VEDIC LITERATURE
Among the books of the distant ages past was the Vedic
literature of India, which ranges from about 2000 BC to 700 BC It has been
transmitted to the western world but recently and, indeed, is by no means yet
thoroughly understood. The importance of these books and of the other literary
treasures of the ancient oriental nations can scarcely be overestimated.
The Vedas
The Rg-Veda , Samveda
and Yajurveda are collectively known as Vedatrayi.
Atharva Veda is considered a later addition. Bharatamuni's Natyasastra
is considered to be the Panchama
Veda (fifth Veda). The Rg-Veda
is the oldest among all the Vedas. It must have been compiled over
several centuries. Some of the earliest hymns are said to have been composed
around 1500 BC. These were passed on from teacher to disciple, orally. The
different parts (mandalas) are ascribed to different families of seers' eg
Gautama and Kanva etc. It is the foundation of all the Vedic literature.
The Rg-Veda is neither a historical nor a heroic poem but
is mainly a collection of hymns by a number of priestly families. The hymns
addressed to various Gods such as Agni, Indra etc are recited at the time of
sacrificial rites and other rituals. The
Rg-Veda contains 1,028 hymns
(Sukta) which are divided into ten mandalas and sometimes into astakas.
Mandalas 2 to 7 are considered to be the earliest of all compositions.
The tenth mandala is said to have been added later as its
language differs slightly from the other nine mandalas. It contains the famous
Purushasukta that explains that the four varnas (Castes) (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and
Shudra) were born from the mouth, arms,
belly and the legs of the Creator. The universally famous Gayatri mantra (Savitri) is in
Rg-Veda . There are five divisions of Rg Veda, namely, Sakala, Baskala, Asvalayana, Sankhayana and Mandukya . The
total in Rg-Veda mantras are 10,600.
The Samaveda derived from the root saman
ie 'melody', is a 'collection of melodies. Samaveda
consists of 1603 (excepting 75) verses that have been borrowed for
the Rg-Veda. These were meant to be sung at the time of
Soma sacrifice . The Jha Samaveda
is important in tracing the history of Indian music.
The Yajurveda is the book of the Adhvaryu
priests. The Yajurveda prescribes the procedures to be adopted at
the time of performing the same sacrifices. There are two main texts of
the Yajurveda: Shukla Yajurveda or
Vajasaneyi (Madhyandin and Kanva) and Krishna-Yajurveda (Taittiriya, Kathaka,
Maitrayani and Kapisthal) . It is a
short collection of magic spells used by a certain class of priests at the time
of sacrifices. Patanjali, the grammarian, refers to 101 schools of the Yajurveda.
The Atharaveda is entirely different from the other three
Vedas is content and style. It is the latest of the four. However, it is
equally important and interesting as it describes the popular beliefs and
superstitions of the humble folk. For a very long time it was not included into
the category of the Veda. It is divided into 20 711 kandas and has a collection
of hymns and mantras 5987 - most of these hymns are used to ward off the evil
spirits. The Atharvaveda has two different divisions - Paippalada and Saunakiya . Vedas Each has its
own Samhita and commentary.
The Brahmanas
The Brahmanas explain the hymns of the Vedas. They are
written in prose and they elaborately describe the various sacrifices and
rituals, along with their mystic meanings. Each Veda has several Brahmanas . The two Brahmanas attached to the Rg-Veda are Aitareya Brahmana and
Kausitaki Brahmana . These were composed by Hotri -priests or invoker (the priest who
recites mantras of the Rg-Veda and the sacrifices). The Shukla
Yajurveda is appended with Satapatha Brahmana which recommends 'one hundred sacred paths' (Satapatha).
It is the most exhaustive and important of all the Brahmanas. The Gopatha Brahmana is appended to the Atharvaveda. These
Brahmanas, in fact, is the elaborate commentaries on the various hymns is Samhitas.
The Aranyaka
The word Aranyaka means' forest 'and these are called
"forest books' written mainly for the hermits and students living in the
jungles. These are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas
or their appendices. A strict code of secrecy was maintained over
the Aranyakas as it was believed that the contents would
spell danger if taught to the uninitiated. And hence they were to be studied in
the forest. They deal with mysticism and symbolism. They form the natural
transition of the Upanishads. They offer a bridge between Karma Marga
(way of deeds) which was the sole concern of the Brahmanas
and the Jnana Marga (way of knowledge) which the Upanishads advocated.
The Upanishads
The word
Upanishad has been derived from
the root Upani sad that means 'to sit down near someone'. It
denotes a student sitting under the feet of his guru to learn. Eventually the
word began to be used for the secret knowledge imparted by the guru to his
pupils selected. Today the word began to be used for the secret knowledge
imparted by the guru to his pupils selected. Today the word is associated with
philosophical knowledge and spiritual learning. Upanishads
are also called Vedanta (the end of the Veda) firstly, because they
denoted the last phase of the Vedic period and secondly, because they reveal
the final aim of the Veda. Our nation's motto Satyameva Jayate is taken from the Mundakopanishad.
Smritis
Smritis treatises are
auxiliaries of the Vedas and are the law books of Indian society.
Literally 'Smrti' means 'to remember' and these are regarded,
as a part of the revelation, though not included in the Vedic literature
proper.
Vedangas
There are six
Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas).
They are: Siksha, Kalpa, vyakarana,
niruktas, chhandas and jyotisa.
Siksha deals with
pronunciation, Kalpa with rituals,
Vyakarana with grammar, Nirukta
with etymology, Chhanda with
meter and Jyotiṣa with astrosciences.
Darshana
Similarly, there are six schools of Indian philosophy known
as Shad-Darshana. These are: Nyaya,
Vaishesika, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva and Uttara Mimansas. These are written in Sutra (aphorism) style,
which are short, to the point and without doubts. They all propagate the virtues of life. The Nyaya Darshana was written by Gautama,
Vaishesika Darshana by Kanada, Purvamimansa Darshana by Jaimini, Sankhya by
Kapila, Yoga by Patanjali and the Uttaramimansa Darshana by Bhadarayana.
Upavedas
Both the Vedangas and the Darshanas claim to have derived
inspiration from the Vedas the explain the Vedic Philosophy. Still they are not included in the umbrella
of core Vedic literature. In the same
manner, four Upavedasnamely Dhanurveda (deals with the art of warfare), the
Gandharvaveda (deals with the music), Silpaveda (deals with are and
architecture) and Ayurveda (deals with medicine) also do not form part of the
Vedic literature though they enjoy great sanctity.
The Vedic texts have been nourished, simplified and continued
from one generation to the next through the Sruti parampara by the great saint
scholars and sages, to name a few Sri Sankaracarya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Madhvacharya and Ramanuja.
This Vedic Literature is important because they are written
in a connected prose being probably the first prose of the world, because they
are an inexhaustible mine for the history of the priesthood and because they
are a storehouse of the myths and stories India has cherished from the
beginning of time.
References:
Kumar Sanjay Jha @ http://ignca.nic.in/sjha0002.htm
The outline of Knowledge as edited by James A. Richards
printed by J.A Richards, Inc. New York
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