Changes

For generations, over thousands of years, वैदिकविद्या || Vedic education was imparted to students in a गुरुशिष्य-परम्परा || guru-shishya parampara, following the traditional system of oral recitation until महर्षि-वेदव्यास ॥ Maharshi [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]]’s great contribution of organizing them into a written format.

For generations, over thousands of years, वैदिकविद्या || Vedic education was imparted to students in a गुरुशिष्य-परम्परा || guru-shishya parampara, following the traditional system of oral recitation until महर्षि-वेदव्यास's ॥ Maharshi [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]]’s great contribution of organizing them into a written format.

World's ancient literature, ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], has not undergone any change even in single syllable nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved. Even रामायणम् ॥ [[Ramayana]], महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]], पुराणानि ॥ [[Puranas]] and other Samskrit texts are not free of syllable and content changes<ref name=":0">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>. In the Rigvedic time apart from ऋषि-s || Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्रम् || Gotra, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|गुरुकुलम् || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the ऋषि-s || Rishis, the cryptic process and symbolism of वेदमन्त्राः ॥ Veda mantras, strict adherence to committing them to memory, system of recitation of the मन्त्राः ॥ mantras - these were all the root causes in protecting the one integral voice of वेदाः ॥ Vedas.

World's ancient literature, ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], has not undergone any change even in single syllable nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved. Even रामायणम् ॥ [[Ramayana]], महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]], पुराणानि ॥ [[Puranas]] and other Samskrit texts are not free of syllable and content changes<ref name=":0">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>. In the Rigvedic time, apart from ऋषि-s || Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, वेदाः ॥ Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्रम् || Gotra, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|गुरुकुलम् || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the ऋषि-s || Rishis, the cryptic process and symbolism of वेदमन्त्राः ॥ Veda mantras, strict adherence to committing them to memory, system of recitation of the मन्त्राः ॥ mantras - these were all the root causes in protecting the one integral voice of वेदाः ॥ Vedas.

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to various reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to various reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>

== वेदपाठपद्धतिः|| Vedapatha Paddhati ==

== वेदपाठपद्धतिः|| Vedapatha Paddhati ==

ऋषि-s || Rishis (Vedic seers) devised means of protecting and preserving the text of वेदाः ॥ Vedas letter by letter, with all their accessories and accents. Vedic mantras have स्वरः || Svara (accents) which preserve its original form of word- construction. Thus, वेदाः ॥ Vedas are not just textual, written matter but comprise of intonations, pitch, accents, pronunciation, time duration and of fine nuances of human element which cannot be captured on paper. Hence existence of volumes of printed material is of minimal use as the real authority is vested with those very few scholars, who are remaining, keeping the age old tradition of recitation alive.     

ऋषि-s || Rishis (Vedic seers) devised means of protecting and preserving the text of वेदाः ॥ Vedas letter by letter, with all their accessories and accents. Vedic mantras have स्वराः || Svaras (accents) which preserve its original form of word- construction. Thus, वेदाः ॥ Vedas are not just textual, written matter but comprise of intonations, pitch, accents, pronunciation, time duration and of fine nuances of human element which cannot be captured on paper. Hence, existence of volumes of printed material is of minimal use as the real authority is vested with those very few scholars, who are remaining, keeping the age old tradition of recitation alive.     

=== प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakrti Patha ===

=== प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakrti Patha ===

ऋग्वेदसंहिता ॥ Rigveda samhita was of two divisions. The following forms of recitation are explained using ऋग्वेदमन्त्रः ॥ Rigveda mantra (1.1.1) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् ॥ agnimīḻe purohitam ॥       

ऋग्वेदसंहिता ॥ Rigveda samhita was of two divisions. The following forms of recitation are explained using ऋग्वेदमन्त्रः ॥ Rigveda mantra (1.1.1) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् ॥ agnimīḻe purohitam ॥       

# संहितापाठः || Samhita Patha –   in which मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra remains in its true form.

# संहितापाठः || Samhita Patha –   in which मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra remains in its true form.

# पदपाठः || Pada Patha-   in which each word of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra is separately spoken.

# पदपाठः || Pada Patha-   in which each word of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra is separately spoken.

# क्रमपाठः || Krama Patha-  in which two words of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

# क्रमपाठः || Krama Patha-  in which two words of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra are spoken jointly as  क-ख, ख-ग ॥ Ka-kha, kha-ga.

