Rig Veda – book of mantras |
Yajur Veda – how to perform yagnas |
Sama Veda – chants and melodies |
Atharva Veda – hymns, mantras and incantations |
Vedas contain four sections
- Samhita – collection of hymns, prayers, benedictions, sacrificial formulas, litanies
- Brahmanas – prose treatises discussing the significance of sacrificial rites and ceremonies
- Aranyakas – forest texts
- Upanishads – philosophical treatises on life, universe and everything
Upavedas
- Ayur-veda: medicine
- Gandharva-veda: music and dance
- Dhanur-veda: warfare
- Shilpa-veda: architecture