| A Birds-Eye view of Vedas |
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INTRODUCTION TO VEDA
Man wants to live a peaceful and happy life. This has been his aspiration since the time immemorial. Rishis, the sages of India, in the days of yore, have meditated and synchronized themselves with the Divine and obtained a great and profound wisdom, which vouchsafe the peace and bliss of our lives. This divine wisdom of the sages is called The VEDA.
VEDA is the very ancient scripture of the world. It practically deals with the every aspect of human life like DHARMA (Ethics), ARTHA (Security), KAMA (Plessure) and MOKSHA (Libaration).
VEDA is not against life. It teaches and enables us to lead a joyous life with peace and prosperity too. It also deals with the esoteric wisdom, which unravels the mysteries of life, which is really beyond the grasp of senses and the mind.
VEDA is not a book to burden our heads with information, but a teaching which brings a great transformation in us. |
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VEDA IS A REVELATION
VEDA is called ‘APOURUSHEYA’. This is not man made. When the great seers were in the deep meditation, this great wisdom was revealed to them. No one has ever claimed that he was the writer or author of VEDA. Rishis said that they are just the seers of the VEDA (VEDA DRASTA) and not the creators (VEDA SRASTA) of it.
We see very great mountains, rivers, etc. who has created all this ?
Definitely not the man. This is called ‘DRISHYA APOURUSHEYA’. World has both Drisya and Sabda. And the SABDA APOURUSHEYA is the VEDA. This is the word of God. Great masters have just discovered them. Newton discovered the Gravitational Force. Is this means before his discovery,there was no gravitational force? Similarly VEDA was discovered by great Rishis, in that sublime state , where in there was no trace of ego. 'SRUTI' is the another name of VEDA. 'SRUTI' means that which was heard. It is also called ‘NIGAMAAGAMAM’ which means the inhalation and exhalation of the supreme Lord. |
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VEDAS ARE INFINITE
The word VEDA comes from a Sanskrit root ‘vid’, which means to know. By the word VEDA, one should not mean that it is a book. It is Wisdom. Wisdom cannot be confined into some books. So, the Rishis have declared ‘ANANTHAA VAI VEDAHA’ - the VEDA is infinite.
Our Rishis have comprehended some part of that infinite wisdom, which guide us to the happiness here and here after, welfare of the whole world and also to the final emancipation. This comprehended part itself is a very vast subject with more than a thousand branches. |
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POWER AND POTENCY OF VEDA
The chanting of VEDA carries a great power and potency with it. VEDA is a MANTRA YOGA. 'That which protects the one who chants it' is called MANTRA. (MANANAAT TRAYATE ITI MANTRAHA).
VEDA Mantras are to be chanted in particular intonations, as suggested. This is a very important condition. The proper chanting of these mantras will produce a sound vibration which strengthens our Aura, and gives us a spiritual splendour.
We listen to so many sounds. These sound vibrations activates some or the other ‘Nadi’ of one's body and it results in different excitements like anger, joy, laziness etc.,
The vibration of Veda Mantras will purify these Nadis and helps us to have a very balanced mind. It also purifies the atmosphere around us. Thus it maintains our health both within and without. |
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FOUR VEDAS
No one on earth can study this VEDA in one's life time. To save this VEDA from becoming extinct, BHAGAVAN SRI VYASA classified this vedic lore into four Vedas. Hence he is called VEDAVYASA. The names of the four Vedas respectively are: 1)RIGVEDA 2)YAJURVEDA 3)SAAMAVEDA 4)ATHARVANAVEDA.
These four Vedas have more than a 1000 'Sakhas' (branches). Every sakha again is divided into three parts called SAMHITA, BRAHMANA and ARANYAKA. SAMHITA means that which is compiled and presented in an order. The SAMNITA explains the inner meaning of the VEDA through many mantras. Generally, it is this portion of VEDA, which is chanted during the vedic chantings.