=== विकृतिपाठः || Vikrti Patha ===

=== विकृतिपाठः || Vikrti Patha ===

Memorization of the sacred Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time. Based on the क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita eight methods of recitation are given by व्याडि ऋषिः || Vyadi Rishi in व्याडिविकृतिवल्ली ॥ Vyadi Vikrtavalli<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जटा माला शिखा लेखा ध्वजो दण्डो रथो घनः | अष्टौ विकृतयः प्रोक्ता क्रमपूर्वा मनीषिभिः | (विकृतिवल्ली 1.5)</blockquote><blockquote>jaṭā mālā śikhā lekhā dhvajo daṇḍo ratho ghanaḥ | aṣṭau vikṛtayaḥ proktā kramapūrvā manīṣibhiḥ | (vikṛtivallī 1.5)</blockquote>There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are<ref name=":1" />

Memorization of the sacred वेदाः ॥ Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time. Based on the क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita eight methods of recitation are given by व्याडि-ऋषिः || Vyadi Rishi in व्याडिविकृतिवल्ली ॥ Vyadi Vikrtavalli<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जटा माला शिखा लेखा ध्वजो दण्डो रथो घनः | अष्टौ विकृतयः प्रोक्ता क्रमपूर्वा मनीषिभिः | (विकृतिवल्ली 1.5)</blockquote><blockquote>jaṭā mālā śikhā lekhā dhvajo daṇḍo ratho ghanaḥ | aṣṭau vikṛtayaḥ proktā kramapūrvā manīṣibhiḥ | (vikṛtivallī 1.5)</blockquote>There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are<ref name=":1" />

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha  

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha  

# मालापाठः || Malapatha

# मालापाठः || Malapatha

* जटापाठः || Jatapatha

* जटापाठः || Jatapatha

<blockquote>ओषधयः सं, समोषधयः, ओषधयः सम् । सं वदन्ते, वदन्ते सम्, सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन, सोमेन वदन्ते, वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह, सह सोमेन  सोमेन सह। सह राज्ञा, राज्ञा सह, सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>यस्मै कृणोति, कृणोति यस्मै, यस्मै कृणोति। कृणोति ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणः कृणोति, कृणोति ब्राह्मणः। ब्राह्मणस्तं, तं ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणस्तम् । तं राजन्, राजंस्तं, तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि, पारयामसि राजन्, राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ, samoṣadhayaḥ, oṣadhayaḥ sam । saṃ vadante, vadante sam, saṃ vadante । vadante somena, somena vadante, vadante somena । somena saha, saha somena somena saha। saha rājñā, rājñā saha, saha rājñā । rājñeti rājñā ।</blockquote><blockquote>yasmai kṛṇoti, kṛṇoti yasmai, yasmai kṛṇoti। kṛṇoti brāhmaṇo, brāhmaṇaḥ kṛṇoti, kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ। brāhmaṇastaṃ, taṃ brāhmaṇo, brāhmaṇastam । taṃ rājan, rājaṃstaṃ, taṃ rājan । rājan pārayāmasi, pārayāmasi rājan, rājan pārayāmasi । pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>Here two words of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra are chanted in forward and reverse orders till the end of the मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra. In शिखापाठः ॥ Shikhapatha, three words of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra are chanted in such permutations and combinations.<ref name=":32222">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap5.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan </ref> Recitations of the रेखा ॥ Rekha (line), ध्वजः ॥ Dhvaja (flag), दण्डः ॥ Danda (staff), and रथः ॥ Ratha (chariot) are further complex recitation methods involving even the पदाः ॥ padas of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra.<ref>Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian, The Vedic Chanting-a perfectly formulated Oral Tradition available at http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol1no2/chanting.pdf </ref>  Among them Ghanapatha  is most difficult and the longest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":32222" />

