The Vedic Self

The pure and simple Self that abides in all is the Supreme Vedic God, 
paramAtma. This Self that is at the core of all is neither the subject, 
nor the object Or even the relationship or devata that enables their 
connection through the process of preception. But it is everything.
as it is the source, abode and destination of all and is inseparable 
and integrally one with everything. As the Vedic Brahman as the universal 
Self is everywhere, that alone is identified through all name/forms.

This universal Vedic view cuts across all other non-vedic views. It is 
the pradhAna pratitantra or primary defense that all Hindus or truth 
seekers can use to effectively reconcile all kinds of differences within 
the Hindu or dhArmic traditions and to counter all non-Hindu or adhArmic 
or abrAhmic views.

As the entire world is in the form of the body for this universal Self, 
varnashrama dharma automatically follows. It is nothing but engaging in 
one's own sva-dharma or duty as per one's own guna or characteristics 
into which one is born into. This is similar to different parts and organs 
in the body engaging in their respective actions or duties in unison as a 
service to God situated as the indwelling Self. 

So it follows that God as the fruit of spirituality is already present 
in all. But the means to attain Him is different for different people 
or beings depending on the nature of the body into which one is born into.
So there is no discrimination in the Hindu view but there is recognition
of differences and duty that obtains accordingly. People who conform 
to this are devatas and those who oppose this varnashrama are rakshasas.
The property of fire is to burn and give light while the property of water
is to cool and quench the thirst. The property of air is to enliven all
beings and the property of earth is to support. So all the primary devatas 
who are the indwelling divinities in all the five elements are teaching this 
varnashrama-dharma by themselves engaging in their respective duties 
according to their nature, as a service to the God indwelling in all. 

Humans therefore are encouraged to emulate them. It is the duty or dharma 
of Brahmanas to worship the devatas through the process of yagya or sacrifice 
and devatas inturn bring rains and harvest which will benefit the entire 
society. So there is a need for the rest of the society to support Brahmanas 
in their duty of yagya. So performance of duty according to the principle 
of varnashrama recognizes differences in duties performed in unison to please 
the indwelling Brahman or God. So the end result of attainment God in the 
form of the supreme Self that is abiding in all is the same for all.

But all of the above needs faith in the Vedas and Brahmanas. As the world
is dualistic there is always scope for skepticism and so there will be 
always a section of people who oppose Brahmanas and their yagya and they 
are called rakshasas who are predominantly materialists. 

The word Akshara means God in the form of letters who is immutable. So 
Sakshara means one who is with God in the form of letters and so it simply 
means a spiritually learned person. When Sakshara is read backwards we get 
Rakshasa. So the word Rakshasa denotes people who are not learned or those 
who use their perverted intelligence to oppose and abuse saksharas or 
brahmanas who are really learned. Pseudo scholars like Sheldon Pollock who 
like to paint Brahmanas as wicked and selfish have come and gone and they 
all belong to the rakshasa category whose only aim is to weaken dharma by 
opposing brahmanas, yagyas and devatas. 

But true Brahmanas do not get affected or even offended and dispassionately 
engage in their sva-dharma of yagya-daana-tapasya, (comprising of sacrifice 
-worship-charity-sense control or renunciation) even if they have no active 
support from anyone. So the actions of such rakshasas only helps to bring 
out the greatness of dharma. 

The fight between devas and rakshasas is nothing but the fight between
spiritual and material. Though this goes on for ever, the ultimate win
is for the Devas who always stand for the principle of truth and dharma.

Namaste
Suresh