The Vedas: With Illustrative ExtractsBook Tree, 2003 - 168 pages This book is a detailed overview of The Vedas, the holy book of the Hindus. The most important Hymns are quoted in full; extracts are also included from the Brahmanas, the part of the Rig Veda that that guides the Brahmans, the highest class of priests, in Vedic ceremonies. This is one of the oldest and most important of the world's holy books. It is primarily composed of hymns, poems, incantations and rituals from ancient India. Not only is this the "bible" of the Hindu religion, it also offers a unique snapshot of normal, everyday life in India as it occurred over four thousand years ago. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS OF THE VEDAS | 7 |
THE BRAHMANAS | 10 |
HINDU ACCOUNTS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE VEDAS | 13 |
THE TIME WHEN THE VEDAS WERE COMPOSED | 20 |
THE GODS OF THE VEDAS | 29 |
The Religious Childhood of India 29 Dyaus and Prithivi | 38 |
THE OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES OF THE VEDAS | 52 |
Mandala III | 77 |
85 Mandala VII 87 Mandala VIII 93 Mandala | 85 |
REVIEW | 120 |
APPENDIX | 132 |
Common terms and phrases
aborigines Aditi Adityas Agni Aitareya Brahmana Ancient Sanskrit Literature animal Aranyaka Aryans Aryas Asvins Atharva Veda blessings called cattle chariot cows creatures Dasyus Dayanand death deities Devas divine drink Dyaus eternal father fire Gayatri give goddess gods hath heaven and earth heroes Hindu hither holy horses human sacrifices hymns hymns are addressed immortal India Indra kine king living lord MANDALA Maruts Max Müller Max Müller says mentioned metre mighty Mitra mortals oblations offering origin Parjanya Pitris poet praise Prajapati prayer priests Puranas Purusha Purushamedha Pushan religion rich Rig-Veda Rishis rites Rudra sacred sacrificed sage Sanskrit Texts Satapatha Brahmana Savitar says Max Müller Siva slay Soma soma juice songs sprung steeds Sunahsepa supposed Surya Sutras syllables Taittiriya thee thou unto Upanishads Ushas Varuna Vasishtha Vayu Vedic verses Vishnu Vritra wealth worship Yajur Veda Yajush Yama