Vedas are considered to be the bible of Hindus. The Sanskrit
word véda "knowledge, wisdom" is derived from the root vid- "to
know". It is a large body of knowledge text composed in Sanskrit. Vedas
contains the sublime secrets of life. Vedas are also called śruti ("what
is heard") literature, distinguishing them from other religious texts,
which are called smṛti ("what is remembered"). Vedas were not written
by anyone, but were heard by the Vedic Rishis while in deep meditation. This
text has been carefully preserved since ancient times. Vedas are called Marai
in parts of South India. Marai literally means "hidden secret".
Scholars believe that they were written down some 2,500 years
ago, though the tradition often dates them to the beginning of Kali-yuga (3000
BCE). Initial Veda was a one huge body of text with more than a hundred
thousand shlokas. Later, it was divided into four vedas by Rishi Veda Vyasa and
hence is his name, one who divided the vedas. These four are now known as Rigveda,
Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
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