historical topic which includes ethics of traditional knowledge in India. In this ppt we have defined the knowledge of vedic corpus.

1. VEDIC CORPUS
Essence Of Indian Traditional Knowledge

2. INTRODUCTION
• Historians divide the Vedic corpus into two parts early and later Vedic texts
Early Vedic literature refers to the family books of the Rig Veda Samhita.
Later Vedic literature includes Books 1, 8, 9, and 10 of the Rig Veda Samhita,
the Samhitas of the Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas, and the Brahmanas,
Aranyakas, and Upanishads attached to all the four Vedas.

3. VEDIC LITERATURE

4. TYPES OF VEDIC LITERATURE
Shruti Literature
• The word ‘Shruti’ from the term
‘Shruti Literature’ means ‘to hear’ and
describes the sacred texts which
comprise of Vedas, Brahmanas,
Aranyakas, & Upanishads. Shruti
Literature is canonical, consisting of
revelation and unquestionable truth,
and is considered eternal.
Smriti Literature
• Whereas, the word ‘Smiriti’ literally
means to be remembered and which is
supplementary and may change over
time. Smriti Literature is the entire
body of the post-Vedic Classical
Sanskrit literature and consists of
Vedanga, Shad darsana, Puranas,
Itihasa, Upveda, Tantras, Agamas,
Upangas.

5. The SHRUTI Vedic literature can be classified into the following categories:
The four Vedas i.e. the
 Rigveda
 Samaveda
 Yajurveda
 Atharvaveda and their Samhitas.
 The Brahmanas
 The Aranyakas
 The Upanishads

7. WHAT ARE VEDAS?
 The Vedas are the large bodies of religious text that is composed of Vedic Sanskrit
and originated in ancient India.
 They form the oldest scriptures of Hinduism and the oldest layer of Sanskrit
literature.
 The Vedas are said to have passed on through verbal transmission from one
generation to the next.
 The Sanskrit word Veda "knowledge or revelation" is derived from the root Vid- "to
know", i.e. entire knowledge is contained in this single word.
 Ancient Indian sage Mantradrishta, by the enchantments of the hidden secrets of
knowledge, understanding, reflecting their perception of the world to compile the
knowledge presented in the texts of ancient texts called Veda.

8. Types of Vedas
 RIGVEDA
 YAJURVEDA
 SAMAVEDA
 ATHARVAVEDA

9. NAME OF VEDA KEY FEATURES OF THE VEDA
RIGVEDA It is the earliest form of veda.
SAMAVDA The earliest reference for singing.
YAJURVEDA Also known as the book of prayers.
ATHARVAVEDA The book of magic & charms.

11. RIGVEDA
• The Rigveda ऋग्वेद is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit
hymns (sūktas).
• Rigveda is regarded as one of the most sacred texts of Hinduism. It has
fascinated scholars and historians due to its significance and antiquity
• The Rigveda is divided into ten books which are known as Mandalas
• It is a collection of 10,600 verses and 1,028 hymns
• It is the oldest text in any Indo-European language
• It has originated from early as 1700 BC

12. YJURVEDA
• Stands to mean ‘Worship Knowledge’, Yajurveda dates back to 1100-800 BCE
• It compiles ritual-offering mantras/chants. These chants were offered by the priest
alongside a person who used to perform a ritual
• It has two types – Krishna (Black/Dark) & Shukla (White/Bright)
• Krishna Yajurveda has an un-arranged, unclear, motley collection of verses
• Shukla Yajurveda has arranged and clear verses
• The oldest layer of Yajurveda has 1875 verses mostly taken up from Rigveda
• The youngest layer of Yajurveda consists of various Upanishads – Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad, the
Shvetashvatara Upanishad and the Maitri UpanishadVajasaneyi Samhita is the Samhita in
the Shukla Yajurveda

13. SAMAVEDA
• Known as the Veda of melodies and chants, Samaveda dates back to 1200-800 BCE.
• Features of SamavedaThere are 1549 verses (except 75 verses, all have been taken from Rigveda)
• There are two Upanishads embedded in Samaveda – Chandogya Upanishad and Kena Upanishad
• The Samaveda is considered as the root of the Indian classical music and dance
• It is considered as the storehouse of the melodious chants
• There are three recensions of the text of the Samaveda – Kauthuma, Raṇayaniya and Jaimaniya
Samaveda is categorised into two parts – Part-I includes melodies called Gana & Part-II includes
three verses book called Archika.
• Samaveda Samhita is not meant to be read as a text, it is like a musical score sheet
that must be heard

14. ATHARVAVEDA
• Stands to mean a tatpurusha compound of Atharvan, an ancient sage, and knowledge
(atharvan+knowledge), it dates back to 1000-800 BCE.
• The key features of Atharvaveda are given the table below:Features of Atharvaveda
• The daily procedures of life are very well enumerated in this VedaIt has 730 hymns/suktas,
6000 mantras, and 20 books
• Paippalada and the Saunakiya are two surviving recensions of Atharvaveda Called a Veda of
magical formulas, it includes three primary Upanishads – Mundaka Upanishad, the
Mandukya Upanishad, and the Prashna Upanishad
• This Veda contains hymns many of which were charms and magic spells which are meant to
be pronounced by the person who seeks some benefit,

