Know the history of Vedas

Om.. Veda is made from the word ‘Vid’ which means knowledge or knowing, knower or knower; Neither to believe nor to believe. Only the one who knows, the knowledge known by knowing. Experienced truth. The tried and tested path. ‘Brahma Vakya’ is compiled in this.

Vedas are almost the oldest written documents of human civilization. 28 thousand manuscripts of Vedas are kept in ‘Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute’ in Pune, India. Of these, 30 manuscripts of Rigveda are very important which have been included in the UNESCO heritage list. UNESCO has published the Rigveda from 1800 to 1500 BC. 30 manuscripts have been included in the list of cultural heritage. It is noteworthy that India’s list of important manuscripts is 38 in UNESCO’s list of 158.

Veda is also called ‘Shruti’. The word ‘Shruti’ is derived from the root ‘Shru’. ‘Sru’ means listening. It is said that its mantras were indirectly narrated by God (Brahm) to the ancient ascetics when they were engrossed in deep penance. First of all God gave this knowledge to four sages: Agni, Vayu, Angira and Aditya.

Vedas are a unique work of the oral tradition of the Vedic period, which has been going on from generation to generation since the last six-seven thousand BC. Scholars have called the combination of Samhita, Brahmin, Aranyaka and Upanishad as the complete Veda. These four parts are collectively called Shruti. The rest of the texts come under Smriti.

Samhita: Mantra part. The mantras of Veda are full of beauty. When Vedic sages recite Veda mantras with voice, the mind becomes happy. Whoever listens to the recitation of the Vedas becomes mesmerized.

Brahmin: Yagyas are mainly discussed in Brahmin texts. There is an explanation of the mantras of the Vedas. The rules and science of yagyas are described in detail. The main Brahmins are 3: (1) Aitareya, (2) Taittiriya and (3) Shatapatha.

Aranyaka: Forest is called ‘Aranya’ in Sanskrit. The texts that originated in the forest were named ‘Aranyaka’. The main Aranyakas are five: (1) Aitareya, (2) Shankhayana, (3) Brihadaranyaka, (4) Taittiriya and (5) Tavalkar.

Upanishads: Upanishads have been called the top part of the Vedas and being the last and best part of the Vedas, they are called Vedanta. These contain deep philosophical and scientific descriptions regarding God, creation and soul. The number of Upanishads is considered to be 1180, but at present only 108 Upanishads are available. The main Upanishads are – Ish, Ken, Kath, Prashna, Mundak, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka and Shwetashvara. Innumerable Vedas, Brahmin texts, Aranyakas and Upanishads have become extinct. At present ten Upanishads of Rigveda, thirty-two of Krishna Yajurveda, sixteen of Samaveda and thirty-one Upanishads of Atharvaveda are considered available.