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The word [[Veda (वेद)|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 [[Veda (वेद)|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>

== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचयः || Introduction ==

Vedas are texts containing knowledge of आत्मा || Atma, पुरुष || Purusha and the परमात्मा || Paramatma, have no authorship, no time frame within which they had been authored. They are called अपौरुषेय ॥ Apaurusheya meaning that they are not authored by any Purusha or human mind. They were revealed to the ऋषी || 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 अपौरुषेयः ॥ 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 ‘Mantras’ which were not the result of any intuition but were the result of Divine Vision which is called मन्त्र दृष्टि || Mantra Drishti. 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 संहितीकरण || Codification by Maharshi Vedavyasa ==

== महर्षिवेदव्यासेन संहितीकरणम् || Codification by Maharshi Vedavyasa ==

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 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 [[वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage Parashara. He was known as Dwaipayana as he was born in an island (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 Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as Badarayana.

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 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 [[वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa|वेदव्यासः ॥ Vedavyasa,]] the son of Sage Parashara. He was known as Dwaipayana as he was born in an island (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 Krishna Dwaipayana. He was also known as Badarayana.

| Sumantu

| Sumantu

|}

|}

== चातुर्होत्र || Four Chief Priests of Yagna ==

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

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of Yajnas (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such uses of the Veda led to its division based upon the convenience of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.

The Vedas were mainly utilized in the performance of Yajnas (sacrifices) which were the most common form of early Vedic religion. Such uses of the Veda led to its division based upon the convenience of the chief priests conducting the yajnas.

'''[[Brahma|ब्रह्म || Brahma]] :'''  The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

'''[[Brahma|ब्रह्म || Brahma]] :'''  The chief overseer who would recite the mantras of Atharvaveda and was considered as the supervisor over the whole process of yajna.  

== वेदवर्गीकरण || Classification of Vedas ==

== वेदवर्गीकरणम् || Classification of Vedas ==

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rushi Veda Vyasa said to be for the ease of understanding them:  

There are four Vedas as compiled by the Great Rushi Veda Vyasa said to be for the ease of understanding them:  

# ऋग्वेदम् || The Rigveda  

# ऋग्वेदम् || The Rigveda  

Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्ड || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्ड || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

Adi Shankara classified each Veda into कर्मकाण्ड || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related sections) and ज्ञानकाण्ड || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related sections).

== Dating सनातन धर्म || 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.