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According to Indian traditional thoughts [[Veda (वेद)|वेद || Veda]] is regarded as revealed scripture, self-evident, and self authoritative. वैदिक सूक्त || Vedic Suktas (Collection of Mantras) and मन्त्र || Mantras are seen and only spoken by the seers (Rishis). These seers are neither author of the Mantras nor are they responsible for the contents of the Mantras.  Thus, they are called अपौरुषेय ॥ Apaurusheya. There is no final authority beyond the Vedas according to Bharatiya philosophy.

According to Indian traditional thoughts [[Veda (वेद)|वेद || Veda]] is regarded as revealed scripture, self-evident, and self authoritative. वैदिक सूक्त || Vedic Suktas (Collection of Mantras) and मन्त्र || Mantras are seen and only spoken by the Rishis(seers or sages). These rishis are neither author of the Mantras nor are they responsible for the contents of the Mantras.  Thus, they are called अपौरुषेय ॥ Apaurusheya. There is no final authority beyond the Vedas according to Bharatiya philosophy.

== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

महर्षि वेद व्यास || Maharshi Veda Vyasa collected all the Mantras in existence during his period, edited, codified and organized them into four groups in the form that we see below  

महर्षि वेद व्यासः || Maharshi Veda Vyasa collected all the Mantras in existence during his period, edited, codified and organized them into four groups in the form that we see today  

# ऋग्वेदम् || The Rigveda

# ऋग्वेदः || The Rigveda

# यजुर्वेदम् || The Yajurveda

# यजुर्वेदः || The Yajurveda

# सामवेदम् || The Samaveda  

# सामवेदः || The Samaveda  

# अथर्वणवेदम् || The Atharvaveda

# अथर्वणवेदः || The Atharvaveda

Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी विद्या || trayī vidyā, that is, 'the triple science' of reciting hymns (Rigveda), performing sacrifices (Yajurveda), and chanting songs (Samaveda).    

Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी विद्या || trayī vidyā, that is, 'the triple science' of reciting mantras (Rigveda), performing yajnas (sacrifices) (Yajurveda), and chanting of songs (Samaveda). Atharvaveda consists of     

== ऋग्वेदम् || Rigveda ==

== ऋग्वेदः || Rigveda ==

According to the ancient tradition, the whole Rig Samhita has been divided into 10 Mandalas. The मण्डल || Mandalas are subdivided into अनुवाक || Anuvakas, the Anuvakas into सूक्त || Sooktas and Sooktas into मन्त्र mantras which are chanted by the '''[[Hotra|होत्र ||]]''' [[Hotra|'''Hotra''']], the Rig veda priest to invoke the deities to the sacrifice.

According to the ancient tradition, the whole Rig Samhita has been divided into 10 Mandalas. The मण्डल || Mandalas are subdivided into अनुवाक || Anuvakas, the Anuvakas into सूक्त || Sooktas and Sooktas into मन्त्र mantras which are chanted by the '''[[Hotra|होत्र ||]]''' [[Hotra|'''Hotra''']], the Rig veda priest to invoke the deities to the yajna.

{| class="wikitable"! Rig-Veda    Samhita ►

{| class="wikitable"! Rig-Veda    Samhita ►

| Mandala            ►

| Mandala      ►

| Anuvaka         ►

| Anuvaka      ►

| Sookta           ►

| Sookta       ►

| Mantra

| Mantra

|}Rig Veda contains 10552 mantras (about 10, 170 rks according to some other scholars) spread over 1028 Sooktas and 85 Anuvakas in 10 Mandalas. The topics dealt with in the Rig Veda Samhita can be classified into 3 groups. Only one Shaka (school) of the Rigveda is available today called as  '''शाकल ||''' '''Shaakala.''' Patanjali referred to twenty­ one Shaaka-Samhitas of the Ṛigveda; the '''आश्वलायन ||''' '''Asvalaayana-Samhita''' being one of them (Ref 2).

|}

 

Rig Veda contains 10552 mantras (about 10, 170 rks according to some other scholars) spread over 1028 Sooktas and 85 Anuvakas in 10 Mandalas.  

