The word Veda originates from the root word 'Ved' which means “knowledge” in Sanskrit, which variously means to know, think, obtain, and/or discuss. Vedas form the foundation of Bharatiya tradition and culture and are said to contain all the knowledge relating to both the spiritual as well as the mundane human life. This was the oldest syllabus for education in ancient Bharat.
According to Vishnu Purana, original Veda consisted of 1 Lakh verses. Mahabharata author Vedavyasa divided it into four volumes. The original Veda, in four parts, consisted of one hundred thousand stanzas; and from it sacrifice of ten kinds, the accomplisher of all desires, proceeded. In the twenty-eighth Dvapara age my son Vyas separated the four portions of the Veda into four Vedas.
Rigveda - 10,552 verses, Yajurveda - 1,975 verses, Samaveda - 1,875 verses and Atharvaveda - 5,977 verses. Total of 20,379 verses are surviving today. So, as per this calculation, 20.79% of Veda is available for us and 79% of Veda is lost.
The Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads together form the part of each Veda. While the Samhitas and the Brahmanas form the Karma Kanda (ritualistic part), the Aranyakas and Upanishads are the Jnana Kanda (explanatory portions). Samhitas contain the mantras and deals with the recitation of the mantras. Brahmanas are the ritual portion of the Vedas and consist of commentaries that interpret the Vedic mantras in relation to the rituals.
Aranyakas are the scriptures that bridge the gap between the Karma and Jnana Kandas. It contains the experiences of the rishis who have worded the yagna after internalizing them. In simple words, Aranyakas are the explanation of the rituals. The philosophical part or the essence of the Vedas forms the Upanishads.
There are four primary maha-vakyas, of “Great Statements” one from each of the four Vedas; They are
1. Prajnanam Brahma: ‘Consciousness is Brahman.’ This is called the Svarupabodha-vakya or the statement that explains the nature of Brahman or the Ultimate Reality. (This is contained in the Aitareya-Upanishad of the Rig Veda).
2. Aham Brahma Asmi: ‘I Am Brahman.’ This is the Anusandhana-vakya, the idea on which the spiritual aspirant tries to fix his mind i.e. that he/she in essence is a ray/spark/mode of the Ultimate Reality. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda.
3. Tat tvam Asi: ‘That Thou Art.’ This is the upadesa-vakya contained in the Chhandogya Upanishad 6.11 of the Sama Veda. Through this sentence the teacher instructs the student in his essential nature as stated in #2.
4. Ayam Atma Brahma: ‘This (Individual) Self - jivatman is Brahman.’ This is the Anubhava-bodha vakya or the sentence that gives expression to the inner intuitive experience of the aspirant. This is from the Mandukya Upanishad 2. of the Atharva Veda.
Of these four Maha-vakyas, Tat tvam asi is of greatest importance. It is known as the Upadesa-Vakya / Upaniṣad-vakya / sravana-vakya.
The Guru initiates the disciple into spiritual knowledge (Brahma- Jnana) only through this statement. This maha-vakya gives rise to the other three vakyas.
Rishi Ved Vyas (Krishna Dwaipayana) compiled the four types of mantras into four Samhitas and passed on one each to his four disciples for the continued preservation of the Vedas.
Rigveda was given to Rishi Paila, Yajurveda to Rishi Vaishampayan, Samaveda to Rishi Jaimini, and Atharvaveda to Rishi Sumantu. It must be mentioned here that by the time of this distribution, a large portion of the Vedas had already been lost.
The knowledge of the healthcare system and medicines stems from Rig Veda which gave birth to a sub-system called Ayurveda.
The knowledge of archery and warfare which shaped the skills of many great kings of Bharat, stems from Yajur Veda and gave birth to a sub-system called Dhanur veda.
The knowledge of aesthetics, music and dance which brought great artistic history to Bharat stems from Sama Veda and gave birth to a sub-system called Gandharva veda.
