{"id":5,"date":"2019-08-28T10:19:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T10:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icp05.epgpbooks.inflibnet.ac.in\/2019\/08\/28\/chapter-1\/"},"modified":"2022-01-10T12:15:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T12:15:01","slug":"chapter-1","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in\/icp05\/chapter\/chapter-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Overview of Vedas"},"content":{"raw":"
\"epgp<\/a>\r\n<\/span><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n
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1.\u00a0 Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

In Indian tradition there are fourteen or eighteen Vidy\u0101sth\u0101nas (abodes of knowledge\/ cognition).<\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0923\u0928\u094d\u092e\u0940\u092e\u093e\u093e\u0902\u0938\u093e\u0927\u092e\u092e\u0936\u093e\u092f\u00a0 \u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0919\u094d\u0917\u092e\u092e\u092e\u093f\u0924\u093e\u093e\u0903\u0964<\/p>\r\n

\u0935\u0947\u0926\u093e\u093e\u0903\u0938\u094d\u0925\u093e\u0928\u093e\u092e\u0928 \u092e\u0935\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0928\u093e\u093e\u0902\u0927\u092e\u092e\u0938\u094d\u092f\u091a \u091a\u0924\u0941\u0926\u092e\u0936\u0965(\u092f\u093e\u091c\u094d\u091e\u0935\u0932\u094d\u0915\u094d\u092f\u0938\u094d\u0930\u0941\u092e\u0924\u093e\u0903,1-3)<\/p>\r\n

\u0905\u0919\u094d\u0917\u093e\u092e\u0928 \u0935\u0947\u0926\u093e\u0936\u094d\u091a\u0924\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0903\u092e\u0940\u092e\u093e\u093e\u0902\u0938\u093e\u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u092e\u0935\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0930\u093e\u0903\u0964<\/p>\r\n

\u0927\u092e\u092e\u0936\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0902\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902\u091a\u092e\u0935\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0947\u0924\u093e\u0936\u094d\u091a\u0924\u0941\u0926\u092e\u0936\u0965<\/p>\r\n

\u0906\u092f\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0926\u094b\u0927\u0928\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0926\u094b\u0917\u093e\u0928\u094d\u0927\u0935\u092e\u0936\u094d\u091a\u0947\u092e\u0924\u0924\u0947\u0924\u094d\u0930\u092f\u093e\u0903\u0964<\/p>\r\n

\u0905\u0925\u092e\u0936\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0902\u091a\u0924\u0941\u0925\u0902\u092e\u0935\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0939\u094d\u092f\u0937\u094d\u091f\u093e\u0926\u0936\u0948\u0935\u0924\u093e\u093e\u0903\u0965 (\u092e\u0935\u0937\u094d\u0923\u0941\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0923\u092e\u094d)<\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u1e5agveda, Yajurveda, S\u0101maveda, Atharvaveda (four Vedas), \u015aik\u1e63\u0101, Vy\u0101kara\u1e47am, Chandas, Niruktam, Jyoti\u1e63am, Kalpa (six Ved\u0101\u1e45gas), Pur\u0101\u1e47am, Ny\u0101yadar\u1e63anam, M\u012bm\u0101ms\u0101, Dharma\u015b\u0101stram, \u0100yurveda, Dhanurveda, G\u0101ndharvaveda, Artha\u015b\u0101stram (four Upavedas) - are the eighteen Vidyas or abodes of Vidy\u0101.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Veda means \u2018a mass of knowledge\u2019. Vedic literature is considered as the earliest. Initially Veda was just like a heap and it was Vedavy\u0101sa, who, as the name suggests, divided it into four \u2013 \u090b\u0917\u094d\u0935\u0947\u0926, \u092f\u091c\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0926,\u0938\u093e\u092e\u0935\u0947\u0926and \u0905\u0925\u0935\u092e\u0935\u0947\u0926\u05c0\u00a0\u00a0\u092c\u0943\u0939\u0926\u093e\u0930\u0923\u094d\u092f\u0915\u094b\u092a\u092e\u0928\u0937\u0924\u094dclearly says that all the above said four Vedas had emanated from Brahman in one go as an exhalation, i.e. without an effort - Maitrey\u012b, wife of Y\u0101gnavalkya, asked the latter to show the path for Mok\u1e63a. In that context Y\u0101j avalkya said this \u2013<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u0905\u0938\u094d\u092f \u092e\u0939\u0924\u094b \u092d\u0942\u0924\u0938\u094d\u092f \u092e\u0928\u093e\u0903\u0936\u094d\u0935\u092e\u0938\u0924\u092e\u0947\u0924\u0924\u094d\u092f\u0926\u094d\u090b\u0917\u094d\u0935\u0947\u0926\u093e\u0903\u092f\u091c\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0926:\u0938\u093e\u092e\u0935\u0947\u0926:<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u0905\u0925\u0935\u093e\u092e\u092e\u0919\u094d\u0917\u0930\u0938\u093e\u0903\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902\u092e\u0935\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092e\u0928\u0937\u0926 \u2026 \u05c0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

