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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Scripture and Interpretation

Vedas

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈveɪdəz/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, Vedas means: The oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, composed in Sanskrit and passed down orally for many centuries; there are four Vedas, of which the Rigveda is the oldest.

In Turkish: Vedalar, Veda metinleri

How it is used

The four Vedas are the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. Hindu tradition classes them as shruti, 'what is heard'. The Upanishads form the final layer of Vedic literature. Scholars speak of the Vedic period, Vedic religion and Vedic ritual.

Example sentences

  1. The Vedas were transmitted orally by priestly families long before they were written down.

  2. Hymns in the Vedas praise deities such as Agni, the god of fire, and Indra.

Common collocations

  • the four Vedas
  • Vedic literature
  • Vedic period
  • Vedic ritual
  • Vedic Sanskrit
  • HinduismA family of religious traditions that developed in South Asia, with no single founder, sharing scriptures such as the Vedas and ideas such as dharma, karma and rebirth.
  • scriptureThe sacred writings of a religion, regarded by its followers as authoritative and often as revealed or inspired, such as the Qur'an, the Bible or the Vedas.
  • dharmaA key idea in Indian religions meaning duty, law and the right order of things; in Buddhism it also refers to the teaching of the Buddha.
  • priestA person authorized to perform sacred rituals, such as offering sacrifices or administering sacraments, in traditions such as Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity and Hinduism.

More terms: Scripture and Interpretation

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