The Four Vedas, Samhitas & Six Vedangas
The Four Vedas represent the earliest literary and liturgical records of ancient Indian civilization, classified as Shruti (revealed knowledge). The Rigveda, the oldest text, consists of 1,028 hymns (Suktas) structured across ten Mandalas, addressing natural forces and cosmic order (Rta). The Samaveda serves as a melodic handbook for chanting during sacrificial rituals, while the Yajurveda provides sacrificial formulas in both poetic (Shukla) and prose (Krishna) formats. The Atharvaveda addresses socio-religious customs, healing charms, and daily rituals. To ensure correct recitation, interpretation, and ritual performance, six auxiliary disciplines known as Vedangas were developed: Shiksha (phonetics), Kalpa (rituals), Vyakarana (grammar), Nirukta (etymology), Chhandas (metrics), and Jyotisha (astronomy).
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The Rigveda is organized into 10 Mandalas and 1,028 hymns; the sacred Gayatri Mantra to Savitr appears in Mandala 3.
- The Samaveda is considered the root text of classical Indian music, containing chants arranged for the Udgatri priests.
- Yaskacharya authored the 'Nirukta', the earliest systematic treatise on Sanskrit etymology and lexicography.
- The six Vedangas are Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chhandas, and Jyotisha.