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<strong>Hinduism</strong>: What Really Happened in India – M. M. Ninan 62<br />
Oral Transmission and Corruption<br />
Then it is argued that, “The Vedas have been "heard" or composed by<br />
different seers over a great period of time and were handed down from<br />
generation to generation through oral transmission. Since it was essential<br />
to maintain the purity of the hymns, a great emphasis was placed on the<br />
correct chanting of each word in the mantra according to a particular<br />
rhythm to maintain their efficacy during the performance of the rituals.”<br />
“We do not know for certain when exactly the most holy books of<br />
India were first written down. The major and the only really authoritative<br />
way of transmission were oral, and written text was important only in<br />
exegesis and ritual science, not in religion itself. In other genres of<br />
literature, for instance in the Dharmsastra and Ayurveda, it is rather well<br />
established that the extant text tradition was only fixed in the earliest<br />
(written) commentaries. Before that, in oral transmission, the texts were<br />
open to additions and modifications. In the Veda, the texts were fixed<br />
much earlier, and the transmission in the first place remained oral. But<br />
here, too, the texts were probably first written down in connection with<br />
commentaries.” http://folklore.ee/folklore/vol8/veda.htm<br />
We should also remember that, “Vedic Sanskrit places great emphasis on<br />
pronunciation, so each ‘Aksara,’ or letter, covey immense meaning.<br />
Therefore, any deviation in enunciation will change the complete<br />
meaning.” (Dr. Deen B Chandora) It would render the whole of Sruti<br />
and samhita prone to total corruption over the oral transmission over<br />
vast period.<br />
This corruption is hinted in the Matsyavatara story: “This happened at<br />
the end of the last inundation during the period of Svayambhuva Manu<br />
when Lord Brahma at the end of his day (which lasts for trillions of our<br />
years) was ready to sleep, and the Vedas began to emanate from his<br />
mouth. The great demon Hayagriva took this opportunity to try to steal<br />
the Vedas. At this time the Lord appeared in His Matsya avatara to kill<br />
the demon and restore the Vedas to Lord Brahma.” .<br />
(http://iskcondc.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl?ndx=71)
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