॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥हिन्दी
कथाविधिKathaVidhi

Shruti · A starting map

The Vedic traditions

Four Vedas, several textual forms, and traditions that overlap.

Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda are the four Vedas. In the traditional classification, Vedic literature belongs to Shruti. Shruti is a category; it is not the name of a fifth Veda.

Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanishad describe important textual forms or layers associated with Vedic traditions. A simple tree helps a beginner, but individual works can be embedded in other works and their boundaries can overlap.

A careful edition records its Veda affiliation, recension and source. An introductory explanation helps you orient yourself; it does not replace a complete edition or specialist instruction in accented recitation.

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