The Vedas are not only the most esteemed, authentic and sacred books of the Hindu’s, but are also the first and foremost books of world literature. They are the repositories of knowledge. The Hindu’s regard them as the books of divine knowledge as well as the root of Vedic- Sanatana religion. They are the main sources of all succeeding literature, Vedic as well as Classical.
The term “Veda” comes from the Sanskrit root “Vid” i.e. to know. By “Veda” we mean Divine knowledge, not any ordinary knowledge, which is usually subject to omission or addition. It is infallible, immortal, flawless and fathomless. The Vedas are the source of all true knowledge.
The Vedas, as a body of knowledge is one, but for practical terms comprises of four parts, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda.In them are the subjects of knowledge, action, communion and science. Briefly, the“Rigveda” is the knowledge of God, creation, nature and man. “Yajurveda” is the knowledge of the application of knowledge in practice for right living. “Samaveda” is a celebration of knowledge and successful living in song. “Atharvaveda”is an umbrella vision of life and divinity, a top coverage of Vedic knowledge, action and piety in state of spiritual living. The Vedas contain the root principles of all sciences e.g. mathematics, astronomy, music, medicine and astrology, to name a few. Of these, the most important is Theosophy (Knowledge of God).
The Vedas are dated back to more than 5000 years by western theologians, however, their basis was only that of the Vedas in written form, i.e. the Samhitas. Though, the truth of its origin goes much further. The knowledge of the Vedas was revealed to the first four Rishis (Saints), namely Agni, Angira, Vayu and Aditya (Shatapatha Brahmana 11/5/2/3), at the dawn of human civilization through deep meditation on the cosmic vibration (Manusmriti 1/23). They were only God’s instruments for revealing the Vedas. As such, Vedas was known as “Shruti”, which has in essence two meanings, “to be heard” and “revelation”. Since they were revealed knowledge, it is known as “revelation” which was “heard” by the Rishis in a meditative state and then passed down through generations via recitation. Only later did Rishi Vedvyasa compile this “Shruti” into written form (Smriti), known today as Veda Samhita (Four Vedas as we know today).
Hence the Vedas are “Apaurusheya”i.e., not created by any human being, and they are nothing exclusively by themselves because they are the expression of the Creator’s own essential power. The Vedas is the soul articulation of the Eternal Parambrahman (God). Veda is His Word and only from Him was the Rig, Yajur, Samaand Atharva VedabornRigveda 10/90/9. There are many verses in the Vedas proving that they are the sole creation of God; Rigveda (10/90/9), Yajurveda (31/3, 31/7) and Atharvaveda (10/23/4-10), among many others.
All that exists is Veda. the awareness of all that exists is Veda. The expression of that awareness through the medium of language is Veda because that expression of awareness in language for us, is the knowledge of what exists. Then, further thinking on Vedic knowledge and the application of knowledge and thought in practical living is Veda in the sense that the thought and practice is an extension of knowledge for our purpose. Thus, the knowledge, thought and practical living shows how we benefit from Veda. Living the Vedic way in awareness, thought and deed we add to the refinement, beauty and culture of our life in society. This refinement and culture too are a practical extension of Veda.
Let us understand this in the scientific way: we are living in an age of science. Science studies the world of existence as it shows itself through the medium of nature. Science studies nature, the method of study is the scientific method: observation, analysis, formulation, of hypothesis about the way nature works, then coming to the laws of nature. Thus far science is pure knowledge. Then comes in the technologist, the engineer, the man faced with life’s problems and problems have to be solved. Science must have a value in terms of life. Knowledge after all is a value of high order for rational humanity. Newton, as we know from the history of science, discovered the law of gravitation. Someone observed that water flows from a higher level to a lower level. The town was faced with the problem of water supply. The engineers structured the water supply system and life became comfortable. In this sense and to this extent science is Veda: It is knowledge, the knowledge has value, that knowledge can be extended and applied to life and we can benefit from the knowledge and its application. It is knowledge of nature, it has a method, a purpose and a mission: to find the truth of nature and by extension and application, make life better. Newton and Einstein are great in the history of science, they were great observers and discoverers but the laws exist on their own. They are not the creation or invention of any human being. Truth and knowledge exist on its own.
Veda is knowledge, science too is knowledge. There is a lot in common between Veda and Science, though it is a lot, is very limited in quality and quantity. There is a great similarity between the two and yet a greater dissimilarity between the two. Veda is knowledge, pure and simple, so is science, knowledge pure and simple. Science is knowledge of nature as nature is and as it works according to its own laws. Veda too is knowledge of nature as nature is and as it works according to its own laws, but Veda goes further than that, to the source of the laws, in fact it goes to the source of nature itself. Science is pure knowledge; there is no story, no history. Scientific knowledge is knowledge in scientific language free from local colour and historical variations of meaning, so Veda too is knowledge in Vedic Scientific language free from local colour and historical variations of meaning. The structure of Vedic terms is logical, so is the structure of Scientific words logical. But there is difference between Scientific knowledge and Vedic knowledge: While science is knowledge of nature to the extent that man has been able to discover it, Veda is universal knowledge of existence as we would find it to be from a source which is infinitely greater and higher than human. For this reason, Veda is the voice of Divinity, articulation of the divine awareness of existence in metalanguage. The source of Veda is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent Lord , the Supreme.
Reference: What is Veda by Dr Tulsi Ram Sharma and Gianender Kumar Sharma (Govindram Hasanand), Edition: First 2015
