Types of Vedas – Meaning, Types & Purpose

Vedas: The Vedas consist of ancient India’s religious texts. The Vedas meaning “Knowledge,” is a collection of hymns or poems composed in ancient Sanskrit by the sages living in ancient India. The Vedas are also called the “Oldest Scriptures” and the foundations of Hinduism.

Types of Vedas

Types of Vedas

Vedas are basically of four different types found in Ancient Indian History. These are as follows:

1. Rigveda
2. Samaveda
3. Yajurveda
4. Atharvaveda

The Vedas

The Vedas, considered the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism, form the foundation of ancient Indian religious and philosophical thought. Composed in Sanskrit over 3,000 years ago, these scriptures are revered as divine revelations and are divided into four main collections: the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Each Veda serves a distinct purpose, with the Rigveda containing hymns dedicated to various deities, the Samaveda focusing on melodies and chants used in rituals, the Yajurveda providing guidance for sacrificial ceremonies, and the Atharvaveda encompassing a diverse range of spells, charms, and incantations.

The Vedas in Hinduism

The Vedas hold a most important position in Hinduism as the oldest sacred scriptures. Composed in Sanskrit over 3,000 years ago, these texts are considered divine. They explore questions about the nature of existence, the cosmos, and the ultimate reality (Brahman). The wisdom embedded in the Vedas continues to play a role in shaping Hindu philosophy, rituals, and spiritual practices of Hindu religious tradition.

The Upanishads

The Upanishads are ancient philosophical texts in Hinduism, created around 800 to 200 BCE. They explore deep questions about reality, the self (Atman), and the ultimate cosmic principle (Brahman). Unlike the ritual-focused Vedas, the Upanishads emphasize self-realization and oneness between the individual soul and universal reality. They introduce concepts like karma and moksha, encouraging spiritual enlightenment.

The Vedas And The Upanishads

The Vedas and the Upanishads are holy texts in ancient Indian religion and philosophy, forming the basis of Hinduism. Together, they offer a complete view of Hindu thought, covering rituals and deep philosophical ideas. These texts play a key role in shaping the spiritual and cultural identity of Hinduism. Here’s a table comparing the Vedas and Upanishads:

	Vedas	Upanishads
Period	1500 – 500 BCE	800 – 400 BCE
Language	Vedic Sanskrit	Vedic Sanskrit
Content	Rituals, hymns, prayers, mythology	Philosophy, self-knowledge, spiritual liberation
Structure	Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads	Upanishads (contained within the Veda sections)
Focus	Maintaining cosmic order through sacrificial rituals	Understanding the nature of reality, Atman (self), and Brahman (ultimate reality)
Deity Emphasis	Indra, Agni, Varuna, other Vedic gods	Brahman, Atman, Maya (illusion), Moksha (liberation)
Style	Poetic, liturgical, directive	Dialogical, introspective, metaphorical
For	Priests, ritualists, society	Seekers of spiritual knowledge, advanced students
Influences	Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Indian culture	Hindu philosophy, Bhakti traditions, Yoga, Meditation practices
Modern Significance	Studied for rituals, cultural understanding, historical insights	Studied for spiritual guidance, self-exploration, philosophical understanding

Meaning of Vedas

The term “Veda” is derived from the Sanskrit root word “vid,” which means “knowledge” or “wisdom.” In Hinduism, the Vedas refer to a collection of ancient sacred texts that are considered the oldest and most authoritative scriptures.

What Are The Vedas?

Vedas are collections of rhymes or hymns composed in the Sanskrit language by the Indo-Europeans residing in northwest India. The word “Veda” is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘vid’ meaning knowledge. Vedas are called the best sources of ancient India. Vedas have formed the Indian scripture. According to the traditions, Vyasa is the compiler of Vedas, who arranged the four kinds of mantras into four Samhitas (collections). Hindus consider Vedas to be ‘Apaurusheya‘ or not written by any human and ‘anantan‘ or timeless. In the Hindu Epic Mahabharata, the creation of Vedas is credited to Brahma. It is believed that hearing of Vedas purifies us.

Who Wrote The Vedas?

From a traditional Hindu perspective, the Vedas are not considered human creations. They are viewed as Apaurusheya, meaning “not of men”, and believed to be divine revelations received by enlightened sages, known as rishis, through deep meditation and spiritual insight. These rishis acted as conduits for eternal truths, serving as receivers and transmitters rather than originators. The Mahabharata, an epic poem, further reinforces this notion by attributing the creation of the Vedas to the divine figure Brahma.

