VEDAS INTRODUCTION
The Vedas are perhaps the
oldest written text on our planet today. They date back to the beginning of
Indian civilization and are the earliest literary records of the whole Aryan
race. They are supposed to have been passed through oral tradition for over
100,000 years. They came to us in written form between 4-6,000 years ago.
The
Vedas are divided into four groups, Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
Each group has an original text (Mantra) and a commentary portion (Brahmana).
The
Brahmana again has two portions, one interpreting ritual and the other the
philosophy. The portions interpreting the philosophy of the original texts
constitute the Upanishads.
There
are also auxiliary texts called Vedangas. Vedic literature refers to the whole
of this vast group of literature. The whole of Rgveda and most of Atharvaveda
are in the form of poetry, or hymns to the deities and the elements.
Samaveda is in verses that are to be sung and Yajurveda is largely in short
prose passages. Both Samaveda and Yajurveda are concerned with rituals rather
than philosophy - especially Yajurveda.
RIGVEDA
Rigveda means the Veda of Adoration and mostly contains verses adoring or
adulating deities. But it also dealt with other subjects, like the procedure of
wedding, the folly of gambling. About two-thirds of Rigveda is about the gods
Agni (Fire) and Indra (Ruler of the gods). Other Rigvedic gods include Rudra,
the two Ashvins,Savitar and Surya, Varuna, the Maruts and the Ribhus. There are
references to a divine creeper, the Soma, whose juice was an energizer. Some
animals like horses, some rivers, and even some implements (like mortar and
pestle) were deified. Rigveda contains a sense of intimate communion between
Nature and the Rishis or visionaries. According to some, the concerns of Rigveda
are those of simple, nomadic, pastoral Aryans. According to others, the people
in the times of the Rigveda had a settled home, definite mode of life, developed
social customs, political organizations, and even arts and amusements. Rigveda
is the oldest, largest and most important of the Vedas, containing 10thousand
verses forming 1017 poems in 20 groups.
YAJURVEDA
Yajurveda is the Veda of yajana or worship. It refers to acts of worship such as
oblations made into Agni or Fire. It has two branches, Krishna or Black and
Shukla or White. While both contain mantras or incantations to be chanted at
rituals, Black Yajurveda also has many explanations. The recensions of Black
Yajurveda are Taittirya, Katthaka, Maitrayani and Kapishtthala. Those of White
Yajurveda are Madhyanadina and Kanva. The literary value of Yajurveda is mostly
for its prose, which consists of short terse sentences full of meaning and
cadence.
SAMVEDA
Samaveda consists of a selection of poetry mainly from the Rigveda, and some
original matter. It has two parts, Purva-Archika (First Adoratona) and Uttar-Archika
(Later Adoration), containing verses addressed to the three gods Agni (Fire),
Indra (King of Gods) and Soma (Energizing Herb). The verses are not to be
chanted anyhow, but to be sung in specifically indicated melodies using the
seven svaras or notes. Such songs are called Samagana and in this sense Samaveda
is really a book of hymns.
ATHARVAVEDA
Atharvaveda means the Veda of the Wise and the Old. It is associated with the
name of the ancient poet Atharvan (The Wise Old One). It is also called
Atharva-Angirasa, being associated with the name of another rishi, Angiras.
Although later in age, the Atharvaveda reveals a more primitive culture than the
Rigveda. The custom is to enumerate Yajurveda and Samaveda after the Rigveda,
and mention Atharvaveda last. Atharvaveda contains about 6 thousand verses
forming 731 poems and a small portion in prose. About one seventh of the
Atharvaveda text is common to the Rigveda.
Atharvaveda contains first class poetry coming from visionary poets, much of it
being glorification of the curative powers of herbs and waters. Many poems
relate to diseases like cough and jaundice, to male and female demons that cause
diseases, to sweet-smelling herbs and magic amulets, which drive diseases away.
There are poems relating to sins and their atonement, errors in performing
rituals and their expiatory acts, political and philosophical issues, and a
wonderful hymn to Prithvi or Mother Earth.
