MUHAMMED IN ATHARVA VEDA
The Fourteen Mantras of Atharva veda (20:9:31):
The famous KUNTAP MANTRAS in the ATHARVA VEDA contain fourteen mantras of song of
praise for
Muhammed. The salient
points described in each mantra are given below:
MANTRA ONE
: In this mantra, two descriptions are given of the Sage whose praise is
being sung.
1) His name is given as
NARASHANGSA, which means ‘the Praised’.
NARASHANGSA means ‘the
Praised’. Muhammed means ‘the Praised’.
2) The other description of the Sage
in this mantra is that he is a KAURAM, which means an emigrant – one
who leaves his own country.
The mantra says that ‘the emigrant is visible among sixty thousand and ninety
people’.
- We find in history that during the time of Muhammed, the population of Arabia was about
sixty thousand.
- We also find that Muhammed left his birth – place Makka and went to Madina, and
sixty thousand people of Arabia became hostile to him.
Therefore, both descriptions viz. NARASHANGSA, the Praised; and KAURAM, the emigrant; are
fully applicable to Muhammed.
MANTRA TWO:
In this
mantra, four identities of the Sage are given:
- He will be a camel rider. It is clear from this, that the future RISHI will be an
inhabitant of a desert land, because camels are only found in a desert, and
- He will be from outside India and from a Non – Hindu background, because riding a
camel is forbidden for a Hindu – Brahmin according to MANU SMRITI (11:201). Even the
milk and meat of camel is forbidden according to MANU SAMHITA (5:8 and 11:157).
- He will have more than one wife.
- He will go to the heavens riding a chariot.
These four identities are fully applicable to Muhammed. He was the inhabitant of the
desert of Arabia. All his life he rode on camels. He had more than wife. He did go to the
seventh heaven riding a heavenly steed called BURAQ. He did travel through paradise which
is known as MIRAJ.
MANTRA THREE
: In this
mantra, another name of the Sage and some gifts given to him, are mentioned.
- The other name mentioned here is MAMAHA. Now, this in not a Sanskrit word, it is a
foreign word. It is actually the Sanskrit form of the Arabic word Muhammed. The Sage
MAMAHA is mentioned in the RIG VEDA (5:27:1) as well.
- The said RISHI will be given one hundred gold coins, ten garlands, three hundred horses
and ten thousand cows. These descriptions should not be taken strictly in their
materialistic sense. Material achievements do not represent the greatness of a RISHI. They
do indeed reflect worldliness and corruption. As a matter of fact, these descriptions have
been used in the figurative sense…….as described further.
- One hundred of the followers of Muhammed were those who had left their homes and
dedicated themselves to the service of Allah. They are known as ASHABUS SUFFA in history.
These were his ‘hundred gold coins’…who achieved spiritual perfection.
- Ten of his followers had achieved such perfection in their religious practices that
while they were still alive, they were given the good news of entry into Paradise. They
are known as the ASHARA MUBASHSHARA (the ten who got the good news). These were his ten
garlands.
- At a stage in his life, Muhammed emigrated from Makka to Madina. But his Makkan enemies,
sent one thousand strong army men to attack him, three hundred miles from Madina. Muhammed
faced them with only three hundred of his disciples, who fought bravely and succeeded in
routing them. That is why three hundred are regarded as chargers (horses) from the
religious point of view. They are known as the ‘Companions of Badr’, from the
name of the place where the battle took place. These were his three hundred horses.
- In the tenth year of the Hijrah, Muhammed went to Makka with ten thousand of his
followers. After a token resistance, the Makkans capitulated and surrendered
unconditionally. Muhammed too forgave them unconditionally. His ten thousand disciples and
soldiers were equally magnanimous to the vanquished. That is why they have been described
as cows – symbol of beneficiance. In history, this event is known as the ‘the
Victory of Makka’.
Needless to say that the hints given in the mantra tally so vividaly with Muhammed alone.
MANTRA FOUR:
This
mantra says, "O’ REVA, preach the truth."
The Hindu commentators of the VEDAS have described REVA as ‘one who
glorifies’. Therefore, the RISHI who will receive the divine command to preach
‘the truth’ will be ‘one who glorifies’.
As we all know Muhammed had two names: Muhammed and Ahmad.
Where Ahmad means ‘one who praises’. REVA is its Sanskrit synonym.
The Qur’an asks Muhammed to preach whatever is revealed to him from his Lord.
MANTRA FIVE:
In this
mantra a description of the march for the ‘Victory of Makka’ is given. The
followers, of the ‘one who is praises’, are marching ahead with praise of the
Lord on their lips; while back home, their children are waiting anxiously for their
return.
MANTRA SIX:
In this
mantra again, the RISHI REVA is being asked to arm himself with WISDOM and HYMNS OF
PRAISE, then deliver WISDOM into the hearts of men like an unfailing archer.
The Qur’an, that was revealed to Muhammed, has also been called HAKEEM, which
means ‘the Book of Wisdom’.
Astonishingly, the very first SURA (chapter) of the Qur’an does begin with praise
of God, when it says, "All praise to Allah, the Creator of the entire Universe, Who
is Infinitely Merciful and Incomparably Beneficent." - SURA FATEHA (The Opening).
MANTRA SEVEN:
In this
mantra, two more characteristics of the Sage are given. One, he will assume the power of a
King and establish peace among the people. Two, his message will be for the entire
mankind. His message will contain Universal Divine Principles, which can be used to manage
the affairs of the entire world with justice and peace.
- Muahmmed certainly was the only sage who wielded the powers of a king and succeeded in
bringing to an end ‘the time of ignorance and barbarism’, as mentioned by
Professor Hitti in his HISTORY OF THE ARABS (chapter 7). He established peace and equality
in Arabia and the whole world. The religion he established is called Islam, which means
‘Peace’.
- Again, it was only Muhammed who can rightfully claim to be the Teacher of Mankind; and
His Qur’an which does contain Universal Principles; fit the description.
MANTRA EIGHT & NINE
:
Here again, the Sage has been addressed as a king. There will be so much peace in his
kingdom, that even a chaste housewife will be able to go out at any time during the day or
night to buy her groceries. In the history of mankind, this had been possible only during
the time of Muhammed. It is unthinkable in the so-called modern age of today. Strange
though it may seem, it may seem, it is true nonetheless, that even today, when the AZAAN
is called, the people of Makka rush to the Mosque for prayer, leaving their homes and
shops open and unattended.
MANTRA TEN:
In this
mantra, and also in the seventh and the ninth, the Sage has been called a PARIKSHIT, which
generally means ‘onw who gives protection’. Peace and prosperity in the kingdom
of the Sage has been mentioned in this mantra.
MANTRA ELEVEN:
In this
mantra, like in the fourth mantra, the sage has been called as ‘the one
praises’. He has been asked to praise God and preach His Commands. As mentioned
earlier, the other name of Muhammed is Ahmad, which means ‘one who praises’ ;
and the Qur’an is the Song of Praise dedicated to God.
MANTRA TWELVE & THIRTEEN:
It is said in these mantras that during the reign of the Sage, the living
conditons of human beings and also of animals will improve enormously.
The Muslim community, under the guidance and leadership of Muhammed, did achieve a very
high standard of prosperity and progress in the world. This has been accepted by all
natiions, regardless of race and religion.
MANTRA FOURTEEN:
In this
mantra, the Sage has been addressed as a brave warrior, He is requested to accept our
praise for him, which will supposedly cleanse us of all our sins.
The KUNTAP MANTRA ends by saying, "Praising him washes away sins and also protects
one from all sins."
