Purity and perfection — these are the distinctive characteristics of the original poetry of the ancient Vedas. The first hymn poems embodied in song and dance were performed in Sanskrit (Samskrit literally — is « purified to perfection»). To say that the first verses were «recorded in this language would be a mistake, since in ancient times writing was not required: the hymns were so perfect that they could not help but be remembered because of the vivid impression (samskar) that they left in the soul once heard them.
Thus arose the Vedic tradition — tradition of oral transmission of poetic hymns, which are not only an example of aesthetic, but also ethical perfection.
The ancient history of Kamada Ekadashi, described in Varaha Purana, was once told by Vasistha Muni to the great-grandfather of Lord Ramachandra, King Dilipa. A long time ago, the city of Ratnapura was ruled by King Pundarika. One day, King Pundarika enjoyed the dancing and singing of the Gandharva celestials, among whom Lalita alone sang. While singing, he could not help but think about his beloved Lalita, and therefore lost his rhythm and melody.
An envious person close to the king told him that Lalita was absorbed in thoughts about his wife, and not about his sovereign, to which the king became furious and cursed Lalita, who instantly turned into a demonic cannibal. Seeing her suffering husband, Lalita constantly thought about how to save him. One day they met Saint Sringa. Expressing her humble respect to him, Lalita asked for advice on what she should do to atone for her husband’s sins.
The saint told her about Kamada Ekadashi: «The wishes of everyone fasting on this day are fulfilled. If you fast on this holiday according to all the rules and pass on the benefit you receive to your husband, he will instantly free himself from the curse». Lalita fasted in full faith at Kamada Ekadashi, and the next morning she appeared before the image of Lord Vasudeva and said: «Let the good I received by observing fasting at Kamada Ekadashi free him from suffering». And as soon as Lalita said this, her husband instantly found his former appearance as a gandharva Lalita — of a beautiful heavenly singer decorated with precious stones.
In 2003, the oral tradition of Vedic recitation was declared an invaluable asset of humanity by UNESCO. At a meeting of the jury in Paris, Koichiro Matsuura, then Director-General of UNESCO, declared Vedas singing in India to be an outstanding example of heritage and a form of cultural expression. The statement said that in an era of globalization and modernization, when everything related to the cultural sphere is in a difficult situation, preserving the unique cultural heritage — of the oral tradition of Vedic recitation — is of great importance.
The purity and reliable technique developed for the Vedic recitation in ancient times made available one of the oldest literatures of mankind in its entirety.