Important Trivia about Vedic Literature for UPSC Examinations

Rather than dealing the topics in details, here are some of the notable facts and observations which you must note for your examinations:

On Rig-Veda

• Rig-Veda is oldest literature of the world and is known as “First testament” of mankind.
• The famous Gayatri Mantra comes from third Mandala of Rig-Veda.
• The first hymn (1.1) of Rig-Veda is dedicated to Vedic God Agni.
• One entire Mandala (ninth) is dedicated to the Vedic beverage Soma.
• The Nadistuti sukta is hymn dedicated to 10 rivers of contemporary India.
• The Nasadiya Sukta talks about the origin of the Universe and is part of 10th Mandala. This Sukta states a paradox “not the non-existent existed, nor did the existent exist then”. This particular statement has attracted a lots of commentaries in both Indian and western theology.
• There are two branches of Rig-Veda viz. Shakala Shakha and Vatkal or Bhashkala Shakha.
• Two Brahmans of Rig-Veda are Aitreya and Kaushitaki.

On Yajurveda

• It contains rituals for yajnas and is ascribed to Advaryus who prepared ground for Yajnas.
• It is world’s oldest prose literature.
• Two branches Shukla and Shyama. Shyama is older than Shukla and has no separate Brahman. Shukla is newer and has three Brahmanas attached to it viz. Kathaka, Taittiriya and Shatapatha Brahmana
• Dhanurveda is Upaveda of Yajurveda.

On Sam Veda

• Samaveda contains the rhythmic compilation of Hymns for Rig-Veda. The 1549 hymns are there to be sung at the Soma Sacrifice by a special class of Brahamins called Udgatris.
• Gandharveveda is Upaveda of Samveda.

• Panchavisha, Shadvisha and Jaiminiya Brahmanas are attached to Samaveda.

On Atharvaveda

• Atharvaveda is chronologically the latest Veda. It describes the popular beliefs and superstitions of the humble folk.
• It contains the magic spells, incorporates much of early traditions of healing and magic that are paralleled in other Indo-European literatures.
• It is ascribed to Atharvans and Angiras.
• Gopatha Brahman is linked to Atharvaveda.
• Atharvaveda has no Aranyakas appended to it.

The following graphics shows list of Brahmans of four Vedas for quick reference.

On Aranyakas

• As we discussed earlier, they were created in forests and are for students and hermits. They make a bridge between the Karma of Brahmana and Gyana of Upanishads.
• There are no Aranyaka appended to Atharvaveda.

On Upanishads

• Upanishad means to sit down near someone and denotes a student sitting near his guru to learn. They specify philosophical knowledge and spiritual learning and their main motto is “Knowledge Awards Salvation”.
• Upanishads are also called Vedanta, because they reveal the final aim of Vedas.
• Oldest Upanishads are Brhadaranyaka and Chandogya. Latest Upanishad is Muktikā Upnishad recorded by Dara Shikoh in 1656.
• Dara Shikoh, the unlucky son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan is known to have translated fifty Upanishads into Persian.
• There are 108 Upanishads, of which 11 are predominant and called Mukhya Upanishads.

Important Trivia on Upanishads

Four Mahavakyas

The four Mahavakyas or great statements are from Upanishads. They are as follows:

Prajnanam Brahma

This means consciousness is Brahman. It comes from Aitareya Upanishad of Rig-Veda. This Mahavakya implies that the consciousness is subtlest texture of the cosmos and is present and active everywhere.

Ayam Atma Brahma

This means self or Atman is Brahman. It comes from the Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva Veda.

Tat Tvam Asi

This means “Thou art That”. It comes from the Chandogya Upanishad of the Samveda. It’s too much mystical statement and has been interpreted by different schools differently. In its simplest meaning, it says that self in its pure form is identical with the original reality.

Aham Brahmasmi

This means “I am Brahman”. This statement comes from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajurveda.

Asato Ma Sadgamaya

This Upanishada belongs to the Shatpath Brahman and contains the famous shloka “asato ma sadgamaya tamaso ma jyotirgamaya mrtyorma amrtam gamaya” This shloka means “lead us from the unreal to the real, lead us from darkness to light, lead us from death to immortality“.

Kathopnishad

It was translated by Max Müller in 1879. It was rendered in verse by Edwin Arnold as “The Secret of Death”. The central story is immortality and covers the story of encounter of Nachiketa, son of sage Vajasravasa, with Yama, God of death.

Muktika

This Upanishad deals with the  Para Vidya and Apara Vidya. The Para Vidya is knowledge that leads to Self Realization, Apara Vidya deals with everything else or the material knowledge.

Mundaka Upanishad

Mundaka Upanishad is notable as the source of the phrase Satyameva jayate (3.1.6)

Māandūkya

Mandukya is the Shortest Upanishad. It contains twelve verses expounding the mystic syllable Aum, the three psychological states of waking, dreaming and sleeping, and the transcendent fourth state of illumination.

Praśna

Six pupils interested in knowing divinity or Brahman come to sage Pippalada and requests him to clarify their spiritual doubts. Therefore, this Upnishad is in Question Answer format.