Char Veda — foundational scriptures of Hinduism. Composed 1500-500 BCE. Rigveda is world's oldest religious text.
4 Vedas: Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva. Each has 4 parts: Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad.
✦ 1. Rigveda
Oldest (~1500 BCE).
10 mandalas, 1028 suktas, 10,552 mantras.
Deity-praise: Indra, Agni, Soma, Surya.
Gayatri Mantra: 3.62.10.
Nasadiya Sukta: creation mystery.
UNESCO world heritage.
✦ 2. Yajurveda
Yajna-procedure scripture.
Two branches: Krishna and Shukla Yajurveda.
40 chapters, ~1975 mantras.
Mahamrityunjaya (KY 3.60). Purusha Sukta.
Mix of prose and verse.
✦ 3. Samaveda
Music Veda. Singing of mantras.
1875 mantras (mostly from Rigveda).
Source of Indian classical music.
7 swaras: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni.
Udgata priest sings.
✦ 4. Atharvaveda
Common-life Veda. Medicine, household, politics, mantras.
20 kandas, 6000 mantras.
Source of Ayurveda.
Tantra-mantra-yantra.
India's national motto "Satyameva Jayate" from Mundaka.
✦ 4-Part Structure
Samhita: original mantras.
Brahmana: yajna procedure explained.
Aranyaka: forest-study.
Upanishad: philosophy-Vedanta.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
- ▪Surya Siddhanta — classical Sanskrit astronomical text (~5th century CE)
- ▪Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — foundational text on Vedic astrology by Maharishi Parashara
- ▪Muhurta Chintamani by Ram Daivajna (16th century) — standard reference for muhurat selection
- ▪Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell, 1998) — basis for all astronomical computations on this site
- ▪Lahiri Ayanamsa — standard sidereal reference adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee (1955)
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Vedas?▼
Apaurusheya (not man-made) — rishis "saw" them in meditation. Vedavyasa compiled into 4 parts.
How to study?▼
Original Sanskrit hard. Translations: Swami Dayananda, Vivekananda, Gita Press. Online: vedicheritage.gov.in (free).
🔗Related Topics
Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.