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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|Apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any authorship.<ref name=":022">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.

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|Apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any authorship.<ref name=":022">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.

There are 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.<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 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]], 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" />

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

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>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>Meaning : The  scripture,  which  describes  the  divine  method  for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called Veda.  

== वेदलक्षणम् || Vedalakshana ==

== वेदलक्षणम् || Vedalakshana ==

Vedas have the following important attributes summarized here, apart from the many other characteristics, as discussed by scholars over ages.

Vedas have the following important attributes summarized here, apart from the many other characteristics, as discussed by scholars over ages.

* आस्तिक्यम् ॥ Astika (Belief in existence of a Supreme power)

* आस्तिकत्वम् ॥ Astikatva (Belief in existence of a Supreme power)

* अलौकिकज्ञानम् ॥ Brahmajnanam (Knowledge of Supreme being)

* अलौकिकत्वम् ॥ Brahmajnana (Knowledge of Supreme being)

* अपौरुषेयता ॥ Apauruṣeya (Authorless)

* अपौरुषेयत्वम् ॥ Apauruṣeya (Authorless)

* सनातनता ॥ Sanatana (Eternal)

* सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatana (Eternal)

* धर्मसाधनम् ॥ Dharmasadhana (Means of Dharma)

* धर्मसाधकत्वम् ॥ Dharmasadhana (Means of Dharma)

* सर्वज्ञानमौलिकता ॥ Sarvajnanata (Source of all knowledge)

* सर्वज्ञानमूलकत्वम् ॥ Sarvajnanata (Source of all knowledge)

In Manusmriti, Manu extensively discusses various aspects of Vedas in the 12th Adhayaya.

In Manusmriti, Manu extensively discusses various aspects of Vedas in the 12th Adhayaya.

=== आस्तिक्यम् ॥ Astikyam ===

=== आस्तिकत्वम् ॥ Astikatva ===

Astikata is the belief in the existence of a Supreme power, superior to man, called God. This aspect has been described in different flavors by different rishis, scholars and acharyas but the essence of Sanatana Dharma is that they are all Astika or holding a firm belief in the existence of a Supreme Being or force that is all pervading, all encompassing, higher than the man. The Vedas are full of mantras which tell us beyond doubt that this power (God) is not only Supreme but also is One and has no form.<ref name=":0">Vidyamartand, Acharya Dharmadeva. (2008) ''Solutions to Modern Problems in Vedas'' Rajasthan:Sri Ghudmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyas</ref>

Astikata is the belief in the existence of a Supreme power, superior to man, called God. This aspect has been described in different flavors by different rishis, scholars and acharyas but the essence of Sanatana Dharma is that they are all Astika or holding a firm belief in the existence of a Supreme Being or force that is all pervading, all encompassing, higher than the man. The Vedas are full of mantras which tell us beyond doubt that this power (God) is not only Supreme but also is One and has no form.<ref name=":0">Vidyamartand, Acharya Dharmadeva. (2008) ''Solutions to Modern Problems in Vedas'' Rajasthan:Sri Ghudmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyas</ref>

वेदशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो यत्र तत्राश्रमे वसन् । इहैव लोके तिष्ठन्स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । । १२.१०२ ।  (Manu. Smri. 12.102)<ref name=":222" />

वेदशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो यत्र तत्राश्रमे वसन् । इहैव लोके तिष्ठन्स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । । १२.१०२ ।  (Manu. Smri. 12.102)<ref name=":222" />

=== अपौरुषेयता ॥ Apauruṣeya ===

=== अपौरुषेयत्वम् ॥ Apaurusheyatva ===

[[Sanatana Dharma (सनातन धर्म)|सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma]] based lifestyle of Hindu people living in the Indian subcontinent, advocates that the Vedas are अपौरुषेय ॥ apauruṣeya ("not of a man" and "impersonal, authorless").

