Chapter 171 of the Varāha Purāṇa relates how during a famine Gautama Muni underwent severe austerities to please Śrī Brahmā. When Brahmā offered Gautama a boon, the sage asked to be able to feed all his guests. The boon was granted, and the benevolent Gautama fed his many brāhmaṇa guests for the duration of the famine. When rains finally came, the brāhmaṇas wanted to leave his hermitage. As is the custom, however, Gautama asked them to stay a little longer, and they agreed. After some time they again wished to leave, but once again Gautama prevailed on them to stay a while longer. This happened a few times.
Determined to leave, the brāhmaṇas devised a plan. They created an artificial cow and left it near Gautama’s āśrama. In the early morning, when the sage was going to bathe, the animal blocked his path, and to drive her away, he threw a few drops of water at her. At the first touch of the water, the cow fell down dead. The brāhmaṇas immediately raised a hue and cry, denouncing Gautama as a cow-killer. They declared, “We cannot stay here and accept food from a cow-killer,” and then they left for their respective residences. Later, Gautama performed atonement, but then by his supernatural power, he could understand that he had been tricked. He then angrily cursed the brāhmaṇas that they would lose all their Vedic knowledge.
In this way, Vedic knowledge became covered by ignorance during Dvāparayuga, and thus it was necessary for Vyāsa to bring forth the Vedas again.
Chapter 171 of the Varāha Purāṇa relates how during a famine Gautama Muni underwent severe austerities to please Śrī Brahmā. When Brahmā offered Gautama a boon, the sage asked to be able to feed all his guests. The boon was granted, and the benevolent Gautama fed his many brāhmaṇa guests for the duration of the famine. When rains finally came, the brāhmaṇas wanted to leave his hermitage. As is the custom, however, Gautama asked them to stay a little longer, and they agreed. After some time they again wished to leave, but once again Gautama prevailed on them to stay a while longer. This happened a few times.
Determined to leave, the brāhmaṇas devised a plan. They created an artificial cow and left it near Gautama’s āśrama. In the early morning, when the sage was going to bathe, the animal blocked his path, and to drive her away, he threw a few drops of water at her. At the first touch of the water, the cow fell down dead. The brāhmaṇas immediately raised a hue and cry, denouncing Gautama as a cow-killer. They declared, “We cannot stay here and accept food from a cow-killer,” and then they left for their respective residences. Later, Gautama performed atonement, but then by his supernatural power, he could understand that he had been tricked. He then angrily cursed the brāhmaṇas that they would lose all their Vedic knowledge.
In this way, Vedic knowledge became covered by ignorance during Dvāparayuga, and thus it was necessary for Vyāsa to bring forth the Vedas again.
Hi,
I can’t recall a reference confirming that Yajurveda is older than Rgveda. Could you, please, provide a reference?
Thanks!
Dear Sergio ji,
The Vedas appeared from the Supreme Lord at the dawn of creation, a fact confirmed in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad: “That Supreme Deity created Brahmā at the beginning of creation and delivered the Vedas to him” (yo brahmāṇaṁ vidadhāti pūrvaṁ yo vai vedāṁś ca prahiṇoti tasmai, ŚU 6.18).”
They first manifested in this universe within the heart of Brahmā, the first created being: tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye (SB 1.1.1); then they were handed down through disciplic succession.
Radhe Radhe!