Purpose of Vedas: Self-Enquiry

From Guru Vachaka Kovai (Collection of Guru's Sayings) By Sri Muruganar

Why do the different portions of the Vedas describe creation in different ways? Their sole intention is not to proclaim a correct theory of creation, but to make the aspirant enquire into the Truth which is the Source of creation.

Just as all beings, moving and unmoving, engage in their own activities due to the mere presence of the sun, which rises without any prior intention, so it is said in the scriptures that all actions are performed by God [who in truth neither acts nor has intentions].

In the mere presence of the sun, the convex lens emits fire, the lotus blossoms, the water-lily closes, and all creatures rise up, work and rest [according to their nature].

The five-fold phenomenon functions merely because of God’s potent presence, just as the needle trembles near the magnet, or as in the light of the moon, the moonstone drips, the water lily blossoms and the lotus closes.

In the Presence of the Lord, who has no intention of His own, jivas busy themselves outwardly, treading on various paths of action, and reap the fruits with justly result, until finally [realising the uselessness of action] they turn Selfward and attain Liberation.

Just as the [good and bad] incidents that happen on earth do not affect the sun, and as the properties of the four elements do not affect the vast ether, so also the actions [karmas] of jivas will certainly never affect God, who is beyond the mind