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The Vedas Facts & Worksheets

The Vedas are the sacred scriptures comprising Hinduism, also called Sanatan Dharma, which translates to "Eternal Order" or "Eternal Path." "Knowledge" refers to the Vedas, which hold essential information about the underlying causes, purposes, and individual reactions to existence.

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The Vedas are the sacred scriptures comprising Hinduism, also called Sanatan Dharma, which translates to “Eternal Order” or “Eternal Path.” “Knowledge” refers to the Vedas, which hold essential information about the underlying causes, purposes, and individual reactions to existence. They are some of the world’s oldest religious compositions.

See the fact file below for more information about The Vedas, or you can download our 29-page Vedas worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND

  • Though it is accurate to identify them as sacred texts about the essence of the Divine, they are more usually called “scripture.” The Vedas, in contrast to the readers of other religions, are supposed to have always existed and were discovered by sages in profound states of meditation at some point before c. Instead of being understood to have been revealed to a particular individual or people at a specific historical moment before 1500 BCE, the exact date is uncertain.
  • The Vedas were originally oral traditions transmitted orally from teacher to student for centuries until being written down between c. 1500 – 500 BCE. 
  • In India, the Vedic Period began around 500 BCE. To carefully preserve the words and maintain what was initially heard, teachers would have students remember them forwards and backward, with particular attention to precise pronunciation.

TYPES

  • Thus, in Hinduism, the Vedas are considered Shruti, or “what is heard,” in contrast to other writings called Smritis, or “what is remembered,” which are narratives of great heroes and their tribulations found in books like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Bhagavad Gita (though some Hindu sects consider the Bhagavad Gita to be Shruti). The Four Vedas consist of the following texts:
  • 1. The Rig Veda. The earliest of the texts is the Rig Veda, which consists of 10 books, or mandalas, with 1,028 hymns totaling 10,600 words.
  • 2. The Sama Veda. The liturgical melodies, chants, and poems that make up the Sama Veda, also known as “Melody Knowledge” or “Song Knowledge,” are intended to be sung. 
  • The Rig Veda provides practically all of the substance, and some historians have noted that the Rig Veda functions as the lyrics to the Sama Veda melodies.
  • It is split into two portions, the gana (melodies) and the arcika (verses), totaling 1,549 verses. When paired with the lyrics, the melodies are supposed to inspire dancing, which uplifts the spirit.
  • 3. The Yajur Veda. The Yajur Veda, known as “Worship Knowledge” or “Ritual Knowledge,” comprises chants, mantras, and recitations specifically used in worship sessions. Like the Sama Veda, the Rig Veda is the source of its content; nevertheless, the 1,875 lines mainly address the liturgy of religious observances.
  • It is commonly believed to consist of two “sections,” which are traits of the whole rather than separate portions. The clearer and more effectively organized verses are called the “light Yajur Veda. “Contrastingly, the confusing and badly organized sections are called the “dark Yajur Veda.”
  • 4. The Veda Atharva. The “knowledge of Atharvan,” or Atharva Veda, differs significantly from the other three in that it emphasizes prayers, chants, hymns, initiation rites, marriage and funeral ceremonies, and daily life observations rather than magical spells to fend off evil spirits or danger.
  • It is believed that the priest Atharvan, renowned for his healing abilities and innovative religious practices, is the source of the name.
  • It is believed that the text was written at the same time as the Sama and Yajur Vedas (c. 1200–1000 BCE) by a person (perhaps Atharvan, although unlikely).  
  • It has 730 hymns in 20 books, some based on the Rig Veda. Some theologians and academics do not accept the text as a legitimate Veda due to its nature, language, and format. 
  • Some Hindu sects today embrace it, but not all, because it deals with remembered knowledge from later times rather than hearing information from primordial times.

Each of them is further subdivided according to the kinds of text that they contain: 

  • Aranyakas: customs and festivals
  • Brahmanas: commentary on those ceremonies
  • Samhitas: invocations, supplications, and mantras
  • Upanishads: conversations and philosophical stories
  • The Upanishads are the most well-known and widely read of the Vedas because their discourse is given in dialogue/narrative style, as they were the first to be translated into various languages. 
  • On the other hand, the four Vedas are regarded as the actual sounds of God, which, when chanted or recited, imitate the original sounds of the cosmos. 
  • As a result, interpreting them is complex, and anything that can be taken as a translation is only a paraphrase.
  • Not all Hindu sects share the Orthodox Hindu denominations’ recognition of the Vedas as a significant source of spiritual authority.
  • Reform movements that appeared in the 19th century CE and continued into the modern age have prioritized individual religious experience over tradition and scriptural authority. 
  • As a result, some Hindu sects and offshoots, including the Brahmos Movement, reject the Vedas as superstitious. 
  • Nevertheless, the texts are still studied, read, and revered today, and they continue to play a significant role in Hindu religious celebrations, festivals, and ceremonies.

