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The Vedas (Samskrit: वेद véda, "knowledge") are a large body of sacred ancient texts which have originated in [[Bharatvarsha|भारतवर्ष || Bharatavarsha]] or the Indian subcontinent. The Hindus have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be ''[[Apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any author.<ref>Swami Sivananda, All About HInduism</ref>

The Vedas (Samskrit: वेद véda, "knowledge") are a large body of sacred ancient texts which have originated in [[Bharatvarsha|भारतवर्ष || Bharatavarsha]] or the Indian subcontinent. The Hindus have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be ''[[Apauruseya|Apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any author.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About HInduism</ref> Composed in Vedic samskrit, these texts constitute the oldest layer of samskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of the world.

Composed in Vedic samskrit, these texts constitute the oldest layer of samskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of the world.

There are four Vedas: the [[Rigveda]], the [[Yajurveda]], the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Samaveda]] and the [[Atharvaveda]]. The Yajurveda is again divided into two parts- The Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittirya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from Sun-God.<ref name=":0" /> The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajur Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva Veda into fifty sections. In all, the Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions.<ref name=":0" />

 

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

 

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

This definition presents the purpose of the Veda. According to another definition, as per the sage [[Apastamba|अपस्तम्ब || Apastamba]]  <blockquote>"मन्त्र - ब्रह्मन्योर् - वेदनामधेयम् ||"</blockquote><blockquote>"mantra-brahmanyor-vedanamadheyam ||"</blockquote>Meaning : 'The Veda is the name given to the Mantras and the Brahmanas’.This definition describes the form of the 'Veda' because it could be divided mainly into these two great divisions--the Mantras and the Brahmanas. Accordingly, मन्त्र || Mantra part is the main part of the Veda and whatever is not Mantra is ब्राह्मण || Brahmana. Here it is interesting to know that many  ancient  definitions  of  Veda,  showing  its  significance,  form  or contents are given in ancient Indian texts. Generally speaking the word वेद || Veda signifies highest, sacred, eternal  and  divine  knowledge  as  well  as  the  texts embodying  that knowledge.  

This definition presents the purpose of the Veda. According to another definition, as per the sage [[Apastamba|अपस्तम्ब || Apastamba]]  <blockquote>"मन्त्र - ब्रह्मन्योर् - वेदनामधेयम् ||"</blockquote><blockquote>"mantra-brahmanyor-vedanamadheyam ||"</blockquote>Meaning : 'The Veda is the name given to the Mantras and the Brahmanas’.This definition describes the form of the 'Veda' because it could be divided mainly into these two great divisions--the Mantras and the Brahmanas. Accordingly, मन्त्र || Mantra part is the main part of the Veda and whatever is not Mantra is ब्राह्मण || Brahmana. Here it is interesting to know that many  ancient  definitions  of  Veda,  showing  its  significance,  form  or contents are given in ancient Indian texts. Generally speaking the word वेद || Veda signifies highest, sacred, eternal  and  divine  knowledge  as  well  as  the  texts embodying  that knowledge.  

[[Sanatana Dharma|सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma]], the lifestyle of Hindu people living in the Indian subcontinent, advocates that the Vedas are अपौरुषेय ॥ apauruṣeya ("not of a man" and "impersonal, authorless"). However, classical samskrit works which are different from the Vedic texts such as the महाकाव्य || mahakavyas and गद्य काव्य || gadya kavyas by different poets are available in great volumes. These texts are essentially different from the Vedas where the usage of Samskrit language is also different from the Vedic period. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before [[Panini]] systematized classical Samskrit grammar, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.  

[[Sanatana Dharma|सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma]], the lifestyle of Hindu people living in the Indian subcontinent, advocates that the Vedas are अपौरुषेय ॥ apauruṣeya ("not of a man" and "impersonal, authorless"). However, classical samskrit works which are different from the Vedic texts such as the महाकाव्य || mahakavyas and गद्य काव्य || gadya kavyas by different poets are available in great volumes. These texts are essentially different from the Vedas where the usage of Samskrit language is also different from the Vedic period. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before [[Panini]] systematized classical Samskrit grammar, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.