The New Student's Reference Work/Veda

Veda (vāfdȧ or vē'dȧ), (literally, knowledge) is the name of those ancient Sanskrit works on which the first period of the religious belief of the Hindus is based. The oldest of these works is the Rigveda; next to it stand the Yajurveda and Samaveda; the fourth and latest being the Atharvaveda. The first three bear the collective title of Trayi, the threefold, and all four are considered of divine origin. Each of these Vedas consists of two distinct divisions — a Sanhita or collection of mantras or hymns and a portion called Brahmana. A mantra may be defined as a prayer or thanksgiving addressed to a deity in one form or another. If such a mantra is metrical and intended for loud recitation, it is called rich, from rich, praise — whence the name Rigveda; if it is in prose it is called Yajus, from yaj, sacrifice, — therefore Yajurveda signifies the Veda containing such sacrifices. And if it is metrical and intended for chanting, it is termed Saman — hence Samaveda means the Veda containing such Samans. No special name is given to the mantras of the fourth Veda. Though the mantras and Brahmanas are both said to have existed from all eternity, there is abundant evidence that the Brahmana portion of each Veda was written some time after its mantras, for it refers to them, and it seems almost self-evident that both portions must have been the work of considerable time.