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| Vedas: The Oldest Form of Literature | |||||||
| Paper Id :
16077 Submission Date :
2022-04-19 Acceptance Date :
2022-04-21 Publication Date :
2022-04-25
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| Abstract |
Since time immemorial, Literature has played an important role in the society. Vedas and Upanishads are the oldest form of Literature in India. The study of Vedas have not reached the common man. The Vedas have to be studied from the Literary point of view. Rig Veda is one of the important testimonies of rich wisdom, knowledge, culture, science, history of ancient India. Vedas are said to be ahead of their times.
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| Keywords | Veda, Upanishads, Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, AtharvaVed, Sam Veda. | ||||||
| Introduction |
Indian Literature, in author's view, is the most ancient literature which is relevant even in the present century. Indian Literature has been present since time immemorial. India is a multilingual country and so is its literature. Amongst the different languages present in India, Sanskrit: the Divine Language is the most ancient and the literature of this language is considered as the earliest literatures which are found in the world.
The Vedas, which are considered to originate from the mouth of Brahma (the Creator) himself are the source of all the scriptures and literature in India. Some literati may question this point. Author would like to pacify their questions with a brief description of Vedas. As per the Mundak (eq.Md) Upanishad there are four Vedas: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sam Veda, and Atharva Veda. These four Vedas are further divided into four Upvedas: Ayurveda (creation of Dhanvantri), Dhanurveda (creation of Vishwamitra), Gandharvveda (creation of Narad Muni), Sthyapatyaveda (creation of Vishwakarma).
As per Manusmriti Vedas alone are called Shruti. The word “Shruti” finds its origin in “Shru” which means ‘to listen’, therefore, Shruti refers to the ‘Knowledge obtained by listening’. Shrutiis divided into two vibhagas (parts): Vaidik and Tantrik. Veda also has two vibhagas (parts): Mantras and Brahmanas. Mantra vibhagais also calledSamhita. The Brahman vibhaga contains Aranyak and Upanishad. There are thirteen Brahman Granthas like, Rig Veda: 2, Yajur Veda: 2, Sam Veda: 8, Atharva Veda: 1.
There are 108 Upanishadas in all but only 12 are considered as the main Upanishadas: Mundak, Ēesh, Kath are some of the main Upanishadas.
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| Objective of study | The aim of study is to describe Vedas as the oldest form of literature. |
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| Review of Literature |
A deep study of the Vedas reveals that it deals with all the aspect of usage of alphabets, words, grammar, numbers, and, punctuations, types of word-usage like padya (poetry), gadya (prose), gāyan (music). Initially, up to the end of Dwāparayuga there was only one Veda and it became difficult to study and practice Veda in a person´s life time so VedVyas (considered to be the incarnation of Lord Nārāyana) divided Veda into four vibhagas (parts) which are today known as Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sām Veda, and Atharva Veda. Thereafter, he distributed these four Vedas to his disciples named Pael (पैल), Vaishampāyan (वैषम्पायन), Jaimini (जैमिनी) and Sumantu (सुमन्तु) for their propagation and preservation. |
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| Analysis | Rig Veda consists of 64 Adhyaya, 8 Ashtak, 10 Mandal,
2006 Varga, 1000 Sukta, 84 Anuvak, and 10440 Mantra. The Mantras of Rig Veda
invoke Gods and Goddesses by the process of Yajna. The different Suktas provide important and
astonishing information about the different subjects. Rig Veda is one of the
important testimonies of rich wisdom, knowledge, culture, science, history of
ancient India. There are Suktas in which the praises for the donation given by
the different kings and noblemen are sung. There are Suktas about conversation
between two individual like Pururavā (पुरूरवा) – Urvashī (उर्वशी) Samvād (Rig:
10/85), Yam (यम) – Yami (यमी) Samvād (Rig: 10/10), Sarma (सरमा) – Pani (पणि) Samvād (Rig: 10/130). These Samvād
(conversations) depict a form of drama and poetry. The Samvād between Pururavā
