The Vedas (Srutis)

Category: Samhitas | Author : THT | Date : 29 October 2025 13:02

The Vedas

The Vedas (Srutis)

The Vedas, also called Srutis or Amnaya, are the foundation of Hindu religion. Hindus believe these sacred texts are a direct revelation from God. This means they weren't written by any human person; they are considered divine and authorless (Apaurusheya). The Vedas are a source of great pride for Hindus, and indeed, for the whole world.

The word "Veda" comes from the root "Vid", meaning "to know". So, Veda simply means "knowledge". For Hindus, they are the most important scriptures. They are seen as the source of all other religious writings, and even of knowledge about the world and everyday life. The Vedas are a storehouse of ancient Indian wisdom, a lasting treasure for all time.

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Eternal Truths, Revealed by God

The Vedas contain eternal truths, revealed by God to the great sages of ancient India, known as Rishis. A Rishi is a "seer" – someone who sees or perceives spiritual truths. These Rishis didn't invent the Vedic teachings; they "saw" or "heard" the truths that already existed. They were spiritual discoverers, not authors. Because the truths were heard by the Rishis, the Vedas are called "Srutis" (that which is heard).

The Vedas represent the deep spiritual experiences of these Rishis. The Rishi acted like a channel, passing on the divine wisdom they received. While other world religions often say their teachings came from special messengers of God sent to particular people, the Vedas are different. They don't get their authority from a messenger. They are the eternal authority themselves because they are seen as the knowledge of God.

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The Source of Religion

Lord Brahma (the Creator) is said to have given this divine knowledge to the Rishis. These Rishis were enlightened souls who had a direct experience of ultimate truth (Brahman). They were inspired teachers. From this revealed knowledge, they built a profound and complete system of religion and philosophy. Many founders of other religions later drew inspiration from these ideas.

The Vedas are the oldest known sacred writings. The essential truths found in all religions can be traced back to the wisdom contained in the Vedas. They are the original source of religious understanding. Hindus believe religion itself has a divine origin, revealed by God in ancient times and captured in the Vedas.

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Why are the Vedas Called Eternal?

The Vedas are said to be eternal – without beginning or end. You might wonder how a book can be eternal. The key is this: the eternal Vedas aren't primarily the physical books. They are the divine words themselves, thought to have come from the very breath of God. They are God's words, not composed by any human mind. They weren't "written" or "created" in the usual sense; they were revealed and exist eternally.

While the physical books containing the Vedas can be destroyed, the knowledge itself – the eternal spiritual truths – cannot be destroyed. It is this everlasting divine knowledge that makes the Vedas eternal. Because of this, it's impossible to say when the Vedas first "started"; they have always existed as spiritual truth.