Vedic Literature

Question 1

The Four Vedas

Answer 1

1. Rig
2. Sama
3. Yajur
4. Atharva

Question 2

Classification of Vedic literature

Answer 2

Srutis and Smritis

Question 3

Sruti literature

Answer 3

Revealed scriptures
‘what is heard’
Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads

Question 4

Etymology of Veda

Answer 4

Root word - ‘Vid’ - Vidya
Spiritual knowledge

Question 5

Oldest Veda

Answer 5

Rig Veda

Question 6

What are Brahmanas?

Answer 6

Interpretations of Vedic hymns

Question 7

What is Sama Veda?

Answer 7

Rythmic compilations for Rigveda

Question 8

What is Yajur Veda?

Answer 8

Rituals of yajnas (yagam)
Two Yajur vedas-
Shukla Yajur (white)
Krishna Yajur (black)

Question 9

What is Atharva Veda?

Answer 9

Mantras for magic spells

Question 10

‘Aranya’ means?

What are Aranyakas?

Answer 10

**Forest books ** Description of moral science and philosophy, focus on meditation

Question 11

What are Upanishads?

Answer 11

Combination of tatva-mimansa and philosophy
meaning - sit near the Guru

Question 12

Brahmanas of Rigveda

Answer 12

Aiteraya and Kaushitaki

Question 13

Brahmanas of Sama Veda

Answer 13

Tandya and Jaiminiya

Question 14

Brahmanas of Yajur Veda

Answer 14

Tattiriya and Satpatha

Question 15

Brahmanas of Atharva Veda

Answer 15

Gopatha

Question 16

Smriti literature

Answer 16

1. Vedangas
2. Shad-darsana
3. Itihasa
4. Puranas
5. Upaveda
6. Tantras
7. Agamas
8. Upangas

Question 17

Vedangas

Answer 17

1. Kalpa - rituals
2. Jyotisha - astronomy
3. Siksha - phonetics / pronunciation
4. Chhanda - metrics
5. Nirukta - etymology
6. Vyakarana - grammar

Question 18

Shad-darsana or Orthodox philosophy (Astika)

Answer 18

1. Nyaya
2. Vaiseshikha
3. Sankhya
4. Yoga
5. Mimamsa
6. Vedanta

Question 19

Itihasa

Answer 19

Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata

Question 20

Puranas

Answer 20

1. Brahma Purana
2. Vishnu Purana
3. Shiva Purana
4. Padma Purana
5. Shrimad Bhagavata Purana
6. Agni Purana
7. Narada Purana
8. Markandeya Purana
9. Bhavishya Purana
10. Linga Purana
11. Varaha Purana
12. Vamana Purana
13. Brahma Vaivertya Purana
14. Skanda Purana
15. Surya Purana
16. Matsya Purana
17. Garuda Purana
18. Brahmanda Purana

Question 21

What are Upavedas?

Answer 21

Subsidiary Vedas
related with either of the main Vedas

Question 22

Tantras

Answer 22

Writings of Shakti and Shaivite sects

Question 23

Agamas

Answer 23

Scriptures of sectarian Hindus
like Vaishnavites, Saivites and Shakti

Question 24

Upangas

Answer 24

Generic names for collection of treatises

Question 25

Vedic literature was written

Answer 25

By 'Rishis' In Vedic Sanskrit | Earlier form of Sanskrit, has various Munda and Dravidian loanwords

Question 26

Sections of the Vedas

Answer 26

1. Samhitas 2. Brahmanas 3. Aranyakas 4. Upanishads | Each Veda has all the 4 sections.

Question 27

Meaning - Samhitas

Answer 27

Main parts of the Vedas Hymns (Shlokas) to the Gods

Question 28

Meaning - Brahmanas (pn. Brahmaanas)

Answer 28

Commentaries by various Rishis Give context to the Samhitas and explain

Question 29

Meaning - Aranyakas

Answer 29

'Aranya' - forest Forest texts discuss deeper meaning of rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices

Question 30

Meaning - Upanishads

Answer 30

Philosophical text discuss life, meaning, spirituality, death

Question 31

What are Puranas?

Answer 31

Mythologies, traditional folklore Filled with superstitions, magical, unscientific elements Represent the most corrupt form of Hinduism Multiple interpolations.

Question 32

Upavedas

Answer 32

1. Ayurveda - Medicine 2. Dhanurveda - Art of Warfare 3. Gandharva veda - Music 4. Shilpa veda - Architecture

Question 33

Ayurveda

Answer 33

Medicine Related with Rig

Question 34

Dhanurveda

Answer 34

Science of warfare related with Yajur

Question 35

Gandharva veda

Answer 35

Music related with Sama

Question 36

Shilpa veda

Answer 36

Architecture related with Adharva

Question 37

Brahmanas

Answer 37

Shatapatha Brahmana (associated with Shukla Yajurveda) Taittiriya Brahmana (associated with Krishna Yajurveda) Gopatha Brahmana (associated with Atharvaveda) Jaiminiyopanishad Brahmana (associated with Samaveda)

Question 38

Aranyakas

Answer 38

Rig : Aitareya Aranyaka, Kaushitaki Aranyaka Yajur : Taittiriya Aranyaka, Maitrayaniya Aranyaka, Katha Aranyaka, Brihad Aranyaka (of Shukla Yajurveda) Sama : Talavakara Aranyaka

Question 39

Upanishads

Answer 39

Rig : Aitareya Upanishad Yajur : Isha Upanishad (Shukla Yajurveda), Katha Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Maitrayaniya Upanishad (Krishna Yajurveda) Sama : Chandogya Upanishad, Kena Upanishad Atharva : Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad