The Vedas

Documents of early Indian civilization from 1500 BC to 800 BC

The Vedas originated from the time of the Ganges civilization. They were composed in Vedic, an early form of Sanskrit. They were originally an oral tradition but cast into writing by about 500 BC.

The Vedas consist of four major texts of hymns, spells and rituals:

• the Rigveda, the oldest of the four and considered to be one of the foundations of the Hindu religion, a collection of over 1,000 hymns, which contain the mythology of the Hindu gods;
• the Samaveda, the "knowledge of chants", a number of basic hymns recited at sacrifices;
• the Yahurveda, the "knowledge of rites", a book of instructions how to make sacrifices; and
• the Atharvaveda, a collection of the knowledge of the sage Athara.

The texts relate historical events in the form of battle hymns, invocations of the gods, and dialogues that drive the narrative line. They concentrate more on the splendour of the scenes than on historical or political importance and accuracy. Overall, they describe the period or process of transition from warring clans to the evolution of kingdoms.

The Rigveda appears to contain a mythical description of the origin of India's caste system. It portrays the god Indra as a conquering deity who smashes cities and kills enemies. In the Hymn to Parusha the god Parusha sacrifices himself to himself, and out of his parts come the different classes of Indian people.

The Atharvaveda contains several hymns that combine practical medical knowledge combined with magical procedures.

The Vedas are a form of highly skilled literature written in poetic language. Many hymns praise Aryan gods, others describe the power of nature:

This light hath come, of all the lights the fairest,

The brilliant brightness hath been born, far-shining,

Urged on to prompt the sun-god's shining power.

Night and Morning clash not, nor yet do linger.

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