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The word [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Veda]] (Samskrit : वेदः) means "to know" implying that the subject of the Vedas is Knowledge. Here, knowledge does not mean facts about the external world like physics or chemistry. It means the knowledge of the eternal, sacred, spiritual wisdom, about the nature of man himself. It is the knowledge of the changeless and supreme reality behind the ever changing objective world of men and matter.<ref>Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

The word [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Veda]] (Samskrit : वेदः) means "to know" implying that the subject of the Vedas is Knowledge. Here, knowledge does not mean facts about the external world like physics or chemistry. It means the knowledge of the eternal, sacred, spiritual wisdom, about the nature of man himself. It is the knowledge of the changeless and supreme reality behind the ever changing objective world of men and matter.<ref name=":1">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

== परिचयः || Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Vedas are texts containing knowledge of आत्मा || Atma, पुरुषः || Purusha and the परमात्मा || Paramatma, have no authorship, no time frame within which they had been authored. They are called अपौरुषेयाः ॥ Apaurusheya meaning that they are not authored by any Purusha or human mind. They were revealed to the ऋषि-s || 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, पुरुषः || Purusha and the परमात्मा || Paramatma, have no authorship, no time frame within which they had been authored. They are called अपौरुषेयाः ॥ Apaurusheya meaning that they are not authored by any Purusha or human mind. They were revealed to the ऋषि-s || 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 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 ==

== Revelation and Compilation of Vedas ==

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 brought him fame as Veda Vyasa.  

 

It is believed that the potency of the Vedas started decaying towards the end of Dvapara Yuga, as men have decreasing lifespan, less energy, and poorer intellect. At the behest of Brahma, Rudra and other deities, to protect Dharma, MahaVishnu descended in the form of the son of Maharshi Parashara and Satyavati, and He divided the Veda into four parts. He was considered as an amsha (part) of Shri Vishnu himself for fulfilling a specific purpose in this world. Bhagavata Purana extols as follows.<blockquote>पराशरात्सत्यवत्यामंशांशकलया विभुः अवतीर्णो महाभाग वेदं चक्रे चतुर्विधम् ४९ (Bhag. Pura. 12.6.44-46)</blockquote>In the Kali Yuga (कलियुगम्) 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 Vedavyasa (वेदव्यासः), the son of Maharshi Parashara (पराशरः). He was known as Dvaipayana (द्वैपायनः) as he was born in an island (द्वीपः ॥ Dveepa). 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 (in Vaivasvata Manvantara) 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 brought him fame as Veda Vyasa.<ref name=":1" />

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 :<blockquote>तत्रर्ग्वेदधरः पैलः सामगो जैमिनिः कविः । वैशंपायन एवैको निष्णातो यजुषामुत ॥ २१ ॥<br>अथर्वाङ्‌गिरसामासीत् सुमन्तुर्दारुणो मुनिः ।(Bhag. Pura. 1.4.21) <ref name=":0">Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Skanda 1 Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatrargvēdadharaḥ pailaḥ sāmagō jaiminiḥ kaviḥ । vaiśaṁpāyana ēvaikō niṣṇātō yajuṣāmuta ॥ 21 ॥atharvāṅ‌girasāmāsīt sumanturdāruṇō muniḥ । (Bhag. Pura. 1.4.21)</blockquote>

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 :<blockquote>तत्रर्ग्वेदधरः पैलः सामगो जैमिनिः कविः । वैशंपायन एवैको निष्णातो यजुषामुत ॥ २१ ॥<br>अथर्वाङ्‌गिरसामासीत् सुमन्तुर्दारुणो मुनिः ।(Bhag. Pura. 1.4.21) <ref name=":0">Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Skanda 1 Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatrargvēdadharaḥ pailaḥ sāmagō jaiminiḥ kaviḥ । vaiśaṁpāyana ēvaikō niṣṇātō yajuṣāmuta ॥ 21 ॥atharvāṅ‌girasāmāsīt sumanturdāruṇō muniḥ । (Bhag. Pura. 1.4.21)</blockquote>

| सुमन्तुः ॥ Sumantu

| सुमन्तुः ॥ Sumantu

|}

|}

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

== चातुर्होतारः ॥ Four Chief Priests of Yajna ==

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of यज्ञाः ॥ [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|Yajnas]] (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such use of the Veda led to its division into four parts based on the requirements of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.<ref>Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958 Vaidik Sahitya]''.</ref> This is referred to in the following Rigveda mantra

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of यज्ञाः ॥ [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|Yajnas]] (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such use of the Veda led to its division into four parts based on the requirements of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.<ref>Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958 Vaidik Sahitya]''.</ref> This is referred to in the following Rigveda mantra<blockquote>ऋचां त्व: पोषमास्ते पुपुष्वान्गायत्रं त्वो गायति शक्वरीषु । ब्रह्मा त्वो वदति जातविद्यां यज्ञस्य मात्रां वि मिमीत उ त्वः ॥११॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.71.11)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-071/ Mandala 10 Sukta 71])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>r̥cāṁ tva: pōṣamāstē pupuṣvāngāyatraṁ tvō gāyati śakvarīṣu । brahmā tvō vadati jātavidyāṁ yajñasya mātrāṁ vi mimīta u tvaḥ ॥11॥</blockquote>Meaning : One priest engages in duly reciting of the mantras while another sings the Samans in gayatri chandas. Another knower of Vedas duly uses the mantras for special karmas by applying the prayaschittas and vidhis, yet another uses them to follow the procedures of yajna karmas.<ref name=":7">Pt. Sripada Damodara Satavalekar. (1985). ''Rigved ka Subodh Bhashya, [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_IV/#book/410 Volume 4]'', Parady: Svadhyaya Mandali</ref>

 

ऋचां त्व: पोषमास्ते पुपुष्वान्गायत्रं त्वो गायति शक्वरीषु । ब्रह्मा त्वो वदति जातविद्यां यज्ञस्य मात्रां वि मिमीत उ त्वः ॥११॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.71.11)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-071/ Mandala 10 Sukta 71])</ref>

 

r̥cāṁ tva: pōṣamāstē pupuṣvāngāyatraṁ tvō gāyati śakvarīṣu । brahmā tvō vadati jātavidyāṁ yajñasya mātrāṁ vi mimīta u tvaḥ ॥11॥

 

Meaning : One priest engages in duly reciting of the mantras while another sings the Samans in gayatri chandas. Another knower of Vedas duly uses the mantras for special karmas by applying the prayaschittas and vidhis, yet another uses them to follow the procedures of yajna karmas.<ref name=":7">Pt. Sripada Damodara Satavalekar. (1985). ''Rigved ka Subodh Bhashya, [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_IV/#book/410 Volume 4]'', Parady: Svadhyaya Mandali</ref>

=== होता <nowiki>|| Hota</nowiki>  ===

=== होता <nowiki>|| Hota</nowiki>  ===

=== [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]  ===

=== [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]  ===

The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

== वेदवर्गीकरणम् || Classification of Vedas ==

== वेदवर्गीकरणम् ॥ Classification of Vedas ==

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rishi Veda Vyasa :  

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rishi Veda Vyasa :  

# [[Rigveda|ऋग्वेदः || The Rigveda]]  

# [[Rigveda|ऋग्वेदः || The Rigveda]]  

# [[Yajurveda|यजुर्वेदः || The Yajurveda]]  

# [[Yajurveda|यजुर्वेदः || The Yajurveda]]  

# [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|सामवेदः || The Samaveda]]  

# [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|सामवेदः || The Samaveda]]  

# [[Atharvaveda|अथर्वणवेदः || The Atharvanaveda]]''.''  

# [[Atharvaveda|अथर्ववेदः || The Atharvaveda]]''.''  

Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी-विद्या || Trayi vidya, that is, "the triple science" of reciting hymns (Rigveda), performing yajnas (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 Samaveda and the Atharvaveda are known, and many different versions of the Yajurveda have been found in different parts of South Asia.   

Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी-विद्या || Trayi vidya, that is, "the triple science" of reciting hymns (Rigveda), performing yajnas (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 Samaveda and the Atharvaveda are known, and many different versions of the Yajurveda have been found in different parts of South Asia.   

== वेदविभागाः || Sub Classification of Vedas ==

== वेदविभागाः ॥ 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 –  

# संहिता || [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhita]] (mantras)

# संहिता || [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhita]] (mantras)

# ब्राह्मणम् || [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and yajnas)

# ब्राह्मणम् || [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and yajnas)

# आरण्यकम् || [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyaka]] (method of conducting rituals, ceremonies, yajnas and symbolic-yajnas)

# आरण्यकम् || [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyaka]] (method of conducting rituals, ceremonies, yajnas and symbolic-yajnas)

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

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

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

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

आदिशङ्कराचार्यः ॥ Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्डम् || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्डम् || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

आदिशङ्कराचार्यः ॥ Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्डम् || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्डम् || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

== Dating सनातन-धर्मः || Sanatana Dharma ==

== Dating सनातन-धर्मः ॥ 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.   

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 proven 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 or Fifth veda. What constitute the Panchamaveda are given differently in different texts.  

Though the general agreement about the number of vedas is four, there are instances in literature about पञ्चमवेदः ॥ Panchamaveda or Fifth veda. What constitute the Panchamaveda are given differently in different texts.