The Vedas are the oldest sacred scriptures of Hinduism, believed to have been directly revealed to the sages (rishis) of ancient India. Comprised of four main texts — the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda — these works are written in early Sanskrit and contain hymns, mantras, and rituals dating back more than 3,000 years.
These texts are not merely religious scriptures but also encompass a vast range of topics, including philosophy, cosmology, and guidance on social, legal, and ethical matters. They are considered apauruṣeya, which means "not of a man, superhuman" and impersonal, authorless.
The Vedas lay the foundational spiritual knowledge and practice for many subsequent Hindu texts and practices and have profoundly influenced Indian culture. They are divided into two main categories: the Samhitas, which are collections of hymns and mantras, and the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads, which interpret and discuss the rituals, theology, and spiritual knowledge contained in the hymns.
For practitioners and scholars, the Vedas are an inexhaustible source of wisdom that provides insights into the divine order of the universe and how one might live in harmony with it.
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ऋग्वेदः |
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यजुर्वेदः |
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सामवेदः |
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अथर्ववेदः |
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