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Overview of the Vedic Period

• IKS (Indian Knowledge Systems) refers to the study of Indian knowledge systems
• IKS dates back to the Vedic period and the Vedas
• Scholars have tried to determine the exact period of the Vedas without success
• Vedas are considered the poetry of gods and dating them has been debated
• Indian knowledge, predating the Western civilizational Grit knowledge repository by millennia, was preserved orally
• Before Common Era (BCE) refers to the time before Christ
• Vedas are estimated to belong to 2500 to 3000 years BCE
• Rigveda the oldest Veda
• The tradition considers the Vedas as having no beginning, originating from God
• Rigveda was composed around 2500 BCE with multiple layers in Vedic literature
• Vedic period extended from 3000 to 500 BCE
• The period saw developments in religion, philosophy, literature, and society
• Vedic period's political organization consisted of small, clan-based communities with leaders chosen for their abilities
• Vedic society was stratified but fluid, with the Varna system dividing people based on profession
• Cultural significance of the Vedic period lies in its intellectual and spiritual contributions, influencing Indian thought and culture

Introduction to the Vedas

• Veda derived from the Sanskrit root vid, meaning "to know," translates to knowledge
• Vedas are also called shrutis, meaning "something which is heard," derived from the Sanskrit root shru, meaning "to hear"
• Vedas were transferred orally (Moukhiki parampara) from one generation to the next
• Vedas are considered revealed texts, not creations of human intellect
• Vedas guide through spiritual and philosophical dimensions that influence daily life
• Vedas are organized into four broad categories: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda, and Atharva Veda
• Rigveda constitutes hymns and chants
• Yajurveda constitutes ritualistic details
• Samveda constitutes musical forms of hymns
• Atharva Veda constitutes spells, charms, and practical wisdom
• Brahmans constitute explanations of the rituals
• Aranyakas serve as a connection between ritualistic and philosophical aspects
• Upanishads constitute philosophical insights

Rigveda: An overview

• Rigveda, also known as Rigveda Samhita,
• Accepted as the oldest available literature worldwide
• The word Rigveda broken to Rucham Vedah means storage of knowledge in the form of Ruchas/mantras
• Mantras were composed by Rishis/Drashtas/seers to praise deities
• Mantras are arranged into ten mandalas/chapters
• Mandalas two to seven are family mandalas/Rishi mandalas/Gotra mandalas, assigned to particular families
• The first and 10th mandalas comprise a mixture of mantras by different Rishis
• Mandala number nine in the Rigveda is devoted to Soma, a Vedic deity
• Rigveda, formed during 2500 BEC, is considered the heart of Vedic literature
• Rigved means knowledge in the form of mantras which praise the gods
• The divisions are like the intricate pattern of a rangoli during Diwali
• Themes include devotion to gods, concept of rucha or cosmic order, social life, and philosophical ideas
• Some hymns throw light on contemporary society, like Krushi sukta

Yajur Veda: An overview

• Yajurveda defined as Yajusham Vedah,
• Yajus and rucha are mantras
• Yajur mantras were composed to apply in yajnas (sacrifices or Vedic rituals)
• Yajur mantras were chanted by a person called Adharyu during yajnas
• Two traditions: Shukla Yajurveda comprises only mantras, and Krishna Yajurveda comprises a mixture of prose and poetry
• Derived from the Sanskrit words Yajus, meaning sacrificial formula, and ved, meaning knowledge constitutes knowledge of the sacrificial formulas
• Manuscript is an instruction manual with prose and verses
• Divided into two sections, shukla/white and Krishna/black,
• VeD laid out the rules for religious and social ceremonies
• The teachings provide procedural details for conducting the rituals, akin to how modern cookbooks detail recipes
• Teachings can inspire principles of discipline, devotion, and meticulousness
• Verses hold universal messages

