Vedas, The

The Vedas

translated by Ralph T. B. Griffith

This book is a detailed overview of The Vedas, the holy book of the Hindus. The most important Hymns are quoted in full; extracts are also included from the Brahmanas, the part of the Rig Veda that that guides the Brahmans, the highest class of priests, in Vedic ceremonies.

This is one of the oldest and most important of the world's holy books. It is primarily composed of hymns, poems, incantations and rituals from ancient India. Not only is this the "bible" of the Hindu religion, it also offers a unique snapshot of normal, everyday life in India as it occurred over four thousand years ago. The oldest part is the Rig Veda, first composed about 1500 B.C. because The Vedas were considered to be too sacred to be written down -- they could only be passed down orally through generations of Brahman families. The Rig Veda was meant to call directly on the gods by recitiing the hymns aloud. The most frequently mentioned was Indra, the god of war and weather. Agni, the god of fire, is also prominently mentioned.

All told, The Vedas have had a compelling influence on other religions around the world, most directly on Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. And those individiuals searching for ancient wisdom on their own will, sooner or later, always come to the Vedas.