Vedic Literature –

Vedic Literature is the oldest and most significant source of knowledge about the Vedic Age (1500 BCE – 600 BCE). It consists of religious hymns, rituals, philosophy, and historical insights.

Classification of Vedic Literature

Vedic Literature is broadly divided into two categories:

1. Shruti (Heard/Divine Revelation) – Considered sacred and directly revealed to sages.
2. Smriti (Remembered/Human-Made) – Composed later based on Shruti.

The four main texts of Shruti are:

1. The Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva)
2. Brahmanas (Prose texts explaining rituals)
3. Aranyakas (Forest texts, meditative teachings)
4. Upanishads (Philosophical and spiritual knowledge)

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1. The Four Vedas

Veda	Main Features
Rigveda	Oldest Veda, collection of 1028 hymns, mostly dedicated to Indra, Agni, Varuna.
Yajurveda	Deals with rituals and sacrifices. Has two versions – Shukla (White) and Krishna (Black).
Samaveda	Musical Veda, basis of Indian classical music. Has hymns mainly from Rigveda.
Atharvaveda	Contains magic spells, healing practices, and daily life prayers.

Key Points about Vedas

• Language: Sanskrit
• Written Form: Originally passed down orally (oral tradition)
• Importance: Foundation of Hindu religion, philosophy, and rituals

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2. Brahmanas (Commentaries on the Vedas)

Brahmana	Associated Veda	Significance
Aitareya Brahmana	Rigveda	Discusses royal consecration ceremonies.
Taittiriya Brahmana	Yajurveda	Describes rituals and sacrifices.
Jaiminiya Brahmana	Samaveda	Explains musical chanting.
Gopatha Brahmana	Atharvaveda	Details priestly duties.

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3. Aranyakas (Forest Texts)

• Transition from rituals to meditation.
• Written by sages in forests for hermits and ascetics.
• Example: Brihadaranyaka Aranyaka.

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4. Upanishads (Philosophical Texts)

• Focus on spiritual knowledge, self-realization, and Brahman (universal soul).
• Number: 108, but 13 are most important (e.g., Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Katha, Mundaka).
• Concepts: Karma, Atman (soul), Moksha (liberation).

Example:

• Mundaka Upanishad: Discusses two types of knowledge – Para Vidya (Higher, spiritual knowledge) and Apara Vidya (Lower, material knowledge).

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5. Vedangas (Limbs of the Vedas)

• Vedangas are six auxiliary sciences to help understand the Vedas.

Vedanga	Field of Study
Shiksha	Phonetics (Pronunciation of Vedic texts)
Vyakarana	Grammar (Panini’s Ashtadhyayi)
Chandas	Vedic Meter (Prosody)
Nirukta	Etymology (Meanings of words)
Jyotisha	Astronomy & Astrology
Kalpa	Rituals and ceremonies

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6. Smriti Literature (Post-Vedic Texts)

Smriti Literature	Details
Sutras	Rules for rituals, law, and conduct
Shastras	Scriptures on various subjects
Puranas	18 Puranas, mythological stories (e.g., Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana)
Itihasas	Epics – Ramayana (by Valmiki), Mahabharata (by Vyasa)
Dharma Shastras	Law texts, e.g., Manusmriti

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Objective Questions for Competitive Exams

1. Which is the oldest Veda?
   (a) Yajurveda
   (b) Rigveda
   (c) Samaveda
   (d) Atharvaveda
   Answer: (b) Rigveda
2. How many hymns does the Rigveda contain?
   (a) 1000
   (b) 1028
   (c) 108
   (d) 1180
   Answer: (b) 1028
3. Which Veda is known as the “Book of Chants”?
   (a) Rigveda
   (b) Samaveda
   (c) Yajurveda
   (d) Atharvaveda
   Answer: (b) Samaveda
4. The phrase “Satyameva Jayate” is taken from which Upanishad?
   (a) Mundaka Upanishad
   (b) Chandogya Upanishad
   (c) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
   (d) Katha Upanishad
   Answer: (a) Mundaka Upanishad
5. The Brahmanas are associated with which Vedic literature?
   (a) Rituals and sacrifices
   (b) Philosophy
   (c) Astronomy
   (d) Grammar
   Answer: (a) Rituals and sacrifices
6. Which Vedanga deals with Sanskrit grammar?
   (a) Jyotisha
   (b) Nirukta
   (c) Vyakarana
   (d) Shiksha
   Answer: (c) Vyakarana
7. How many Puranas are there?
   (a) 10
   (b) 18
   (c) 21
   (d) 25
   Answer: (b) 18
8. Which is the longest epic in the world?
   (a) Ramayana
   (b) Mahabharata
   (c) Iliad
   (d) Odyssey
   Answer: (b) Mahabharata
9. Which Smriti text is known for its laws and social rules?
   (a) Ramayana
   (b) Mahabharata
   (c) Manusmriti
   (d) Vishnu Purana
   Answer: (c) Manusmriti
10. Who wrote the Mahabharata?
    (a) Valmiki
    (b) Vyasa
    (c) Kalidasa
    (d) Panini
    Answer: (b) Vyasa

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Conclusion

Vedic Literature forms the foundation of Indian philosophy, religion, and social structure. Understanding its different components is essential for exams like UPSC, State PSCs, SSC, and other competitive tests.

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