The Vedas
Link to companion podcast episode The four Vedas, composed between 1350 and 900 BC, are the most ancient religious texts of a religion that is still practiced, and the Vedas themselves are still in active use. The Sri Rudram, part of the Yajur Veda and the most prominent prayer to Lord Shiva, is recited around the world every Monday evening from Vedic times to this day. The Rig Veda (“Rigveda”) (~1350 BC) is primarily composed of hymns to Lord Indra, the god of thunder, lightning, and rain who we can think of as a clean-shaven version of Zeus, and other deities who are no longer around today. The Sama Deva (“Samaveda”) (~1000 BC) mainly contains hymns to deities, Soma (Intoxication) and Agni (Fire) figuring prominently. The Yajur Veda (“Yajurveda”) (~1000 BC) exists in two versions, Black (“Krishna”) and White (“Shukla”), their core content being the same and the main difference being that the Krishna version commingles shlokas and commentary, wh...