What are Vedas?
Vedas are the oldest Hindu Scriptures written in Sanskrit. They are not just books but represent eternal knowledge.
Vedas contain hymns, mantras, and benedictions, text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices, and symbolic sacrifices, commentaries on rituals, ceremonies, and texts discussing meditation, philosophy, and spiritual knowledge.
The hymns of the Vedas are called ‘Mantras’. The hymns of other Sanskrit texts are “Shlokas”. The Mantras are unchangeable not only in content but even in pronunciation.
What is the proper way to learn Vedas?
The Lord is the original Guru of the Vedas, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Vedas. Vedas must be learned through the medium of Sanskrit from a guru who has mastered it. Thus from the beginning, Vedas are taught in Gurukul. Vedas are shruti literature so they are meant to be learned from Guru, not from the books.
Origin of the Word Veda
The word Veda comes from the root vid (literally means ‘to know’) thus, Veda means ‘knowledge’ or ‘wisdom’. In Hindu beliefs, Vedas refers to the eternal knowledge that is authorless and given directly by God.
Dating The Vedas: Controversies and Debates
Vedas are the first source of wisdom known to humankind. No one has been able to date them reasonably.
Historians put the date for the composition of Vedas around 1500 BCE in the northwest regions of the Indian subcontinent (present-day Pakistan and north-west India). From then they were orally transmitted to the many generations and finally committed to writing.
We can not track exactly when the oral transmission started hence we can not predict the exact time of the Vedas.
As per the Hindu scriptures, Vedas are eternal. God himself created them. Like every new item comes with a manual, Veda comes with human life. They teach how to live human life.
Who Wrote Vedas?
According to the Hindu belief, Vedas are ‘apauruṣeya’ which means impersonal or authorless. Vedas are revealed to the heart of the Sages after intense meditation. Then sages preserved them more carefully since ancient times.
In the Mahabharata, it’s said that God gave knowledge of the Vedas to Brahma. Brahma then shared this knowledge with sages, who passed it on orally through generations.
Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana during the time of Mahabharata (around 1500 BCE) did the formal documentation of Veda. He arranged the mantras in four Vedas Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.
Four Vedas: Key concepts and themes
Maharshi Veda Vyasa divides Veda into four parts.
1. Rigveda: The book of Mantras
Rigveda is the collection of Mantras. The name Rugveda(in English it is written as Rigveda) comes from the root word ‘Ruk’ means verse form. Mantras in the Rigveda are in verse form.
What does the Rigveda contain?
- The Rigveda mainly consists of mantras praising different deities, which are often natural forces. Examples include Indra, Agni, Mitra, Varun, and Marut.
- Rigveda has hymns for creation as well. The most famous is Nasadiya sukta, which talks about how the creation happened. Asyavamiya and Purusha Sukta are also talk about the birth of the universe.
- Very Famous Gayatri mantra which almost every Hindu chant every day, is from Rigveda.
- Aitareya Upanishad is the part of Rigveda.
2. Yajurveda: The Book of Rituals
Yajna rituals are the heart of Yajurveda. Yajurveda gets its name because it contains mantras in prose form, “Yajuh” meaning prose. It has 2 parts Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajurveda.
What does the Yajurveda contain?
- Yajurveda has a detailed description of Yajna rituals. Many important yajnas like Darsha-purnamasa, Agnihotra, Somayaga, Vajapeya, Ashvamedha, and many more are described in very detail.
- They dive into the specifics of constructing Vedis for various Yajnas, detailing the required materials, shapes, and arrangement of the bricks. This can also be examined from a geometric perspective.
- It also gives the glimpse of the Varna system.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad are the part of the Yajurveda.
- The very famous Shri Rudram is part of Krishna Yajurveda.
3. Samaveda: The Book of Songs
It is the veda of melody and chant. Samaveda has most of its ruchas from Rigveda but in the form of singing.
What does the Samveda contain?
- Samveda verses are mainly the musical representation of the Rigvedic Mantras. Most of the Mantras are from the eighth and ninth Mandala of Rigveda. Along with this, it has its prayers as well.
- During rituals, these verses are chanted.
- Among all the Vedas Samveda has a very important place. In Bhagavat Gita Lord Krishan says that I am the Samveda among all the Vedas.
- Samveda mainly has prayers for Indra, Agni, and Soma deities. but many times prayers talk about the Supreme Being. In the spiritual sense, Soma represents all pervading, all present, glorious Lord.
- The major theme of the Samveda is worship and devotion.
- Chandogya and Kena upanishad are from Samveda.