The knowledge of business, wealth and prosperity stem from Atharva Veda which gave birth to a sub-system called Artha-shastra.
Even though Ayurveda is rooted in Rig Veda, it is also considered a part of Atharva Veda which came long after the other 3 Vedas.
Rigveda
The Rigveda is the oldest Hindu scripture containing the ruchas (prayers) which are the hymns of praise. The Rigvedic Samhita comprises of 64 chapters and it deals mainly with the divine (Vedic Devtas) and nature-based topics.
Brahmanas: Aitareya, Kausitaki, and Shankhyana
Aranyakas: Aitreya, Kausitaki, and Shankhyana
Upanishad: Aitreya and Kausitaki
Upaveda: Ayurveda (health science)
Yajurveda
It is known as the Veda of the yagna as it encompasses all the details regarding the ritual of yagna. It is divided into Krishna (dark) and Shukla (white) Yajurveda. Yajurveda is derived from the word Yajuh meaning in prose form.
Brahmanas: Shatapatha (Kanva and Madhyandina) belong to Shukla Yajurveda and Taittiriya, Maitrayani, Kathaka, and Katha-Kapisthala are the Krishna Yajurveda Brahmanas
Aranyakas: Brihadaranyaka (Shukla) and Taittiriya & Maitrayaniya (Krishna) are the Yajurvedic Aranyakas
Upanishad: Brihadaranyaka and Isha are Shukla Yajurveda Upanishads while Taittiriya, Katha, Shvestashvatara, and Maitrayaniya are the Upanishads associated with Krishna Yajurveda.
Upaveda: Dhanurveda (the science of warfare techniques)
Samaveda
The Veda which relates to the singing or the gayan vidhi (recitation of hymns) is known as Samaveda which is derived from the word saaman meaning to sing. The three surviving branches of this Veda are Kauthuma, Jaiminya, and Ranayaniya.
Brahmanas: Kauthuma, Tandya, Shadavimsa, Samavidhana, Aarsheya, Devatadhyaya, Chandogyopanishad, Samhitopanishad, Vansha, Jaiminya, Jaiminya Aarsheya, and Jaiminiyopanishad
Aranyakas: Talavakara or Jaiminiya Upanishad Aranyaka and Chandogya
Upanishad: Chandogya and Kena
Upaveda: Gandharvaveda (the science of music, dance, and other art forms)
Atharvaveda
Atharvaveda which derives from the word Atharvan denotes direction and encompasses mantras which are by and large concerned with warding off evil and hardships as well as curing diseases. This Veda also contains philosophical thoughts. Only the Pippalada and Saunaka branches of Atharvaveda are extant today.
Brahmanas: Gopatha
Aranyakas: Unfortunately there are no aranyakas of Atharvaveda surviving today
Upanishad: Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna
Upaveda: Shilpaveda or Sthapatyaveda (science of construction)
The shruti granthas which have been compiled by Bhagwan Ved Vyasa who was also known Krishna Dwaipayana and was born to Rishi Parashar and Devi Satyavati. Shri Krishna Dwaipayana or Bhagwan Ved Vyas is believed to be one in a long line of Vyasas who compiled the Vedas in the current Manvantara known as Vaivasvata.
As most of us are aware, earlier knowledge was passed on orally from generation to generation. However, by the time the Kaliyuga commenced the retention capacity is said to have decreased. Therefore, Maharishi Ved Vyas decided to make it available in the written form. If what we have received is in itself so vast, then the granthas in their entirety must simply be mind-blogging.
The Hindu granthas are divided into Shrutis (that which is heard) and Smritis (that which is recalled or remembered). The Vedas, Upa-Vedas, and Vedangas are collectively known as Shrutis while Smritis comprises of all those kinds of literature which are a derivative of the Shrutis or have been compiled by acharyas, rishis, and munis based on their understanding and experience of the Shrutis.
Authored by Dr Anadi Sahoo
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