While there have been many modern Acharyas, Gurus and Swamis, some of them stick out as Rishis in their own right. Durgadas here writes about the Modern Rishi, Pandit Vamadeva Shastri.

Pandit Vamadeva Shastri (Left) with Durgadas (centre) and
Shambhavi Yogini (Right) in Santa Fe, NM.


Pandit Vamadeva Shastri (Acharya David Frawley):
A Modern Rishi 

By Ved Kovid, Durgadas

(c) Ved Kovid Durgadas. All Rights Reserved.


Whenever and wherever there is a decline in dharma (righteousness), O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I manifest myself.
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, IV.7

 

As the ancient avatar and Rishi, Sri Krishna has stated in his Gita or song to his faithful student Arjuna - whenever there is unrighteousness in the world, he himself seeks to take birth, as many Rishis take birth in various times in history as reformers of dharma or social justice and faith.

A Rishi is a Vedic Seer and visionary - a social and also spiritual reformer, but also a deep philosopher, medic or healer, Astrologer and Astronomer with a deeper insight into the ancient texts, traditions and their sustainer in a troubled world, where their traditional and spiritual interpretations are threatened.

There have been countless Indian Swamis and Gurus from India in the past 200 years, each with their own flavour and taste of Hinduism, or credited with restoring, reforming or popularising an aspect of the Hindu Dharma.

Amongst these are:

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati – founder of Arya Samaj and first to look back to the Vedas, for inspiration on Yoga, Science, origin of Vedanta and also restoring Vedic Yajnas (rituals) and mantras as Gayatri. His mission was one of Modern Samkhya expression.

Sri Aurobindo – Re-worked views of Maharishi Dayanand and added his own more Hindu and Yogic interpretation of the hymns. His mission was one of Modern Yogic expression.

Sri Vasishtha Ganapati Muni – The greatest disciple of the modern Self-realised Sage, Sri Ramana Maharishi who worked extensively on interpreting the Rig Vedic hymns in line with Tantra, Ayurveda and inner Yoga.

Paramhansa Yogananda – The Great Yogi who introduced Yoga to the Western world, in the lineage of Mahavatar Babaji – aka Vedic Rishi Yajnavalkya. His mission was one of Yogic and Vedantic expression.

Swami Vivekananda – Disciple of the reformer Sri Ramakrishna and introduced Hinduism and Vedanta to the Western world, a Vedantic expression of the Vedic faith, with Tantric Yoga.

Swami Prabhupada – The great founder of ISKCON or the “Hare Krishna” movement – brought Bhakti Yoga and the Puranas (Vaishnavism) to the Western world. His was a more Puranic vision.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – Popular Guru who introduced to the West, the Vedic sciences including Ayurveda with his popular branding, from which inspired Deepak Chopra and spread the Ayurvedic movement in the West, a more Ayurvedic expression of Vedic philosophy along with Yoga.

Swami Sivaya Subramuniyaswami – founder of Shaiva Siddhanta Church, who brought south Indian Shaivism or worship of Shiva to the West and popularised Agamic Hinduism or Shaivism

However, in more modern times, there has been a great personality born in America, who has also introduced many of these sciences above together, however tracing all back to the Vedas like Maharishi Dayanand and Sri Aurobindo, but with a more organic basis, that of Ganapati Muni and his Guru, Ramana Maharishi, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta.

This is Pandit Vamadeva Shastri, also known as Dr. David Frawley, one can see as a “purna-avatar” (full incarnation) of all of the above combined – not unlike Vedic Rishis such as Sri Krishna (c. 3200BCE) or Adi Shankaracharya (c.500BCE).

He has combined Yoga, Astrology, Tantra, Puranas and the Vedas together, in a fashion that suits the modern Hindu and uneducated Christian (Western) mind alike with a view to expand these beyond the common concepts into the vast territory of traditions long being lost in the world today, due to consumerism and also media images of such sciences.

Vamadeva is a store-house of information, and also a Shastri (Authority on Hindu texts), Vedacharya (Teacher of the Vedas, their interpretations along spiritual, tantra-yogic and historical lines); Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer), Ayurvedacharya (Ayurvedic Physician, Teacher of Ayurveda), Yogacharya (Teacher of Yoga) and in many respects also a Natha or one who uphold the traditional Yogic doctrines in their innermost forms and has attained these higher states of awareness, perception and reality by direct experience.

