RAMAYAN KE RAHASYA - Hindu Author Akshat Gupta on Ancient Secrets, Weapons & Mysteries | TRS

This episode of The Ranveer Show Hindi features author Akshat Gupta, an expert on ancient Indian scriptures and concepts. Gupta, who also writes scripts for Bollywood, shares his deep knowledge of Hinduism and Indian history. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, from the lives of mythological figures like Parashuram to the significance of numbers and the nature of time across different ages.

Key Takeaways

• The Four Yugas: Understanding the cyclical nature of time in Hinduism, from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga, and how human consciousness and societal structures change with each era.
• The Significance of Number Nine: Exploring the mystical and mathematical importance of the number nine across various aspects of Hindu culture, from the nine planets to the nine months of gestation.
• Immortals and Avatars: Discussing figures like Parashuram, who is both a Dashavatara (one of Vishnu's ten avatars) and a Chiranjeevi (immortal), and the concept of divine incarnations.
• Ancient Indian Science and Technology: Delving into the scientific parallels within ancient Indian texts, including concepts like gravity, advanced weaponry (Astras), and even flying machines (Vimanas).
• The Nature of Souls and Reincarnation: Examining the journey of souls, the concept of karma, and how past actions influence present lives and future rebirths.
• Mythological Figures and Their Realities: Re-evaluating figures like Ravana, challenging common perceptions, and understanding the deeper meanings behind their stories and characteristics.
• The Role of Saptarishis: Understanding the importance of the Seven Sages in preserving and transmitting divine knowledge to humanity.

Understanding the Yugas and Divine Figures

Akshat Gupta highlights the common confusion about the order of the Yugas, clarifying that Tretayuga follows Satya Yuga, not Dvapara Yuga. He discusses Parashuram, an avatar who appeared in both Satya and Tretayuga, noting his lineage from a Kshatriya mother and a Brahmin father. Parashuram's story involves his father's murder, leading to his vow to rid the earth of Kshatriyas 21 times. His connection to Lord Shiva through the Pinaka bow and his role in the story of Sita's Swayamvar are also touched upon. The conversation also touches on Parashuram's interactions in the Mahabharata era, where he served as a guru to figures like Bhishma, Karna, and Drona, even engaging in a duel with Bhishma.

The Mystical Number Nine

The number nine holds a special place in Hindu numerology and cosmology. Gupta explains that nine is not just significant in mythology but also in mathematics. He points out that the sum of digits in multiples of nine always adds up to nine. This concept extends to religious practices, such as worshipping the nine planets, the nine Navarasas (emotions), and the nine gems. The nine-month gestation period for humans and the rituals performed for the departed soul on the ninth day further emphasize its importance. Even astronomical figures, like the total miles in the Earth's diameter and the speed of light, are said to relate to the number nine, suggesting a deep, underlying mathematical order in the universe.

Souls, Karma, and Reincarnation

Gupta discusses the complex concept of souls and their journey through reincarnation. He explains that the age of a soul is not tied to a single lifetime but spans across many. The experiences a soul has, the karma it accumulates, and the lessons it learns shape its path. He notes that people often exhibit traits or behaviors that seem out of sync with their apparent age, suggesting that the soul's age and experiences might be different from the physical body's age. This can explain why a younger soul might seem wiser than an older one, or vice versa, due to their accumulated karmic baggage and life lessons.

Ancient Indian Science and Technology

Gupta emphasizes that ancient Indian texts are not mere mythology but contain profound scientific knowledge. He cites the example of Sushruta, considered the father of surgery, who documented advanced surgical procedures in the Sushruta Samhita. This knowledge, he notes, was later translated and influenced Western medicine, forming the basis of plastic surgery. The celebration of Dhanteras, honoring Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, further highlights the ancient Indian focus on health and healing. The understanding of gravity, predating Newton by centuries, is evident in texts like the Brahmagupta and Bhaskara II's works. The concept of Vimanas, or flying machines, described in ancient texts like the Vimanika Shastra, is also being explored by modern science, with NASA reportedly working on prototypes that use mercury as fuel.

The Reality of Mythological Beings

Gupta addresses the common question of whether gods and demons were aliens. He suggests that the concept of 'lokas' (worlds) could refer to different planets or dimensions. Ancient texts describe beings from other realms interacting with humans, which could be interpreted as extraterrestrial encounters. He also discusses the Vanara Sena (monkey army) and Jatayu from the Ramayana, suggesting they might have been advanced species or a different evolutionary branch, possibly related to primates, given their intelligence and capabilities. The Hanuman Chalisa itself refers to Hanuman as 'Kapi,' a term for his clan, indicating a distinct lineage.

Hanuman's Immortality and Role

Hanuman's immortality is attributed to boons received from various gods, including Brahma, who granted him eternal life after an incident in his childhood where he mistook the sun for a fruit. The story of Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt) striking Hanuman, causing him to fall unconscious, and the subsequent anger of Vayu (the wind god), leading to the world's air being stopped, is recounted. The gods then bestowed various boons upon Hanuman to appease Vayu, including immortality and the ability to control his powers. His role in the Ramayana was to assist Lord Rama, but his purpose extends beyond that, as he is also mentioned in the Mahabharata, where he met Bhima. His presence as a symbol on Arjuna's flag during the Kurukshetra war is a testament to his enduring significance. Hanuman is one of the seven Chiranjeevis, destined to remain on Earth until the end of the Kali Yuga and the arrival of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu.