Changes

The Vedas (Samskrit : वेदाः) are a large body of ancient sacred texts which have originated in [[Bharatvarsha|भारतवर्षः || Bharatavarsha]] (the ancient Indian subcontinent). The Vedic Seers have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be अपौरुषेयः ॥ ''[[Apauruseya|Apaurusheya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any authorship.<ref name=":022">Swami Sivananda, All About HInduism</ref> Composed in वैदिकसंस्कृतम् ॥ Vedic samskrit, these texts constitute the oldest layer of samskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of the world.

The Vedas (Samskrit : वेदाः) are a large body of ancient sacred texts which have originated in Bharatavarsha (the ancient Indian subcontinent). The Vedic Seers have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be [[Apauruseya|Apaurusheya (अपौरुषेयः)]], or entirely superhuman, without any authorship.<ref name=":022">Swami Sivananda, All About HInduism</ref> Composed in Vedic samskrit (वैदिकसंस्कृतम्), these texts constitute the oldest layer of samskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of the world.

There are [[The Four Vedas (चतुर्वेदाः)|four Vedas]]: the ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], the यजुर्वेदः ॥ [[Yajurveda]], the सामवेदः ॥ [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Samaveda]] and the अथर्ववेदः ॥ [[Atharvaveda]]. The यजुर्वेदः ॥ Yajurveda is again divided into two parts- The शुक्लः ॥ Shukla and the कृष्णः ॥ Krishna. The कृष्णः ॥ Krishna or the तैत्तिरीयः ॥ Taittiriya is the older version and the शुक्लः ॥ Shukla or the वाजसनेयी ॥ Vajasaneyi is a later revelation to sage याज्ञवल्क्यः ॥ Yajnavalkya from सूर्यः ॥ [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]].<ref name=":022" /> The ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda is divided into twenty one sections, the यजुर्वेदः ॥ Yajurveda into one hundred and nine sections, the सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda into one thousand sections and the अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda into fifty sections. In all, the वेदः ॥ [[Veda Vargeekarana (वेदवर्गीकरणम्)|Veda]] is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty शाखाः ॥ shakhas (recensions).<ref name=":022" />

There are [[The Four Vedas (चतुर्वेदाः)|four Vedas]]: the  

* ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]]

* यजुर्वेदः ॥ [[Yajurveda]]

* सामवेदः ॥ [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Samaveda]]  

* अथर्ववेदः ॥ [[Atharvaveda]]

The Yajurveda is again divided into two parts- The Shukla (शुक्लः) and the Krishna (कृष्णः). The Krishna or the Taittiriya (तैत्तिरीयः) is the older version and the Shukla or the वाजसनेयी ॥ Vajasaneyi is a later revelation to Maharshi Yajnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्यः) from [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya (सूर्यः]]).<ref name=":022" /> The Rigveda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajurveda into one hundred and nine sections, the Samaveda into one thousand sections and the Atharvaveda into fifty sections. In all, the [[Veda Vargeekarana (वेदवर्गीकरणम्)|Veda]] is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty shakhas (शाखाः | recensions).<ref name=":022" />

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

The great Vedic commentator, of the thirteenth century, [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|सायणाचार्यः ॥ Sayanacharya]] has given a definition of the वेदः ॥ Veda. <blockquote>इष्टप्राप्ति - अनिष्टपरिहर्योर - अलौकिकम् - उपयम् यो ग्रन्थो वेदयति स वेदः ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>iṣṭaprāpti - aniṣṭapariharyora - alaukikam - upayam yo grantho vedayati sa vedaḥ ||</blockquote>Meaning : The scripture, which describes the divine method for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called वेदः ॥ Veda.  

The great Vedic commentator, of the thirteenth century, [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|सायणाचार्यः ॥ Sayanacharya]] has given a definition of the वेदः ॥ Veda. <blockquote>इष्टप्राप्ति - अनिष्टपरिहर्योर - अलौकिकम् - उपयम् यो ग्रन्थो वेदयति स वेदः ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>iṣṭaprāpti - aniṣṭapariharyora - alaukikam - upayam yo grantho vedayati sa vedaḥ ||</blockquote>Meaning : The scripture, which describes the divine method for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called वेदः ॥ Veda.