Vedas
Introduction
The Vedas (Vedic) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
History
According to Hindu tradition, the Vedas are "apauruṣeya" "not of human agency", are supposed to have been directly revealed, and thus are called śruti ("what is heard").Shruti The four Vedas, collectively known as "Chathurveda," were compiled by the great sages 'Veda Vyasa'. The exact century of their composition is unclear, but it is estimated to be around 1500-1200 BCE.
Composition
The Vedas are composed of four major works, each of which has been standardized into four distinct sections. These are the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types – the Samhitas (mantras and benedictions), the Aranyakas (text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices), the Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices), and the Upanishads (texts discussing meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).Upanishads
Rigveda
The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas. It is a collection of 1,028 Vedic Sanskrit hymns and 10,600 verses in all, organized into ten books (Sanskrit: mandalas). The hymns are dedicated to Rigvedic deities.
Yajurveda
The Yajurveda is divided into the White and Black Yajurveda, and contains prose mantras. It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while an individual performed ritual actions such as those before the yajna fire.
Samaveda
The Samaveda, the "Veda of melodies and chants," consists of 1,549 unique verses, taken almost entirely from the Rigveda, that were meant to be sung using specifically indicated melodies derived from the seven Samaveda sama.
Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is sometimes called the "Veda of magical formulas," although this is a mischaracterization. It is a collection of 20 books with about 6,000 mantras, divided into two parts. The first part includes hymns dealing with the practical aspects of life and the second part contains the procedures for everyday life.
Brahmanas
The Brahmanas are prose texts that discuss, in technical fashion, the solemn sacrificial rituals as well as comment on their meaning and many connected themes. Each of the Brahmanas is associated with one of the Samhitas or its recensions.
Aranyakas and Upanishads
The Aranyakas, "wilderness texts" or "forest treaties," were transitional texts between the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The Upanishads are largely philosophical works, some in dialogue form. They are the foundation of Hindu philosophical thought and its diverse traditions.
Post-Vedic literature
Post-Vedic literature includes the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. The Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Mahabharata, has gained a particular importance. It synthesizes the teachings found in the Upanishads and the philosophies found in the Mahabharata.