15. BRAHMANAS
• They are the prose texts that explain the hymns in the
Vedas and are also the classification of Sanskrit texts
that are embedded within each Veda, incorporating
myths and legends to explain and instruct
• Brahmins on the performance of Vedic rituals. In
addition to explaining the symbolism and meaning of
the Samhitas, Brahmana literature also expounds
scientific knowledge of the Vedic Period, including
observational astronomy and, particularly in relation
to altar construction, geometry.
• Divergent in nature, some Brahmanas also contain
mystical and philosophical material that constitutes
Aranyakas and Upanishads.
ARAYANAKS
• A few important points about Aranyakas are
mentioned below:
• These are called Forest BooksSacrificial rituals are
interpreted by Aranyakas in a symbolic and
philosophical way.
UPNISHADS
• A few important points about Upanishads are
mentioned below:
• There are 108 UpanishadsOut of 108
Upanishads, 13 are considered the major ones.
• The concepts of ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’ are
majorly explained by Upanishads
• It contains philosophical ideas about the
following concepts too:
• Sacrifice,Body,Universe

16. Vedas , language & fonts
It was during the post-Vedic period that vernacular Sanskrit, otherwise known as bhāṣā, begins
to show significant changes, simplification and loss of archaic forms.

17. Smriti vedic literation can be divided into the following:
 Vedangas
 Puranas
 Shad darsana
 Itihasa
 Upveda
 Tantras
 Agamas
 Upangas

18. Vedangas
 Vedanga can be literally translated as "the limbs of the Vedas," referring to the six disciplines
associated with studying the ancient Indian spiritual texts, the Vedas.
 These texts laid the foundation for both yoga and Hinduism.
 These six "limbs" can together support the study, preservation and interpretation of the Vedas.
 In ancient India, where they developed, they were designed to provide students of the Vedas with a
holistic and integrated understanding of the scriptures.
 The Vedangas give insights into the meters, structure, language and meaning of the Vedas, as well as
helping to understand other post-Vedic texts and aspects of Hindu and yogic philosophy.
 Vedangas developed as ancillary studies for the Vedas, but its insights into meters, structure of sound
and language, grammar, linguistic analysis and other subjects influenced post-Vedic studies, arts,
culture and various schools of Hindu philosophy.
 The Kalpa Vedanga studies, for example, gave rise to the Dharma-sutras, which later expanded into
Dharma-shastras.

19. VEDANGAS HUMAN EQUIVALENT LIMB
CHHANDAS LEGS
KALPA HANDS
JYOTISHA EYES
NIRUKTA EARS
SHIKSHA NOSE
VYAKRANA FACE
The following verses from Paniniya Shiksha illustrate the importance of Vedangas by comparing them to the
limbs of the human body.
छन्दः पादौ तु वेदस्य हस्तौ कल्पोऽथ पठ्यतेज्योततषामयनं चक्षुतनिरुक्तं श्रोत्रमुच्यते।तिक्षा घ्राणं तु वेदस्य मुखं व्याकरणं
स्मृतम्तस्मात्साङ्कमधीत्यैव ब्रह्मलोक
े महीयते।।

20. The 6 types of vedangas are
 Shiksha - the study of phonology, phonetics and pronunciation. This focuses on the letters of the
Sanskrit alphabet, as well as the way that words are combined and expressed in a Vedic recitation.
 Chhandas - the study of prosody, which looks at poetic meter. This incorporates analyzing the
number of syllables per verse, and any fixed patterns within them.
 Vyarkarana - the analysis of grammar and linguistics, in order to establish the precise way in which
words and sentences were constructed to express ideas.
 Nirukta - the study of etymology, particularly with regard to explaining the meaning of words that
are archaic.
 Kalpa - the focus on ritual instructions. This field looks at procedures described for rites of passage,
weddings, births and other rituals associated with life events. It also explores concepts of individual
duty and proper conduct.
 Jyotisha - the study of auspicious times, which draws on the Vedic practice of using astrology and
astronomy to guide rituals and timekeeping.

21. Why Vedic knowledge is essential?
• It is proved that modern-day discoveries, inventions, theories, and concepts
are broadly based on Vedic knowledge/literature. Many scientists have
studied Vedic literature to get in-depth insights into scientific, spiritual,
psychological, and behavioral knowledge.

22. What is Vedic Philosophy?
• Vedic Philosophy provides answers to all unanswered questions i.e why there
is pain and pleasure, rich and poor, healthy and sick; God – His qualities,
nature, and works. Soul – Its nature and qualities, souls of humans and
animals; reincarnation – how does it happen, why one is born as he or she is.

23. What is Vedic teaching?
• The main aim of Vedic education was to attain salvation through education.
The teacher teaches the student in Gurukuls and Ashrams. The students and
teachers follow the principle of simple living but high thinking. Education
helped in the observance of celibacy, and control over the sense,
and purity of life.

24. CONCLUSION
When people today learn about India's ancient Vedas they discover a tradition perhaps 5000 years old,
guided by illumined seers living in harmony with nature, chanting arcane mantras, and performing
mysterious fire rituals. This image of the Vedic world appears fascinating but is also difficult to
understand, suggesting perhaps a mystical fantasy more than any deeper reality.
Vedic knowledge represents not only the past but also the future of India. It helped shape the
characteristic features of India's vast and enduring Dharmic civilization through the centuries, as the
Vedas first of all were formulated to teach Dharma. India's traditional philosophies, arts and sciences
have strong Vedic connections. The Vedas were one of the main inspirations for India's Independence
Movement, particularly through Dayananda Sarasvati, Lokmanya Tilak and Sri Aurobindo, and India's
great gurus today continue to honour them.

25. THANK-YOU
PRESENTED BY : Performed under the guidance of ,
Prof.
Ms. Smruti Borkar (11)
Ms. Pranjali Shirode
Ms. Siddhi Bhoir (08)
Ms. Eshita Humane (20)
Ms. Devika Parab (39)