A Synopsis of the Four Vedas

A Synopsis of the Four Vedas

I. Introduction

• Four Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda
• Historicity: Difficult to date precisely, with estimates ranging from 5000-8000 years old.
• Systematization: Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa) is credited with organizing the Vedas, dividing them into compartments, and appointing disciples for propagation.

II. Rigveda

• Earliest and Largest: Oldest, largest, and most sacred book of India.
• Mantras: Contains ~10,700 mantras.
• Content: Utterances of Vedic sages on various topics in poetic form.
  • Includes topics like the origin of the universe, marriage, nature, and more.
• Priest: Known as "Hota" or "Hotr" who uses mantras to praise invoked deities (Devata).
• Purpose Brings forth the invoked deity.

III. Yajurveda

• Root Meaning: From the root word "yaj", meaning "to worship with sacrifice."
• Focus: Confines itself to conducting sacrifices (Yajnas) with details on rituals.
• Mantras: Called "Yajus"
• Form: Primarily in prose (paragraphs), not poetic meter like Rigveda.
• Priest: Called "Adhvaryu" who is in charge of the performance of sacrifices.
  • May have three assistants.
• Branches:
  • Krishna Yajurveda: Mixture of prose and poetry.
  • Shukla Yajurveda: Entirely in poetic form, similar to Rigveda.
• Topics: Includes human anatomy, metals, constellations, seasons, numbers, geometry, grains, yogic insights.
• Purpose Is responsible for carrying out the actual ritual

IV. Samaveda

• Root Meaning: From the Sanskrit root "Sama," meaning "to please, pacify or satisfy."
• Function: Takes Rigveda mantras and sets them to music to praise the deities.
  • Intended to satisfy and please the Gods.
• Priest: Called "Udgata" or "Udgatr" who sings mantras after the offering is made by Yajurveda.
• Connection to Music:
  • Mantras are set to musical scales similar to the seven scales of classical music.
  • Considered the origin of Indian classical music.
• Structure: The mantras are musical and meant to be sung.
• Branches: Thousands of branches once existed, but only three remain (endangered).
• Structure: Divided into two parts:
  • Purvarchikam
  • Uttararchikam
• Content: 1550-1950 Mantras; mostly borrowed from the Rigveda, except for 75 mantras.
• Purpose: Is responsible for praising the deity by musical singing of the Rigvedic mantras.

V. Atharvaveda

• Historical Origin: Believed to be a later addition or reclassification from the other three Vedas.
• Priest: Known as "Brahma" whose main job is the overall coordination and monitoring of the entire Vedic ritual.
• Composition: Consists of one-sixth of its mantras are taken from the Rigveda.
• Mantras: Contains ~6077 mantras organized into 736 suktas.
• Content A portion is derived from the other three Vedas; it is a compilation of spells, curses, amulets and so forth.

VI. Summary

• The Vedas are divided into four major portions.
• Each of the Vedas is also further divided into various sections.