TheVedas(Sanskritvé daवेद, "knowledge") are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literatureand the old scripturesof Hinduism.The Vedas areapauru ṣeya ("not of human agency").They are supposed to have been directly revealed, and thus are calledśruti("what is heard"),distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are calledsmṛti("what is remembered"). In Hindu tradition, the creation of Vedas is credited to Brahma.The Vedic texts orśrutiare organized around four canonical collections of metrical material known as Saṃhitās, of which the first three are related to the performance of yajna (sacrifice) inhistorical Vedic religion:
- The Rigveda, containing hymns to be recited by thehotar, or presiding priest;
- The Yajurveda, containing formulas to be recited by theadhvaryuor officiating priest;
- The Samaveda, containing formulas to be sung by theudgataror priest that chants;
- The Atharvaveda, a collection of spells and incantations, apotropaic charms and speculative hymns.
Noun 1.Vedic literature - (from the Sanskrit word for `knowledge') any of the most ancient sacred writings of Hinduism written in early Sanskrit; traditionally believed to comprise the Samhitas , the Brahmanas , the Aranyakas , and the Upanishads Veda Hinduism- a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils religious text, religious writing,sacred text,sacred writing- writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity Sanskrit, language - (Hinduism) an ancient language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism); an official language of India although it is now used only for religious purposes.