This \u090b\u0917\u094d\u0935\u0947\u0926, exhalation of<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u092f\u091c\u0941\u0935\u0947\u0926,\u0938\u093e\u092e\u0935\u0947\u0926and<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u092a\u0930\u092e\u093e\u0924\u094d\u092e\u093e \u05c0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u0905\u0925\u0935\u092e\u0935\u0947\u0926,\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0923\u093e\u0902,\u0936\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930s,\u00a0<\/span>\u0909\u092a\u092e\u0928\u0937\u0924\u094d<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

etc. are\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Since Veda had emanated from \u092a\u0930\u092e\u093e\u0924\u094d\u092e\u093e or \u092a\u0930\u092c\u094d\u0930\u0939\u094d\u092e\u0928\u0928\u094dand not authored or written by any human being it is called \u0905\u092a\u094c\u0930\u0941\u0937\u0947\u092f\u05c0 It is also clear that all the four Vedas\u00a0<\/span>were available at a single point of time and there is no different time for different Veda. This concept is substantiated in different systems of Indian Philosophy such as M\u012bm\u0101ms\u0101 , Ved\u0101nta, Vy\u0101kara\u1e47a etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u015aruti is another name of Veda \u2013 literally \u015aruti means the one that is learnt thru hearing (not thru reading).<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

2. Svara or accent:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Sanskrit language can be put under two headings - Vaidika and Laukika. There is Svara or accent in Sanskrit language per se . But during the course of time Svara lost its significance in Laukika (secular or non-Vedic) literature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

But Svara plays an important role in Vedic literature. Any change of Svara would lead to change of meaning. There are mainly three Svaras, viz. Ud\u0101tta, Anud\u0101tta and Svarita.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

3. Dichotomy of Veda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Following the result, Veda can be divided into two parts - Mantrabr\u0101hma\u1e47abh\u0101ga and Upani\u1e63adbh\u0101ga. The former is useful in performng Y\u0101gas (Yaj as) that lead to Svarga, whereas the latter is useful in attaining Mok\u1e63a (arresting the cycle of birth and death and merging the J\u012bv\u0101tma with Param\u0101tma).<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

In other words the Mantrabr\u0101hma\u1e47abh\u0101ga deals with Dharma \/ Karma whereas the Upani\u1e63adbh\u0101ga deals with J \u0101nam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

4. A different classification of Vedas:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Veda can be put under four headings - Mantra, Br\u0101hma\u1e47a, \u0100ranyaka and Upani\u1e63ad.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

The Mantra portion is called Samhita. Mantras are commending texts of different deities and literally mean - those, which protect if recited with concentration.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Br\u0101hma\u1e47as comment on Mantras and explain the procedure of a rite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Both the above portions are useful for a person during Brahmacaryam (celibacy) and G\u0101rh\u0101sthya (married life) - the first two \u0100\u015bramas (stages of life) and also in the performance of different rites.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

The \u0100ra\u1e47yaka portion, which should be recited in a forest, as the name suggests, is useful for a person during the third \u0100\u015brama called V\u0101naprastha (living in a forest).<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Upani\u1e63ads are useful during the fourth \u0100\u015brama called Samny\u0101ysa (giving up all\u00a0<\/span>K\u0101myakarmas\u00a0 such\u00a0 as\u00a0 Y\u0101ga\u00a0 etc.\u00a0 but\u00a0 still\u00a0 performing\u00a0 the\u00a0 Nityakarmas\u00a0 like\u00a0<\/span>Sandhy\u0101vandanam and Naimittikakarmas such as death ceremony of parents).<\/span>One may directly go to Samny\u0101sa from Brahmacarya.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

5. Branches(\u015a\u0101khas) of Vedas:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u1e5agveda has got 21 branches but only two are available. Yajurveda has 100 branches. It is divided into two - K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda and \u015auklayajurveda. Four branches of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda and two branches of \u015auklayajurveda are available. S\u0101maveda has got 1000 branches of which only three are available. Atharvaveda has got nine branches of which only two are available. Total we have 13 branches of Veda out of 1130.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\"\"\r\n

