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== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

Vedas are texts containing knowledge of आत्मा || Atma, पुरुष || Purusha and the परमात्मा || Paramatma, have no authorship, no time frame within which they had been authored. They are called अपौरुषेय ॥ Apaurusheya meaning that they are not authored by any Purusha or human mind. They were revealed to the ऋषी || Rishis (Seers) - the द्रष्टा || Drashtas, men of wisdom, during the depths of their meditation.<ref>Introduction to Vedas on [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/introduction/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>  

Vedas are texts containing knowledge of आत्मा || Atma, पुरुष || Purusha and the परमात्मा || Paramatma, have no authorship, no time frame within which they had been authored. They are called अपौरुषेय ॥ Apaurusheya meaning that they are not authored by any Purusha or human mind. They were revealed to the ऋषी || Rishis (Seers) - the द्रष्टा || Drashtas, men of wisdom, during the depths of their meditation.<ref>Introduction to Vedas on [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/introduction/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>

Their utterances were called ‘Mantras’ which were not the result of any intuition but were the result of Divine Vision which is called मन्त्र दृष्टि || Mantra Drishti. Their inner and outer meanings were really known only to those to whom they were revealed. Hence none can challenge them on grounds of reason or logic. There is no final authority beyond the Vedas; in today’s management jargon the buck stops at the table of the Vedas.

Their utterances were called ‘Mantras’ which were not the result of any intuition but were the result of Divine Vision which is called मन्त्र दृष्टि || Mantra Drishti. Their inner and outer meanings were really known only to those to whom they were revealed. Hence none can challenge them on grounds of reason or logic. There is no final authority beyond the Vedas; in today’s management jargon the buck stops at the table of the Vedas.

== महर्षिवेदव्यासेन संहितीकरण || Codification by Maharshi Vedavyasa ==

== महर्षिवेदव्यासेन संहितीकरण || Codification by Maharshi Vedavyasa ==

It is believed that the potency of the Vedas started decaying with the departure of Bhagavan Sri Krishna from this world. Even this was considered to be a Divine Plan for the Kali Yuga as per which only a part of the glory and effulgence of the Vedas is to be left over from total extinction. This divine arrangement could be put through the agency of [[वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage Parashara. He was known as Dwaipayana as he was born in an island (Dweepa). He was considered as a manifestation of Bhagawan Sri Krishna himself for fulfilling a specific purpose in this world and hence he was known as Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as Badarayana.

It is believed that the potency of the Vedas started decaying with the departure of Bhagavan Sri Krishna from this world. Even this was considered to be a Divine Plan for the Kali Yuga as per which only a part of the glory and effulgence of the Vedas is to be left over from total extinction. This divine arrangement could be put through the agency of [[वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage Parashara. He was known as Dwaipayana as he was born in an island (Dweepa). He was considered as a manifestation of Bhagawan Sri Krishna himself for fulfilling a specific purpose in this world and hence he was known as Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as Badarayana.

The word व्यास || Vyasa means an essay or composition. It also means dealing with a matter subject wise and classifying it suitably. As Krishna Dwaipayana did all these tasks for the proper study and understanding of the Vedas he became famous as Maharshi Veda Vyasa. His contribution to the codification of the Vedas is so great that he is more widely known as Veda Vyasa than by any other name. Maharshi Veda Vyasa collected all the mantras in existence during his period, edited, codified and organized them into four groups which he taught to his four chief disciples as given below

The word व्यास || Vyasa means an essay or composition. It also means dealing with a matter subject wise and classifying it suitably. As Krishna Dwaipayana did all these tasks for the proper study and understanding of the Vedas he became famous as Maharshi Veda Vyasa. His contribution to the codification of the Vedas is so great that he is more widely known as Veda Vyasa than by any other name. Maharshi Veda Vyasa collected all the mantras in existence during his period, edited, codified and organized them into four groups which he taught to his four chief disciples as given below

{|class="wikitable"| colspan="2" | '''CLASSIFICATION OF THE VEDAS'''

{| class="wikitable" | colspan="2" ' CLASSIFICATION OF THE VEDAS

|-

|-

! Name Of The Veda

! Name Of The Veda

'''[[Brahma|ब्रह्म || Brahma]] :'''  The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

'''[[Brahma|ब्रह्म || Brahma]] :'''  The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

== वेदवर्गीकरण || Classification of Vedas ==

== वेदवर्गीकरण || Classification of Vedas ==

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rushi Veda Vyasa said to be for the ease of understanding them:  

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rushi Veda Vyasa said to be for the ease of understanding them:  

# अथर्वणवेदम् || The Atharvaveda''.''  

# अथर्वणवेदम् || 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). The Rigveda is the oldest work, which according to the Western Indologist Witzel, is probably from the period of 1900 to 1100 BC. However, till date no authentic dating method has been able to date literary works accurately.  Only one version of the Rigveda is known to have survived into the modern era. Several different versions of the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda are known, and many different versions of the Yajur Veda have been found in different parts of South Asia.   

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). The Rigveda is the oldest work, which according to the Western Indologist Witzel, is probably from the period of 1900 to 1100 BC. However, till date no authentic dating method has been able to date literary works accurately.  Only one version of the Rigveda is known to have survived into the modern era. Several different versions of the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda are known, and many different versions of the Yajur Veda have been found in different parts of South Asia.   

== वेदविभागम् || Sub Classification of Vedas ==

== वेदविभागम् || Sub Classification of Vedas ==

Each Veda has been sub-classified into four major text types –  

Each Veda has been sub-classified into four major text types –  

Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्ड || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्ड || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्ड || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्ड || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

== 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> Only when historicity needs to be verified does dating of vedas becomes important.   

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.   

== पञ्चमवेदः || Panchamaveda  ==

== पञ्चमवेदः || Panchamaveda  ==

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.  

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 ==