The Four Vedas

The four Rishis who gave us the Vedas were:

1. RIGVEDA - taught by Palita
'Rigveda Samhita' - earliest available book of the world. A collection of nearly 10,500 verses which divided into 1,017 hymns, grouped into 10 'Mandalas' or Chapters address the different deities and primarily deals with Gnan or knowledge. It is mainly poetry.

2. SAMVEDA - taught by Jaimini
'Samveda' contains 1,875 'Mantras' - many of which are also in Rigveda and Yajurveda. Samveda deals mainly with 'Upasana' or worship. It is written in songs which are sung in praise of God.

3. YAJURVEDA - taught by Vaisampayana
'Yajurveda' contains 1,975 verses in 40 chapters. It deals with 'Karma' or action. Yajurveda is written in prose and is divided into 2 parts namely Krishna Yajurveda' and 'Shukla Yajurveda'.

4. ATHARVAVEDA - taught by Sumanta
'Atharvaveda' is the latest Veda where is described worship of higher Gods and compiled at a later stage and is miscellaneous composition. It contains 5,987 'Mantras' which are for knowledge of man.

Each Veda is divided into 4 parts and these are meant to be studied particularly in the four different Ashrams: Brahmacharya, Grihasta, Vanaprasta, and Sannyasa.

1. MANTRA OR SAMHITA OR HYMNS - a mantra is an embodiment in sound of a
particular deity.
2. BRAHMANAS - explanations of mantras and deal with sacrificial rites to please gods.
3. ARANYAKAS - internal contemplation of the external rituals.
4. UPANISHADS OR VEDANTA - are mystical utterances and philosophical thoughts of the
ancients revealing profound truths.

Mantra and Brahmana are called Karma Kanda (rituals) and Aranyaka and Upanishads as Upasana Kanda (worship or meditation) and Gnan Kanda (highest knowledge).