Geethartha Chinthane 145: Debate on Authority of the Vedas

Questions arise about those who deny the authority of the Vedas. The Vedas are considered authoritative because they are apaurusheya (not man-made) and thus free from human errors or biases. Suppose someone claims that a piece of land does not belong to you—won’t the rightful heirs of that land need to provide evidence to establish ownership? Similarly, since all founders of doctrines are human (paurusheya), the apaurusheya nature of the Vedas cannot be challenged unless there is another apaurusheya authority to do so.

If one argues that freedom from human flaws implies the absence of knowledge and qualities, it is an incorrect assumption. The term Veda originates from “Vedayati iti Vedah.” When the Vedas are read and understood, their authority becomes self-evident. Accepting their meaning inherently acknowledges their validity.

If one insists on interpretation without requisite qualities or knowledge, it is akin to observing an ant’s trail on water and mistaking it for written letters (a logical analogy called Pipilika Pankthi Nyaya). This raises the question—can such instances be considered valid proof?

Perception (indriyas) also produces knowledge, but not all perception is valid. Sometimes, even direct perception (like sight) does not convey the truth accurately. However, this does not invalidate the authority of perception itself. For instance, when the eyes have defects, wearing glasses corrects the vision rather than rejecting the eyes altogether. Similarly, the authority of the Vedas remains intact despite questions or misunderstandings about their interpretation.

~ Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sri Puthige Sri Krishna Matha

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