Vedas are the foundation of Hindu dharma. Everything in Hinduism is traced back to Vedas for validation and origin. While it can be said that there are two streams of Hinduism, Aastik, those who follow Vedas and believe it to be the ultimate authority and Naastik, those who do not give Vedas primacy , Naastik ideology has almost completely branched off. So much so that major Naastik ideology of Buddhism is considered totally separate from Hinduism. Followers of Chaarvak now can be grouped along with agnostics and other non believers.
So the major sects of Hinduism are all followers of Vedas or at least claim to be.
This brings us to the most pertinent question of what is there in Vedas which gives them so much authority and why are Vedas considered to be the font of all knowledge?
This question is most often brushed aside and discouraged. If at all it is answered, it is done in very vague and roundabout way which does not really address the issue.
Why are Vedas the word of God?
To answer that one must first be clear about what or who is God. Most of the times by God one understands a Person or entity who has infinite power, infinite wisdom and who created the world . In ordinary understanding God is separate from the world He created and thus controls the world and has made rules according to which the world functions. He demands worship and unquestioned following of his rules. There are many more details which form the basis of all organised religion and ethics. However in Hinduism the term which is most representative of supreme power is 'ishwar' and that is not same as God as generally understood. God usually means a supreme humanoid power which is separate from his creation and who controls his creation through a system of rewards and punishment. On the other hand ' ishwara ' is the divine consciousness which identifies itself with the whole universe. To further elaborate, consciousness in Hinduism is an all pervasive principle and also the primary cause of the creation to come into being. In individual bodies consciousness is expressed in a limited manner and thus identifies itself with the body where it is being expressed. It depends on the equipment of the individual body , that upto what extent consciousness will be expressed. So , when consciousness is identifying itself with the whole creation, then it's expression is complete , and then it has power over whole of universe to develop it in whatever way it desires. Most of the times by consciousness one understands individual consciousness or consciousness of self, and not as primary principle which illuminates even the idea of self . Consciousness of self in Hinduism is known as 'ahankaar' and is considered only a component of the inner world of an individual . When the ishwara or the universal consciousness expresses itself in form of the universe it unfolds in a certain manner , according to some rules or design. These rules are written in the blueprint of creation. These rules are not the rules of conduct of society and individuals. Rather these rules are the fundamental physical laws of functioning of the universe. Like how is the consciousness gets associated with the material of the universe?
In other words the relationship between material cause and immanent cause of universe.
How time and other dimensions are formed? How fundamental constituents of the universe evolve ? How does anyone know about these things? What is knowledge and how it comes to be? How is life created? What is the purpose of life? So on and so forth.
Thus the relationship between ishwara, universe and Vedas can be understood as Vedas being the theoretical knowledge of Ishwara and universe practical expression of that knowledge
In human beings the consciousness expresses itself almost fully. Or at least in some human beings it does so. Human body also has the potential to elevate its consciousness from that of the individual to merge into the universal consciousness. When in some blessed individuals it rises up to that level, they are able to see beyond the the material universe in multiple forms and get a glimpse of the reality. In that heightened state of awareness they discover the working of the universe . They discover the blueprint of creation. This happened thousands of years ago when ancient Rishis achieved that level of consciousness and in that heightened state of awareness they composed and sang the hymns of Vedas. The language of the hymns was also developed at that time. Words which sprang out represented their meaning almost directly and physically rather than in abstract and indirect manner.
Understood in this manner, it is said that the universe is the work or act of Ishwara and the Vedas are the blueprint or the design behind that work or action. This is the reason why Vedas are said to be immutable, the source code of all knowledge,all rules of conduct of society and individuals and the ultimate truth to which every other rule, act , law, tradition must conform. The blueprint of creation cannot change and cannot be subject to interpretation.
But , and there is a big but, the language of Vedas has been corrupted over the years since they were first expressed. The words have lost their original meaning and have taken on entirely different forms. To be fair, the original composition was quite obscure to begin with , as the Rishis imbued the hymns with layers of meaning. The most visible meaning which deals wit mundane matters and is associated with worship, sacrifices etc to achieve some material end, and the obscure yet profound meaning which reveals the secrets of the universe. In modern times there has been a tendency to take the superficial meaning only and relegate Vedas to their current position of some old , obsolete, obscure hymns of primitive society.
Fortunately Hinduism kept the traditional learning of Vedas alive and also developed various explanatory texts about the workings of universe which also ultimately help in understanding Vedas and thus knowing their true value and grandeur.
In short there are 6 vedangas( शिक्षा, कल्प, निरुक्त, छंद, व्याकरण , ज्योतिष) and 6 upangas or systems of philosophy ( न्याय, वैशेषिक, साख्य, योग, पूर्व मीमांसा, उत्तर मीमांसा) , which help in understanding Vedas in their original meaning.
Understood in this manner, it is said that the universe is the work or act of Ishwara and the Vedas are the blueprint or the design behind that work or action. This is the reason why Vedas are said to be immutable, the source code of all knowledge,all rules of conduct of society and individuals and the ultimate truth to which every other rule, act , law, tradition must conform. The blueprint of creation cannot change and cannot be subject to interpretation.
But , and there is a big but, the language of Vedas has been corrupted over the years since they were first expressed. The words have lost their original meaning and have taken on entirely different forms. To be fair, the original composition was quite obscure to begin with , as the Rishis imbued the hymns with layers of meaning. The most visible meaning which deals wit mundane matters and is associated with worship, sacrifices etc to achieve some material end, and the obscure yet profound meaning which reveals the secrets of the universe. In modern times there has been a tendency to take the superficial meaning only and relegate Vedas to their current position of some old , obsolete, obscure hymns of primitive society.
Fortunately Hinduism kept the traditional learning of Vedas alive and also developed various explanatory texts about the workings of universe which also ultimately help in understanding Vedas and thus knowing their true value and grandeur.
In short there are 6 vedangas( शिक्षा, कल्प, निरुक्त, छंद, व्याकरण , ज्योतिष) and 6 upangas or systems of philosophy ( न्याय, वैशेषिक, साख्य, योग, पूर्व मीमांसा, उत्तर मीमांसा) , which help in understanding Vedas in their original meaning.
