LATER VEDIC CIVILIZATION
Introduction
The evolution of Vedic literature reflects the spiritual and philosophical development of ancient Indian thought, progressing from ritualistic practices to profound philosophical inquiries. This body of literature encompasses the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads, each contributing to the holistic understanding of the cosmos, ethics, and the human spirit.
Vedic Literature: An Overview
1.Four Vedas: The foundation of Vedic literature, comprising the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts primarily focus on hymns, prayers, and rituals dedicated to various deities.
2.Brahmanas: Prose texts that explain the Vedic sacrificial ceremonies and their symbolic meanings, representing the earliest prose literature of the Aryans.
3.Aranyakas: Known as "forest texts," these are the philosophical extensions of the Brahmanas, meant to be studied in solitude. They bridge the ritualistic Brahmanas and the philosophical Upanishads.
4.Upanishads: The culmination of Vedic literature, focusing on philosophical inquiries into the nature of reality, the self (Atman), and the ultimate reality (Brahman).