The Four Vedas - An Introduction

The Vedas are the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, believed to be eternal revelations (shruti) heard by ancient sages in deep meditation. They are four in number:

1. Rigveda - The oldest, containing 1,028 hymns (suktas) praising various deities like Agni, Indra, Varuna, and Surya. It is the foundation of Vedic literature.

2. Yajurveda - The book of rituals, providing the prose formulas used by priests during yajnas (fire ceremonies). It has two branches: Shukla (white) and Krishna (black).

3. Samaveda - The Veda of melodies, containing verses from the Rigveda set to musical notation. It is the source of Indian classical music.

4. Atharvaveda - Contains hymns, spells, and incantations for daily life, healing, and protection. It also includes philosophical hymns that anticipate later Upanishadic thought.

Each Veda is further divided into four parts: Samhitas (hymns), Brahmanas (ritual commentaries), Aranyakas (forest treatises), and Upanishads (philosophical teachings). The Vedas form the bedrock of Hindu dharma, ritual, philosophy, and culture.