Hindu Vedas - English 1.3

This application presents an English translation of the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism. It encompasses all ten books along with their respective chapters, providing complete offline access without the need for an internet connection.

The Vedas, known as "Books of Knowledge," were composed in Sanskrit between approximately 1200 BCE and 100 CE. Referred to as sruti, these texts serve as the paramount authority in Hindu religious thought and are a benchmark for orthodoxy, though they are not acknowledged by Jains and Buddhists. As noted by religionfacts.com, for adherents of Hinduism, "the Veda is a symbol of unchallenged authority and tradition."

Today, selections from the Vedas are still memorized and recited for their spiritual merit. However, many aspects of the religious practices described within these texts have become obscure in contemporary Hindu practice.

As with much historical literature, the Vedic texts reflect the perspectives of dominant societal groups—primarily priests and warrior-kings—leading scholars to question whether they fully encapsulate the diverse religious beliefs and practices that existed in India during the first millennium BCE. This bias is particularly evident in the earlier sections of the Vedas, which concentrate on themes such as war and weather patterns, while also addressing socio-political dynamics involving the local populations.

The Vedas include four main collections of mantras (Samhitas), each associated with a specific priestly function or ritualistic context:

• Rig Veda (Wisdom of the Verses)
• Sama Veda (Wisdom of the Chants)
• Yajur Veda (Wisdom of the Sacrificial Formulas)
• Atharva Veda (Wisdom of the Atharvan Priests)

Additional categories of literature developed over time to accompany each Samhita: Brahmanas (which detail ritualistic practices), Aranyakas ("books studied in the forest"), and Upanishads (philosophical discourses). In these later writings, particularly within the Upanishads, the earlier polytheistic views transition toward a pantheistic understanding centered on Brahman, recognized as the ultimate reality of the universe—a concept that remains critical to Hindu philosophy today.

- The Rig Veda

Dating back to as early as 1500 BCE, the Rig Veda or Rg Veda is regarded as both the oldest among the four Vedic collections and one of humanity's earliest sacred texts. Comprising 10,552 verses divided into ten books, it contains hymns and mantras intended for use by hotri priests.

The hymns found within the Rig Veda seek to appease principal deities such as Indra (associated with war, wind, and rain), Agni (the sacrificial fire), Surya (the sun), and Varuna (representing cosmic order) through elaborate rituals. These divine figures govern essential aspects of existence—like rain and warfare—but also perform pivotal roles in administering justice and forgiveness (5.85.7; 1.97.1).

Additionally, rituals are conducted to honor deceased ancestors (10.15.1-11), who are believed to exert influence over those still living (10.15.6). The afterlife depicted in the Rig Veda promises an eternal conscious existence within Yama's domain, the god of death (9.113.7-11). Here, it is emphasized that divine beings—not karma—ensure justice in both this life and beyond (7.104).