The Vedas (Skt. veda; Wyl. rig byed, meaning 'knowledge') are the ancient sacred scriptures of traditional Indian culture and the primary texts of Hinduism.

There are four collections (Skt. saṃhitā):

• Rig Veda (Skt. ṛgveda; Wyl. nges brjod kyi rig byed), from ṛg meaning 'praise'.
• Sama Veda (Skt. sāmaveda; Wyl. mchod sbyin gyi rig byed), from sāman meaning 'song'.
• Yajur Veda (Skt. yajurveda; Wyl. snyan tshig gi rig byed), from yajus meaning 'prose mantra'.
• Atharva Veda (Skt. atharvaveda; Wyl. srid srung gi rig byed), from atharvāṇas meaning knowledge.

The Rig Veda was likely composed in its final form around 1000 BCE, and in a few centuries after that the other three followed. The last Veda, the Atharva Veda, was only later accepted by orthodoxy, and therefore some Buddhist texts mention only three Vedas.

Category of texts Category of Non-Buddhist Schools Category of Sanskrit Terms