4. Atharvaveda: The book of spell
In various contexts, such as Vedic literature or Hindu rituals, “Atharvan” represents the effort to make things whole, perfect, or devoid of any shortcomings. So, when it’s said that “Atharvan means to fill up the shortcomings or to make it shortcoming-less. Hence there are Mantras to ward off evil and hardship and also contain philosophical thoughts. There are prose forms as well as verse form Mantras in Atharvaveda.
What does the Atharvaveda contain?
- Atharvaveda seems to comprise methods of the fulfillment of these wishes. In general, the Atharvedic mantras cover topics like peace, harmony, and prosperity.
- It is the oldest literary that describes the Indian science of Medicine.
- There are mantras to cure various physical and mental diseases.
- Prayers for protection from snake bites and insects.
- Application of medicines and medicinal herbs.
- Its mantras are broadly divided into three categories. 1. Related to the cure and destruction of adverse forces 2. To establish peace, health, wealth, and long life 3. Related to the nature of the Supreme reality.
- It is like an encyclopedia for many subjects. It helps us to understand the life of the Vedic people their struggle, their philosophy, science, politics, and medical advancement.
Structure of the Veda
The Vedas contain both worldly knowledge and spiritual knowledge, as human first we have to live worldly life properly and then only can think of spiritual progress. Thus First part of the Veda is Karma-kānda and second part is Gyankanda. The Karma-kanda gives details about do’s and don’ts, etc. for Yajna rituals and for day to day life.
Gyankanda is the last part of the Vedas hence also called Vedanata. After getting the enjoyment and suffering from worldly subjects, Time comes in everyone’s life to find true happiness and meaning., Gyankanda is just for that. It is the culmination of all Vedic knowledge and pillars of the Indian Philosophy.
According to the text types each Vedas consisted of four parts
- Samhita – Contains Mantras and benedictions (prayers).
- Brahmanas – Contains commentaries on rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices.
- Aranyakas– Explains the philosophy behind the ritual sacrifice of the Vedas.
- Upanishads– Text discussing meditation, philosophy, and spiritual knowledge.
Some scholars also considered the fifth part Upasanas which contains short ritual worships.
The first two parts make up Karma kanda, focusing on rituals, while the third, Aranyakas, marks the shift from action to knowledge. Here, Vedic rituals and philosophy are combined. The Upanishads constitute the knowledge section (Gyankanda).
Yajamana and rutvij
Who is Yajamana?
Yajamana or the sacrificer is the person who wishes to perform the Yajna. He is responsible for all the arrangements and expenses. Also, he is the Adhikari of the’ Yajana Fal’ (fruits of Yajna). The meaning of the word ‘yajamāna’ is ‘one who is performing the sacrifice’. Yajna can only be performed by the Grhastha means Yajamana has to be married person. The wife of the Yajamana also plays very important role.
The role of Rtvtiks or Priests
The Rtviks are the one who performs the Yajna. Yajamana has a privilege to choose Rtuviks for the Yajna. Yajamana is the main person and Rtvtiks are there to guide them and perform all ritualistic acts. They receive the Dakshina(fees for performing Yajna) for that. Hence Yajamana becomes the one who attains the fruits of the Yajana.
Rtviks have to be very well read in Vedas and attained knowledge through the traditional Gurukul system. He has to be following good life as per prescribed by the Vedas.
There are four main priests, each representing one of the four Vedas:
- hotr(Rigveda),
- adhvaryu (Yajurveda)
- udgātr (Sāmaveda) and
- brahmā (Atharvaveda).
The Vedic expert who were authorized to perform Yajna on behalf of the Yajamana are called as ‘Rutwij’. Each Veda has their specified Rutwij.
- Hotru-gana
- Adhwaryu-gana,
- Udgatru-gana, and
- Brahma-gana.
Each one of these has three assistants, thereby taking the total to a maximum of sixteen.
- Hotru—maitrāvaruna, acchāvāka, grāvastut
- Adhvaryu—pratiprasthātā, nestā, unnetā.
- Udgātr—prastotā, pratihartā, subrahmanya
- Brabmā—brāhmanāccharūsī, āgnīdhra, potā
Their duties and fees are in descending order.
The number of priests in any sacrifice varies according to its needs. It is in the Somayāgas that all the sixteen take an active part.
Conclusion
Vedas are an eternal and intrinsic part of the Sanatan Dharma. There is nothing related to human life that you can’t find in Vedas. Vedas are ocen of knowledge it is just that you have to know, how to dive into this ocen of knowledge otherwise you will get drowned and get the worst part of it. Thus it is always recommended to learn Vedas from Guru to avoid any misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
Let’s bring our golden age again by going back to our roots Vedas. Spreading true sanatani knowledge and passing it to the next generation.