Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: What is raashhTra according to vedas [Re: rajsand] #15021 - 04/18/02 07:36 AM Edit Reply Quote

Okay, Raj, hear a very brief answer for the moment (without any Vedic quotes now): r�shtra comes from the verbal root r�j + affix tra. R�j mean 'to shine, to expand' and tra gives this meaning: 'instrument of'. The sun shines, expands it light to give life (enable the conditiones for it), protect (from cold, ignorance, etc). The king shines when strectching or expanding his arms enabling conditiones for a proper life and also for protection. For this the instrument is the R�shtra. As Hindus think in different but related levels, it means that what counts for the people related to the world (bhuh), counts for the atmospheric world (bhuvah) and for these related to the universe (svah): Every R�shtra is part of a mondial or Bhauma R�shtra with a surrounding Antariksha R�shtra and beyond a Vishva R�shtra. All the R�shtras are Vir�t (from vi + r�j: wide expanding), which is the expansion of Praj�pati-Brahman. When it is habitable it is called Vasu, from a root vas= to shine, but also 'to stay/live in'. ..........more to come