The Rig Veda is devided into21 sections, the Yajur Veda into 109, the Sama veda into 1000, and Atharvana Veda into 50 it was accepted as a veda only after a very long time, it abounds in secular incantations, and is a source book of our medicine, archery and some technical sciences. Most of the hymns of the rigveda are repeated in Yajur Veda and Sama veda, where in Yajur veda they are arranged as they are required for various sacrifices and in Sama Veda they are set to music. These sacred hymns of the Brahmins stand unparalleled in the world literature. Each of the four vedas has its own Upanishads and they are 1108 in all. The Brahmanas are commentaries in prose on the vedas explaining how the various sacrifices rites are to be performed. some of the explanations are in prose and these are probably the very first prose compositions of the world. the next prose commentaries are in the Brahmanas and also in the Aranyakas and the Upanioshads which are further explanations with the additionb of the allegorical section they flowered into our philosophical darshanas.
Each of the four vedas are divided into 4 groups Mantra Samhitas, Brahmanas, aranyakas and Upanishads to match with the four Asramas Brahmacharya or celibacy, Garhasthya or family life, Vanaprastha or forest hermit and Sanyasa or renunciation. The Yajur Veda is devided into two parts Krishna or the Taittiriya being the older the Sukla or Vajasaneya was revealed to sage Yajnavalkya by Surya. The Samhitas are metrical compositions comprising prayers and hymns addressed to various deities of nature who were worshipped as Indra Agni Vayu. The Brahmanas are prose explanations directing priests in the use of the mnantras in various sacrifices. The aranyakas are mystical sylvan texts which together with the Upanishads constitute the Brahma Kanda, the samhitas and the Brahmans forming the Karmakanda. The Rig Vedic priest again is designated Hota, the priest reciting the Yajur Veda is Adhvaryu and the Sama Veda priest is known as Udgata. The priest of the Atharva Veda is Brahma and exercises a sort of superintending control over the other three.
to the Rig Veda are assigned two Brahmanas Aitareya and Sankhyayana; the Sathapatha Brahmana belongs to the Shukla Yajur Veda while the Krishna Yajur Veda has Taittiriya and Maitrayana Brahmanas. To the Sama are attached six Brahmanas Tandya or Pancha Vimsa, Shad Vimsa, Chhandogya, Adbhuta, Arsheya and Upanishad Brahmana. Gopatha is affiliated to theAtharva Veda.
The four Upavedas are Ayurveda or Medicine correlated to Rig Veda, Dhanur Veda Archery affiliated to Yajur Veda the Gandharva veda or Music linked to Sama Veda and Sthapatya Associated with Atharva Veda.
The Vedangas or auxiiaries to the Vedas are six: Siksha (Phonetics) Vyakarna (Grammar) Chhandas (Prosody) Niukta (Vedic Exegesis) Jyotisha (Astronomy) Kalpa (Vedic Geometry for drawing the diagrams in the various Yajnas)
The second division the Smritis they are 18 in number and are called Dharmasastras; most important among them are Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara, the last being specially earmarked for Kali Yuga. the other smritis are Vishnu, Daksha, Samvarta, Vyasa, Harita, Satatapta, Vasisht, Yama, apastamba, Gautama, Devala, Sankhalikhita, Usana, Atri, and Saunaka. They are next only to the Vedas in authority and importance and supplement or comment upon vedic vidhis or rules.
Itihasas are ancient chronicles or epics, which if arsha or revealed are designated by that hoary name if they are classical or secular they are called Kavyas, The classical are also designated Akhyanas or Puranas eg. Mahabharata and other upapuranas coming under them. The Ramayana though revered as Arsha has become a adi Kavya .
to be continued.
Each of the four vedas are divided into 4 groups Mantra Samhitas, Brahmanas, aranyakas and Upanishads to match with the four Asramas Brahmacharya or celibacy, Garhasthya or family life, Vanaprastha or forest hermit and Sanyasa or renunciation. The Yajur Veda is devided into two parts Krishna or the Taittiriya being the older the Sukla or Vajasaneya was revealed to sage Yajnavalkya by Surya. The Samhitas are metrical compositions comprising prayers and hymns addressed to various deities of nature who were worshipped as Indra Agni Vayu. The Brahmanas are prose explanations directing priests in the use of the mnantras in various sacrifices. The aranyakas are mystical sylvan texts which together with the Upanishads constitute the Brahma Kanda, the samhitas and the Brahmans forming the Karmakanda. The Rig Vedic priest again is designated Hota, the priest reciting the Yajur Veda is Adhvaryu and the Sama Veda priest is known as Udgata. The priest of the Atharva Veda is Brahma and exercises a sort of superintending control over the other three.
to the Rig Veda are assigned two Brahmanas Aitareya and Sankhyayana; the Sathapatha Brahmana belongs to the Shukla Yajur Veda while the Krishna Yajur Veda has Taittiriya and Maitrayana Brahmanas. To the Sama are attached six Brahmanas Tandya or Pancha Vimsa, Shad Vimsa, Chhandogya, Adbhuta, Arsheya and Upanishad Brahmana. Gopatha is affiliated to theAtharva Veda.
The four Upavedas are Ayurveda or Medicine correlated to Rig Veda, Dhanur Veda Archery affiliated to Yajur Veda the Gandharva veda or Music linked to Sama Veda and Sthapatya Associated with Atharva Veda.
The Vedangas or auxiiaries to the Vedas are six: Siksha (Phonetics) Vyakarna (Grammar) Chhandas (Prosody) Niukta (Vedic Exegesis) Jyotisha (Astronomy) Kalpa (Vedic Geometry for drawing the diagrams in the various Yajnas)
The second division the Smritis they are 18 in number and are called Dharmasastras; most important among them are Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara, the last being specially earmarked for Kali Yuga. the other smritis are Vishnu, Daksha, Samvarta, Vyasa, Harita, Satatapta, Vasisht, Yama, apastamba, Gautama, Devala, Sankhalikhita, Usana, Atri, and Saunaka. They are next only to the Vedas in authority and importance and supplement or comment upon vedic vidhis or rules.
Itihasas are ancient chronicles or epics, which if arsha or revealed are designated by that hoary name if they are classical or secular they are called Kavyas, The classical are also designated Akhyanas or Puranas eg. Mahabharata and other upapuranas coming under them. The Ramayana though revered as Arsha has become a adi Kavya .
to be continued.
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