I would also like to add titles such as “Tantracharya” (Teacher of Tantric Yoga), “Shaktaguru” (Teacher of the path of Shaktism or the Goddess) and most of all, a “Maharishi” – a Great Seer, as per the Vedic tradition, who had knowledge of all of the Vedic sciences:

-Jyotish (Astrology)
-Tantravidya (Ritualism and Occultism)
-Ayurveda (Indian medicine)
-Yoga
-Ayurvedic and Tantric Yoga (Energetics or subtle methods of Ayurveda)
-Tantric Jyotish (Enegetic astrology)
-Siddha (Perfected being; one who has subtle powers)
-Devata-shakta Acharya (One who has knowledge of higher deities and their powers)
-Vanaspatya aur Jagad shuddhi Acharya (One who teaches ecology)
-Jagadguru (World teacher)
-Purana-ithihasa Acharya (Teacher of traditional history as per texts)

There are many more such examples however, and these are a few that need to be pointed out here alone.

Vamadeva has written many books and articles, and acts as a teacher for many people around the world, either directly or indirectly, through his courses, books etc. and on a varied range of topics from Indian History, defending Hinduism, Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology, Tantra, Tantric and Hindu Deities, Mantras and many more.

What is more – to correlate all of these, he reminds us of a personality that combines the Vedic wit of Dayanand Saraswati, Sri Aurobindo and Ganapati Muni; the Tantric knowledge and realisation of Sri Ramakrishna and Ganapati Muni; the discrimination of Swami Vivekanand and the Ayurvedic and Astrological knowledge that only great Vedic Rishis held – on physical to Tantric levels.

It is indeed a rare accomplishment for one personality to connect all of these together as he has done, and also to share it with the masses.

Whereas many authors and teachers touch on various subjects – Vamadeva in true Rishi-fashion, is able to integrate these and also go very deeply into these teachings, starting off at the very base level and ending up in more depth than most Vaidyas (traditional Indian doctors) with a BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) go to.

We can also see the immense transformation Vamadeva has had in India alone – through refuting the AIT (Arya Invasion Theory) and Aryan-Dravidian language difference, as well as the antiquity of the Vedas and defence of Tantra.

Few Hindus – Western or Indian have even stood up for these, and such a man as himself who had been able to introduce such changes in Indian society throughout India, and impact on the scholarly and educational world of Indologists, is indeed quite remarkable.

With respect to many great teachers of Vedanta and Hinduism – including the Shankaracharyas, few except Swami Chandrasekharendra Saraswati have gone beyond the normal scope to defend their Dharma as Vamadeva has, nor have any matched his own depth, style and on such a variety of subjects or sciences.

Vamadeva is also one of few who has been able to comprehend and re-model the ancient Sanskrit language, having mastery over the symbolism of the Vedic and Classical Sanskrit terms, and their inner yogic meanings and interpretations, rather than the loose translations often done by Western and Indian scholars alike.

This deeper dimension of thought and scholarship has indeed been a major contribution to Hinduism overall, and also unlocking many of the keys to Tantra, Tantric mantras, Yoga practices along with their Vedic origins, which are rarely available in the Western world, especially from an actual traditional practitioner, rather than from scholarly types, who often work these in their own intellectual manners at best.
Amongst his works are those as follows:

-Ayurvedic works as “Ayurvedic Healing”, which in my view is a modern concise version of classics as Ashtanga Hridayam for treatment of disease and health

-Works on Tantra, Tantric Yoga and Deities as “Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses” and “Inner Tantric Yoga” to name a couple

-Historical works as “Gods, Sages and Kings” and “Arise Arjuna”, dealing with the historical and political aspects of Hinduism, it’s history and future

-Vedic works as “Wisdom of the Ancient Seers: Mantras of the Rig Veda”, which sets itself apart as a modern “Manual” of interpretation of Vedic hymns and Sanskrit. It serves as a fantastic guide to anyone wanting to know the key to interpreting Vedic mantras and Vedic symbolism in light of Tantra, Yoga etc.

-Works on Jyotish or Vedic Astrology such as “Ayurvedic Astrology” and the masterpiece “Astrology of the Seers”, which act as modern versions of ancient texts as Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and others.

