The Scripture
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Lesson 1 : Introduction of Vedic literature Veda is our original Scripture. 'Veda' means wisdom. Profound effort or austere ascetic practice is necessary for acquiring wisdom. If anybody wants to earn wisdom then he has to be absorbed in deep austere ascetice practice. To absorve in deep austere ascetic practice is called meditation. The person who could realized or saw the greatness of creation and creator and truth or wsidom, they are called sages (Rishi). Veda is the pure wisdom which has got by meditation of these sages. This is the knowledge connected with universe and life and concerned with the origin of universe and life-supreme lord Brahma or God. The Veda or Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyak, Upanishad and Vedangas are the best among the described books, which are concerned with our life, origin of life, supreme lord, Brahma or God etc. If these books are of different types but also mutually related with different angles of religious activities. In this way on the basis of Veda a vast literatiure has been manifested based on religion. On the other hand this vast literature is called Vedic literature based on religion. The subjects are briefly discussed which has mentioned here these are the parts of the Vedic literature; Four vedas There is a name of Veda is samhita. Samhita means collection or compilation. Entire veda so that samhitas are divided into four kinds, such as 1.Rigveda samhita, 2. Yajurveda samhita, 3. Samveda samhita and 4. Atharvaveda samhita. On the other hand these samhitas unitdely are called four vedas.
Brahmana There are two parts of Veda. Hymns and Brahmana. That is called Brahmana in which part of veda the explanation of hymn and their apptication or usage in various sacrifices (yajna) are there. The Brahmanas are composed in Prose. There are some rules that is to say the direction of particular action of ritual, necessary explanation about meaning of vedic hymn, criticism of antagonistic doctrine etc. are there in the subject matter of Brahmana.