Vedic Period
2000-200 BCE
The Vedas
The Vedas are the oldest Hindu scriptures and the most ancient text in any Indo-European language. They are emotional and imaginative hymns to the gods and goddesses and were composed over a long period of time – perhaps hundreds of years. Originally orally transmitted, no one can place an accurate date on their composition but they are believed to have been written around 1500-1200 BCE. In the Vedas, ritualism is seen as the main tool for living in harmony within the human community, as well as, transcending into the universal world of spirit. These scriptures are important because they constitute the beginning of Indian philosophy as we know it today. The early hymns were polytheistic (worship of many gods). The later hymns show a movement toward monotheism (worship of one god). In fact, the Vedas contain the first mention of God as the Creator of the universe.
The Vedas cover ideas about the entire universe and all its activities – from spirituality to day-to-day living, Externally focused, the hymns looked outward at the world with reverence and awe. They contain instructions for sacrificial rites, chants, and magical incantations. In order to perform the rituals properly so that one could transcend the material world and enter the world of spirit, one had to focus the mind for long periods of time. This inner focusing for the purpose of transcendence is at the root of yoga. In fact, the Vedas include the word yoga and define the term to mean “yoking” or “discipline,” but they do not expand upon any systematic practice.
Veda comes from the Sanskrit root word vid meaning “knowledge.” According to the Hindus, the Vedas are holy scriptures that reveal the Truth. In essence, any scripture that talks about the truth is considered a Veda. Another name for the Vedas is shruti which means “that which is heard.” Sages “heard” these truths in their deep meditations. They did not read of them somewhere or even hear them from another. Brahmins (priests) taught the Vedas as an oral tradition for thousands of years. As the students started to forget the oral teachings, they wrote them down so they would be remembered. This is how the Vedas came to be written.
The Vedas are much more than spiritual compositions. They also formed the basis of first scientific thought – the desire to know. They present a conviction that there is an order and oneness that all the world’s diversity is directed towards. They suggest that a law of nature must be applied uniformly and universally. The last of the four Vedas, the Atharva Veda, presents the concepts of Ayurveda, India’s medical tradition and the world’s oldest medical system.
The Vedas are composed of four books:
Rig Veda (In Praise of Knowledge of a Higher Power)
1500-1200 BCE
The Rig Veda, a collection of mantras comprising more than a thousand hymns, is considered the most sacred of the Vedas as it is the earliest evidence of an evolution in religious consciousness and the primal source of Hinduism. Written by Brahmins in awe of the great wonders of the universe, it includes mention of the three doshas (forces that create the physical body and in excess create disease): vata (air), pitta (fire and water), kapha (water and earth). It also details the social, political, religious and economic background of its Indus-Sarasvati/Aryan authors.
Yajur Veda (Knowledge of Sacrifice)
The Yajur Veda served as a guidebook for ceremonial religion. Prayers and formulas directed the Brahmins in their execution of sacrificial acts.
Sama Veda (Knowledge of Chants)
The Sama Veda is a collection of melodies recited by Brahmins during sacrificial rites using a fermented drink made from soma (some type of plant extract or hallucinogenic mushroom) and offered to various deities. The Collection is made up of hymns and verses taken mainly from the Rig Veda.
Artharva Veda (Knowledge of Atharvan, a famous fire priest who was a master of magical rituals)
The Atharva Veda was written down much later than the rest of the Vedas, historians state somewhere as early as 1000 BC or as late as 200 BC Whereas, the second and third Vedas were variations of material presented in the Rig Veda, this final book is significantly different from the other three. It holds a different spirit – its hymns are more diverse and it uses simpler language. It deals more with the practical and philosophic aspects of human existence. The hymns focus on such themes as social conduct, success in trade and agriculture, relationships, human welfare and other practical matters. The Artharva Veda is considered the beginning of medical science and the source of Ayurveda, India’s and the world’s oldest medical system. It expands upon the doshas first mentioned in the Rig Veda. It provides mantras for health and well-being and describes anatomy, various diseases and treatments.
The Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda are also referred to as the Samhitas, the most ancient part of the Vedas containing the mantras and hymns.
The Samhitas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda), Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads are shrutis meaning “what is heard” – truths that were revealed to the rishis while deep in meditation, but the subsequent scriptures that followed them are considered smritis. Smriti means œwhat is fit/deserves to be remembered” or “tradition” and refers to the canons of Hindu religious scripture that were ideas recollected by human beings (non-shruti texts). Smritis are generally seen as secondary to shruti.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit is the language used to record all of the original yoga teachings and we continue to identify yoga techniques by their Sanskrit names. Not only is Sanskrit beautiful in speech, precise in meaning and expressive in thought, Sanskrit gives the international yoga community a common language. For example, yogis and yoginis in Tokyo, London, Sydney or Chicago all understand paschimottanasana to mean the same pose.
Sanskrit is considered the oldest of the Indo-European languages and is an official language of India, Often compared as the Asian equivalent of Latin, it is used in the vast literary and religious texts of the Hindu and Vedic traditions. There are more Sanskrit texts preserved than those in Latin and Greek combined.
The word Sanskrit means “refined” or “perfected”. As Indian students of Sanskrit are told, the language was created and refined over many generations until it was considered complete and perfect. When the term ÐSanskrit‰ first arose in India, the word referred to a refined manner of speaking. Use of Sanskrit was an indicator of social class and distinction.
Sanskrit consists of 48 phonemes (vedic Sanskrit has 49) and serves as a model for most Indian language writing systems.
Aum (also Om)
Aum is considered the most sacred syllable in the Vedic traditions. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the primordial mantra, the sound that all sounds sprang from. In Hindu cosmology, the entire universe originated from the vibration of the sound Aum. Symbolically, it represents the all-encompassing manifestation of Brahman. Aum is so sacred that all Hindu mantras and incantations begin and most end with this sound.
There are two methods described for pronouncing Aum. In the first, originate the sound at the navel center and allow it to emerge from the throat as Ahhh; continue with the Uhhh sound rolling over the tongue and across the soft palate; and end with the Mmmm sound vibrating over the lips.
The second method describes the Ahhh sound as originating at the pelvic floor (1st chakra) and rising into the low belly (2nd chakra); then the Uhhh sound moves into the solar plexus (3rd chakra) and continues into the heart (4th chakra) and throat (5th chakra); the Mmmm sound rises up into the third eye (6th chakra) finally vibrating at the crown of the head (7th chakra).
Study Guide Questions and Personal Reflections
- What is the literal meaning of "veda"?
- What are the names of the 4 books of Vedas?
- In terms of focus, what is the key difference between the Samhitas and the Upanishad?
- Do you relate to the concepts of Atman and Brahman? How?
- In your own life, what external rituals do you include on your path toward self-realization?
Vocabulary
- Sanskrit
- Atman
- Brahman
- samhita
- shruti
- smriti
- Aum or Om
Bonus