About the Vedas

The Vedas are the oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism, considered to be “Apaurusheya” - not of human origin, but revealed by the Divine to the ancient sages (Rishis) during deep meditation. The word “Veda” comes from the Sanskrit root “Vid” meaning “to know” - the Vedas are thus the supreme knowledge.

There are four Vedas:

• Rig Veda - The Veda of Hymns, the oldest of the four, containing 1,028 hymns praising the gods
• Yajur Veda - The Veda of Rituals, containing prose mantras used in worship ceremonies
• Sama Veda - The Veda of Melodies, containing musical renditions of Rig Vedic hymns
• Atharvana Veda - The Veda of Knowledge, containing hymns, spells, and philosophical speculations

Each Veda consists of four parts: Samhitas (hymns), Brahmanas (ritual texts), Aranyakas (forest treatises), and Upanishads (philosophical texts). The study and chanting of the Vedas has been an unbroken oral tradition passed down from Guru to disciple for thousands of years.

The following audio recordings preserve this sacred tradition.

---