BRAHMANA explains about the Vedic rituals and the methods to perform them. This part of veda also guides us how to use the mantras of Samhita portion in rituals like Yajnas etc.,
ARANYAKA comes from the word 'Aranya' which means Forest. This word here indicates renunciation of wordly attachments and spending time in medidation and self-inquiry. This part teaches the hidden secrets of the veda. Many Upanishads are there in these Aranyakas of Vedas. |
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1. RIGVEDA
"The Rigveda is the most ancient book of the world.The sacred hymns of the Brahmanas stand unparalled in the literature of the whole world; and their preservation might well be called miraculous"says Max Muller in 'HISTORY OF ANCIENT SANSKRIT LITERATURE'.
Rigveda is in the poetic form. It has 21 Sakhas or branches. But only one sakha called SAKALA SAKHA is in existance today. This SAKALA SAKHA is also called AITAREYA SAKHA.
In RIK SAMHITA there are 10,170 Riks(vedic mantras), and 1028 suktas. This is classified 10 mandalas and 8 Asthakas.
Rigveda is rich with prayers. It starts and ends with the prayers to God of Fire(Agni Devta). In the opinion of some scholars, the goal of this Veda is just the worship of Agni. But it is not so. Here ‘Fire’ represents the splendour of the soul. It is a well-known fact that the fire has remained a symbol for the supreme self. Apart from Agni, prayers to Indra, Yama and Varuna are also in abundance.
This Veda also teaches us the social conduct. The last sukta of this veda, which is a prayer to Agni has the mantras for the welfare of all. “Let everyone think with one mind. Let the hearts of all be bound by Love. Let everyone have the same goal. Let everyone be contented and happy.” With these wishes the Rigveda concludes. Rigveda contains AITAREYA and KAUSITAKI Upanishads. |
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2. YAJUR VEDA
The word ‘Yajus’ comes from the root ‘Yaj’ which means ‘to worship’. The word ‘Yagna’ also comes from the same root. Rigveda teaches us how to worship the gods, who are but the manifestation of the supreme self, with prayers and chantings . Yajurveda teaches us how to use these prayers and chantings in vedic rituals.
Yajur veda has 101 sakhas. But only two are in vogue. They are:
SUKLA YAJURVEDA and
KRISHNA YAJURVEDA.
SUKLA YAJURVEDA samhita is also called VAJASANEYA samhita. ‘VAJASANI’ mean the Sun god. Sage Yajnyavalkya learned this from sun and hence the name VAJASANEYA samhita
The greatness of this veda lies in its clear exposition on the ritualistic part of the veda. Taittiriya samhita of Krishna yajurveda explains about how to perform different rituals like Darshapoornamasam, Soma yagam, Vajapeyam, Rajasooyam, Ashwamedham etc.,
Some prayers which are not in Rigveda can be seen in this veda. Though there is ‘Pancha Rudram’ (Five suktas on siva) in Rigveda, Sri Rudram of Krishna yajur veda is widely followed and chanted during ritualistic worship of Lord Siva.
Similarly the Purusha Suktam of Rigveda is also present in yajurveda with some changes. The Purusha Sukta of yajurveda is given the preference in all the rituals.
Sukla yajurveda contains ISAVAASYA and BRIHADARAANYAKA Upanishads. Krishna yajurveda contains TAITTIRIYOPANISAD, KATHOPANISAD and SVETASVATARA Upanishad. |
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3. SAMA VEDA
Sama means giving peace to the mind. In Rigveda the mantras are chanted with different intonations and Samaveda sings the same with musical notes. Indian classical music has its Origin in SamaVeda.
Sama veda has 1000 sakhas. But only three are in practice. They are the TALAVAKARA sakha, RANAYANAYA sakha and KAUDHUMA sakha. This veda has many hymns on all gods like Agni, Indra and Soma etc., This veda contains KENA upanishad and CHANDOGYA Upanishad. |
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4. ATHARVANA VEDA
Atharvan means a priest or a teacher. There was a sage called Atharvan, to whom this veda was revealed. Hence it is named Atharvana veda. This veda is in the form of prose and poetry and has so many mantras for our welfare.
Among the 11 sakhas of Atharvana veda, today we have only one called SOUNAKA sakha.
In this veda there are some mantras which talk about the creation.
‘Prithvi Suktam’ of this veda explains about the greatness of the creation.
Atharvana veda contains PRASNA Upanishad, MUNDAKA Upanishad and MANDUKYA Upanishad. |
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