-Vedantic works as “Vedantic Meditation” and “Yoga and the Sacred Fire” which bring out the deeper aspects of Vedic concepts such as Agni or Fire and their role central to the Self and Consciousness through inner-awakening.


In my own experience, as an Arya Samaji by birth, I was always interested in (traditional) texts of Indian history, Yoga and Hinduism that dealt with a more indigenous origin of these sciences, deities etc., which was rare to find. It was in Vamadeva’s books I found these some 14 years ago, which greatly delighted me, along with my own association with the Tantric tradition in another part of my family, through the Goddess.

In my initial interest on Indian History and Hinduism, Vamadeva has corresponded with me, discussing various points from personal sadhana (spiritual practise) to Indian history, Ayurveda, Astrology, Yoga, Tantra and the deities. From him, a new form of Hinduism awakened within me.

From the point of a neo-rationalist, I embrace and accept Vedic astrology and its own effective workings and validity, as also the science of Ayurveda, both of which were encouraged by Vamadeva. Certainly, these aspects alone, and his personal encouragement and words are a source of great inspiration to us, both in the world of writing, research and most of all, inner sadhana or spiritual practices.

In his works and also guidance, I find him to share many of the deeper views and thoughts I had, relative to yuga cycles, the present condition of the world and also the effective ways to actually transform it, through outer and inner works. Working with the greater Shakti or the power of the Goddess inherit in nature itself is one such greater project.

Even at times when my mind would wonder back to the Arya Samaj, Vamadeva gives reasons as to this, and also states points not easily refuted. One such thing was my continual rejection of astrology, until realising the greater science of it, and behind it, which one cannot easily refute when they understand the fundamentals keys and philosophy behind Vedic astrology (Jyotish). As for Western astrology, it is easily refuted, for example, and does not follow the depth or science of the Vedic.

Such examples alone show how Vamadeva is both a scholar and practitioner  of such sciences, and worthy alone of proper respect in these fields. There are many scholars, but few alone actually have the wisdom to be able to penetrate the deeper spheres of these sciences, both in text and also in experience.

It is rare to find a teacher who will treat the student and know their fragility. Knowing my inner connection to the deeper Tantric and Vedic traditions, Vamadeva was always careful and strong to persuade me into taking up the deeper spiritual practices or sadhanas and fulfilling them, helping deepen my awareness. He was aware of other energies and impediments that I had in this life also that often dissuaded me from my true inner path and towards a more antagonist approach – and it has been his consistency in doing so that has maintained by inner spiritual strength to this day and helped me grow my own insights and energies.

I remember in one trip to India, finding many Vedic astrologers having missed the point of Jyotish, and creating almost a fear-cult, rather than presenting remedial measures. Vamadeva shows us the logic of the ancient system and how to work with it properly – in all areas and levels, not just along one interpretation of the chart alone, just as some have interpreted the Rig Veda along boring lines of science or primitive mythology alone, not seeing the deeper Tantro-Yogic symbolism of the Vedic Suktas.

As today, his discourses and courses continue to inspire many around the world, and this busy Rishi also shares his wealth of knowledge with thousands of people – directly or indirectly. The American Institute of Vedic Studies, which he directs is indeed a fantastic organisation, that is what we need to facilitate Hinduism and Vedic Dharma and sciences in their organic fashion, to the modern world.

His works on Ayurveda show this science as an easy to practise system for the novice in their own homes, and guides to living Ayurvedically, as well as his books on Yoga, Tantra and Vedanta and Indian History, which gives us a new fresh and organic look at these, through the eyes of the tradition of ancient India and also the Rishis of India.

His works on Ayurveda showed this science as an easy to practise system for the novice in their own homes, and guides to living Ayurvedically, as well as his books on Yoga, Tantra and Vedanta and Indian History, which gives us a new fresh and organic look at these, through the eyes of the tradition of ancient India and also the Rishis of India.

What is more, unlike many modern Hindus who adhere to the Gandhian-style of non-violence and let it penetrate even their own intellectual circles, Vamadeva has opened our eyes to these, and shown that the vision of the Rishi, or “intellectual kshatriya (warrior-caste)” is what is needed.

Hindus should debate with Islamic and Christian leaders and fundamentalists, rather than embrace them as they have done in the past, and let their own faiths destroy Hindu dharma, its name and morality. Indeed, he has been one of the greatest traditional defenders of all things Hindu since Shankaracharya 2,500 years ago and Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in the 18^th Century. Few others have stood out to meet these challenges in the modern world, and addressed these in a traditional Hindu fashion. 

