Based on vedic literature, the Indo-Aryan religio-social society were created between c.2000-600 B.C. Veda, thus have no single lierature. According to Hindu mythology, and sources of truth, there are four primary Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvanaveda. In Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads and Aranayakas, these vedas are discussed. Now you might be wondering about these vedas culture, tradition and their importance in human life. Let me discuss some of the key facts of the tradition as the vedas are like an ocean and what i am trying to write here just a droplet from it.

The word “vid” means knowledge derived from sankrit word of “veda”. These vedas are neither created in this world nor created by human so it’s Apaurasheya that describes the human journey and the details of his life on earth.
“It is Eternal in concept and functional in spirit”
Vedas are also known as “Sruthi” – One listen to it, memorize it, follow it to the heart, teach this to the next generation.
Historian V.D.Mahajan wrote that “The purity of the Vedic texts was maintained as they were considered to be sacred, not worthy to be changed by anybody. Moreover hymns were memorized without being understood and when the people did not know their meaning, there were lesser chances of their being changed by substitution of new words or verses”.

Among the four vedas, “Rigveda” is the oldest of the sacred traditional indian scriptures. The word “Rig veda” was derived from the word “Rik” or a “verse” having 1017 to 1028 hymns/sukthas that have been further divided into ten chapters or mandala. The RigVeda explains about the political, social, economical and religious life of the humans of that era. This explains the concept of creation fo Universe right to the idea of natural God has for the first time.

Commenting upon Rig Veda Dr. B.B.Das wrote “In Rig Veda Samhita, we first come across the ideas of definite Gods, as a normal evolution from the striking phenomenon of nature. The same Samhitas shows that the development of the Aryan religion and Philosophy proceeded along two well-marked directions. On the one hand, we find the ideal of propitiating the different Gods by means of worship, which led to the religious sacraments known as Yagna or sacrifice and other was propounding the essence of philosophy. Furthermore the author asserted that out of the nature Gods they conceived the idea of the highest spirit.”

“Samaveda” preceds RigVeda as defined in the “Book of Chants”, the name “Samaveda” being derived from the word “Saman”: prayers for singing. These vedas are chanted by brahmanas called Udgatris at the time of soma sacrifice.

Third comes “Yajurveda”, Yaj being the meaning for worship. Yajurveda explains the procedures, cultural orientation and ways to worship gods at the time of religious rites. Broadly, its been classified into two, Black Yajurveda explaining manthras, white Yajurveda explaining the prose of worship.

AtharvanaVeda is the fourth veda that explains the ways to overcome the danger from evil spirits, formulae of magic to control the negative energy like demons. To describe these four vedas further,the Indologist Sir G.C.M.Birdwood wrote that ” The Samhita comprises the mantras or hymns and proverbs. The Brahmanas describe the details of Vedic ceremonies for guidance of Brahman ( The class of priest ). The Jnana or Upanishads are the philosophical part. The Aranayaks, belonging to the forests are intended for Brahmanas in retreat and are closely connected with Upanishads “.

There are Upa-Vedas of four types

1. Ayurveda, the science of medicine derived from RigVeda

2. The UpaVeda, also named as Gandharva UpaVeda is the sciene of music derived from Samaveda

3.The Dhanurveda is the Upaveda of militaru science derived from Yajurveda

4. SthapatyaVeda, the science of mechanics and architecture originated form AtharvanaVeda.

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