The Vedas
The Vedas came from a pre-Hindu faith called the Vedic religion, but they were later adopted by the Hindu faith. They were first complied between 1500 BC and 1000 BC. During this time period, Indo-Europeans were migrating to and settling Northern India. The Vedas were first written down between 1000 and 600 BC. Tradition says that religious adepts called rishis heard the teachings of the Vedas at the beginning of the world cycle. This would mean that the teachings are even more ancient than scholars think.
There are four sections within the Vedas: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda, or the "Veda of Hymns," contains 1,028 devotional chants. These chants were used by priests and their families. Most of these chants are dedicated to the gods. The Yajur Veda, or the "Veda of Sacrificial Prayers," contains ceremonial prayers. These prayers were often used in sacrificial ceremonies. The Sama Veda, or the "Veda of Chants," is an elaboration on many of the prayers from the Rig Veda. Some of these prayers also contain musical notation. The Atharva Veda, or the "Veda of the Atharvans," is the most recent. Atharvans were magician-priests. The Atharva Veda contains personal prayers that can be used for personal devotions.
The Vedas influence Hindus today. The Vedas led to the creation of the Hindu religion and other Hindu texts. In addition, India's caste system reflects the Vedic era. During that time, religious teachings were only for the top three castes, and only Brahmins could perform religious ceremonies. Also, the Hindus still acknowledge the Vedic gods; however, they are not regarded as highly as other Hindu gods. The Vedic chants are still commonly used.
An excerpt from the Vedas:
When they divided Purusha, in how many different portions did they arrange him? What became of his mouth, what of his two arms? What were his two thighs and his two feet called?
His mouth became the brahman; his two arms were made into the rajanya; his two thighs the vaishyas; from his two feet the shudra was born.
The moon was born from the mind, from the eye the sun was born; from the mouth Indra and Agni, from the breath [prana] the wind [vayu] was born.
From the navel was the atmosphere created, from the head the heaven issued forth; from the two feet was born the earth and the quarters (the cardinal directions) from the ear. Thus did they fashion the worlds.
There are four sections within the Vedas: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda, or the "Veda of Hymns," contains 1,028 devotional chants. These chants were used by priests and their families. Most of these chants are dedicated to the gods. The Yajur Veda, or the "Veda of Sacrificial Prayers," contains ceremonial prayers. These prayers were often used in sacrificial ceremonies. The Sama Veda, or the "Veda of Chants," is an elaboration on many of the prayers from the Rig Veda. Some of these prayers also contain musical notation. The Atharva Veda, or the "Veda of the Atharvans," is the most recent. Atharvans were magician-priests. The Atharva Veda contains personal prayers that can be used for personal devotions.
The Vedas influence Hindus today. The Vedas led to the creation of the Hindu religion and other Hindu texts. In addition, India's caste system reflects the Vedic era. During that time, religious teachings were only for the top three castes, and only Brahmins could perform religious ceremonies. Also, the Hindus still acknowledge the Vedic gods; however, they are not regarded as highly as other Hindu gods. The Vedic chants are still commonly used.
An excerpt from the Vedas:
When they divided Purusha, in how many different portions did they arrange him? What became of his mouth, what of his two arms? What were his two thighs and his two feet called?
His mouth became the brahman; his two arms were made into the rajanya; his two thighs the vaishyas; from his two feet the shudra was born.
The moon was born from the mind, from the eye the sun was born; from the mouth Indra and Agni, from the breath [prana] the wind [vayu] was born.
From the navel was the atmosphere created, from the head the heaven issued forth; from the two feet was born the earth and the quarters (the cardinal directions) from the ear. Thus did they fashion the worlds.
The Upanishads
The Upanishads were written after the Vedas between the fifth and sixth centuries BC; however, it is possible that they came from an older oral tradition. They are the main part of the Vedanta, which is the "end of the Vedas," and are a commentary on the Vedas.
Some scholars say that there are 200 Upanishads, but most agree that are 108. The Upanishads were written by individual teachers and contain mostly philosophical teachings. Most of the Upanishads discuss the nature of reality. One issue that is discussed in the earlier Upanishads is that the self, also known as the atman, is identical to the ultimate reality, also known as the brahman. The atman is reincarnated based on karma. Someone could achieve moksha, or relief from reincarnation, by realizing this connection. The later Upanishads contain information on the roles and nature of the gods in context with the philosophical teachings.
An excerpt from the Upanishads:
The fourfold division of castes was created by me according to the appointment of qualities and duties... The duties of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, and of Sudras, too, O terror of your foes! are distinguished according to the qualities born of nature. Tranquility, restraint of the senses, penance, purity, forgiveness, straightforwardness, also knowledge, experiences, and belief in a future world, this is the natural duty of Brahmins. Valor, glory, courage, dexterity, not slinking away from battle, gifts, exercise of lordly power, this is the natural duty of Kshatriyas. Agriculture, tending cattle, trade, this is the natural duty of Vaisyas. And the natural duty of Sudras, too, consists in service. Every man intent on his own respective duties obtains perfection. Listen, now, how one intent on one's own duty obtains perfection. Worshiping, by the performance of his own duty, him from whom all things proceed, and by whom all this is permeated, a man obtains perfection. One's duty, though defective, is better than another's duty well performed. Performing the duty prescribed by nature, one does not incur sin.
Some scholars say that there are 200 Upanishads, but most agree that are 108. The Upanishads were written by individual teachers and contain mostly philosophical teachings. Most of the Upanishads discuss the nature of reality. One issue that is discussed in the earlier Upanishads is that the self, also known as the atman, is identical to the ultimate reality, also known as the brahman. The atman is reincarnated based on karma. Someone could achieve moksha, or relief from reincarnation, by realizing this connection. The later Upanishads contain information on the roles and nature of the gods in context with the philosophical teachings.
An excerpt from the Upanishads:
The fourfold division of castes was created by me according to the appointment of qualities and duties... The duties of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, and of Sudras, too, O terror of your foes! are distinguished according to the qualities born of nature. Tranquility, restraint of the senses, penance, purity, forgiveness, straightforwardness, also knowledge, experiences, and belief in a future world, this is the natural duty of Brahmins. Valor, glory, courage, dexterity, not slinking away from battle, gifts, exercise of lordly power, this is the natural duty of Kshatriyas. Agriculture, tending cattle, trade, this is the natural duty of Vaisyas. And the natural duty of Sudras, too, consists in service. Every man intent on his own respective duties obtains perfection. Listen, now, how one intent on one's own duty obtains perfection. Worshiping, by the performance of his own duty, him from whom all things proceed, and by whom all this is permeated, a man obtains perfection. One's duty, though defective, is better than another's duty well performed. Performing the duty prescribed by nature, one does not incur sin.