\r\n

6. A Brief account of Vedas:<\/strong>\u1e5agveda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u2018\u1e5ak\u2019 litearally means a text of praise of a deity. Some \u1e5aks make a S\u016bkta, some S\u016bktas make a Ma\u1e47\u1e0dala. There are ten Ma\u1e47\u1e0dalas in \u1e5agveda consisting of 1017 S\u016bktas and the total number of \u1e5aks is 10,472. \u0100yurveda is the Upaveda of K\u1e5bsnayajurveda.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Yajus means \u2018v\u0101kyam\u2019 (sentence). Since the Yajus are found to be clustered for most of the part, it is called Samhit\u0101. The sentences are to be divided with the help of P\u016brvam\u012bm\u0101ms\u0101.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

In K\u1e5b\u1e63h\u1e47ayajussamhit\u0101 all the three kinds of texts, viz. Mantra (which praises the deity), Arthav\u0101da (sentences of commendation and condemnation) and Br\u0101hama\u1e47a (which explains the procedure) are seen in an amalgamated form and therefore the word \u2018K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019 (literally \u2018black\u2019) is prefixed .<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Some \u1e5aks are supplied by \u1e5agveda,<\/p>\r\n \r\n

The procedural details of Y\u0101ga (sacrifice) are stated in K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda, which is also called Taittir\u012byasamhit\u0101.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

There are seven K\u0101\u1e47\u1e0das, forty four Prap\u0101\u1e6dhakas (or Adhy\u0101yas) and 635 Anuv\u0101kas (or Pra\u015bnas) in Taittir\u012byasamhit\u0101.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Dhanurveda is the Upaveda of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u015auklayajurveda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Also called \u015auklayajussamhit\u0101 and it is useful in the performance of Y\u0101ga (sacrifice). In this Samhit\u0101 there are Mantras and Arthav\u0101das. Since the concepts are clear the term \u2018\u015aukla\u2019 (white) is prefixed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Y\u0101j yavalkya was the disciple of Vai\u015bamp\u0101yana and learnt Yajurveda. There was some clash between them and Y\u0101j yavalkya returned the Veda to his Guru, worshipped \u0100ditya (Sun) , got the Vidy\u0101 and the same is called \u015auklayajurveda. Other sages, following the order of Guru, in the form of Tittiri brids took the Vidy\u0101, returned by Y\u0101j yavalkya and therefore it is called Taittir\u012byasmahit\u0101 or K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u015auklayajurveda has got two versions called M\u0101dhyandinap\u0101\u1e6dha and K\u0101\u1e47vap\u0101tha but without much difference.\u00a0<\/span>Dhanurveda is an Upaveda of \u015auklayajurveda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

S<\/strong>\u0101<\/span>maveda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Most of the Mantras are borrowed from 8th and 9th Ma\u1e47\u1e0dalas of \u1e5agveda, \u2018\u015a\u0101ma\u2019 literally means \u2018to sing\u2019. If the \u1e5aks are assigned some music they would become S\u0101mas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

S\u0101masamhit\u0101 is divided into two parts - P\u016brv\u0101rcikam and Uttar\u0101cikam. A group of \u1e5aks is called \u0100rcikam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

There are six Prap\u0101\u1e6dhakas in P\u016brv\u0101rcika whereas Uttar\u0101rcika has got nine Prap\u0101\u1e6dhakas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

G\u0101ndharvaveda is an Upaveda of S\u0101masamhit\u0101.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Atharvaveda:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Atharvasamhit\u0101 is divided into twenty K\u0101\u1e47\u1e0das. There are 736 S\u016bktas and 5918 Mantras in this Samhit\u0101 (\u015aaunaka\u015b\u0101kh\u0101). 1200 Mantras of this Samhit\u0101 are borrowed from \u1e5agveda. In this Samhit\u0101 we come across a blend of prose and poetry.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Atharva is the name of a \u1e5a\u1e63i .<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Arthaveda \/ Artha\u015b\u0101stra (polity) is an Upaveda of Atharvaveda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

7.\u00a0 General Points:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u2018Tray\u012b\u2019 is a term that is often used to refer to the combine of \u1e5agveda, Yajurveda and S\u0101maveda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

In a Y\u0101ga, \u1e5agveda is represented by Hot\u0101. S\u0101maveda by Udg\u0101t\u0101, Yajurveda by Adhvaryu and Atharvaveda by Brahm\u0101. In fact, Brahm\u0101, being the supervisor of Y\u0101ga, should know all the four Vedas (sarvai\u1e25 brahm\u0101).<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

