Executive Officer Paper II · 7 Vedic Culture · APPSC Paper I

7.1 Vedic Culture notes

3 notes, in reading order.

  1. 7.1.1The four Vedas: Samhitas, Shakhas, Brahmanas and ritviks

    The Vedas are Shruti ("what was heard"): four collections, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, each with Shakhas (recensions) and four layers (Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad), and each served at the yagna by its own priest, the Hota, Adhvaryu, Udgata and Brahma.

    Standard · 17 min · Read here
  2. 7.1.2Upanishads, Upavedas, Vedangas and the 14 vidyas

    The Upanishads are the philosophical end of the Veda (Vedanta), ten of them principal and each tied to one Veda; the Upavedas are four applied sciences, the six Vedangas are the auxiliary sciences needed to read and use the Veda, and Vedas + Vedangas + four more make the 14 vidyas.

    Standard · 19 min · Read here
  3. 7.1.3Yagnas, ashramas, purusharthas and samskaras

    Vedic life is organised around sacrifice (yajna), four stages of life (ashramas), four aims (purusharthas) and the sixteen sacraments (samskaras) that mark a person from conception to cremation.

    Standard · 21 min · Read here

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