Vedas; 2 Definition(s)
Introduction
Vedas means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
General definition (in Hinduism)
The sacred books of India, the Vedas, are generally believed to be the earliest literary record of the Indo-European race. It is indeed difficult to say when the earliest portions of these compositions came into existence. Many shrewd guesses have been offered, but none of them can be proved to be incontestably true. Max Muller supposed the date to be 1200 B.C., Haug 2400 B.C. and Bāl Gaṅgādhar Tilak 4000 B.C. The ancient Hindus seldom kept any historical record of their literary, religious or political achievements. The Vedas were handed down from mouth to mouth from a period of unknown antiquity; and the Hindus generally believed that they were never composed by men. It was therefore generally supposed that either they were taught by God to the sages, or that they were of themselves revealed to the sages who were the “seers” (mantradraṣṭā) of the hymns. Thus we find that when some time had elapsed after the composition of the Vedas, people had come to look upon them not only as very old, but so old that they had, theoretically at least, no beginning in time, though they were believed to have been revealed at some unknown remote period at the beginning of each creation.
(Source): Wisdom Library: A History of Indian PhilosophyIn Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Literally, it means knowledge. They are basic scriptures of Hinduism in India, composed between 2000 and 500 B.C. They consist of Rg veda, Sama veda, Yajur veda and Atharva veda. The collection is also known as the Vedic Samhita. Apart from Samhita, the Vedic literature regarded as Sruti were Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanisads.(Source): Buddhist Door: GlossaryRelevant definitions
Search found 1306 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Veda | Veda (वेद) refers to a category of Apaurūṣeya texts, or “disciplines dealing with knowledge not... | |
| Ayurveda | Ayurveda (अयुर्वेद) refers to the “science of medicine” and represents one of the divisions of ... | |
| Vedanga | Vedāṅga (वेदाङ्ग) refers to a category of Apaurūṣeya texts, or “disciplines dealing with knowle... | |
| Rigveda | Ṛgveda (ऋग्वेद).—the oldest of the four Vedas, and the most ancient sacred book of the Hindus. ... | |
| Vedavyasa | Vedavyāsa (वेदव्यास) refers to one of the various Vibhava manifestations according to the Īśvar... | |
| Vedanta | Vedānta (वेदान्त).—See under Veda. | |
| Yajurveda | Yajurveda (यजुर्वेद) is the name of a Sanskrit text partly dealing with the ancient Indian scie... | |
| Atharvaveda | Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेद) is the name of a Sanskrit word partly dealing with the “science of archi... | |
| Vedagarbha | Vedagarbhā (वेदगर्भा).—A name of Devī. When Devī killed Śumbha and such other Asuras, Indra got... | |
| Striveda | Strīveda (स्त्रीवेद) refers to “hankering after women” and represents one of the nine types of ... | |
| Vedasmriti | Vedasmṛti (वेदस्मृति) refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.16... | |
| Gandharvaveda | Gandharvaveda (गन्धर्ववेद) refers to the “science of music” and represents one of the divisions... | |
| Samaveda | Sāmaveda (सामवेद).—the third of the four Vedas. Derivable forms: sāmavedaḥ (सामवेदः).Sāmaveda i... | |
| Vedabhyasa | Vedābhyāsa (वेदाभ्यास).—1) the study of the Vedas; वेदाभ्यासो हि विप्रस्य तपः परमिहोच्यते (vedā... | |
| Vedajna | Vedajña (वेदज्ञ).—a Brāhmaṇa versed in the Vedas; तथा दहति वेदज्ञः कर्मजं दोषमात्मनः (tathā dah... |
Relevant text
Search found 158 books and stories containing Vedas. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 1 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 2 - The place of the Vedas in the Hindu mind < [Chapter II - The Vedas, Brāhmaṇas And Their Philosophy]
Part 1 - The Vedas and their antiquity < [Chapter II - The Vedas, Brāhmaṇas And Their Philosophy]
Part 14 - Mīmāṃsā as philosophy and Mīmāṃsā as ritualism < [Chapter IX - Mīmāṃsā Philosophy]
Vedavyasa < [Third Section]
The Four Classes and the Four Stages < [Third Section]
Mayamoha < [Third Section]
Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya) (by Swami Vireshwarananda)
Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana XXXVI < [Section III]
Chapter I, Section III, Adhikarana VIII < [Section III]
Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana IV < [Section III]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 17: Marriage with Somaśṛī < [Chapter II - Marriages of Vasudeva with maidens]
Part 5: Story of Namuci and Viṣṇukumāra < [Chapter VIII - Śrī Mahāpadmacakricaritra]
Part 10: Celebration by the people < [Chapter II - Birth of Ajita and Sagara]
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (by Swāmī Mādhavānanda)
Section VIII - Meditation on the Vedas as a Cow < [Chapter V]
Section XIV - The Sacred Gayatri < [Chapter V]