Vedic Period: Four Vedas

Vedas: Pillars of Ancient Indian History

• Four Types: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda.
• Historical Significance: Key source for Ancient Indian History.
• Scriptural Foundation: Vedas shape the Indian scripture.
• Religious Codification: Ideas and practices of Vedic religion are codified by the Vedas.
• Basis of Classical Hinduism: Foundation for the development of classical Hinduism.

1. Rigveda

• It is the oldest form of Veda and oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text (1800 – 1100 BCE).
• The meaning of the word ‘Rigveda’ is Praise Knowledge.
• It has 10,600 verses.
• Out of 10 books or mandalas, book number 1 and 10 are the youngest ones as they were written later than books 2 to 9.
• Rigvedic books 2-9 deal with cosmology and deities.
• Rigvedic books 1 and 10 deal with philosophical questions and also talk about various virtues, including charity in the society.
• Rigvedic books 2-7 are the oldest and shortest, also called family books.
• Rigvedic books 1 & 10 are the youngest and longest.
• 1,028 hymns deal with deities, including Agni, Indra, and are attributed and dedicated to a sage rishi.
• The ninth Rigvedic book/mandala is solely dedicated to Soma.
• The meters used to form hymns are Gayatri, Anushtubh, Trishtubh, and Jagati (Trishtubh and Gayatri are most important).
• The Rigveda is divided into ten books known as Mandalas.
• It comprises 10,600 verses and 1,028 hymns.

• It is the oldest text in any Indo-European language.
• Originated as early as 1700 BC.
• The Angiras (rishi family) composed 35% of the hymns, and the Kanva family composed 25% of Rig Veda.
• Many verses of the Rig Veda are still used as significant Hindu prayers and during rituals.
• Contains secrets and clarifications about the origin of the world, the importance of the Gods, and advice for living a satisfying and successful life.
• According to the Rig Veda, the Universe devised from Prajapati, the initial God and the principle basis of creation.
• The hymns are known as Sukta and were composed to be used in rituals.
• Indra is the chief deity cited in the Rig Veda.
• Other chief deities include the sky God Varuna, fire God Agni, and the Sun God Surya.
• The God of storms and mountains, Rudra, as cited in the Rig Veda, is the origin for Lord Shiva, the Hindu God.
• Lord Vishnu, one of the Trimurti of Hindu Gods, was also a minor deity mentioned in the Rig Veda.
• The universally famous Gayatri mantra (Savitri) is also in Rig-Veda.
• The varna system, Four-fold division of society, ‘Sudra’, Gamester’s Lament, Purusha Shukta Hymns are mentioned in this Vedic text.

2. Samaveda

• Known as the Veda of melodies and chants, Samaveda dates back to 1200-800 BCE.
• Related to public worship.
• Contains 1549 verses (except 75 verses, all taken from Rigveda).
• Two Upanishads embedded in Samaveda – Chandogya Upanishad and Kena Upanishad.
• Considered the root of Indian classical music and dance.
• Regarded as the storehouse of melodious chants.
• Though it has fewer verses than Rigveda, its texts are larger.
• Three recensions of the text – Kauthuma, Raṇayaniya, and Jaimaniya.
• Categorized into two parts – Part-I includes melodies called Gana, and Part-II includes three verses book called Archika.
• Samaveda Samhita is not meant to be read as a text; it is like a musical score sheet that must be heard.

3. Yajurveda

• Stands to mean ‘Worship Knowledge,’ Yajurveda dates back to 1100-800 BCE.
• Compiles ritual-offering mantras/chants.
• Two types: Krishna (Black/Dark) & Shukla (White/Bright).
• Krishna Yajurveda has an un-arranged, unclear, motley collection of verses.
• Shukla Yajurveda has arranged and clear verses.
• The oldest layer of Yajurveda has 1875 verses mostly taken up from Rigveda.
• The middle layer of the Veda has Satapatha Brahmana, a commentary of Shukla Yajurveda.
• The youngest layer of Yajurveda consists of various Upanishads, including Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Isha Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Shvetashvatara Upanishad, and Maitri Upanishad.
• Vajasaneyi Samhita is the Samhita in the Shukla Yajurveda.
• Four surviving recensions of the Krishna Yajurveda: Taittiriya Samhita, Maitrayani Samhita, Kaṭha Samhita, and Kapisthala Samhita.

4. Atharvaveda

• Stands to mean a tatpurusha compound of Atharvan, an ancient sage, and knowledge (atharvan+knowledge).
• Dates back to 1000-800 BCE.
• The daily procedures of life are very well enumerated in this Veda.
• It has 730 hymns/suktas, 6000 mantras, and 20 books.
• Paippalada and the Saunakiya are two surviving recensions of Atharvaveda.
• Called a Veda of magical formulas, it includes three primary Upanishads – Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad, and Prashna Upanishad.
• The 20 books are arranged by the length of hymns they contain.
• Unlike Samaveda where hymns are borrowed from Rigveda, hymns of Atharvaveda are unique except a few.
• This Veda contains hymns many of which were charms and magic spells meant to be pronounced by the person who seeks some benefit or, more often, by a sorcerer who would say it on his or her behalf.