In conclusion, Pandit Vamadeva Shastri deserves the title of “Maharishi”, based upon his immense contribution to Hinduism and it’s reformation, not just historically, but also to be viewed in the correct spiritual light and translation.
 

Vamadeva's Continuing an Ayurvedic Past:
 

When most people in the Western world 20 years ago heard the term “Ayurveda” – the probably thought that it was some kind of nasty disease, or the arch-nemesis of a famous saviour-figure in some Sci-Fi directed by George Lucas.

Today however, Ayurveda is gaining a much better reputation, and even with descriptive terms such as “Indian medicine” and “Natural medicine of India”, it is being widely promoted and used in the West, in many guises.

 When we think Ayurveda, we think Deepak Chopra or Dr. Vasant Lad. However, yet another famous personality has not only popularised Ayurveda, but also the way we see Ayurveda and integrate it into Yoga, Vedic (Hindu) Astrology (Jyotish), which is far more important.

Pandit Vamadeva Shastri (Dr. David Frawley) has himself been instrumental in this change, along with a strong vision of traditional values, that has not driven him off his spiritual path, as many do.

If one picks up any of the books by Vamadeva on Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedanta or Vedic Astrology – you will find that by the end of the book, you will know about the other three in greater depth also! Such is his passion.

We find many Ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas), Vedic or Hindu Astrologers (Jyotishis) from India who are often single-minded in their approach. But, even when he writes about the spiritual dimension of the ten great wisdom goddesses and Tantric-Yoga, Vamadeva reminds us of the importance of using Ayurveda and Astrology, and how they are intertwined into the oldest Vedic Yoga, to the modern complete system of Tantra (which in the West has become mere sexual positions, as Yoga has become breath-control and posture).

Many have talked about mantras – but how many have explained them in great depths, as to what they heal, and the energetic behind how they heal us, through the great doshas or biological humors of Ayurveda, that they relate to? Vamadeva goes into the science behind the science – the atom of knowledge or the seed, and expands his view from there, up to the stage of growth, so the reader gains a complete understanding of the integral Hindu-Vedic tradition, if nothing else.

His knowledge is also of much practical use also – having authored three courses on Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consulting and Ayurvedic Astrology.

In addition, the monumental work “Ayurvedic Healing” is a modern Ayurvedic classic, comparable to medieval texts such as “Ashtanga Hridayam”, a famous classical Ayurvedic Text rendered into 3 Volumes today, describing the background of Ayurvedic principles, diseases, their identification, diagnosis, cure and various therapies and manufacture of herbal preparations and their uses etc.

“Ayurvedic Healing” is another Ashtanga Hridayam, presented in easy-to-read format for the lay person or medical professional, and a fantastic reference for the Home remedy section or the modern Heath Practitioner alike, for health and treatment and diagnosis of diseases, based upon the traditional Ayurvedic model! It is also so much simpler and easier to read and understand than the classical texts on Ayurveda, which often run into long Sanskrit stanzas and take hours of reading to get their simplest point!

His monumental “Ayurvedic Healing” fills the gap here and adds to the traditional Ayurveda of India with the deeper inner Tantric system of Ayurveda that has often been lost, except within closed communities and Tantric sects in India and passed down for generations.  Through his teachers, Dr. BL Vashta of Pune on Ayurveda and also through the direct lineage of Vasishtha Ganapati Muni, a traditional Ayurvedic Doctor and Tantric who was perhaps the most advanced student of Sri Ramana Maharishi, the great Monist and Self-realised master of modern India, Vamadeva brings in a great wealth of knowledge of these traditions, which he has sown the seeds of in the fabric of the Western world as also in India, in a deeper manner.

Along with his Ayurvedic knowledge, his deep knowledge, combined with years of practise of Vedic Astrology or Jyotish and Tantric Yoga, following the path of Shaktism, the path of power and the Goddess, he has created a powerful synthesis of energetic for us to work with in the modern world, for both personal and global transformation.

Along with Shambhavi Chopra, a renown Yogini (female practitioner of Yoga), the couple help usher in a new vision of self-healing for the globe, in the spirit that we find only if we go back to the oldest Vedic texts of India, which combine the spirits of Ayurveda, Yoga and Astrology along with ecology, of which was their central theme, which comes about also by their own deeper personal experiences and working with the Cosmic Shakti or the Feminine Power personified in her many aspects.

