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  1. #1

    Let us know the Vedas and their Antiquity

    The word Veda is significantly employed to designate those ancient Sanskrit works, in which is laid the foundation of Brahmanic belief. These works were originally three in number, i.e. the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Yajur Veda as is clear from the frequent mention of traividya or the triple science in ancient Sanskrit literature of the Indian scriptures.

    The prayers in meter are called Rik, and those in prose are denominated yajus, while those intended to be chanted are named saman. The triple Veda is comprehended under the name of Mantra; and the complete collection of hymns, prayers and thanksgivings, belonging to a Veda is called the Samhita.

    But at a more subsequent period a fourth Veda was added to them; though it was never held as sacred as its predecessors were.

    However, they are now commonly four in number, viz. Rig Veda--Veda of hymns; the Sama Veda--the Veda of chants; the Yajur Veda-- the Veda of sacrificial formulas; and the Atharva Veda--Veda of incantations.

    To be continued/-
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

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  3. #2
    Friends,

    The link :http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/a...OfTheVedas.htm provides much food for thought on the issue of the timeline.

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  4. #3
    Lokmanya Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak made a very indepth study on the topic which could be accessed through link:

    http://archive.org/stream/orionortheantiqu021979mbp/orionortheantiqu021979mbp_djvu.txt


    Kindly read and post your comments.

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  5. #4
    The Rig Veda is extant only in the recension of the Sakalas; and we know the Vashkala text by notices of its extent. {Max Muller, History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 220}.

    But the difference between the two was not very considerable; the Vashkalas had only eight hymns more. Although the greater portion of the hymns of the Rik Samhita was composed on the banks of the Indus; their final redaction certainly took place when the Aryan Tribes had moved from the Punjab to the eastern plains, and the Brahmanical element had become predominant; and the Kosala-Videhas and the Kuru-Panchalas had the chief merit of having effected it. [Weber, History of Indian Literature, pp. 10 ff.]

    The Rik is to the students of history the Veda par excellence. The Rig Veda is no less a repository of the hymns which were composed after our early ancestors had reached the land of their adoption, and with which they addressed the gods in whom they believed, and extolled other matters with a spontaneous freshness and simplicity, than it is a storehouse of those hymns which they had brought with them as the most precious heirlooms from their ancient home in the West. {Langlois, Preface to his French translation of the Rig Veda, i. pp. x. xi., also red Journal of the American Oriental Society, iv. p. 249.}

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

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  7. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by DrRajpalSingh View Post
    The Rig Veda is extant only in the recension of the Sakalas; and we know the Vashkala text by notices of its extent. {Max Muller, History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 220}.

    But the difference between the two was not very considerable; the Vashkalas had only eight hymns more. Although the greater portion of the hymns of the Rik Samhita was composed on the banks of the Indus; their final redaction certainly took place when the Aryan Tribes had moved from the Punjab to the eastern plains, and the Brahmanical element had become predominant; and the Kosala-Videhas and the Kuru-Panchalas had the chief merit of having effected it. [Weber, History of Indian Literature, pp. 10 ff.]

    The Rik is to the students of history the Veda par excellence. The Rig Veda is no less a repository of the hymns which were composed after our early ancestors had reached the land of their adoption, and with which they addressed the gods in whom they believed, and extolled other matters with a spontaneous freshness and simplicity, than it is a storehouse of those hymns which they had brought with them as the most precious heirlooms from their ancient home in the West. {Langlois, Preface to his French translation of the Rig Veda, i. pp. x. xi., also red Journal of the American Oriental Society, iv. p. 249.}

    Thanks
    I have not gone in depth into the time frame of Vedas. One thing is certain, Vedas existed with Aryan tribes long before these tribes moved into north west of India. When i state "long before" we have to move back word into history, long before Mahabharata happened. The gods of Aryan tribes were elements of nature. This tells about the closeness, continuous dependence and respect that, these tribes had for nature. This often took the form of human manifestation in form of different gods related with elements of nature, so that humans do not drift away from nature itself.
    Last edited by maddhan1979; August 18th, 2013 at 07:14 AM.

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  9. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by maddhan1979 View Post
    I have not gone in depth into the time frame of Vedas. One thing is certain, Vedas existed with Aryan tribes long before these tribes moved into north west of India. When i state "long before" we have to move back word into history, long before Mahabharata happened. The gods of Aryan tribes were elements of nature. This tells about the closeness, continuous dependence and respect that, these tribes had for nature. This often took the form of human manifestation in form of different gods related with elements of nature, so that humans do not drift away from nature itself.
    At the time of arrival of these tribes in India, there seemed to be a parallel way of thought already existing in Bharat, this parallel way of thought was more closely related with the concept of "Hindu", way of life and "Idol Worship". One example that can be seen is the concept of Hindu god "Shiva", whose existence seems to be emerging from south of India or already existing way of thought.

    Whereas, the Aryan tribe gods do not seem to be have an "Idol existence". These gods were parts of elements of nature which always seem to be omnipresent with the lives of these tribes where ever they went.
    Last edited by maddhan1979; August 18th, 2013 at 09:08 AM.

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