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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 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

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>

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>

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>

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>

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

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

The chief priest whose function was to chant the ऋग्वेद-मन्त्राः ॥ Rigveda mantras and invoke the deities to the yajna.

The chief priest whose function was to chant the ऋग्वेद-मन्त्राः ॥ Rigveda mantras and invoke the deities to the yajna.

=== [[Adhvaryu (अध्वर्युः)|अध्वर्युः || Adhvaryu]] : ===

=== अध्वर्युः || Adhvaryu : ===

The chief executor of the Yajurveda part used to perform the यज्ञक्रियाः ॥ yajna kriyas (sacrificial rites) and was in charge of the physical details of the yajna. He also takes care of the construction of the यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi and preparation of the आहुति-s ॥ ahutis.   

The chief executor of the Yajurveda part used to perform the यज्ञक्रियाः ॥ yajna kriyas (sacrificial rites) and was in charge of the physical details of the yajna. He also takes care of the construction of the यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi and preparation of the आहुति-s ॥ ahutis.   

=== [[Udgatri|उद्गाता || Udgata]] : ===

=== उद्गाता || Udgata : ===

The chief singer who sings the collection of all the सामवेद-मन्त्राः ॥ Samaveda mantras (musical chants).

The chief singer who sings the collection of all the सामवेद-मन्त्राः ॥ Samaveda mantras (musical chants).

=== [[Brahma|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 ==

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

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

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

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

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

# उपनिषद् || [[Upanishads (उपनिषदाः)|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}}

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.   

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 (सनातनधर्मः)|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.{{Citation needed}}  

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}}