The root ''Vid''in Sanskrit means to know. It also means knowledge. Hence the collection of knowledge about all the divinities, man's duties and values, principles of right and wrong and the Supreme Brahman- The Ultimate Reality is called ''Vedas".
Though they are the ancient sacred texts in India and renowned world all over even today they are as progressive as of any new and scientific knowledge. As the root word "Vid"is 'to know', they provide knowledge of universe, power, elements that created us and protect us, and every thing that is needed for spiritual and worldly life. They are as wordly as Godly.
Indian scholars opine that the time of Vedas was 6000BC to 1400BC. The books composed of the knowledges of the Aryans, collected and cosmpiled were called the 'Vedas.'
Vedas are apourusheya (not created by man). They are divine. They are revealed. They were comomunicated by the supreme godhead or the divine essence to the seers. It is popularly known that Brahma is the creator of Vedas. For the performance of sacrifices Brahma created from Agni (fire), Vayu (wind) and Ravi (the sun), the three vedas Rg, Yajur, and Sama which are eternal and in accordance with regulations.
It is also understood that Vedavyasa taught to his four disciples four of these Vedas and compiled and divided them into four Vedas. He taught Paila-Rg veda, Vaisampayana- Yajur veda. Jaiminee - Sama veda. and Sumantu- Atherva veda. They are spoken as 'Trayi', the triple vidya or the threefold knowledge because they deal with jnana, bhakti and Karma. They are also called 'Triple Eternal vedas' (trayam brahma sanatanam) as Atharvaveda is relatively of quite a late origin.
The Vedas have two sides, the spiritual and the mundane. The literary meaning of veda is mundane. Considering these facts that they are religious books and that they reveal the mental and social outlooks of the early Aryans,and as the origin of all the thoughts of Indians, all the Vedas. especially Rg veda, hold a lofty place.
The earliest knowledge of Veda is that Mahavishnu incarnated as Vyasa in Dvapara Yuga and divided the Vedas. The earliest Veda consisted of four padas and a hundred thousand granthas. Vyasa divided it into four parts known as -Rg veda, Sama veda, Yajur veda, and Atharva veda.
Though there were 1180 branches for Vedas ie-Rg had 21, Yajur had 109, Sama had 1000,and Atharva had 50, but as on date only 12 branches are available. Rg-2, Yaajur-5, Saama-3, and Atharva-2 branches. Each of the Vedas has two parts, a samhitas (collection) and the brahmanas. The samhita part consists of omantras or incantations. These were hymns that were used ini sacrifices. But these mantras are difficult to interpret without commentaries. This is what the brahmanas set out to do. The samhitas and brahmanas are known as Karma Kanda, that is, the part of the Vedas that deal with rituals. Vedic literature include jnana kanda, the part which deals with supreme knowledge. In this kanda aranyakas and Upanishads are included.
In the samhitas there are lyrics in praise of different gods. Brahmanas contain prose texts giving practical observations on sacrifice which are mentioned in the songs of praise. The Aranyakas (forest texts) give instructions to hermits those who dwell in forests. Upapnishads are appendices of Aranyakas, they are called Vedantas, as they are the end of the appendices of Araanyakas, they are called Vedas. The Vedas have Vedangas and Upangas. There are Upavedas too. Vedas are called Vidya-sthanas-the abodes of knowledge as they lead to knowledge of truth of one self, the lore and creation. There are fourteen fold vedic-knowledge in Vedas. They are four Vedas, six vedangas and four upangas.
Rg Veda-Veda Vyasa created by Rg ''Hautra'' - a collection of lyrics in praise of different Gods, to be recited by the priest styled the ' hotr''. This collection is called Rg veda. '' Hotri' were the first class officiating priests or ocolytes. They invoked the gods by reciting the mantras, prepared the sacrifiicial ground and the altar, and poured out the libations. Rg Veda derives its name from the word rik, which means a mantra. There are 10,589 verses in the Rg veda samhita. These are divided into 10 mandalas or books. Each book is subdivided into anuvakas or lessons and Suktas or hymns. The ten books have 85 chapters. 1080 suktas, and 10589 verses.
