Vedas .. an introduction

   The holy Vedas are of divine origin - hence referred to as 'Apourusheyam'. The attempts to date them will not succeed as they are eternal and timeless as the spirit itself. The root word is 'Vid' or knowledge. The Vedas form the essence of creation and hence Vedic knowledge is knowledge about creation, sustenance and destruction - everything we ever need. It is an misnoma to think that Vedas deal with a bunch of moral codes. Since Vedas were used in the creation - everything about the Creator and Created are dealt with in the Vedas.

   Just as there is a visible and tangible universe before us - there is also an invisible intangible universe (sabda jagat). The knowledge and truth about this formless and eternal universe of 'sound' are what are called as Vedas. There were revealed to the holy sages of Bharat in a manner called mantras. Hence, mantras are not composed or created, but realised and discovered in deep meditation. The Rishi to whom a particular mantra is attributed - is called a Drashta (literally one who saw). In deep samadhi state the Rishi withdraws his mind from his 5 senses and perceives the truth that is beyond senses - soul. All Bharatiya Vidya (Indian Sciences) were evolved from the Vedas that the Rishis brought to us through divine will. The word Rishi is explained in the Vedic dictionary (Nirukta) as 'Rushati Gacchati' - 'Traveller on the road to Truth' or ''one who experiences the truth beyond senses'.

   Brahma Rishi Veda Vyasa foresaw towards the end of the Dwapara Yuga that in the Age of Kali lesser minds will prevail - the minds less bound by parameters of Dharma, Satya, discipline, learning, lifespan etc. Hence, out of his own love and duty apart from the orders of Sri Krishna reorganized the Vedic knowledge into 4 branches - Rig, Yajus, Sama and Atharva. In the days that followed, more of this hoary knowledge and texts are lost than retained. Whatever is left of modern day Hinduism with all it's allied sciences and branches of knowledge is directly due to the work of two great re-organisors of all time - Rishi Veda Vyasa and Sri Sankhara Acharya. These are the noble souls every Hindu ought to remember the first thing in the morning.

   Thus, the Vedas form the basis of Sanatana Dharma (or what later came to be called by westerners as Hindusim). Any Holy text will and shall have its origin in the eternal Vedic truths - if not it is washed away gradually as did Jainism and Buddiam which went against basic Dharmic tenets of Yagya sanskruti and Swadharma. Taking the Vedas as their foundation the structures of Sruti, Smriti and Purana came about. Hence, the sloka says
"Sruti Smriti Puranaanam Aalayam Karunaalayam". Thus, Vedas along with Smriti (Dharma Sastras) and Puranas (18) form the basis of Hinduism. Vedic Dictums are like a king talking to his subjects - precise and terse. Hence, the Veda Vakhyas are referred to as "prabhu Sammitam". The lofty Dharmas brought propounded by the Vedas are narrated in a frinedly style by the Puranas (only the language and style of preaching changes but not the essence) and in a loving style by the Kavyas (Ramayana and Mahabharatam). The archaic sanskrit used by the Veda is so tough to understand that many have done injustice in their attempts to translate just the words and not the soul and inner message of it. In order to translate the Vedas, bringing out a wholesome and intended meaning, knowledge of the following branches is essential - 

1. Siksha

2. Vyakarana

3. Jyotisha

4. Chhandas

5. Nirukta
6. Kalpa

It is also true to say that the complete purport of the Vedic truths will enlighten us when we not only understand the language but also follow the way of life as prescribed to us.