Old People and their role as described in VEDAS

In the Vedas, the old age is the golden (50 to 75 years) and diamond periods (75 to 100 years) of one’s life. The truthful, trustworthy and independent old people of yore speculated thought and observed the various social and physical phenomenons around them. They found greatest ideas of eternal value in the form of Aryankas, (simple laws for the old people) Rta - the cosmic laws of Nature for mankind. Their aim was perhaps to create concord in society and contributed through their metaphysics, philosophy and even Physical sciences and Scientific temper for the welfare of mankind.

Vedic Description of Old age:

Atharva Veda (XIV 1-31 and XIV-2-64 and 71) mentions that young couples should live full length of life together with their children and grand children. Normal age of a person is mentioned as 100 years for those who follow dharma (path of righteousness) and Rta- the eternal laws of Nature. Yajur Veda 3-63 says persons who follow Dharma and Rta can live up to 300 years i.e triya ayusham (triple life). Atharva Veda XI-1-19 say that learned and mighty persons of all divine professions (Varna) should expand to great grandfather/mother and should be able to say “I am the 15th of it”.

Since Ramayana and Mahabharata are Vedas retold, the Grand Old Man of Mahabharata viz. Bhisham Pitamah who was Commander- in- Chief of Kaurva’s Army at the age of about 270 years was perhaps the 15th of the generation and was killed in the great Mahabharata War as he supported the non-divine Kaurvas.

Vedic Prayer and Role for Old People:  

In the Vedas, there is prayer for Old people “O God: allot us work to further your Design and Purpose”. Rig Veda 1-124-1, 1-46-6 and 4-33-11 mention the purpose of human life is social welfare and help God in the maintenance of His grand wondrous Design. The Old people should aim at providing permanent truths and value systems to the young people by avoiding toxic emotion of resentment, regret, ego and change such feelings through Vivek (discernment) and tranquillity to love, duty, compassion and forgiveness.

Since many Scriptures and Upanishads confirm the highest meditation is study of Vedas and Bhagavad-Gita says highest virtue is study of Vedic knowledge, Old people can at least spread the Vedic Economics of matter with unsuspected vitality based on dharma and artha, Ramrajya We can all jointly assist God in the maintenance of Grand wondrous Design by avoiding all kind of social, moral and physical pollution.

Written by P. K. Sabhlok

Collected by Ankaraju Vadlamudi

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