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A Synopsis of the Four Vedas

A Synopsis of the Four Vedas

I. Introduction

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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.
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