Purpose of Vedas

The Vedas are the essence of the Hindu religion; they teach us morality and values based on righteousness. The Vedas teach us the ultimate reality of life, the eternal law.

Dharma is reflected in the teachings of the Vedas. Vedas teaches about the general well-being of society. It is believed that Vedas were created by God for the welfare of Mankind much before the creation of man. This is the reason why they are called eternal. The purpose of Vedas is to teach the origin and the reason behind the existence of Mankind.

What Are The 4 Vedas?

The four Vedas are ancient sacred texts that form the core of Hindu scriptures. Each Veda serves a specific purpose and consists of hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings. The four Vedas are:

• Rigveda: The oldest of the Vedas, the Rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to various deities. It emphasizes the praise and worship of cosmic forces and natural elements.
• Samaveda: This Veda focuses on melodies and chants used in religious rituals, particularly during the performance of the Soma sacrifice. It is closely related to the Rigveda and often includes verses from it.
• Yajurveda: The Yajurveda provides guidelines and mantras for performing rituals and sacrificial ceremonies. It is divided into two main branches: the Krishna Yajurveda and the Shukla Yajurveda.
• Atharvaveda: Different from the other Vedas, the Atharvaveda contains a collection of hymns, spells, charms, and incantations. It addresses a wide range of subjects, including healing, magic, and practical wisdom.

Rigveda

The whole of the Rigveda is in the form of verses known as ‘Rik,’ meaning those mantras meant to praise deities.

Features of Rigveda

• The text is layered, consisting of Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads
• Rigveda is the oldest form of Vedas, meaning to praise knowledge.
• Rigveda consists of 10 books, which are called Mandalas, with 1,028 hymns(suktas).
• In Rigveda, Book 1 and Book 2 are considered the youngest and were written later than books 2 and 9.
• Books 2 and 9 give details about cosmology and Deities.
• Books 2 and 7 are called the youngest and shortest books. They are called the family books.

In Rigveda, there is documentation of the stories of different Gods and Goddesses, including Surya, Agni, Vayu, and Rudra.

YajurVeda

Yajurveda describes the formula and the mantras to be uttered during sacrificial fire(yajna)rituals. Most of its verses are taken from Rigveda, but it also contains some mantras which could be used as sacrificial prayers.

Features of Yajurveda

• The Yajurveda is the second of four Vedas or religious texts. It is considered to have sprouted from Brahm’s (creator’s)southern face.
• Krishna(black/dark) and Shukla(white/bright) are the two sorts of Yajurveda.
• The oldest layer of Yajurveda consists of 1875 verses taken from Rigveda.
• Upanishads Brihadaranyaka, Isha, Taittiriya,Katha, Shvetashvatara, and Maitri are the youngest layers.

There are four surviving recensions of the Krishna Yajurveda – Taittiriya samhita, Maitrayani samhita, Katha samhita, and Kapurthala samhita.

Samaveda

Samveda, known as the Veda of melodies and chants. It is a liturgical text comprising 1,549 verses, 75 of which have been taken from Rigveda. It have words of Rigveda in music form. The Samaveda is third in the usual order of Vedas. Samveda is considered to be the most important of the four Vedas as it is said in Bhagavad Gita, Krishna declares,” Amongst the Vedas, I am Samveda.”

Features of Samveda

• There are two particular texts in this: Chandogya and Kena Upanishads.
• This Veda is considered to be the root of Indian classical music and dance.
• Samveda has three versions: Kauthuma, Ranayaniya, and Jaimaniya.
• It is like the treasure chest of beautiful hymns and chants.

Atharvaveda

It is one of the fourth veda among Vedas. It deals with the treatment of diseases along with various day-to-day needs of human beings. In this, the priest or Vaidya or doctor chants the hymns or mantras from the scriptures to cure various physical and mental diseases of human beings.

Features of Atharvaveda

• It describes Ayurvedic medicine and Indian philosophical contributions.
• The Atharvaveda contains twenty books, with approximately 730 hymns and 6,000 stanzas.
• The Atharvaveda provided the basis for people to understand the court priests’ duties by establishing the rituals.
• It contains references to the first texts, such as Puranas, which have been helpful to the historians of India.
• It is believed that this Veda referred to breathing techniques and the practice of yoga.

Vedic Literature

Vedic literature binds four Vedas, namely the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and the Atharvaveda, in the form of verses written in the ancient Sanskrit language.