[[Sanatana Dharma (सनातन धर्म)|सनातन धर्म || Sanatana Dharma]] based lifestyle of Hindu people living in the Indian subcontinent, advocates that the Vedas are अपौरुषेय ॥ apauruṣeya ("not of a man" and "impersonal, authorless").

Kulluka Bhatta's acceptance of the वेदानाम् अपौरुषेयत्वम् is clearly given as above. Kulluka has quoted from the Veda, यथा च श्रुतिः - अग्नेर्ऋग्वेदो वायोर्यजुर्वेद आदित्यात्सामवेद <ref name=":122" /> directly.

Kulluka Bhatta's acceptance of the वेदानाम् अपौरुषेयत्वम् is clearly given as above. Kulluka has quoted from the Veda, यथा च श्रुतिः - अग्नेर्ऋग्वेदो वायोर्यजुर्वेद आदित्यात्सामवेद <ref name=":122" /> directly.

=== सनातनता ॥ Sanatana ===

=== सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatanatva ===

In the opinion of Manu, Veda is the eternal eye सनातनं चक्षुः of पितृ, देव, and मनुष्य. Veda is beyond the sphere of human power to create (अशक्यम्) and beyond the human comprehension too (अप्रमेयम्).<ref name=":122">Patel, Gautam. (1999). ''Traditional Vedic Interpretations.'' New Delhi : Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan</ref>

In the opinion of Manu, Veda is the eternal eye सनातनं चक्षुः of पितृ, देव, and मनुष्य. Veda is beyond the sphere of human power to create (अशक्यम्) and beyond the human comprehension too (अप्रमेयम्).<ref name=":122">Patel, Gautam. (1999). ''Traditional Vedic Interpretations.'' New Delhi : Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan</ref>

पितृदेवमनुष्याणां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् । अशक्यं चाप्रमेयं च वेदशास्त्रं इति स्थितिः । । १२.९४ (Manu. Smri. 12.94)<ref name=":222">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref>

पितृदेवमनुष्याणां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् । अशक्यं चाप्रमेयं च वेदशास्त्रं इति स्थितिः । । १२.९४ (Manu. Smri. 12.94)<ref name=":222">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref>

=== धर्ममूलम् ॥ Source of Dharma ===

=== धर्ममूलकत्वम् ॥ Source of Dharma ===

Manusmriti has attached great importance to the Vedas and advocates primarily that the source of Dharma are the Vedas. Secondly its source is attributed to tradition and the virtuous conduct of those who follow the Veda, thirdly, to the customs of holy men and finally आत्मनस्तुष्टिः or satisfaction of the inner self.<ref name=":122" />

Manusmriti has attached great importance to the Vedas and advocates primarily that the source of Dharma are the Vedas. Secondly its source is attributed to tradition and the virtuous conduct of those who follow the Veda, thirdly, to the customs of holy men and finally आत्मनस्तुष्टिः or satisfaction of the inner self.<ref name=":122" />

आर्षं धर्मोपदेशं च वेदशास्त्राविरोधिना । यस्तर्केणानुसंधत्ते स धर्मं वेद नेतरः । । १२.१०६ । । (Manu. Smri. 12.106)<ref name=":222" />

आर्षं धर्मोपदेशं च वेदशास्त्राविरोधिना । यस्तर्केणानुसंधत्ते स धर्मं वेद नेतरः । । १२.१०६ । । (Manu. Smri. 12.106)<ref name=":222" />

=== सर्वज्ञानमूलम् ॥ Source of all knowledge ===

=== सर्वज्ञानमूलकत्वम् ॥ Source of all knowledge ===

According to Brhadyogi-Yajnavalkya-Smriti (Page No. 11 of Ved aur Vedarth)<ref name=":13">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref><ref name=":03" />

According to Brhadyogi-Yajnavalkya-Smriti (Page No. 11 of Ved aur Vedarth)<ref name=":13">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref><ref name=":03" />