The Ancient Vedas: Who Wrote Them and What Do They Teach?

The Vedas are incredibly old writings. Some say they date back 10,000 years, while textbooks mention around 5,000-6,000 BCE. History views can change, but for now, we accept they were composed and collected around 1500 BCE, give or take a few centuries.

No one knows exactly who wrote the Vedas. They couldn't be the work of one person - they come from vast sources. Thousands of people, living in forests and doing penance, likely created these hymns over time.


Debates on Their Origin

Nyaya philosophy  (न्याय दर्शन) says God created the Vedas because they seem beyond human ability. Mimamsa philosophy disagrees - Vedas are "akartika," meaning authorless. They are natural, eternal, and part of nature itself. Mimamsa doesn't even accept God, so how could God author them?

We can agree many people contributed over centuries. The one who compiled them is often called Ved Vyasa. Swami Vivekananda thought Vyasa wasn't one person but a group or tradition - how could one do so much?

Ved Vyasa is credited with compiling the Vedas, writing 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad Gita), and possibly the Brahma Sutras (core of Vedanta philosophy). Some debate if he was also Badarayana.

The Four Vedas

There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. They focus more on mantras for rituals like yagnas, havans, and worship than deep philosophy.

Early Vedas show confusion about God - is there one or many? They mention many gods like Surya, Varuna, and Indra. A common line asks: "To which god should we offer?" The solution? "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti" from Rigveda- Truth is one, but wise people call it by many names. Fire, Yama, or Matrishvan -it's a ll the same reality.

Structure of Each Veda

Each Veda has four parts:

  • Samhita: The mantras for worship.

  • Brahmana: Rules and procedures for rituals (this is why priests later got called Brahmins).

  • Aranyaka: Guidelines for forest-dwelling ascetics.

  • Upanishads: The deepest part - pure philosophy.

Upanishads aren't separate; they're the Vedas' end (Vedanta means "end of Vedas"). There are said to be 108, with Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya as the oldest and most key.

Philosophy in Upanishads

Upanishads hold profound ideas unmatched at the time. They discuss the soul (atman), moksha (liberation), rebirth, and Brahman (ultimate reality).

  • Soul: By Upanishads, it's clear - there's an eternal soul.

  • Moksha: Highest goal, full liberation.

  • Rebirth: We reincarnate based on karma.

  • Brahman: One supreme, formless reality (nirguna). "Neti neti" - not this, not that - to describe it.

Shankaracharya later highlighted this. Upanishads form the base of Hindu beliefs today.

What Happened Next?

As Vedic rituals grew (especially animal sacrifices), opposition rose with farming societies. This led to two streams: Nastik (heterodox) and Astik (orthodox) philosophies.

Indian philosophy has nine schools post-Vedas/Upanishads: three Nastik (reject Vedas as proof), six Astik (accept Vedas).

Nastika doesn't mean atheist—it's about not seeing Vedas as ultimate proof. The three: Charvaka, Jainism, Buddhism.

Astik accepts Vedas: Sankhya-Yoga, Nyaya-Vaisheshika, Mimamsa-Vedanta. Together, they're "Shad Darshan" or Sanatan/Hindu philosophy.

The Sutra Age and Key Figures

Ideas were memorized before writing, so they became short "sutras" (formulas). Key ones:

  • Sankhya Sutra: Kapil Muni (lost, but referenced).

  • Yoga Sutra: Patanjali.

  • Nyaya Sutra: Akshapad Gautama.

  • Vaisheshika Sutra: Kanada Rishi.

  • Mimamsa Sutra: Jaimini.

  • Brahma Sutra (Vedanta): Badarayana/Vyasa.

Most Hindus today unknowingly follow Vedanta - 90-95% of their beliefs come from it.


#upadeshsjbkunwar 

#Nepal #veda 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monsoon Trek Diary- Ambassador Himalaya Treks & Expedition

Image
We three from our company and one of our foreign Guest-friend - planned a short Monsoon Trek with overnight stay. Before finalizing the destination, on June 7, the four of us did a bike ride and short hike to Bhunadol, Farping to explore the area. Honestly, the place didn’t match our expectations, but reaching there made us realize how popular and meaningful it is for domestic tourists – a perfect spot for outdoor fun and connecting with nature. Seeing Nepali brothers and sisters enjoying the green hills and fresh air brought immense joy to us – especially as tourism professionals and teachers. We noticed various groups – some students, some couples, some hikers, and even monastery kids – all happily blending with Mother Nature. But along with this joy, came a serious thought – Are we disciplined visitors? Loud music on speakers while hiking, throwing wrappers, bottles, and other waste along the trails – is this how we experience nature? Anyway, we didn’t feel like staying down at the...
Read more

Summer Fiesta 2025 : A Memorable Journey to Chitlang with NATHM

Image
  Day 1: The Beginning of the Journey On 2082/5/9 (August 25, 2025), our exciting journey began. A day before, my 6th-semester student Arpan Tiwari had called me:   “Sir, you have to come to Chitlang tomorrow.”  Later that evening, Shubham Poudel Sir (BTTM coordinator of NATHM) also asked me if I was free to join. After checking my schedule, I agreed and confirmed on WhatsApp. The next morning, I reached NATHM at 6:45 AM. Before heading to the office, I had breakfast 'Chana and eggs' at Thapa Dai’s shop . At the Ravichautari, Loknath Tripathi (6th Sem Student) briefed us about the day’s itinerary. Soon after, at 08:30 AM, our hiking began from NATHM. It had been almost a month since I last went hiking, so the fresh trail felt exciting. Our group of ten formed a team, and the crew members led us ahead. I stayed in the middle, connecting both the front and back groups. The hiking trail had changed a lot since I last walked it years ago - now there were proper signboards, s...
Read more

BTTM 20th Batch Adventure Tourism

Image
आज २०८२/३/३ गते ,      BTTM 20th ब्याचका विद्यार्थीहरूसँग Adventure Tourism को कक्षा लिन म नाथम गए। एक पटक पछि फर्के हेर्दा मनमा एक छुट्टै अनुभूति भएको थियो - भर्खर नाथम (NATHM)  मा पढाउन सुरु गरेको जस्तो लाग्थ्यो, तर आज सम्म ४ वटा ब्याच पुगि सकेछन् (17th, 18th , 19th र 20th  सबै मा   मिठो सम्झना छ )। समय कति बेला बित्यो, थाहै भएन मलाई। पढाउनु भनेको मेरो लागि ज्ञान बाँड्ने माध्यम मात्र होइन, आत्मासँग जोडिने अनुभव हो - नयाँ पुस्तासँग संवाद गर्ने, सिकाउने र आफैं पनि केही नयाँ सिक्ने अवसर हो। आज मैले कक्षामा जादा म सँग नयाँ सोच लिएर गएकै थिएँ। पहिला जस्तो खाली Laptop and PPT होइन, यो पटक Laptop नबोकेर गएँ Different Mood मा। NATHM  आज मैले एउटा कथा दुवै सेक्सन (B & C) लाई सुनाएँ,  मैले मेरो गुरु प्रभात रिमाल लाई धेरै सम्झेको थिए मेरो ब्याचलर पढाउने गुरु हुनुहुन्छ 🙏।  " Michelangelo र उनको साथी Luca को कथा "   १६औँ शताब्दीको त्यो कथा, जहाँ Michelangelo भन्छन्, " मैले मूर्ति बनाएको होइन, त्यो मूर्ति त ढुंगामै थियो Luca, म त केवल त्...
Read more