The Vedas are the ancient religious texts of Hinduism. They hold the distinction of being the oldest. Written in Vedic Sanskrit, they contain hymns dedicated to Hindu deities. "Vedas" signifies knowledge and derives from the Sanskrit root word "Vid," meaning finding, knowing, or understanding. Comprising four types, namely Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda, with Rig Veda being the oldest, they serve as a valuable source for understanding the Indo-Aryan civilization. These texts are among the earliest Sanskrit literature worldwide. Initially transmitted orally, it was from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE that they were eventually documented in writing.

In this article on Vedas, we shall discuss all the four types of Vedas. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam. You can also register for the Testbook’s flagship optional history coaching for UPSC and kick-start your UPSC IAS preparation journey today.

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The Vedas

• In general, the Vedic literature is classified into two types. They are
  • Shruti Literature – It means the literature heard or communicated from the beginning. These texts are authorless.
  • Smriti Literature – It means the literatures which are remembered or created based on the memory. Sages write these texts. Itihasas, the Puranas, and the Dharma Sastra are some smriti literature.
• The Vedas are classified as the Shruti Literature because the sages/ rishis attained this jnana in a state of samadhi called Shruti.
• The Vedas are considered Apaurusheya, which means “not of a man”, i.e. they were not written by anyone but are eternal creations.
• According to the Vedanta and Mimamsa schools of philosophy, the Vedas are regarded as Svatah Pramana, meaning self-evident means of knowledge.
• The Vedas are the ancient Indo-Aryan religious literature consisting of mantras praising various gods and goddesses.

Study the NCERT Notes on King Harshavardhana here.

Four Types of Vedas

• The above four Vedas are collectively known as Chaturvedi.
• Each of these four Vedas is further classified into four divisions:
  • The Samhitas: This text consists of a collection of mantras, hymns and prayers. They constitute the core part of the Vedas.
  • The Brahmanas consist of the commentaries and interpretations of the mantras (Samhita). It is referred to as the Karma Kanda part of the Vedas.
  • The Aranyakas is the third part of the Vedas, and it discusses the philosophy behind ritualistic ceremonies and sacrifice. They are extracted from the Braahmanas.
  • The Upanishads: These are the later Vedic texts which form the foundations of the Hindu religion. Here the philosophical messages of the Vedas are discussed in the form of a conversation between the teacher and the student. They are derived from the Aranyakas.

Check the NCERT Notes on the Buddhist council and texts here.

Let us discuss each of the 4 Vedas in detail.

Rig Veda

• The Rig Veda is the oldest among the four Vedas and the earliest text of the Indo-European languages.
• The Rigveda is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text from 1800-1100 BCE. 
• It holds a significant place in ancient literature. Its name, Rigveda, translates to "Praise Knowledge." 
• With a total of 10,600 verses, it is divided into ten books or mandalas. 
• Books 1 and 10 are the most recent additions, composed after books 2 to 9. 
• The second to seventh books, family books, are the oldest and shortest, focusing on cosmology and deities. 
• On the other hand, books 1 and 10 delve into philosophical questions and discuss various virtues, including charity in society. 
• Among the 1028 hymns dedicated to deities such as Agni and Indra, they are attributed to sage rishis. 
• The ninth book, or mandala, is entirely dedicated to Soma. 
• The hymns in Rigveda employ different meters, with Gayatri, Anushtubh, Trishtubh, and Jagati being the most prominent, with Trishtubh and Gayatri holding particular significance.
•  It was originally passed down through oral traditions and later transcribed during the 1st millennium BCE.

Read the NCERT Notes on the Chalukya dynasty here.

Yajur Veda

• Yajur Veda is divided into Krishna (Black/Dark) and Shukla (White/Bright).
• The Krishna Yajurveda consists of an unarranged and unclear collection of verses, while the Shukla Yajurveda has well-arranged and clear verses.
• The oldest layer of the Yajur Veda contains 1875 verses, most of which are taken from the Rigveda.
• The middle layer of the Veda includes the Satapatha Brahmana, which serves as a commentary on the Shukla Yajurveda.
• The youngest layer of the Yajur Veda comprises various Upanishads, including the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Isha Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Shvetashvatara Upanishad, and Maitri Upanishad.
• The Vajasaneyi Samhita is the Samhita associated with the Shukla Yajurveda.
• The Krishna Yajurveda has four surviving recensions: Taittiriya Samhita, Maitrayani Samhita, Katha Samhita, and Kapisthala Samhita.
• The Yajur Veda considered the second of the four Vedas, is commonly called the "book of rituals." 
• It was composed approximately one to two centuries after the compilation of the Rig Veda, dating back to 1000 to 800 BCE. 
• This Veda comprises recitations, mantras, chants, and ritual worship formulas that play a direct role in various worship services.

Check the NCERT Notes on Ashoka’s life and dhamma here.

Sama Veda

• The Samaveda contains 1549 verses, except 75 verses taken from the Rigveda. 
• Embedded within the Samaveda are two Upanishads, namely the Chandogya Upanishad and Kena Upanishad. 
• This Veda is renowned as the foundation of Indian classical music and dance and serves as a treasury of melodious chants. 
• While it has fewer verses than the Rigveda, its texts are larger.
• The Samaveda is divided into Kauthuma, Raṇayaniya, and Jaimaniya. 
• It is further categorized into two parts: Part-I consists of melodic compositions called Gana, while Part II includes a three-verse book called Archika.
•  It is important to note that the Samaveda Samhita is not intended to be read as a conventional text; rather, it is akin to a musical score sheet meant to be heard.
• The Sama Veda, known as the Veda of chants, is believed to have been compiled around 1200 or 1000 BCE. 
• It was specifically compiled for ritualistic purposes, with verses chanted during ceremonies like the soma sacrifice. 
• Compared to the other Vedas, it is the shortest and most closely connected to the Rig Veda. 
• It consists of 1549 verses, most taken from the Rig Veda, primarily from the 8th and 9th Mandalas. 
• Essentially, it is a condensed version of the Rig Veda. It is regarded as the songbook for Udgata priests.

Study the NCERT Notes on Sunga Dynasty here.

Atharva Veda

• The Atharvaveda provides detailed guidance on the daily rituals and procedures of life.
• It comprises 730 hymns/sutras and 6000 mantras and is divided into 20 books.
• The Paippalada and Saunakiya are the two surviving recensions of the Atharvaveda.
• Known as a Veda of magical formulas, it includes three important Upanishads: Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad, and Prashna Upanishad.
• The 20 books of the Atharvaveda are arranged based on the length of the hymns they contain.
• Unlike the Samaveda, which borrows hymns from the Rigveda, the hymns of the Atharvaveda are mostly unique, with only a few exceptions.
• Many of the hymns in this Veda are charms and magic spells intended to be recited by individuals seeking specific benefits or often by a sorcerer acting on their behalf.

Also, read Essay Preparation Tips for UPSC here.

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