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The
general rule is that the sound of the Vedas ought not to be
changed, that there should be no tonal alterations. But there
are rules permitting slight modifications based on the
differences between the recensions - and these rules are
according to the Siksa sastra. Slight tonal changes are also
allowed. In some hymns of the Rgveda the "a-kara" and
"e-kara" are drawn out further than in the other Vedas.
In some recensions we have "m" and in some others
"gm" - these are called "anusvara". The differences are not so much related to
letters or syllables as they are tone and accent.
Sound
means so much to the Vedic tradition, so due importance must be
given to it. Thus Siksa sastra is the Vedapurusa's organ of
breathing.
The
50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are derived from the Vedic
sounds. If you add "jna" to them you will have 51.
These letters are called "matrka". The word has more
than one meaning. Importantly, "matr" or
"mata" means Amba, the World Mother. The 51 letters
make up her form - Amba, Parasakti, personifies them. If the
cosmos is the creation of this Supreme Goddess and, if it is also
remembered that creation was accomplished with sound, Amba must
be the incarnation of the 51 letters. The Sakta Tantras declare
that the 51 letters are the limbs of Amba and correlate the
letters with different parts of her sacred body. The 51 Sakti
pithas [seats of the Supreme Goddess] are associated with one or
another of these letters.
If
siksa is particularly esteemed as the breathing organ of the
Vedapurusa, we must also remember that it is made more glorious
by the fact that it sheds light on the 51 letters which personify
Amba.
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"Hindu Dharma" is a book
which contains English translation of certain invaluable and
engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji (at
various times during the years 1884 to 1994).
For a general background, please see here
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