1. The Vedas, Mandalas & Upanishads

Early Vedic Age (1500-1000 BC) characteristic

They were a pastoral community

Later Vedic Age (1000-600 BC) characteristic

Agriculturists - Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda were compiled during this time

Origin of Aryans

Believed to have arrived from Central Asia (one group migrated from Turkey towards Europe, another towards India)

Boghazkoi Inscription (Türkiye)

It mentions names such as Indra, Varun, etc.

Language of Aryans

Sanskrit

Vedas etymology and codification

Derived from Sanskrit root word "Vid" (to know) - codified by the Aryans

Oldest Text of Aryans

Avesta / Zend-Avesta (Iran)

Apaurusheya and Shruti definitions

Not created by man but gifted by God - Orally passed from one generation to another

Subdivisions of Vedas

Samhita (Collection of Hymns/Sukta), Brahmanas (Sacrifices and Rituals), Aranyakas (Hermits who lived in jungles), Upanishads (Talks about Bhakti Marga)

Rig Veda compilation and stats

First Veda compiled (Early Vedic Age) - Oldest and largest collection of Sanskrit hymns - 1028 hymns and 10,600 Verses

Rig Veda Reciter

Hymns are recited by Hotri

Deities in Rig Veda

Indra (Purandar), Agni (God of Fire), Vishnu, Soma, Varuna (God of Rita)

Female deities in Rig Veda

Aditi (Mother of Gods), Raka (goddess of prosperity), Sinivali (goddess of fertility), Usha (goddess of dawn)

Dance terms in Rig Veda

nrti (dance/dancer) and nrtu (danseuse/female dancer)

Rig Veda learned ladies (Rishis)

Ghosha, Apala, Viswavara

Rig Veda makers of arrows

Ishukrit and Isukara

Somras

An energy drink

Rig Veda Mandalas

Made up of 10 mandalas total - mandala no. 2-7 were created first

Gayatri Mantra

Written by Sage Vishwamitra for Goddess Savitri - mentioned in 3rd mandala

9th and 10th Mandalas of Rig Veda

9th mentions Lord Soma (Lord of Plants) - 10th mentions hymn of Purusha Shukta

Purusha Shukta (Cosmic being) Varnas

Mouth (Brahmans), Arms (Kshatriya), Thighs (Vaishya), Feet (Shudra)

Sama Veda features

Oldest book on music - consists of chanting melodies - traditionally paired with Upaveda known as Gandharvaveda

Sama Veda Reciter

Udgatri (or Udgatr) sings to invoke gods

Sama Veda Upanishads

Chandogya and Kena

Yajur Veda features

Collection of mantras (rituals and sacrifices) - divided into Shukla (White/Pure, mantras only) and Krishna (Black/Mixed, Mantra & Explanation)

Yajur Veda Brahmana texts

Taittiriya (Black) and Shatapatha Brahmana (largest)

Yajur Veda Reciter

Adhvaryu (perform action-oriented rituals)

Current Affairs regarding Yajur Veda

Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe (19-year-old scholar from Maharashtra) completed Dandakrama Parayanam (2,000 mantras from Shukla Yajurveda) over 50 days in Varanasi

Important Upanishads of Yajur Veda

Brihadaranyaka (oldest, mentions female sage Gargi Vachaknavi), Katha (story of Nachiketa and Yama), Jabala (part of Shukla Yajurveda)

Atharva Veda features

Veda of magic formulas (black magic) to ward off evil spirits and diseases - divided into 20 khandas

Atharva Veda Reciter

Performed by Brahman priest

Atharva Veda Brahmana

Gopatha Brahmana (only surviving prose commentary text exclusively associated with it)

Important Upanishads of Atharva Veda

Mundaka (Satyameva Jayate taken from here, longer than Mandukya) and Maha (Vasudhaiva Kutumbkham / "whole world is one family" taken from Chapter 6)