The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/LXXVI Mr.—
LXXVI
Almora,
1st June, 1897.
Dear Mr.——,
The objections you show about the Vedas would be valid if the word Vedas
meant Samhitâs. The word Vedas includes the three parts, the Samhitas, the
Brâhmanas, and the Upanishads, according to the universally received opinion
in India. Of these, the first two portions, as being the ceremonial parts,
have been nearly put out of sight; the Upanishads have alone been taken up
by all our philosophers and founders of sects.
The idea that the Samhitas are the only Vedas is very recent and has been
started by the late Swâmi Dayânanda. This opinion has not got any hold on
the orthodox population.
The reason of this opinion was that Swami Dayananda thought he could find a
consistent theory of the whole, based on a new interpretation of the
Samhitas, but the difficulties remained the same, only they fell back on the
Brahmanas. And in spite of the theories of interpretation and interpolation
a good deal still remains.
Now if it is possible to build a consistent religion on the Samhitas, it is
a thousand times more sure that a very consistent and harmonious faith can
be based upon the Upanishads, and moreover, here one has not to go against
the already received national opinion. Here all the Âchâryas (Teachers) of
the past would side with you, and you have a vast scope for new progress.
The Gita no doubt has already become the Bible of Hinduism, and it fully
deserves to be so; but the personality of Krishna has become so covered with
haze that it is impossible today to draw any life-giving inspiration from
that life. Moreover, the present age requires new modes of thought and new
life.
Hoping this will help you in thinking along these lines.
I am yours with blessings,
Vivekananda.