Page 5 - Jul - Sep 2021

VOL. 18 No. 3
VEDIC WISDOM DID YOU KNOW?

‘Samhita‛ (mantra collection) is the
The Vedas are the oldest surviving texts in the oldest layer of the Vedic corpus! It contains
Indian subcontinent! In Hindu tradition, they have eternal truths realised by the sages during
been given the status of shruti, literally meaning meditation or revealed to them by the gods.
‘that which has been heard’. Other important Akshita Kashyap, Class 8, Cambridge School, Noida;
Ichchha Aggarwal, Class 6 B and Shreyansh,
shruti texts are the Vedangas, Puranas, epics, Class 6 A, Shanti Asiatic School, Jaipur
Illustration by Gurleen Kaur, Class 9B,
Dharmashastra, and Nitishastra.
Bawa Lalvani Public School, Kapurthala
VEDIC ROOTS FOUR VEDA ‘SAMHITAS’
Rig Veda: The Rig Veda is the earliest of
The Sanskrit word Veda has roots
in the word ‘vid’, which literally the Samhitas. Its hymns are dedicated
to various deities and also discuss
means knowledge. According
to linguists, this can be further cosmology.
traced back to the ancient Proto- Sama Veda: The Sama Veda is
Indo-European language! considered as the earliest Indian
text on music. Its 1,810 verses
are arranged according to the
FOUR COMPONENTS musical notation!
The Vedic corpus has essentially four parts. Illustration by Tulika Bisht, Kanav Pant, Class 8, Delhi Public School,
Class 10, Raksha Anusandhan Nadergul, Hyderabad
 Samhitas contain slokas. Vidyalaya, Dehradun
Yajur Veda: The Yajur Veda
 Brahmanas contain explanations on rituals. contains hymns on the performance of rituals or
 Aranyakas contain interpretations of rituals.
sacrifi ces. Its texts are grouped into Shukla (white) and
 Upanishads contain philosophical discussions.
Krishna (black) schools.
Mohit Singh, Class 9, Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya, Dehradun
REMARKABLE RIG VEDA Atharva Veda: Atharva Veda, the latest Samhita, contains
many beliefs that are believed to be pre-Vedic and part
 The world’s oldest poetry of the popular culture!
is found in the Rig
Veda. It is written in a UPANISHADS
language older than
even classical Sanskrit! Historians believe that the 108 Upanishads were
composed over two centuries from c. 800 BCE to 600
 It is divided into 10 BCE. They contain a great variety of philosophical
books (Mandalas), discussions about the self, universe, and sacrifi ce.
with 1,028 hymns
on philosophy and ACTIVITY: LIFE-LONG LEARNING
religion. The Vedic texts are repositories of knowledge!

 Historians believe Fill in the blanks to learn more about their
that the Rig Veda was Illustration by Vishwas Rawat, Class traditional wisdom.
written over several 10, Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya, 1. Which Veda mentions the veena?
Dehradun
thousand years, from _____________________
c. 6000 BCE to 1000 BCE! 2. Which Veda discusses numeric
infi nity? ________________
Vishwas Rawat, Class 10, Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya, Dehradun
3. Which Veda discusses medicines?
 Avesta, the oldest Zoroastrian text, shares
__________________
similarities with Rig Veda. For instance, both use
How was Vedic education unique?
similar-sounding terms, ‘Airiia’ and ‘Arya’, to refer to
Research and note down four
their known people.
observations. Answers: 1. Sama, 2. Yajur, 3. Atharva;

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