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== Dating सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma ==

== Dating सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma ==

Vedas will have historical implications when the rishis are assumed to be the authors of these vedas. So the primary question of whether these rishis are मन्त्रकर्तारः authors of mantras or मन्त्रद्रष्टारः drastas to whom the Vedas were revealed to needs to be understood clearly.<ref name=":2">Sharma, Pt Sri Jayadevaji (2008) ''Rigveda Samhita Bhashabhashya Volume 1'' Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd</ref>   

Vedas will have historical implications when the rishis are assumed to be the authors of these vedas. So the primary question of whether these rishis are मन्त्रकर्तारः authors of mantras or मन्त्रद्रष्टारः drastas to whom the Vedas were revealed to needs to be understood clearly.<ref name=":2">Sharma, Pt Sri Jayadevaji (2008) ''Rigveda Samhita Bhashabhashya Volume 1'' Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd</ref> Only when historicity needs to be verified does dating of vedas becomes important.  

The Vedas are among the oldest sacred texts known to mankind. Although many Western scholars have given their versions about the age of Vedas, it is generally accepted that Vedas are the oldest known texts available as is [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातन धर्म)|Sanatana Dharma]].  The Vedic period was blooming with the composition of the mantra texts, with discussions and debates on the Samhitas and Brahmanas, with the exposition of Dharmic principles by Suta and Sounaka rishis, with the establishment of the various shakhas all over भारतखण्ड || Bharatakhanda which was as far as Afghanistan or खण्डहार || Khandahar on the west and Indonesia in the South East. It flourished well and was given the grammatical structure by Panini, in the 2nd Century B.C.   

The Vedas are among the oldest sacred texts known to mankind. Although many Western scholars have given their opinions about the age of Vedas, it is generally accepted that Vedas are the oldest known texts available as is [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातन धर्म)|Sanatana Dharma]].  The Vedic period was blooming with the composition of the mantra texts, with discussions and debates on the Samhitas and Brahmanas, with the exposition of Dharmic principles by Suta and Sounaka rishis, with the establishment of the various shakhas all over भारतखण्ड || Bharatakhanda which was as far as Afghanistan or खण्डहार || Khandahar on the west and Indonesia in the South East. It flourished well and was given the grammatical structure by Panini, in the 2nd Century B.C.   

The modern researchers are still struggling to fix the exact period of the Vedas and there is no final conclusion as yet. Their conclusions differ as widely as 25000 years B.C. to 1000 years B.C. However, the general consensus among most of the Indian scholars is to consider the Mohenjadaro-Harappa culture i.e. about 3000 B.C. to be the later phase of Vedic culture. This brings us to conclude that the date of the Rig-Veda, considered as the earliest in human history, is around 10,000 B.C.  

The modern researchers are still struggling to fix the exact period of the Vedas and there is no final conclusion as yet. Their conclusions differ as widely as 25000 years B.C. to 1000 years B.C. However, the general consensus among most of the Indian scholars is to consider the Mohenjadaro-Harappa culture i.e. about 3000 B.C. to be the later phase of Vedic culture. Thus as a common understanding among various scholars about the date of the Rig-Veda, considered as the earliest in human history, is around 10,000 B.C.  

However, with the advent of Islam and Christianity in the West and Buddhism and Jainism, with various shakhas at war with each other,various philosophies with different ideologies have impacted the Indian religious concepts, with many views questioning the veracity of Vedas in the present age.  

However, with the advent of Islam and Christianity in the West and Buddhism and Jainism, with various shakhas at war with each other, various philosophies with different ideologies have impacted the Indian theosophical concepts, with many views questioning the veracity of Vedas in the present age.  

The largely publicized myths about Vedas, by Western Indologists such as Witzel, Jack Goody, Renou, Bloomfield, Kenneth Zysk, Axel Michaels, Max Muller and the many others, have been around, for the past three hundred years when Indian subcontinent was colonized and plundered by the Western civilizations. Many of these myths are being questioned and are diligently being proved false by the present generations of Vedic scholars lately.  

The largely publicized myths about Vedas, by Western Indologists such as Witzel, Jack Goody, Renou, Bloomfield, Kenneth Zysk, Axel Michaels, Max Muller and the many others, have been around, for the past three hundred years when Indian subcontinent was colonized and plundered by the Western civilizations. Many of these myths are being questioned and are diligently being proved false by the present generations of Vedic scholars lately.  

== पञ्चमवेदः || Panchamaveda  ==

== पञ्चमवेदः || Panchamaveda  ==

<blockquote>भारतः पञ्चमो वेदः || bhārataḥ pañcamo vedaḥ || </blockquote>As given in Mahabharata itself, it states that Mahabharata which covers numerous topics related to human relationships is considered as the "Fifth Veda".<blockquote>पुराणं पञ्चमो वेद इति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् || (Skan. Pura. 5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>purāṇaṃ pañcamo veda iti brahmānuśāsanam || (Skan. Pura. 5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref></blockquote>Puranas are also considered as Panchamaveda according to the Skandapurana.  

Though the general agreement about the number of vedas is four, there are instances in literature about Panchamaveda. <blockquote>भारतः पञ्चमो वेदः || bhārataḥ pañcamo vedaḥ || </blockquote>As given in Mahabharata itself, it states that Mahabharata which covers numerous topics related to human relationships is considered as the "Fifth Veda".<blockquote>पुराणं पञ्चमो वेद इति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् || (Skan. Pura. 5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>purāṇaṃ pañcamo veda iti brahmānuśāsanam || (Skan. Pura. 5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref></blockquote>Puranas are also considered as Panchamaveda according to the Skandapurana.  

== References ==

== References ==