The Mystery Uncovered in the Vedas

God had given to the Jewish prophets the principle of sacrificing spotless animals as a picture of the perfect sacrifice which was to come, namely Jesus. As other people groups interacted with the Jews, they were exposed to the practice of animal sacrifice. Thus, the Aryan philosophers wrote in the Vedas the some of the teachings of the Jewish prophets concerning salvation through sacrifice.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the main theme in the Rg Veda and the Upanishads is the nature and purpose of only one supreme sacrifice known as Purush Prajapati: the Lord of all creation who became Man (Sathpathbrahmana 10.2.2.1-2; Rg Ved Purushasukta 10:19).
+ This Purush is the only way to eternal life ("... Nanyah pantha vidyate - ayanaya": Yajur Ved 31:18). Note that this Purush is not a generic "self" but rather a person as described in Sanskrit dictionaries by Sanskrit scholars.
+ Similarly, the Prajapati is not among the many mythical and even wicked characters found in Hindu traditions, but he is the Lord of all creation by definition.
+ This Supreme Creator took a perfect human body (Nishkalanka Purush) and offered it up as a self-sacrifice (Brihad Aranyak Upanishad 1.2.8). This Purush was symbolized by a lamb which was then the animal most commonly sacrificed (Maddyandiniya Sathpathbrahmana III).
+ This Purush was above sin, and only in knowing Him does one obtain immortality (Chandogya Upanishad 1.6:6,7).
+ Acknowledging the Purush-sacrifice imparts eternal life (Kathopanishad 1, 3.8, 11).
+ After giving Himself as the supreme sacrifice, this Purush resurrected (not reincarnated) himself (Brihad Aranyak Upanishad 3.9.28.4-5; Kathopanishad 3:15).
+ Clearly, the purpose of this sacrifice is to provide the only way to Heaven and the only way of escape from Hell (Rg Ved 9:113.7-11; Rg Ved 4.5.5; 7.104.3).
+ He is the one supreme Guru who destroys darkness because he is Light (Gurugeet 1:44,79).
+ Advayatarakopanishad 17,18 declares him the Supreme God (Param Brahma), the Supreme Way (Paragati), and the Supreme Wealth (Param Dhanam).
These are some of the many titles given to the Supreme Truth (Paravidya ), but there is only one Supreme Truth, and there is only one Supreme Way to it as the Vedas teach. Not comprehending these strange ideas, the Vedic philosophers proceeded to add their own philosophies and rituals which to this day obscure this glimmer of Divine truth. These teachings concerning Purush Prajapati become meaningful only when viewed through the life of the Lord Jesus which portrayed the mystery of salvation which God had conceived before He even created the universe ( Vedas and Bible).
What do the Vedas and Upanishads teach about the four paths (maarg) to mukti as taught by Hindu pundits? They do not teach four paths but rather four aspects of only one Supreme Way (Paragati) .
The Svetasvataropanishad 3:8 states: "I know the (one) supreme Purush ... Only in knowing Him does one pass over death. There is no other path leading to eternal life".
Yajurved 31:18 concludes the same in the Purushasukta: "... No other way is known for eternal life. (Nanyah pantha vidyate-ayanaya"). What are taught as four paths to salvation are really four necessary aspects of a disciple's relationship with the Purush Prajapati according to the Vedas.
They are:
(1) accepting the sacrificial work (karmamaarg) of transferring one's sins to the supreme sacrifice;
(2) knowing ((Gyanmaarg) the Purush-Paravidya (the supreme knowledge who liberates);
(3) meditating upon Him ((Yogamaarg);); and
(4) devoting one's life to the Purush ((bhaktimaarg) in gratitude for the sacrificial substitution. The resurrected Purush-Prajapati is returning to earth once more: according to the Vedas, this is the last Avataar (human incarnation)

Info courtesy: Global Evangelical Missionary Society