Great Epics of India: Veda- the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda (Set of 4 Volumes)

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Vol-1: 8173861080
Vol-2: 9788173862281
Vol-3: 9788173862274
Vol-4: 978173862267

The Vedas are ancient texts that are sacred in India and renowned the world over. The word veda literally means knowledge. The root is vid, 'to know'. The Vedas are thus texts that provide knowledge.

There are four Vedas, known as the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda. Many years ago, the Vedas were referred to as trayi or three. There must have been some point of time when there were only three Vedas. These are acknowledged to have been the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Sama Veda. The Atharva Veda is believed to have been a later addition to the sacred canon.

Each of the Vedas has two parts, a samhita and the brahmanas. The samhita part consists of mantras or incantations. These were hymns that were used in sacrifices. But these mantras are difficult to interpret without commentaries. This is what the brahmanas set out to do. They explain the hymns and indicate how these are to be used in sacrifices. The brahmanas also have detailed descriptions of sacrifices and how they are to be conducted. The samhitas and the brahmanas are often known as karma kanda, that is, the part of the Vedas that deals with rituals.

In addition, Vedic literature also includes jnana kanda. This is the part that deals with supreme knowledge. Included in jnana kanda are the aranyakas and the upanishads. These are identified with various Vedas.

**Contents and Sample Pages**