<blockquote>ओषधयः सं, समोषधयः, ओषधयः सम् । सं वदन्ते, वदन्ते सम्, सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन, सोमेन वदन्ते, वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह, सह सोमेन  सोमेन सह। सह राज्ञा, राज्ञा सह, सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>यस्मै कृणोति, कृणोति यस्मै, यस्मै कृणोति। कृणोति ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणः कृणोति, कृणोति ब्राह्मणः। ब्राह्मणस्तं, तं ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणस्तम् । तं राजन्, राजंस्तं, तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि, पारयामसि राजन्, राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ, samoṣadhayaḥ, oṣadhayaḥ sam । saṃ vadante, vadante sam, saṃ vadante । vadante somena, somena vadante, vadante somena । somena saha, saha somena somena saha। saha rājñā, rājñā saha, saha rājñā । rājñeti rājñā ।</blockquote><blockquote>yasmai kṛṇoti, kṛṇoti yasmai, yasmai kṛṇoti। kṛṇoti brāhmaṇo, brāhmaṇaḥ kṛṇoti, kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ। brāhmaṇastaṃ, taṃ brāhmaṇo, brāhmaṇastam । taṃ rājan, rājaṃstaṃ, taṃ rājan । rājan pārayāmasi, pārayāmasi rājan, rājan pārayāmasi । pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>Here, two words of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra are chanted in forward and reverse orders till the end of the मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra. In शिखापाठः ॥ Shikhapatha, three words of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra are chanted in such permutations and combinations.<ref name=":32222">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap5.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan </ref> Recitations of the रेखा ॥ Rekha (line), ध्वजः ॥ Dhvaja (flag), दण्डः ॥ Danda (staff), and रथः ॥ Ratha (chariot) are further complex recitation methods involving even the पदाः ॥ padas of the मन्त्रः ॥ mantra.<ref>Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian, The Vedic Chanting-a perfectly formulated Oral Tradition available at http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol1no2/chanting.pdf </ref>  Among them Ghanapatha  is most difficult and the longest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":32222" />

* घनापाठः || Ghanapatha

* घनापाठः || Ghanapatha

पूर्वार्धः || Purvardha<blockquote>Backwards to Forwards : </blockquote><blockquote>राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।सह राज्ञा । सोमेन सह । वदन्ते सोमेन । सं वदन्ते । ओषधयः सं ।</blockquote><blockquote>rājñeti rājñā ।saha rājñā । somena saha । vadante somena । saṃ vadante । oṣadhayaḥ saṃ ।</blockquote><blockquote>Forwards to Backwards : </blockquote><blockquote>ओषधयः सं । सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह । सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ । saṃ vadante । vadante somena । somena saha । saha rājñā । rājñeti rājñā ।</blockquote>उत्तरार्धः ॥ Uttarardha<blockquote>Backwards to Forwards : पारयामसीति पारयामसि । राजन् पारयामसि । तं राजन् । ब्राह्मणस्तं । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । यस्मै कृणोति ।</blockquote><blockquote>pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi । rājan pārayāmasi । taṃ rājan । brāhmaṇastaṃ । kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ । yasmai kṛṇoti ।</blockquote><blockquote>Forwards to Backwards : यस्मै कृणोति । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । ब्राह्मणस्तं । तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥</blockquote><blockquote>yasmai kṛṇoti । kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ । brāhmaṇastaṃ । taṃ rājan । rājan pārayāmasi । pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>Without the use of writing, a fool-proof method,where each मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra was chanted in various patterns and combinations to prevent any errors creeping into the वेदाः ॥ Vedas continued through ages. The modes of chanting prescribe the basics like how much time one has to take for reciting a word, how to regulate breathing while reciting so that required vibrations are produced in the specific parts of the body which will yield pure word-sound. That preservation of the वेदाः ॥ vedas was the aim of different पाठपद्धति-s || pathapaddhatis is given by many scholars, according to Dr. Bhandarkar<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>''"The object of these different arrangements is simply the most accurate preservation of the sacred text."(Indian Antiquary, 1874)''</blockquote>In Rigvedic India by Shri Avinash Chandra Das,  <blockquote>''"These hymns, however, were not committed to writing on papyrus, palm-leaves, or baked clay-bricks, but to human memory carefully cultivated for the purpose and were handed down from generation to generation without the loss of even a single word or syllable."''</blockquote>