 

The topics dealt with in the Rig Veda Samhita can be classified into 3 groups. Only one Shaka (school) of the Rigveda is available today called as  '''शाकल ||''' '''Shaakala.''' Patanjali referred to twenty­ one Shaaka-Samhitas of the Ṛigveda; the '''आश्वलायन ||''' '''Asvalaayana-Samhita''' being one of them (Ref 2).

'''स्तुतिविभागम्''' The first group is in praise of the deities like [[Agni (आग्निः)|अग्निः || Agni]], [[Indra|इन्द्रः || lndra]], [[Varuna|वरुणः || Varuna]], [[Mitra (मित्रः)|मित्रः || Mitra]] and others. The Vedic deities numbering 33 are assigned to the three regions of the universe  viz. पृथ्वी || Prithvi (earth), द्यौस् || Dyaus (heaven) and अन्तरिक्षम् || Antariksha (intermediary space). Although these deities appear as personifications of forces of nature, they are actually different facets of Brahman, the Only One Supreme Reality. The famous mantra on this point occurs in this Samhita. <blockquote>"एकम् सत् विप्रः बहुध वदन्ति || " (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92)</blockquote><blockquote>"ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti ||" (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92) </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Truth is one, learned call it by various names.</blockquote>'''उपासनाविभागम्''' The second group is concerned with philosophical speculations like the origin of the Universe and the real nature of human beings. Although the Samhita is a book of laudatory hymns still all the later ideas of Vedanta including Jnana and Bhakti are found therein at least in a rudimentary form. However, advocacy of worship of God with form and qualities - सगुणोपासन || Sagunopasana - is predominant.

'''स्तुतिविभागम्''' The first group is in praise of the deities like [[Agni (आग्निः)|अग्निः || Agni]], [[Indra|इन्द्रः || lndra]], [[Varuna|वरुणः || Varuna]], [[Mitra (मित्रः)|मित्रः || Mitra]] and others. The Vedic deities numbering 33 are assigned to the three regions of the universe  viz. पृथ्वी || Prithvi (earth), द्यौस् || Dyaus (heaven) and अन्तरिक्षम् || Antariksha (intermediary space). Although these deities appear as personifications of forces of nature, they are actually different facets of Brahman, the Only One Supreme Reality. The famous mantra on this point occurs in this Samhita. <blockquote>"एकम् सत् विप्रः बहुध वदन्ति || " (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92)</blockquote><blockquote>"ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti ||" (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92) </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Truth is one, learned call it by various names.</blockquote>'''उपासनाविभागम्''' The second group is concerned with philosophical speculations like the origin of the Universe and the real nature of human beings. Although the Samhita is a book of laudatory hymns still all the later ideas of Vedanta including Jnana and Bhakti are found therein at least in a rudimentary form. However, advocacy of worship of God with form and qualities - सगुणोपासन || Sagunopasana - is predominant.

3. Taittiriya, Katha, Swetaswatara, Maitrayani and Maha Narayana Upanishads.

3. Taittiriya, Katha, Swetaswatara, Maitrayani and Maha Narayana Upanishads.

'''शुक्ल''' '''यजुर्वेद संहिता ||''' '''Shukla Yajurveda Samhita''' is said to have been brought to the knowledge of the world by the famous sage यज्ञवल्क्य || Yajnavalkya from Vaajasani which means the Sun God. Hence this is also known as वाजस्नेयी संहिता || Vajasneyi Samhita, This is entirely in verse form.

'''शुक्ल''' '''यजुर्वेद संहिता ||''' '''Shukla Yajurveda Samhita''' is said to have been brought to the knowledge of the world by the famous sage याज्ञवल्क्य || Yajnavalkya from Vaajasani which means the Sun God. Hence this is also known as वाजस्नेयी संहिता || Vajasneyi Samhita, This is entirely in verse form.

Out of 17 Shakhas of this Samhita said to have been existed; only two viz. '''Kanva and Madhyandina Shakhas''' are presently existing. This Samhita also deals mainly with Yajnas like Agnishtoma.

Out of 17 Shakhas of this Samhita said to have been existed; only two viz. '''Kanva and Madhyandina Shakhas''' are presently existing. This Samhita also deals mainly with Yajnas like Agnishtoma.