Skip to main content

A paragraph on Vedic literature of India (in 500 words)

 

 VEDIC LITERATURE

vedic-literature-india

Vedic literature of India claims to be the oldest texts only after the literatures of Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilization. They are regarded as the oldest literature of Sanskrit and Hinduism. The Sanskrit term Veda means knowledge. They have been written in Sanskrit language. There are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharv Veda. These are four feet on which Hindu civilization stands. Each veda has again been classified in to the Arnyakas, the Brahmans and the Upnishad. The first compilation the Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Samhitas or collection. It is a collection of about 1028 Vedic Sanskrit hymns and about 10,000 verses in all. Rig Veda is organized in to 10 books. These books are called Mandals. The hymns of Rig Veda express peoples reaction to the wonder of existence, the beauty of the earth and power of existence. As the ritualistic religion developed the need for hymn which could be sung was felt, this let to the origin of the second compilation Sama Veda. Saman means song or melody. It consist of about 1875 verses and all of it except 75 verses are borrowed from the Rigveda. The recited poems of the Rigveda here becomes the hymn song. The third compilation Yajur Veda consists of about 2,000 mantras, which are mostly in the prose from. the word 'yajas' means sacrificial formula hence it consists of statements about the emerges officiated by Hotr, Udgatr and Adhvarya priests. Atharv Veda is also called as Veda of magical formula. Out of four Vedas it was latest in origin and it grew up when the preists started producing spell of magic and sorcery directed against diseases, demons and enemies. The concluding part of Vedas are Brahmans, Aranyakas and Upnishads. Brahmans are the explanations of Brahmans or learned person about a ritual. They also contain myth, legend and philosophy. There are about 19 Brahmans texts available at present. Brahmans are attached to all the four Vedas. Aranya is a Sanskrit word which means forest, so Aranaykas were written by the thinkers who were retired from the society to forest in the last stage of their life. The term Upnishad means the sitting down (of the pupil) near the teacher for a secret communication. They are also called as Vedanta which means the concluding part of Vedas. Upnishad are the foundation of Hindu philosophy. These three text are also called as Shruti. They are not supposed to be human creation. They exit from eternity. All the related texts which grew up around the Vedas are called as Smriti, Smriti means memory. They are classified in to six Vedangs which mean limbs of Vedas. Vedangs are six in number namely Kalpa Sutra has again been divided into Saruta Sutra, Grih Sutra and Dharma Sutra. Sulva Sutra which is part of Saruta Sutra is regarded as oldest book of mathematics. Hence we can say that Vedic literature of India has given international name and fame of Indian literature. They are pride of Hindu civilization.

Click here to download PDF file

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Wonder that was India (question answers & summary)

  Summary: Hindu civilization will always retain its continuity. Bhagwat Geeta will always inspire the man of action and Upnishad the man of thought. The quite and gentle happiness which is there in Indian way of like unlike the hectic life of the West increases its charm and graciousness. Much that was useless in Indian culture like animal sacrifice, child marriage, sati system, untouchability etc. are vanishing. The whole face of India altering only the cultural traditions and continues. The whole South East Asia received most of its culture from India. Early in 5th century B.C. colonists from western India visited Ceylon and gradually settled there. Because of deep influence of Indian culture in South East Asia. Indian historians proudly called this area as greater India. Indian colonies were not like British Colonies, they were peaceful. Except the legendary Aryan king Vijaya there is no other evidence that any Indian king conquered any foreign land with sword. Northwards there...
Post a Comment
Read more

Freedom Movement in India

Summary: History of Indian Independence Britishers came to India as traders. With the downfall of Mughal empire they established political supremacy through wars and diplomacy. This prolonged process started with occupation of Bengal to annexation of Punjab. A revolt against British rule in northern and central India was made which is called as First war of Indian Independence in 1857. Indians began to feel that British Government was ignoring their welfare but the government kept assuring that their welfare was its primary objective. Indeed they would leave the country when the Indians are fit for self-government. Indian National Congress With the emergence of national consciousness after 1857 need for an organization that could safeguard national interests which led the foundation of INC. Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 largely through the efforts made by a retired civil servant A.O. Hume under the presidentship of W.C. Banerjee. Its first session held in Mumbai with 85 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where the Mind is without Fear (question answers & summary)

  Where the Mind is without Fear Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless stirving stretches it's arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever- widening though and action; Into that heaven of freedom, my father let my country awake Rabindranath-Tagore Summary: “Where The Mind Is Without Fear” is a pre-independent poem in which the poet sincerely urges to God to awake his fellow beings for the realization that the essential need to live in a free and united country. He wants his countrymen to awake and enjoy the life of full dignity and honour. His countrymen would not be superstitious or believers of blind faith rather than they would lead the life of enlightened and educated. He...
Post a Comment
Read more