पूर्वार्धः || Purvardha<blockquote>Backwards to Forwards : </blockquote><blockquote>राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।सह राज्ञा । सोमेन सह । वदन्ते सोमेन । सं वदन्ते । ओषधयः सं ।</blockquote><blockquote>rājñeti rājñā ।saha rājñā । somena saha । vadante somena । saṃ vadante । oṣadhayaḥ saṃ ।</blockquote><blockquote>Forwards to Backwards : </blockquote><blockquote>ओषधयः सं । सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह । सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ । saṃ vadante । vadante somena । somena saha । saha rājñā । rājñeti rājñā ।</blockquote>उत्तरार्धः ॥ Uttarardha<blockquote>Backwards to Forwards : पारयामसीति पारयामसि । राजन् पारयामसि । तं राजन् । ब्राह्मणस्तं । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । यस्मै कृणोति ।</blockquote><blockquote>pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi । rājan pārayāmasi । taṃ rājan । brāhmaṇastaṃ । kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ । yasmai kṛṇoti ।</blockquote><blockquote>Forwards to Backwards : यस्मै कृणोति । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । ब्राह्मणस्तं । तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥</blockquote><blockquote>yasmai kṛṇoti । kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ । brāhmaṇastaṃ । taṃ rājan । rājan pārayāmasi । pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>Without the use of writing, a fool-proof method,where each मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra was chanted in various patterns and combinations to prevent any errors creeping into the वेदाः ॥ Vedas continued through ages. The modes of chanting prescribe the basics like how much time one has to take for reciting a word, how to regulate breathing while reciting so that required vibrations are produced in the specific parts of the body which will yield pure word-sound. That preservation of the वेदाः ॥ vedas was the aim of different पाठपद्धति-s || pathapaddhatis is given by many scholar. According to Dr. Bhandarkar<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>''"The object of these different arrangements is simply the most accurate preservation of the sacred text."(Indian Antiquary, 1874)''</blockquote>In Rigvedic India by Shri Avinash Chandra Das,  <blockquote>''"These hymns, however, were not committed to writing on papyrus, palm-leaves, or baked clay-bricks, but to human memory carefully cultivated for the purpose and were handed down from generation to generation without the loss of even a single word or syllable."''</blockquote>

== अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas ==

== अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas ==

Another step in the preservation of वेदाः ॥ Vedas was to prepare treatises known as अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas in which the names of ऋषिः || Rishi, देवता || Devata, छन्दः || Chandas, similarly number of chandas, words are mentioned in reference to each hymn of the Vedas. छन्दस् ॥ Chandas (meter), a characteristic of वेदमन्त्राः ॥ veda mantras, also helps in avoiding loss of content by enforcing number of syllables.<ref name=":1">Introduction to Vedas ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/introduction/ Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref><ref name=":42222">Gopal Reddy, Mudiganti and Sujata Reddy, Mudiganti (1997) ''[https://archive.org/stream/SAMSKRUTAKAVIJEEVITAMULUByMALLADISURYANARAYANASASTRIGARU/SAMSKRUTA%20SAHITYA%20CHARITRA%20BY%20MUDUGANTI%20GOPALA%20REDDI%26SUJATA%20REDDI%20#page/n33/mode/2up Sanskrita Saahitya Charitra] (Vaidika Vangmayam - Loukika Vangamayam, A critical approach)'' Hyderabad : P. S. Telugu University</ref> शौनकानुक्रमणी ॥ Shaunakanukramani, कात्याननानुक्रमणी ॥ Katyayananukramani, अनुवाकानुक्रमणी ॥ Anuvakanukramani, सूक्तानुक्रमणी ॥ Suktanukramani, आर्षानुक्रमणी ॥ Arshanukramani, सर्वानुक्रमणी ॥ Sarvanukramani, बृहद्देवता ॥ Brhadevata, प्रातिशाख्यसूत्राणि ॥ Pratishakhya sutras etc are available texts in this context.<ref name=":0" />

Another step in the preservation of वेदाः ॥ Vedas was to prepare treatises known as अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas in which the names of ऋषिः || Rishi, देवता || Devata, छन्दः || Chandas, similarly number of chandas, words are mentioned in reference to each hymn of the वेदाः ॥ Vedas. छन्दस् ॥ Chandas (meter), a characteristic of वेदमन्त्राः ॥ veda mantras, also helps in avoiding loss of content by enforcing number of syllables.<ref name=":1">Introduction to Vedas ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/introduction/ Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref><ref name=":42222">Gopal Reddy, Mudiganti and Sujata Reddy, Mudiganti (1997) ''[https://archive.org/stream/SAMSKRUTAKAVIJEEVITAMULUByMALLADISURYANARAYANASASTRIGARU/SAMSKRUTA%20SAHITYA%20CHARITRA%20BY%20MUDUGANTI%20GOPALA%20REDDI%26SUJATA%20REDDI%20#page/n33/mode/2up Sanskrita Saahitya Charitra] (Vaidika Vangmayam - Loukika Vangamayam, A critical approach)'' Hyderabad : P. S. Telugu University</ref> शौनकानुक्रमणी ॥ Shaunakanukramani, कात्याननानुक्रमणी ॥ Katyayananukramani, अनुवाकानुक्रमणी ॥ Anuvakanukramani, सूक्तानुक्रमणी ॥ Suktanukramani, आर्षानुक्रमणी ॥ Arshanukramani, सर्वानुक्रमणी ॥ Sarvanukramani, बृहद्देवता ॥ Brhadevata, प्रातिशाख्यसूत्राणि ॥ Pratishakhya sutras etc are available texts in this context.<ref name=":0" />

That these methods have been effective, is testified by the preservation of the most ancient Indian religious text, the ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, as redacted into a single text during the Brahmana period, without any variant readings within that school.   

