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Their utterances were called मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras which were not the result of any intuition but were the result of Divine Vision which is called मन्त्र-दृष्टिः || Mantra Drshti. 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 मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras which were not the result of any intuition but were the result of Divine Vision which is called मन्त्र-दृष्टिः || Mantra Drshti. 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 संहितीकरणम् || Codification by Maharshi Vedavyasa ==

== महर्षिवेदव्यासेन संहितीकरणम् || 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 कलियुगम् ॥ 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 [[Vyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage पराशरः ॥ Parashara. He was known as द्वैपायनः ॥ Dvaipayana as he was born in an island (द्वीपः ॥ 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 कृष्णद्वैपायनः ॥ Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as बादरायणः ॥ 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 कलियुगम् ॥ 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 [[Vyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage पराशरः ॥ Parashara. He was known as द्वैपायनः ॥ Dvaipayana as he was born in an island (द्वीपः ॥ 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 कृष्णद्वैपायनः ॥ Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as बादरायणः ॥ Badarayana.{{Citation needed}}

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 महर्षिः वेदव्यासः ॥ 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 महर्षिः वेदव्यासः ॥ 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 :

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== चातुर्होतारः || Four Chief Priests of Yajna ==

== चातुर्होतारः || Four Chief Priests of Yajna ==

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of यज्ञाः ॥ [[Yagya (यज्ञ)|Yajnas]] (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such uses of the Veda led to its division based upon the convenience of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of यज्ञाः ॥ [[Yagya (यज्ञ)|Yajnas]] (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such uses of the Veda led to its division based upon the convenience of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.{{Citation needed|convinience?}}

=== [[Hota (होता)|होता '''<nowiki>|| Hota</nowiki>''']]''' :''' ===

=== [[Hota (होता)|होता '''<nowiki>|| Hota</nowiki>''']]''' :''' ===

# अरण्यकम् || Aranyaka (method of conducting rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices)

# अरण्यकम् || Aranyaka (method of conducting rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices)

# उपनिषद् || [[Upanishads|Upanishad]] (discussion about meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).

# उपनिषद् || [[Upanishads|Upanishad]] (discussion about meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).

Some scholars add a fifth category namely उपासना || Upasana (worship).

Some scholars add a fifth category namely उपासना || Upasana (worship).{{Citation needed}}

The various Indian philosophies and denominations have taken differing positions on the Vedas. Schools of Indian philosophy which cite the Vedas as their scriptural authority are classified as आस्तिकाः || astika (orthodox). Other traditions, such as लोकायतम् ॥ Lokayata, चार्वाकः ॥ Charvaka, आजीविकाः ॥ Ajivika, Buddhism and Jainism, which did not regard the Vedas as authorities are referred to as नास्तिकाः || nastika (heterodox or non-orthodox) schools. Despite their differences, just like the texts of the श्रमणपरम्परा || shramana traditions, the layers of texts in the Vedas discuss similar ideas and concepts.

The various Indian philosophies and denominations have taken differing positions on the Vedas. Schools of Indian philosophy which cite the Vedas as their scriptural authority are classified as आस्तिकाः || astika (orthodox). Other traditions, such as लोकायतम् ॥ Lokayata, चार्वाकः ॥ Charvaka, आजीविकाः ॥ Ajivika, Buddhism and Jainism, which did not regard the Vedas as authorities are referred to as नास्तिकाः || nastika (heterodox or non-orthodox) schools. Despite their differences, just like the texts of the श्रमणपरम्परा || shramana traditions, the layers of texts in the Vedas discuss similar ideas and concepts.

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 सूतः ॥Suta and शौनकऋषिः ॥ Shaunaka rishis, with the establishment of the various शाखाः ॥ shakhas all over भारतखण्डः || Bharatakhanda which was as far as Afghanistan or खण्डहारः || 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 सूतः ॥Suta and शौनकऋषिः ॥ Shaunaka rishis, with the establishment of the various शाखाः ॥ shakhas all over भारतखण्डः || Bharatakhanda which was as far as Afghanistan or खण्डहारः || 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. 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.  

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.{{Citation needed}}

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.  

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  ==

Though the general agreement about the number of vedas is four, there are instances in literature about 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 स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skandapurana.  

Though the general agreement about the number of vedas is four, there are instances in literature about पञ्चमवेदः ॥ Panchamaveda. <blockquote>भारतः पञ्चमो वेदः || bhārataḥ pañcamo vedaḥ ||{{Citation needed}} </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 स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skandapurana.  

== References ==

== References ==

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