IF THERE ARE FOUR VEDAS, WHY ARE THEY CALLED THE  TRIVAD VEDAS?

IF THERE ARE FOUR VEDAS, WHY ARE THEY CALLED THE  TRIVAD VEDAS?

19-OCT-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Texts like the Vishnu Purana and the Mahabharata state that there was originally only one Veda, but Vyasa and his disciple Vaishampayana divided them into four parts and named them Rigveda and others. However, this idea is completely misleading. On the one hand, the Puranas claim that each Veda emerged from each mouth of the four-armed Brahma, while on the other, they are said to be one.

When the names of the other three Vedas are present in each Veda, how can there be any doubt about their existence as four? While the Mahabharata mentions one Veda in one place, it also mentions four Vedas in other places. The four Vedas are so well-known in Vedic literature that nothing can be said against them. In the Valmiki Ramayana, when Shri Ram and Lakshman were on Mount Kishkindha, after listening to Hanuman, Ramchandra said to Lakshman –

Naṅrgvedavinitasya nayajurvedādharīnaḥ.

Naṅaṅaṅvedaviduḥ śākyamevaṁ prabhāṣitum ॥

. - (Valmiki Ramayana 4.3.29)

That is, no one can give such a speech without having studied the Rig Veda and Sama Veda.

This verse of the Valmiki Ramayana clearly states that at that time the Rig Veda and Sama Veda were separate. Then, how can their unification thousands of years later, during the time of Vyasa, and their subsequent division into four by Vyasa and others, be accepted?

If there are four Vedas, why is it called the Vedatrayi?

There are three types of mantras in all four Vedas. To reveal this it has been said in Purvamimamsa-

Teshan Rig Yatrarthvashena Padavasya.

Geetishu Samakhya Sheshe Yajuh Shabdah ॥

- (Purvamimāṃsā 2.1.35-37 II)

Those which are related to the meaning of the word are called Rik. The mantras that are sung are under the word Sama and the rest of the mantras are under the word Yajuh. These three types of mantras are spread in all four Vedas. The same thing has been said by 'Shadgurushishya' in the role of Sarvanukramanivritti -

Viniyoktavyarupacha trividha sampradarsyate. Rigyaju: Same form of mantras, Vedachatushtaye.

That is, three types of mantras are used in Yagyas. In the four Vedas (they) are in the form of Rig, Yajuh and Sama. Due to the existence of three types of mantras or the description of three types of duties of knowledge, action and worship in the Vedas, they are called Vedatrayee, but these Vedatrayee words include all the four Vedas. At one place in Atharvaveda it is said –

Vidyascha va avidyascha yachchanyadupadeshyam.

Sharare Brahma Pravishadrichah Samatho Yaju: ॥

- Atharvaveda 1.8.23 ॥

That is, Vidya and Avidya (knowledge + action) and whatever else is worth preaching and Brahma (Atharvaveda), Rik, Sama and Yaju entered the body of the Supreme Lord.

Whitney has also called Brahma as Atharvaveda. Like Atharvaveda, Rigveda also contains the names of all four Vedas.

So angirobhirangirastmobhud vrusha vrishabhih sakhibhih sakha san.

Rigmibhirigmi gatubhijyestho marutvanno bhavatvindre ooti.

, - Rigveda 1.100.4॥

That is, the one who is best equipped with Atharvaangirah mantras, who is the one who sprinkles happiness with the means of rain of happiness, who is a friend along with friends, who is the Rigvedi along with Rigvedi, who is the eldest in Sama (mantra knowledge), may that great Indra (God) protect us.

Atharva Veda has been clearly mentioned in this mantra. When the Rig Veda itself accepts the Vedatva of the Atharva Veda, then it is mere audacity to take the Atharva Veda out of the scope of the Vedas by declaring it new.