Sam Veda: An overview

• Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Samveda called trai, meaning a trio
• The duty of the Sama Veda is closely associated with the yajnas, the Vedic sacrifices
• Samveda defined as sam nam veda comprises the knowledge which talks about the melodies
• 75% of the mantras are taken from the Rigveda
• Rigvedic mantras had a different form in the Sama Vedic tradition
• Two parts of the Samveda: Purvarchika, the first section and Uttara Chika, the later or second one
• Sama Vedic chanting involves aranyagana and gramagana (Aranyagayan and gramagayan)
• Samveda the origin of Indian classical music with six swaras
• Two parts, the Purva archika and the Uttar archika are similar to the two halves of a football field
• Focuses on worship and rituals, specifically the Soma sacrifice
• Can be seen as the soul, emphasising the emotional devotional aspect of spirituality
• Sam Veda has left an indelible imprint on Indian classical music and spiritual practices

Atharva Veda: An overview

• Atharvaveda, the fourth and final member of the Vedic quartet, is a collection of hymns, charms and spells, used to solve everyday problems
• It is organised into 20 books containing around 730 hymns and 6000 verses in total
• Teachings range from healing diseases to warding off evil spirits to attracting prosperity
• VeD can offer valuable insights into the everyday life of ancient India
• Provides treatments intended to cure illnesses and ensure well-being, reflecting the ancient Indians' understanding of health and disease
• Herbal medicines and chants are a source of inspiration for researchers and scholars
• One hymn addresses the earth praising its fertility and bounty

Spiritual Teachings of the Vedas

• Vedic people believed in many deities, also evident in present Indian religions
• Vedic people believed in a gradual journey from multiple deities towards a soul deity
• The Seer/Rishi praised one deity at one time
• There are suktras where one single power exists and the might is common among all gods
• The wise people know that there is only one sat (reality), and it resides in multiple forms
• The Vedas do not explicitly mention moksha/liberation/emancipation
• People believed only in either heaven or Yamaloka, not hell
• The Vedas form the bedrock of Indian spirituality, including divine worship
• Dharma, karma, and moksha are the governing laws of the universe
• Dharma outlines the moral and ethical duties
• Karma relates to the principle of cause and effect
• Moksha symbolises liberation from the cycle of life and death
• Rituals are designed to induce mindfulness, discipline, and a sense of communal harmony

Philosophical Insights from the Vedas

• Upanishads are almost at the end of the Vedic tradition
• The origins of the world (Cosmogony) are revealed in the earlier layers of the Vedas called suktas
• Nasadiya Sukta states neither existence nor nonexistence
• Hiranyagarbha Sukta means golden egg, golden fetus
• The cosmic ocean is Brahman while the individual self/soul signifies is Atman
• Liberation lies in understanding the unity of Atman and Brahman
• Upanishads serve as a series of profound dialogues covering nature of reality to the path of self-realisation
• Maya creating a world that seems real but is a false perception of ultimate truth, Brahman

Vedas and Society

• The word Veda means knowledge
• Vedas give knowledge about the social structure in ancient India
• Society was holistically connected, with each part contributing to the greater good
• People grouped into various varanas (classes) based on their skills and vocations
• Vedas proposed principles like truthfulness, charity and nonviolence to maintain order
• The ancient society was classified in the Varna system
• The Varanas were based originally on skills
• Brahmana skilled in Vedic studies and teaching
• Kshatriya refers to kings
• Vaishas used to trade
• Shudras were artisans making necessary commodities
• Sabha and Samitis were a group of people where ideas were discussed and the king
• The queen/prince was involved in law and order decisions
• Varana a precursor to the caste system, was social stratification based on profession and aptitude
• There was considerable female contribution in society
• Society thrived on interdependence, from the farmer to the merchant, contributing to the economic wheel
• Social norms, customs and structures continue to influence Indian society today

Relevance of Vedas in Contemporary Times

• Vedas are the solid rock behind Indian tradition, history and culture
• Ancient guides to the cosmos and nature's laws they explore advanced concepts such as cosmic cycles, consciousness and the underlying unity of existence
• The Vedas stand as a testament to scientific insights
• The teachings influence the pursuit of knowledge, and ethical living in today's modern world
• The messages which come for are high moral values, reliance on skill sets, and a disciplined life
• In the modern day Vedas can be considered a source of meditation