Changes

The Vedas were likely written down for the first time around 500 BC.  However, all printed editions of the Vedas that survive in the modern times are likely the version existing in about the 16th century AD.   

The Vedas were likely written down for the first time around 500 BC.  However, all printed editions of the Vedas that survive in the modern times are likely the version existing in about the 16th century AD.   

Due to the ephemeral nature of the manuscript material (birch bark or palm leaves), surviving manuscripts rarely surpass an age of a few hundred years. The Sampurnanand Samskrit University has a Rigveda manuscript from the 14th century; however, there are a number of older Veda manuscripts in Nepal that are dated from the 11th century onwards.   

Due to the ephemeral nature of the manuscript material (birch bark or palm leaves), surviving manuscripts rarely surpass an age of a few hundred years. The Sampurnanand Samskrit University has a Rigveda manuscript from the 14th century; however, there are a number of older Veda manuscripts in Nepal that are dated from the 11th century onwards. However, one of the important reasons for the loss of manuscripts is that during the Westerner's rule, many such were stolen and taken to repositories in Western countries, a process that is continuing till date and involves loss of precious specimens of archeological and sculptural wealth that belongs to timeless Bharatiya samskriti.   

With the discovery of paper and through the centuries improved stationery material, was the main means of preserving the vedic literature.  Western Indologists have generated volumes of their interpretation of vedas and took many manuscripts from India to other places like Germany.  However, the main drawback was the non-availability of a voice preservation method since early 18th century. Vedic language which primarily depends on the accents and pronunciation, was not preserved and thus many shakas have been lost with those learned scholars since few centuries. Today many manuscripts and valuable literary treasures can be found in remote corners of the world.     

With the discovery of paper and through the centuries improved stationery material, was the main means of preserving the vedic literature.  Western Indologists have generated volumes of their interpretation of vedas and took many manuscripts from India to other places like Germany.  However, the main drawback was the non-availability of a voice preservation method since early 18th century. Vedic language which primarily depends on the accents and pronunciation, was not preserved and thus many shakas have been lost with those learned scholars since few centuries. Today many manuscripts and valuable literary treasures can be found in remote corners of the world.