Rg veda addresses all the elements ie Agni, Vayu, Jala, Prithvi, Askasa and also Indra.
Every veda needs commentary to understand. Till 19th century there was only Sayana commentary on Rg veda. Rg veda. Rg vedic studies drive has come from German academicians mostly. Whether it was Roth, Gelder from Germany or max Muller from Britain or Lanman from United states of America, all have done great work on Rg veda. The great scientists have also attributed that the root cause for science is Rg veda.
Rg Veda is a collection of mantras. Rg veda speaks about light and darkness, ie the power of Agni - fire, Space, Time, Life, Sound, and Power. Agni is powerful. He gives light and fire to the world.
Agni in Rg veda is not a god. He is a deva. He is the power. The Rg vedic concept of the Ultimate is unique. The Universe in its timelessness and inactive state is Jyothi, the power, lying in the equally eternal, non-active Principal of Tamas, the Primeval Darkness. The creation and evolution comes out from this primeval. To personify this act Aditi and Daksa entered into Aditi (the Sun) and created Adityas, varuna, Indra ete who inturn gave light to the world.
Agni does not take direct part in creating Space and Life. Space is created by Indra and Visnu. He only supplies 'Vajra'' to Indra to overcome Vrtra, the Power of Darkness. Indra released the world from the grip of Vrtra, and Visnu took his famous three steps, from which he is called ''Trivikramah.'' On One hand it led to Space being divided in three sections- heaven, antariksa-space in between and earth, on the other hand it set the sun in his annual rotational movement which, starting from the Autumnal Equinox passes by stages through the Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, to start the entire process all over again.
Agni, having brought light to the world, and having helped Indra to create Space and to release the Supreme Energy, namely the Waters, the Mother. from the hold of the deep darkness of Tamas, he was next assigned by the Divine Principle, Jyothi, to create Time, and organize order and system in the universe as a preliminary to the coming of life on the earth. The rhythm of life lies in conception, birth, growth, decay and death. Agni's another form is Kama, therefore, all things on earth and in heaven are the handiwork of Agni, and the climax of them all is reached in Life. In the newer Rg Vedic tradition, Agni appears as Brhaspati, the Father Founder of brahmanic cult and culture and the originator of Sanskrit. Agni is present everywhere where Speech, Prayers, Dance and Music prevail. Agni is power. He is the life giver and life- sustainer as well as the life-destroyer. Agni's magical powers are manifested in the good form, as the Rg Veda views good. Rg veda though keeps Agni in pivotal role, but addresses all other powers that are helpful to creation, protection and destruction.
Sama Veda is a book that deals with mantras song musically. These are sung by Saman ''Audgatra'' - songs meaant to be sung at the Soma sacrifice by a special class of priests ''Udgatr.'' These are the second class priests consisted of the choristers - udgatri. These were the ones who chanted the sacred hymns and the hymns of the Sama veda are for this class priests.
The Sama Veda Samhita is composed entirely in metrical form. It is half as long as Rg Veda Samhita and borrows from it considerably. The word sama means sweet songs. Sama songs are the mixture of mantras and songs. Only three branches out of 1000 are available now. They are Ranayana, Kuthuma and Jaimini. There are divided as - purvarchika containing 650 mantras and uttarachika containing are 1225 mantras. Purvarchika is divided into four sections - agneya, aindra, oavamana and aranya kanda. Uttararchika does not have kandas, but it is divided into 21 chapters.
Brahmanas that are identified with Sama Veda are: Tandya, Shadavimsha, Samavidhana, Arsheya, devatadhaya, Mantra, and Vamsha Brahmana.