EARLY ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DATING

  • The origin of the Vedas is yet to be determined, even though numerous academics and theologians have put forth various theories. The prevalent belief, however not universally acknowledged, is that the Aryan tribes who moved to India from Central Asia around the third millennium BCE brought the Vedic vision with them.
  • The term Aryan should be interpreted as the people of the time understood it, which meant “free” or “noble,” a class of people rather than a race, and not Caucasian (as stated by Western researchers in the 18th and 19th centuries CE). 
  • It is believed that these Indo-Aryans split off from a more extensive group that also included the Indo-Iranians who lived in the area of present-day Iran and became known as Persians in the West (thanks to the Greeks). 
  • According to the Indo-Aryan Migration idea, with the demise of the native Harappan Civilization (c. 7000–600 BCE), the Vedic vision was established in Central Asia and transferred to India. 
  • It was assimilating the beliefs of that society between 2000 – 1500 BCE. However, according to a different idea called Out of India (OIT), the Harappan Civilization had already formed the vision. It was transported from India to Central Asia, where the Indo-Aryan migration later brought it back.
  • Although mainstream academia rejects the OIT, there are reasonable grounds to acknowledge the motivation behind either claim, and scholars tend to believe one or the other more for subjective reasons than for the sake of objective, scholarly research. 
  • The answer that makes the most sense regarding the origin and chronology of the Vedas is that it is just unknown. Nonetheless, the argument continues in the modern era due to human curiosity about explaining seemingly mysterious phenomena. 

THE VEDIC PERIOD

  • The Vedas were written down during the Vedic Period, which spanned approximately 1500–500 BCE, but this is not connected with how old the ideas or oral traditions are. As previously mentioned, there is disagreement over the evidence supporting the notion of an Indo-Aryan migration, which is the basis for the contemporary term “Vedic Period.” 
  • Nevertheless, given the data, that theory is often acknowledged as historically accurate. Academic John M. Koller describes the texts’ development.
  • “The Sanskrit-speaking peoples of the Indus Valley undoubtedly started to dominate life and thought from 2000–1500 BCE, when the Vedic age began. 
  • Historians once believed that approximately 35,000 years ago, these Sanskrit-speaking peoples, who went by the name Aryans, were conquerors who settled in the Indus Valley in northwest India. 
  • However, the idea that Aryans could be conquered has been contested by current research. What is known is that the older Indus culture, which peaked between 2500 and 1500 BCE and was rather complex based on the remnants found in its archaeology, began to fall during this period. 
  • It is also known that over the last 3,500 years, Vedic thinking and culture—mirrored in the Rig Veda—have consistently dominated Indian history. It’s possible that the Indus people’s customs and traditions merged with those of the Vedic peoples.”
  • Since the Harappan Civilization left no written records behind, their religious beliefs are still being determined. Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and other excavation sites point to a highly developed belief system that included ceremonial bathing and worship. 
  • Dating to before 3000 BCE, statues depicting the nature spirits known as yakshas are the only definite proof of religious belief and activity, and in their most basic form, persist, albeit more refined, throughout the first century BCE.
  • If one understands the evidence in the context of ancestor cults, the Yaksha Cults appear to have strongly emphasized everyday necessities. Offerings were offered to either ward against evil or request favors from the spirits, which may be good or evil. Like Asian ancestor cults, there was no focus on the “big picture” of human origins, potential purposes, or post-mortem destinations.
  • These were the answers provided by the Rig Veda, the first of the Vedas (literally translating to “Knowledge of Wisdom,” “Verses of Wisdom,” or “Praise Knowledge”), which serves as the basis for the other three.

The Vedas Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about The Vedas across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about The Vedas. The Vedas are the sacred scriptures comprising Hinduism, also called Sanatan Dharma, which translates to “Eternal Order” or “Eternal Path.”

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. The Vedas- Hinduism Facts
  2. Vedas Development Timeline
  3. The Vedas
  4. Can You Answer This?
  5. Missing Letters
  6. Vedic Language
  7. Let’s Interpret
  8. Flashcards
  9. Mandapa Miniature
  10. Deity Vedic Hymn
  11. My Life Principles

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Vedas?

The Vedas are a collection of ancient sacred texts in Hinduism, considered the oldest and most authoritative scriptures of the religion. There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. They are composed in Sanskrit and contain hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings.

Who composed the Vedas?

The authorship of the Vedas is traditionally attributed to ancient sages or seers called “rishi.” According to Hindu belief, these sages received the divine knowledge and wisdom contained in the Vedas through meditation and revelation. The hymns and verses were then passed down orally from generation to generation.

What is the significance of the Rigveda?

The Rigveda is the oldest and most important Veda, consisting of hymns dedicated to various deities. It is a foundational text for Vedic rituals and ceremonies, providing a rich source of philosophical, theological, and cosmological insights. The hymns in the Rigveda are addressed to deities like Agni (fire), Indra (king of gods), Varuna (god of cosmic order), and others.

How are the Vedas structured?

Each Veda is divided into four parts: Samhitas (hymns), Brahmanas (rituals and ceremonies), Aranyakas (meditations), and Upanishads (philosophical teachings). The Samhitas contain the hymns and chants, while the Brahmanas provide instructions for rituals. The Aranyakas serve as a bridge between ritual and contemplation, and the Upanishads delve into the profound spiritual and philosophical aspects.

What is the role of the Vedas in Hinduism today?

The Vedas continue to be highly revered in Hinduism and are considered the foundational texts for religious practices and spiritual knowledge. While not everyone may directly study or recite the Vedas, their influence is widespread in various aspects of Hindu culture, rituals, and traditions. Many philosophical concepts found in the Upanishads, such as Brahman (universal spirit) and Atman (individual soul), remain central to Hindu thought.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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