Vedas; 4 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: GlossaryLanguages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Vedas (वेदस्).—m.
(-dāḥ) The Vedas collectively. E. vid to know, asun aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Search found 1536 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Veda | Veḍā (वेडा).—f. (-ḍā) A boat. E. viḍ to curse, aff. ac, and ṭāp added.--- OR --- Veda (वेद).—m.... | |
| Ayurveda | Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद).—m. (-daḥ) 1. The science of medicine. 2. The collective writings of author... | |
| Vedanga | Vedāṅga (वेदाङ्ग) refers to a category of Apaurūṣeya texts, or “disciplines dealing with knowle... | |
| Rigveda | Ṛgveda (ऋग्वेद).—m. (-daḥ) The Rich or Rik Veda, the first of the four Vedas. E. ṛc and veda a ... | |
| Vedavyasa | Vedavyāsa (वेदव्यास).—m. (-saḥ) The Muni Vyasa. E. veda the Vedas, vi and āṅ severally, before ... | |
| Yajurveda | Yajurveda (यजुर्वेद).—n. (-daṃ) The Yajur-Veda: see the next. E. yajus, veda a Veda. | |
| Nirveda | Nirveda (निर्वेद).—mfn. (-daḥ-dā-daṃ) Not having the Vedas, infidel, unscriptural. m. (-daḥ) 1.... | |
| Vedanta | Vedānta (वेदान्त).—m. (-ntaḥ) The theological part of the Vedas; considered collectively it is ... | |
| Atharvaveda | Atharva-veda.—(CII 3; etc.), one of the four Vedas. See Veda. Note: atharva-veda is defined in ... | |
| Vedagarbha | Vedagarbha (वेदगर्भ).—m. (-rbhaḥ) 1. Brahma. 2. A Brahman. E. veda the Vedas, and garbha embryo... | |
| Vedokta | Vedokta (वेदोक्त).—mfn. (-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) Scriptural, taught or declared in the Vedas. E. veda t... | |
| Vedajna | Vedajña (वेदज्ञ).—m. (-jñaḥ) A Brahman skilled in the Vedas. E. veda, jña who knows. | |
| Samaveda | Sāmaveda (सामवेद).—See under Veda. | |
| 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... |
Relevant text
Search found 166 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]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 4 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 4 - Interpretation of Brahma-sūtra I. 1. 3-4 < [Chapter XXVI - Madhva’s Interpretation of the Brahma-sūtras]
Part 7 - Testimony < [Chapter XXVIII - Madhva Logic]
Part 1 - Vallabha’s Interpretation of the Brahma-sūtra < [Chapter XXXI - The Philosophy of Vallabha]
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (by Swāmī Mādhavānanda)
Section VIII - Meditation on the Vedas as a Cow < [Chapter V]
Section V - The Line of Teachers < [Chapter VI]