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Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी विद्या || trayī vidyā, that is, 'the triple science' of reciting hymns (Rigveda), performing sacrifices (Yajurveda), and chanting songs (Samaveda).    

Of these, the first three were the principal original division, also called त्रयी विद्या || trayī vidyā, that is, 'the triple science' of reciting hymns (Rigveda), performing sacrifices (Yajurveda), and chanting songs (Samaveda).    

== ऋग्वेदम् || Rigveda ==

== ऋग्वेदम् || Rigveda ==

According to the ancient tradition, the whole Rig Samhita has been divided into 10 Mandalas. The मण्डल || Mandalas are subdivided into अनुवाक || Anuvakas, the Anuvakas into सूक्त || Sooktas and Sooktas into मन्त्र mantras as follows.

According to the ancient tradition, the whole Rig Samhita has been divided into 10 Mandalas. The मण्डल || Mandalas are subdivided into अनुवाक || Anuvakas, the Anuvakas into सूक्त || Sooktas and Sooktas into मन्त्र mantras which are chanted by the '''[[Hotra|होत्र ||]]''' [[Hotra|'''Hotra''']], the Rig veda priest to invoke the deities to the sacrifice.

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

! Rig-Veda    Samhita ►

! Rig-Veda    Samhita ►

== यजुर्वेद || Yajurveda ==

== यजुर्वेद || Yajurveda ==

It is a collection of Yajus or the mantras in prose which give procedural details to the अध्वर्यु || Adhvaryu priest for the proper performance of Yajnas. The popular hymn in praise of Lord Siva - श्रीरुद्रप्रस्न || SriRudraprasna – finds a place in this Veda. The other famous prayer पुरुष सूक्तं || Purusha Sooktam also occurs here with some modifications.

It is a collection of Yajus or the mantras in prose which give procedural details to the [[Adhvaryu|'''अध्वर्यु || Adhvaryu''']] priest for the proper performance of Yajnas. The popular hymn in praise of Lord Siva - श्रीरुद्रप्रस्न || SriRudraprasna – finds a place in this Veda. The other famous prayer पुरुष सूक्तं || Purusha Sooktam also occurs here with some modifications.

There are two major groups of शाखा || Shakhas (texts) in this Veda: the Krishna Yajurveda and the Shukla Yajurveda.  The term '  

There are two major groups of शाखा || Shakhas (texts) in this Veda: the Krishna Yajurveda and the Shukla Yajurveda.  The term '  

==  सामवेद || Saamaveda ==

==  सामवेद || Saamaveda ==

Samaveda Samhita is the highly commended scripture of Hinduism. However it is not considered as an independent work. All the mantras of the Rig Veda which are useful to उद्गात्रि || '''Udgaatri''' priest for chanting in the Yajnas to ensure the grace of the Gods have been brought together in this Veda. The Samaveda Samhita consists of 1549 stanzas, taken almost entirely (except for 75 mantras) from the Rigveda. Just like Rigveda, the early sections of Samaveda typically begin with Agni and Indra hymns but shift to abstract, and their meters too shifts in a descending order. The later sections of the Samaveda have least deviation from substance of hymns they derive from the Rigveda into songs

Samaveda Samhita is the highly commended scripture of Hinduism. However it is not considered as an independent work. All the mantras of the Rig Veda which are useful to [[Udgatri|'''उद्गात्रि''' || '''Udgaatri''']] priest for chanting in the Yajnas to ensure the grace of the Gods have been brought together in this Veda. The Samaveda Samhita consists of 1549 stanzas, taken almost entirely (except for 75 mantras) from the Rigveda. Just like Rigveda, the early sections of Samaveda typically begin with Agni and Indra hymns but shift to abstract, and their meters too shifts in a descending order. The later sections of the Samaveda have least deviation from substance of hymns they derive from the Rigveda into songs

The Samaveda samhita comprises two major parts. The first part include four melody collections (gāna, गान) and the second part three verse books (ārcika, आर्चिक). A melody in the song books corresponds to a verse in the arcika books. ‘SA’ means a mantra of the Rig Veda, ‘AMA’ means musical notes. Hence a Saman is a mantra of the Rig Veda set to music. The word साम || Saama also means that which brings peace to the mind. Although this Veda is said to have 1000 Shakhas only three are available now.

The Samaveda samhita comprises two major parts. The first part include four melody collections (gāna, गान) and the second part three verse books (ārcika, आर्चिक). A melody in the song books corresponds to a verse in the arcika books. ‘SA’ means a mantra of the Rig Veda, ‘AMA’ means musical notes. Hence a Saman is a mantra of the Rig Veda set to music. The word साम || Saama also means that which brings peace to the mind. Although this Veda is said to have 1000 Shakhas only three are available now.

==  अथर्वण || Atharvana or अथर्व वेद || Atharva veda ==

==  अथर्वण || Atharvana or अथर्व वेद || Atharva veda ==

The Artharvaveda Samhita is the text 'belonging to the अथर्वण || Atharvan and [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|अङ्गिरस || Angirasa]] poets. It has about 760 hymns, and about 160 of the hymns are in common with the Rigveda. Most of the verses are metrical, but some sections are in prose.  This is also called Brahma Veda because it is assigned to the '''Brahma''' priest who supervises the conduct of the Yajnas. The mantras in this Veda are both in prose and verse forms.

The Artharvaveda Samhita is the text 'belonging to the अथर्वण || Atharvan and [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|अङ्गिरस || Angirasa]] poets. It has about 760 hymns, and about 160 of the hymns are in common with the Rigveda. Most of the verses are metrical, but some sections are in prose.  This is also called Brahma Veda because it is assigned to the '''[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]''' priest who supervises the conduct of the Yajnas. The mantras in this Veda are both in prose and verse forms.

As the Atharva Veda Samhita has some special features it stands apart from the other three Vedas. It deals more with things here and now than with the hereafter and the sacrifices are utilized as a means to them. This Veda contains many types of mantras designed to ward off evils and hardship as also to destroy enemies. Besides this it deals with diseases and their cure, rites for prolonging life, for fulfilling one’s desires, construction activities, trade and commerce, statecraft, defense systems of the country among others.

As the Atharva Veda Samhita has some special features it stands apart from the other three Vedas. It deals more with things here and now than with the hereafter and the sacrifices are utilized as a means to them. This Veda contains many types of mantras designed to ward off evils and hardship as also to destroy enemies. Besides this it deals with diseases and their cure, rites for prolonging life, for fulfilling one’s desires, construction activities, trade and commerce, statecraft, defense systems of the country among others.