Vedic Terminology

Vedas have evolved over a period of time and the language and structure of these texts are highly preserved over thousands of years. However, as the vedic literature expanded the need to understand different aspects of them was required and thus developed the study of ancillary subjects such as Vedaangas and Puranas.

The vast vaidika vaangmaya came to include new terms which where defined in subsequent ages by maharishis. Following are the definitions of some terms associated with vedas and vaidika vaangmaya some of which were not used in the Vedas but came into being in an attempt to understand them.

Srutis

Smritis : Smritis are books that contain guidelines for social, economic and political laws along with the prayaschittas for deviating from the code of conduct prescribed by smritis. They are have been composed by rishis or seers and reflect the vedic principles to be put into use in daily life. In them are defined

Varnaashrama dharmas

Man-woman relationships

Raja dharmas

Rules about consumption of food etc

Rituals

Yagnas and

Itihasas

Puranas

Aagamas

Darsanas

Shastras

Vedanta/Upanishad

Parishistha

Shaka

Mantra

Anuvaka

Prapathaka

Adhyaya

Kanda

Sukta

Sloka

Stuti

Sutra

Karmakanda

Jnanakanda

People of Vedic times

Rishi : Rig Veda gives an ancient, extraordinary definition about a rishi as follows

प्रत्यर्धिर्यज्ञानामश्वहयो रथानाम्। ऋषि: स यो मनुर्हितो विप्रस्य यावयत्सख: ॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.26.5)

Accordingly, the term ऋषि:॥ Rishi is one who has the following qualities

यज्ञानां प्रति अर्धि: = One who effectively promotes and accomplishes yagnas (sreshta karma) and who is as pure, absolute and spotless always involved in performing the right deeds.

रथानाम् अश्व: (हय:) = One who earnestly and speedily urges forward the journey of a person's life on a positive path and redirects the journey of people with crooked, conniving, wavering mentalities back into the righteous track with his positive methods.

मनु: हित: = One who unbiasedly without prejudice works tirelessly for the well-being of mankind

विप्रस्य सख: = One who befriends wise and intellectual persons

यावयत् सख: = One who extends beyond the boundaries of mankind to promote the well-being of all creatures.

Devi/Devata/Deva

Sura

Asura Vaidika kosha

Dasyu

Pani

Yagnam

Yagam

Isthi

Purodasha

Havishya

References

1. Pt. Bhagavad Datta and Hansraj. (1926), Vaidika- Kosha, Varanasi : Vishvabharati Anusandhana Parishad (Link : https://ia800609.us.archive.org/24/items/HindiBook-vaidika-kosh.pdf/HindiBook-vaidika-kosh.pdf)