That these methods have been effective, is testified by the preservation of the most ancient Indian religious text, the ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, as redacted into a single text during the Brahmana period, without any variant readings within that school.   

== नव्यवेदाध्ययनविधानम्|| Modern Vedic Education ==

== नव्यवेदाध्ययनविधानम्|| Modern Vedic Education ==

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. 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 भारतीयसंस्कृतिः ॥ Bharatiya samskriti.   

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 भारतीयसंस्कृतिः ॥ Bharatiya samskriti.   

पण्डिताः || Pandits (priests) or people who perform pujas or rituals either in the temple, home or workplace offer mantras, called मन्त्रपुष्पम् || mantra pushpa. These मन्त्राः ॥ mantras clearly reveals that the four Vedas co-existed and not as the diabolical Indologists claimed, one after the other. The very fact that same मन्त्राः ॥ mantras are available in different वेदाः ॥ vedas in different formats indicate the oneness of all वेदाः ॥ vedas.   

पण्डिताः || Pandits (priests) or people who perform pujas or rituals either in the temple, home or workplace offer mantras, called मन्त्रपुष्पम् || mantra pushpa. These मन्त्राः ॥ mantras clearly reveals that the four Vedas co-existed and not as the diabolical Indologists claimed, one after the other. The very fact that same मन्त्राः ॥ mantras are available in different वेदाः ॥ vedas in different formats indicate the oneness of all वेदाः ॥ vedas.   

Similarly, for posterity, the later ऋषि-s || Rishis invoked the new सूक्तानि ॥ suktas or मन्त्राः ॥ mantras based upon their vision (मन्त्रदृष्टिः ॥ Mantra drasti) which then became a part of ऋक् || Rik, यजस् || Yajus and साम || Sama Vedas. As they came more into usage they were integrated with the existing सूक्तानि ॥ Suktas, without a change. The foundational meaning remains as in the वेदाः ॥ Vedas. Over different time periods, neither the देवाः || Devas nor the क्रियाः || kriyas (rituals) changed their integral meaning. This is the nature of the सम्प्रदायः || Sampradaya style or गुरुशिष्यपरम्परा || Guru shishya learning (disciplined succession). This phenomenal system helped disseminate and retain knowledge widely without much difficulty. All आचार्याः ॥ Acharyas accept that studying the वेदाः ॥ Vedas is mandatory for understanding the integral meaning of वेदाः ॥ Vedas.     

Similarly, for posterity, the later ऋषि-s || Rishis invoked the new सूक्तानि ॥ suktas or मन्त्राः ॥ mantras based upon their vision (मन्त्रदृष्टिः ॥ Mantra drasti) which then became a part of ऋक् || Rik, यजस् || Yajus and साम || Sama Vedas. As they came more into usage they were integrated with the existing सूक्तानि ॥ Suktas, without a change. The foundational meaning remains as in the वेदाः ॥ Vedas. Over different time periods, neither the देवाः || Devas nor the क्रियाः || kriyas (rituals) changed their integral meaning. This is the nature of the सम्प्रदायः || Sampradaya style or गुरुशिष्यपरम्परा || Guru shishya learning (disciplined succession). This phenomenal system helped disseminate and retain knowledge widely without much difficulty. All आचार्याः ॥ Acharyas accept that, studying the वेदाः ॥ Vedas is mandatory for understanding the integral meaning of वेदाः ॥ Vedas.     

Computers and modern digital techniques revolutionized the way vedic knowledge is read and disseminated in the present day. Many works have been compiled lately as an attempt to reconnect our Vedic heritage to our people from which we have been disconnected since the 800-year foreign domination (first by the Arabs and then by the Anglo-Saxons) of our land.     

Computers and modern digital techniques revolutionized the way vedic knowledge is read and disseminated in the present day. Many works have been compiled lately as an attempt to reconnect our Vedic heritage to our people from which we have been disconnected since the 800-year foreign domination (first by the Arabs and then by the Anglo-Saxons) of our land.