The Vedas
The Vedas are considered the most sacred and treasured texts of
India. The Vedas are a collection of hymns that were received by
the ancient rishis (sages) as shruti, divine revelation. As hymns
and mantras, these works were actively recited out loud to both
praise and invoke the powers of the spiritual realms, and had been
verbally passed on for many generations before written down on
delicate palm leaves. These Vedic mantras were utilized in yagas
and yajnas (ritual sacrifices and ceremonies) for promoting the
well being of individuals, society and the world.
As the oldest texts in any Indo-European language, it’s astounding
that within these works the foundations of yoga are established,
with yoga being defined as "yoking" and as a "discipline." The
Vedas provided the spiritual core and philosophical foundations
for the future development of both yoga and Hinduism.
There are four texts that compose the Vedas: Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda,
Yajur-Veda and Atharva-Veda.
The Rig-Veda
is the oldest, dating back to 1500 B.C.E., and is the most revered
and important of the four. The Rig-Veda’s collection of inspired
hymns and mantras were used to invoke courage, happiness, health,
peace, prosperity, success, and wisdom. In the Rig-Veda we learn
the now famous Gayatri mantra, which is still used today for its
potent spiritual qualities. We also find the first use and
definition of the word yoga. These verses provide the foundation
and material for the remaining Vedas.
The Sama-Veda
is purely a devotional collection of melodies (saman) used to
elevate one’s consciousness. The hymns in the Sama-Veda are
combined with musical notes, and their content was heavily drawn
from the Rig-Veda, providing no distinctive lessons of their own.
This use of music combined with mantras formed the foundation for
the Bhakti yoga practice of kirtan, devotional chanting.
The Yajur-Veda
is devoted entirely to the worship of the deities and the
instruction for the technical aspects of ceremonies. The Yajur-Veda
served as a handbook for the Vedic priests who executed
sacrificial acts through simultaneously chanting the hyms and
mantras while following the sacrificial formula (yajus).
The Atharva-Veda
consists of spells and charms to dispel evil, disease and
misfortune. Its hymns are of a more diverse character than the
Rig-Veda and were composed of a simpler language making them more
accessible to the general population.
The Vedas expounded a diverse set of practices, ideas and
concepts; among them was an primitive form of yoga as well as one
of the world’s oldest, diverse and complex spiritual
philosophies. Six main schools of philosophy emerged from these
teachings. These Darshanas (viewpoints) all systematically
represent the core ideas illuminated in the Vedas. They are: Nyaya
(logic), Vaiseshika (analysis of the universe), Samkhya
(classification of the universe), Yoga (union with the Divine),
Mimansha (ritual interpretation of the Vedas), and Vedanta
(inquiry into the Self).
Because all of these philosophical systems draw from the same
source, they are seen to complement rather than compete with each
other. Over time, Vaisheshika, Nyaya, and Mimamsa have become
somewhat obsolete and are not actively practiced. Samkhya,
Vedanta, and Yoga continue to have a strong importance and
influence in Indian thought and many of the practices that evolved
out of these Darshanas continue to be practiced today.
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