont trust me, you gotta be kidding. See this http://www.jesusneverexisted.com
Please ask these people to provide some evidence that Jesus existed
http://agniveer.com/vedas-and-dasyu/ http://bit.ly/bXNdYc
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The brahmins and oother upper castes would be happy if they are made SC/STs in today’s India for getting reservation benefits. Even the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims want reservation benefits!!
why not brahmins(indigenous people), dalit christians and Dalit muslims are also the citizens. so why cant they claim for reservation.
Dear Agniveerji,
Thanks for this wonderful writeup. I really appreciate the time and effort of your team in compiling these wonderful essays.
May I please request you to provide me with a list of the original Scriptures, Preferably in Sanskrit, and the publisher from where they could be purchased (Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Geeta, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Satyarath Prakash etc. and all other commentaries which in your opinion are worthy to be read and housed in personal library),
Thanks a lot,
Kind Regards
VA
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Dear Agniveer, according to your explanation of Vedas main concept, the words Arya and Dasyu term no any religion or caste. Nice. But why they mentiion the names as their religion, particularly in seeking marriage alliances ? Does it not mean that they twist the fact into fake and cheat others and even themselves ? pls react on this with your comments.
_Raja
Another take is in terms of sociology and politics.
The Dasyu-Dāsa dynamic vs. “class struggle” theory –
http://parikramah.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-dasyu-dasa-dynamic-vs-class.html
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It is sad that Agniveer is hiding the truth and deleting comments. The Rig Veda clearly references Aryans as invading people:
“Gods, we have reached a country void of pasture the land, though spacious, was too small to hold us. Brhaspati, provide in war for cattle; find a path, Indra, for this faithful singer. Day after day far from their seat he drove them, alike, from place to place, those darksome creatures. The Hero slew the meanly-huckstering Dasas, Varcin and Sambara, where the waters gather.” (Rig Veda 6.47.20)
Clearly Dasas like others are mentioned as a dark non-Aryan people of different ethnicity.
“He who hath reverenced thee, Manyu, destructive bolt, breeds for himself forthwith all conquering energy. Arya and Dasa will we conquer with thine aid, with thee the Conqueror, with conquest conquest-sped.” (Rig Veda 10.83.1)
This verse refers to both enemy Aryans and Dasas as different sets of people, clearly no adjective.