It is proved that modern-day discoveries, inventions, and theories are taken from the studies of Vedic literature. Many scientists have studied Vedic literature because they give ideas and teachings regarding scientific, spiritual, psychological and behavioural knowledge.

The Vedic literature is divided into –

• Shruti: In Sanskrit, ‘Shruti‘ means ‘what is heard‘ in Hinduism. The texts are believed to be revealed by God himself. In previous times, Vedas were not written; they were carried generation after generation in the form of Shrutis (hearings or oral form).
• Smritis: In Sanskrit, ‘Smriti‘ means ‘what has been remembered‘. It is derived from Shruti. Smriti texts are given less importance than Shruti. Smriti texts are derivative texts of human intellects.

Meaning of Four Purusharthas In Vedas

Hindu philosophy has four goals to lead a happy and balanced life, called the four Purusharthas.

• Dharma – It means the right way of living, or it defines the right and true purpose in life.
• Artha – It means the wealth, comfort, and financial security to live life easily.
• Kama – It signifies the desire for pleasure, love, Intimacy, enjoyment, and affection required to fulfil their Dharma with passion.
• Moksha – Moksha means to be free from the cycle of being born again. It is believed to occur when a person has achieved well in life.

Vedas Online

You can find the Vedas online through various websites and digital platforms. Here are some ways to access the Vedas online:

1. Public Domain Websites: Several websites offer free access to ancient texts, including the Vedas. Websites like sacred-texts.com and vedavid.org provide English translations of the Vedas.
2. Digital Libraries: Online digital libraries, such as the Digital Library of India (dli.gov.in) and Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org), may have electronic versions of the Vedas.
3. Educational Platforms: Many educational platforms, such as universities and institutions that specialize in Indology or Sanskrit studies, provide online access to the Vedas. Check the digital resources section of educational websites for these texts.
4. Hindu Scripture Websites: Websites dedicated to Hindu scriptures often provide digital versions of the Vedas. Websites like bhagavad-gita.org and hinduwebsite.com may have links to the Vedas.
5. Online Retailers: Some online retailers, like Amazon or Flipkart, offer e-books or digital versions of the Vedas for purchase or download.

Vedas English Translation

There are several English translations of the Vedas available, each offering a unique perspective on the ancient texts. Some of the renowned translators and their works include:

1. Rigveda:
   • Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith: His translation, available in the public domain, is one of the earliest English renditions of the Rigveda.
2. Samaveda:
   • Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith: Similar to his work on the Rigveda, Griffith also translated the Samaveda.
3. Yajurveda:
   • Translation by Arthur Berriedale Keith: Keith’s translation of the Yajurveda is widely recognized and provides insights into the rituals and ceremonies described in the text.
4. Atharvaveda:
   • Translation by Maurice Bloomfield: Bloomfield’s translation is one of the early English interpretations of the Atharvaveda.
5. Complete Vedic Collection:
   • Translations by Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Swami Dayananda’s translations aim to present the Vedas in a comprehensive manner, covering all four Vedas.
6. Online Platforms:
   • Websites like sacred-texts.com and vedavid.org provide various English translations and interpretations of the Vedas.

Conclusion

Vedas are considered to be the breathing air of God. They form the basis for Mankind. It gives the path to live life successfully. Vedas gives us the lessons about the general well-being of the society. Vedas are said to be the treasure of knowledge and wisdom. The purpose of Vedas is to make known what is unknown. The Vedas represent India’s cultural heritage and are considered precious books representing Hinduism.

Related Resources:

• Most Important Questions on Yajurveda
• GK Questions on Atharvaveda
• Top 10 Oldest Languages In The World

Vedas – FAQs

What Are The 4 Main Vedas?

The four main Vedas are the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.

What Is Written In Vedas?

The Vedas contain hymns, prayers, rituals, and philosophical teachings. They cover a wide range of topics, including cosmology, theology, morality, and guidance for rituals.

Which Vedas Is oldest?

The Rigveda is the oldest among the four Vedas.

Who Wrote All 18 Puranas?

The authorship of the 18 Puranas is traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa (Vedavyasa or Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa). Vyasa is also credited with compiling and arranging the Vedas.

Who Is God According To Vedas?

The Vedas describe various deities, with Agni (the god of fire), Indra (the king of gods and god of thunder and rain), Varuna (the god of cosmic order), and others being prominently mentioned.

Which Veda To Read First?

Many recommend starting with the Rigveda as it is the oldest Veda and contains hymns dedicated to various deities.