It is fitting then, that the teachings of the Goddess are prominent in this tradition – Mother Nature and Mother Earth herself being greatly neglected in this current era, not to mention our own bodies and consciousness, which are also polluted through this degenerative lifestyle.

What Vamadeva reminds us is that Ayurveda is not a means to an end. It is not something you wake up to one day and think “I shall make a buck out of this gem!”.

That is the spirit of consumerism, which is against the Ayurvedic spirit, which was about giving back to people what nature had given you, and realising there is life all around us, and also the karmic implications of all living beings – not just humans and animals, but also plant life also. All life is indeed sacred.

This Ayurvedic spirit is the original Vedic spirit we see in the oldest texts of India and in the ancient Vedic-Saraswati (also known as “Indus” ) cities, centred in the Indus Valley region. People there did not build lavish Pyramids, nor did they leave behind great ruins to destroy the earth. Rather, their buildings were designed to allow maximum harmony with nature, by evening personal hygiene, sewers, septic tanks, toilets etc. To wash away any impurities caused by both man and nature alike.

This is also the basis for the later practices such as washing in the Ganga (Ganges), and destruction of sins. Again, it is both a spiritual and a physical complex that was considered here in ancient India – as in the philosophy of Ayurveda also.

Vamadeva also has a curious other spirit, that of the Kshatriya or warrior-spirit, that we also see is rather diluted in modern Hinduism, but was strong in Vedic times with our powerful warriors and warrior-philosophers that included the Seer (Rishi) Vishwamitra, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.

Vamadeva issues due challenges to modern scholars who would scoff at the traditional sciences of India such as Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology, and would have Tantra being bizarre sexual rituals alone! He reminds us of India’s contributions to the world in both science-technology and philosophy, and the need to preserve these. He also shows us how old it is – dating back to the oldest text not just of India – but the world, the Rig Veda Samhita. He brings ones’ mind back to the true inner meanings and teachings of Yoga and honours, but reminds us of the limitations of a fixation on the mind-body complex, such as modern pasteurised Yoga systems have become.

Today, we should hence not just focus on Ayurveda as a means to heal people, but also the wider scope of it, and how it is intertwined in the eternal play of nature itself, and also the issues and challenges that we face on a global level, and how we should defend our traditional sciences and keep them original, not lose their authenticity or originality, nor their greater scope.

One of the messages that Vamadeva is consistently repeating is that Hinduism and it’s sciences as Ayurveda and Yoga etc. Have much rebuilding to do in the eyes of the West, to uncover their hidden potentials, and their true nature, which few people in the West know or even understand, due to the mass-media always ready to pounce on anything “Oriental!”.

For example, for those of us who practise Ayurveda, let us ask ourselves the following questions:

-How is Ayurveda represented in the Rig Veda, the oldest text of India and the world?

-How can I use the energies of the Devatas (deities) and their mantras for healing, to connect with the earth and heal it, and for the benefit of others?

-Do I connect to patients and herbs when consulting with or using them, and do I empower them in the same manner as the ancient Rishis did, and consider the lives of all plants and herbs sacred as my own kin?

-Can I use Yoga not just on a general healing level – but on all levels of deity, mantric, breathing and posture designed specifically as per the specific constitution and disease constitution of my clients? Do I understand the entire science behind this, how it works and how to apply it on a case by case or individualistic basis?

-Do I use astrology along with healing, and am I in flow with my own personal karmic unfolding, aware of that of others and know effective methods by which these can be helped? Am I even aware of the karmic implications of my clients with regards to their diseases and the spiritual methods to heal them?

This is exactly the kind of thinking that we must get used to, and eventually answer all questions as a positive and affirmative “YES!”, in order to understand and live up to the true original spirit of Ayurveda that Vamadeva speaks about.

Ayurveda is not just a science – it is a sacred tradition of healing, with a very chequered past from the beginning of mankind itself. It pervades all languages and ancient cultures, including the Chinese, Native American, Egyptian, Aboriginal and many others. It is the healing system of life and spirit itself – which belongs to nobody nor any specific culture, but has been best preserved in it’s entirety in ancient and modern India. 


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