Gods of the Vedas are Agni - the gods of the earth are identified with him, Indra or Vayu - the gods of the antariksha are identified with them and Surya the gods of the heaven are identified with him. In Sama Veda the gods are addressed in different kandas. Agneya kanda has hymns concerning Agni having 114 mantras following 5 different meters, Aindra hymns are about Indra having 352 mantras following many metres, Pavamana kanda mantras are addressed to Soma juice having 119 mantras following 7 different metres. And Aranya kanda has hymns about several gods and spiritual knowlegge having 55 mantras and follow six different meters. Uttararchika contains 1225 mantras in 21 chapters. It has used all the seven basic meters with variations and combinations.
The Indian classical music is based on Sama Veda hymns. The initial pitch or volume was high and was gradually reduced. Since the pitch never fluctuated between a high and a low, the listeners mind was gradually lulled and drawn towards an inner peace.
Yajur Veda - which describes sacrifices. These are sung by Yajus ''Adharyava'' this is a book of sacrificial prayer, of prose formulas to be uttered by the ''Adhvaryu'' priest, who performed the manual work involved in a sacrifice. The third class of priests consisted of the reciters - adhvaryu. They carried out sacrificial rites while chanting the sacred texts and the hymns of the Yajur Veda are for this class of priests.
Yajur veda is the books of karma or action. Mantras of Yajur veda are recited at the time of ritual sacrifice. The Yajur veda is divided into two collection of texts. The first is Taittriya - samhita, also called Krishna or Black Yajur veda, because samhita and Brahmana portions are confused. The second is Vajasaneyi - samhita, also known as ''Shukla'' or white Yajur Veda, because there is a marked orderliness and they are clear.
Yajur veda is two - thirds of the Rg veda. It has both prose and poetic forms. The rhythmic prose is called ''Yajus.'' It contains 40 books, majority of which contains the prayers and rites for the most important sacrifices, like - new or full moon, seasons, the Soma sacrifices, prayers and formulae concerning the building of sacrificial altar, Purushamedha and Ashvemedha sacrifices. The last chapter of Yajur veda is an Upanishad. It is the only Upanishad which forms a part of Samhita portion of the Veda.
Yajur veda is a real jewel of religio-philosophic thought and wisdom. it is a fusion of jnan (knowledge) and karma (action). This fusion signifies between desire-less discharge of duty and excessive ritualism and total abstinence from action is marvelous.
Atharva Veda represents a synthesis of other three Vedas. This is a book of worldly mantras. Atharva ''Brahmatva''- a collection of songs, spells and incantations, for the healing of disease, the restoration of hormony, the exorcism of evil spirits and to celebrate the power and omniscience of God. The fourth class of priests consisted of brahmana overseers. They supervised the sacrifice and the hymns of the Atharva veda are for this class of priests. There are 20 books or kandas. In the first 13 kandas, hymns are not arranged according to their content. There is a heterogenous mix of prayer. charms, spells, benedictions and invocations. Kanda 14 is concerned with marriages, 15 with wandering mendicants, 16 and 17 with conjuring, and 18 kanda with funeral rites. Kanda 19 is a mixed bag of hymns, 20 is primarily culled from Rg veda and contains hymns addressed to Indra. There are 740 suktas and 5962 mantras.
Gods of veda are the main three loka gods. There are 11 gods for each loka so there are 33 gods total. Of course there are references to 3339 gods and by the time of Puranas this has become 33 crores of gods.
We find prayers for increasing learning, obtaining victory, for recovery from illness, obtaining blessings from water, spreading righteousness, granting of wishes, for the pardoning of sins, for destroying enemies in kanda one. Second kanda prayers deal with supreme godhead, and for healing. Third kanda prayers are for defeating enemies, for coronation, and for the unity of the kingdom. Fourth kanda prayers are for the knowledge of the Brahman, who should be worshipped?, and for purging poison. Fifth kanda prayers are for victory, sixth for a sacrifice, destroying enemies, for peace, for purging snake-poison, and wearing bangles. Kanda seven prayers are for atman, motherland, goddess Sarasvati, for a long life, and for marital harmaony. Kanda eight charms are for the recovery of a man who is dying. Each kanda of this veda is either a prayer for some good cause or a prayer to gods like Indra, Surya, Agni, or to water, or spells for peace, motherland, victory and health.