and Urvashī is full of love and romance. It is a story of an angel from heaven
marrying a man from the Earth on the basis of certain contracts which when
broken lead to sorrow and Urvashī´s consequent return to heaven. The conversation between Yam and Yāmi who are brother and
sister is an issue relating to fulfillment of sexual desires. Yāmi, the sister
seeks for the fulfillment of her sexual desires with her brother Yam. However,
Yam, being a man of strong morals and intense character refuses to fulfill her
desire and convinces her to find another husband as according to him there can
be no sexual interchange between the same bloodline. This conversation has
three important outlooks: first, marrying in the same bloodline is not good for
the future generation which has been scientifically proved today, secondly, it
deals with morality and character and lastly with culture. It would not be out
of way to say that this culture is practiced in India even today. The conversation between Sarmā and Pāni gives us a
glimpse into the social structure of that era. The Pāni people used to steal
the cows (which were supposed to be a valuable asset) of the Sarmā people. The
Sarmā used to threaten the Pāni by singing songs about the valiant acts of the
Aryans. According to Mahabhasyakār (Linguist) Patanjali, Yajur
Veda has 101 shakhas in which Krishna Yajur Veda has 86 and ShuklaYajur Veda
15. However, during the present time only 4 shakhas of Krishna Yajur Veda and
all shakhas of ShuklaYajur Veda are present. Yajur Veda has been written in the
form of prose and is functional in nature viz. it tells us about the process
and method of conducting Yajna. The name Sām Veda originates from सा + अम = साम (sa + am = Sām) in which अम
means gaan (music) and that is why Sām Veda is also known as the Veda of Music.
The Sām Veda emphasizes upon the correct use of vowels, consonants,
pronunciation and grammar etc. It also makes mention of the seven swaras of
music. The SangeetShastra is supposed to have originated from Sām Veda. Atharva Veda had 9 shakhas (parts) out of which only two
are still present, one Shaunak ('k©ud) and the other Paepplad Samhita (पैप्पलाद संहिता).
It underlines in detail the various political aspects including the
characteristics of the ruler, the duties and obligations of the ruler and the
ruled, election/selection of the ruler, his rights and duties, formation of
assemblies and committees, etc. Apart from this it also throws light upon
jurisdiction and punishment. An analysis of Atharva Veda reveals various aspect
about religion, economy, biological and emotional needs, and salvation (Dharma,
Artha, Kām, and Moksha). Sociologically Atharva Veda has details about
politics, economy, religiosity, and scientific knowledge. From the literary
point of view, it has elaborated on subjects like Rasa (genre), Alankar
(Figures of speech), Chhand (Metrical forms), Bhava (emotions), and
Bhashasaundarya (Beautification of language), etc. Cultural viewpoint of
Atharva Veda discusses about the three strata present in the society. Apart from the multiplicity of above-mentioned subjects, it provides emotional inspiration, enhancement of the thought process and discussion, sense of duty, morality and principles. When we study Vedas from the Literary point of view (and not from the religious aspect), we find it as a valuable source of Literature. |
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| Conclusion |
When we study Vedas from the Literary point of view (and not from the religious aspect), we find it as a valuable source of Literature. Vedas contain almost all forms of Literature for example the Rig Veda has Suktas which are nothing but the praises sung for the donations received from various kings and noble men. Vedas give us a glimpse into the various literary devices like emotions andforms like poetry, drama and prose. |
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| References | 1. Sastri, Pt. Haragovinda ed.Kullukabhatta´sManusmirti. (Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Bhawan, 2012.)
2. Sharma, Rajnath ed. Tulsidas: Vinay-Patrika.(Agra: VinodPustakMandir, 1970.)
3. ŚhrimadBhagavadgītā.(Gorakhpur: Gita Press, 2007.)
4. Sharma, Shri Ram. Atharvaveda. (Bareilly: Sanskriti sansthan,1993)
5. https://swarajyamag.com
6. https://www.freepressjournal.in
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