The first three Vedas produce only half of the Y\u0101ga, that is in the form of speech (V\u0101gr\u016bpa) whereas the rest in the form of mind (Manor\u016bpa) is by Atharvaveda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Puru\u1e63as\u016bktam, that is there in all five Vedas (\u1e5agveda, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ayajurveda, \u015auklayajurveda, S\u0101maveda and Atharvaveda) clearly states that all the four Vedas were available at a single point of time -<\/span>\u1e5bcass\u0101m\u0101ni jaj\u00a0 ire\u00a0<\/span>chandamasi jaj\u00a0 ire tasm\u0101t\u00a0<\/span>yajustasm\u0101daj\u0101yata.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

There are certain branches of Vedas named after \u1e5a\u1e63is - K\u0101\u1e6dhaka, K\u0101l\u0101paka, V\u0101si\u1e63\u1e6d\u1e25a etc. by which some scholars got confused and said that those \u015a\u0101khas were authored by the respective sages. But the fact is that they are propagators \/ specialists of those Mantras and are called Mantradra\u1e63\u1e6d\u0101ra\u1e25 \/ Mantrak\u1e5bta\u1e25 etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

As has already been stated in the Introduction, Vedas are Apauru\u1e63eya (not written by human beings). They have emanated from Brahman. At the end of every Pralaya (the great destruction) the Vedas also disappear. Then, after the new creation has started, the \u1e5a\u1e63is (sages) perform Tapas (an ascetic life) and perceive the Mantras and therefore the same are named after them - V\u0101si\u1e63\u1e6dham s\u0101ma etc. We come across dozens of such \u1e5a\u1e63is across all the Vedasamhitas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

The Mantras in Samhitas are assigned to different deities such as Agni, Indra, Vi\u1e63\u1e47u, Rudra, Varu\u1e47a, S\u016brya, V\u0101yu, Soma, B\u1e5bhaspati, P\u1e5bthv\u012b, G\u0101yatr\u012b etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Vedas are the origin of different Ved\u0101\u1e45gas, Dar\u015banas, Upavedas etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\u015aruti, Anu\u015barava, Tray\u012b, \u0100mm\u0101ya, Sam\u0101mn\u0101ya, Chandas, Sv\u0101dhy\u0101ya, \u0100gama and Nigama are synonyms of Veda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Cara\u1e47am is a name of Vedic text before it was divided into branches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Pr\u0101ti\u015b\u0101khy\u0101 is the name of Vedic grammar and there are five Pr\u0101ti\u015b\u0101khyas for five Vedas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

B\u1e5bhaddevat\u0101 is a treatise that explains the details of each Mantra and presently it is available for \u1e5agveda only.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Anukrama\u1e47ikas are just guides of Vedas and are useful in protecting the original form of Vedas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

A number of scholars had authored commentaries on Vedas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

The Vedasamhit\u0101 would have Padap\u0101\u1e6dha (splitting Samhit\u0101 into words) and Kramap\u0101\u1e6dha (putting the words in an order).<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Kramap\u0101\u1e6dha is recited in eight different forms and these are called Vik\u1e5btip\u0101\u1e6dhas - Ja\u1e6d\u0101, M\u0101l\u0101, \u015aikh\u0101, Rekh\u0101, Dhvaja, Da\u1e47\u1e0da, Ratha and Ghana.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Ghanap\u0101\u1e6dh\u012b (one who knows Ghana) is a popular term.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

All the above stated ten formations are Pauru\u1e63eya, i.e. artificial or man-made, unlike the Samhit\u0101, which is Apauru\u1e63eya.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Pr\u0101ti\u015b\u0101khyas are the works that deal with grammar of each Veda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

One has to take the help of Ved\u0101\u1e45gas and Dar\u015banas to understand the Vedic literature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

8.Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Among the 14\/18 Vidy\u0101sth\u0101nams, Vedas occupy the first place and out of 1130 branches only 12\/13 are available. Vedas are Apauruseya and are the original source of all other Vidyas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

At the end of each Pralaya all the Vedas disappear and the \u1e5a\u1e63is, with their Tapas, perceive \/ hear the Vedic Mantras and propagate them and therefore are called Mantradra\u1e63\u1e6d\u0101ra\u1e25 \/ Mantrak\u1e5bta\u1e25. The Mantras \/ Vedic texts perceived by \u1e5a\u1e63is are named after them - K\u0101\u1e6dhaka, K\u0101l\u0101paka, Paippalad\u0101 etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n

S\u0101maveda is a musical form of \u1e5agveda.<\/span>Mantrabr\u0101hma\u1e47a part deals with Karma (rite) whereas Upanisad deals with J \u0101nam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
you can view video on Overview of Vedas <\/strong><\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n \r\n\r\nWeb links<\/strong>\r\n