Download The Vedas

The Vedas
The complexity of the Vedas can be simplified by thinking of them as being in
fourteen parts. Including the four basic Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Artharva, there are
also the Vedangas or auxiliary treatises on Euphony and Pronunciation, Grammar, Metre,
Etymology, Method, Meaning (of texts), Logic, Mythology, and Morals and Codes.
There are also appendices called Upangas. They include Ayurveda, the science of life
(including medicine), Arthasastra, the science of economics, Dhanaveda, the science of war
and of weapons, and Gandharvaveda, the treatises on the arts.
The four basic Vedas are divided into three sections, the Samhitas – that portion considered
as the main text, the Brahmanas, the priestly instructions regarding the how and why of the
rituals and the Aranyakas which explain their inner meanings. The Upanishads are derived
from the Aranyakas.
SAMHITA Means collected or arranged. Section of Veda considered as main text.
BRAHMANAS – section lists rituals and instructions for performance.
ARANYAKAS – explain inner meanings. Includes Upanishads
SUKTA – Stanza
SAKHA – Branch
YAJNA – worship using Rig mantras
SUTRA – Aphorism
BASHYA – detailed commentary
VATIKA – explanatory notes on the bashya
RIK – hymn in metrical verse
YAJAS – hymns not in metre
SAMA – Riks to music
ARTHAVA – section of Vedas attributed to rishi Arthavan includes creation hymns.
VEDA VYASA – Sage who organized Vedas into rig, etc.
VADA – reasoning to truth
JALPA – refuting contrary views
The Vedangas
SIKSHA – NOSE – PHONETICS
VAKARANA – MOUTH – GRAMMAR
CHANDAS – FEET – VERSE, METRES
NIRUKTAM – EARS – ETYMOLOGY
JYOSHITA – EYES – ASTRONOMY – ASTLOGOGY – MATHEMATICS
KALPA – ARM- ACTIONS – WORSHIP – RITUALS
The Upangas
MIMANSA – ANALYSIS
NYAHA – LOGIC
PURANA – LEGENDS
DHARMA SASTRA – MORALS – DUTIES-
JNANA VICHARA – PHILOSOPHICAL ENQUIRY.
Ancient Hindu Vedic scholars are Sayana and Yaska.
Key words in the Riks are Satyam – truth, Rtam - right, Brhat – vast.
Ashva – horse = life force
Go – cow = Light
Dasyus – ungodly – materialists
Aditi – Mother of the Gods.
Aurobindo’s interpretation of the symbolic names in the Rig Veda as relating to those
of the Puranic
Principle
Sat - Pure existence –
Chit - Pure consciousness
Ananda – Bliss
Vijnana - Knowledge of truth
Mind
Life (nervous being, pranic)
Matter
World
Satyaloka -Highest truth.
Tapoloka – Will/force
Janaloka - Creative delight of existence
Maharloka – Vastness
Swar – world of light
Bhuvar – world of becoming
Bhur – Material world
Thus there are 7 worlds in each.
Comparative words – matar, mother, pitar, father, duhitar, daughter, sunu, sun, svasar,
sister, bhratur, brother, go, cow, deus, deva, Jupiter, dyas pitar