\ - Sanskrit Words and the Vedic Holy Books -   Darshan (from the ancient language of India called Sanskrit) means seeing and being seen by God. It may take place while alone,  during the daily meditations, or when doing the household pujas. [Puja is the ceremonial act of showing reverence to a deity through song, prayer, and ritual.] A person may feel darshan at a holy site, during pilgrimage, by viewing a sacred icon or other receptacle for spiritual energy. Because of the human limitations to understanding the abstract and formless essence of the Absolute, communion with The divine presence and power usually approaches through images and rituals. Darshan can bring peace and blessings, including miracles. Here are more Sanskrit words to ponder: Jnana - Knowledge Bhakti - Devotion Bhajans - Devotional songs Satang - In the company of the pious Samsara - Worldliness Vairagya - Detachment \ - The Guide to Vedic Scriptures -   Veda - The Vedas are the most important scripture. The meaning of the word Veda is knowledge. The Vedas were revealed in 4 sections at the dawn of the creation to the four saints, or Rishis.   1) Rig Veda - Agni Rishi - Being the oldest of the Vedic literature, it is most important because it is the valuable record of ancient India. It has ten books or mandalas containing 1028 hymns. As the Aryans had no script of their own, the hymns of the Rig Veda were memorized and passed on orally from one generation to the other before being recorded in written form at a much later stage. It has many mantras like the Gayatri mantras which is resided by the Hindus in their houses. It is said to represent the voice of Gods. Many hymns were written in the praise of different Gods of nature. The Rig-Veda gives us information not only on the early Vedic religion and their Gods but also on the social condition of those days. It points to settled people, organized society and fully developed civilization.   2) Yajur Veda - Vayu Rishi - It contain hymns concerning sacrifices. The study of this Veda shows that the Aryans had acquired knowledge of sacrifices by that time. It depicts changes in social and religious conditions which had come in the society from the period of Rig-Veda. The Yajur Veda has two parts - the white and the black. The former consists of hymns and latter contains commentaries.   3) Sam Veda - Aditya Rishi - It mainly contains verses taken from Rig-Veda with reference to Soma sacrifices. Its hymns are set to music. The Sam Veda has hymns meant for the priest only who sang them at the time of the performance of Yajnas. It tells us much about  ancient Aryan music .   4) Atharva Veda - Angira Rishi - It contains mantras on three topics - Jnana (Knowledge), Karma (deeds), and Upasana (invocation). It is important from the point of view of knowing the history of science in India. It is also collection of spells and charms which are popular among the people. This Veda throws light on the synthesis of beliefs.   Several prose sequels to the Vedas were written in the period before the Christian era. First were the Brahmanas (Priestly Explanations of Doctrine) and the Aranyakas (Forest Treatises), which discuss the function and purpose of sacrificial rites and consider the relationship of man and the universe.   Upanishads - The word Upanishad means "to sit near". In ancient days, devotees sat near the Rishis to listen to the discourses. Those lectures compiled into books are called Upanishads. They are numerous, but eleven are considered most important. They are Ish, Ken, Kath, Prashna, Mundak, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taitareya, Chhandogya, Brihdarnayak and Shvetashvetar.   Manusmiriti - The Manusmriti is famous among scriptures, and the author is Manu. Rules for religion, political and social conduct are contained therein.   Ramayan - The Ramayan is the first great composition of Sanskrit literature written by Valmiki Muni. It portrays a picture of the society in the Vedic and Upanishadic ages. The principles of the Vedas and Upanishads were not accepted in theory only, but practiced in real life.   Mahabharat - The Mahabharat is also a great epic written by Vyas Muni. The Mahabharat depicts how people resort to injustice and oppressive means because of their greed, pride, selfishness and hypocrisy. Conversely, it shows how the virtuous have undergone troubles and sufferings in upholding the path of truth and justice.   Bhagvad Gita - The Gita is a part of the great epic, Mahabharat. Its significance is so great that it stands out as a scripture in itself. Commentaries on the Vedas are found in the Upanishads, while the essence of the Upanishads is containied in the Gita. Arjun was standing confused to fight with his own relatives in the battlefield. On this occasion, Yogiraj Krishan enlightened Arjun with knowledge and a course of action. \ - The Vedic Deity or God-   Some of the hymns express the idea that God is one, but he is called by many names. The following hymn from Rig Veda illustrates vedic monotheism.   "They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna and Agni; To what is one the poets give many a name; They call it Agni, Yama, Matavisvan."   The early Aryans worshipped phenomena of nature as aspects of God. These forces of nature were worshipped as male or female qualities. Indra was the Aryan superman, the god of strength, foremost in battle, always ready to smite dragons and demons and to destroy cities. He was the God of thunder, the rainmaker, and the victor over the forces which the Aryans could not vanquish. Agni the God of fire, received many beautiful tributes; he dominated the domestic fireplace, and marriages were solemnized in the presence of fire, as they are to this day in Hindu rites. Fire was the purest of the five elements and was held in high esteem. Surya (Sun), Savitri (a solar deity to whom the famous Gayatri mantra is dedicated). Varuna was the god of water. He was the sustainer of plant and animal life. It was his responsibility to uphold the natural order. Yama, the god of death had a prominent place. Soma, god of intoxicating juice soma. Prithvi was the goddess of Earth. Usha, the goddess of Dawn. Vayu, the god of winds.   A large number of gods are referred to in the Vedas, yet the Vedic religion cannot be considered polytheistic (having belief in more than one god). All these gods represent various phenomena of nature and were the manifestations of one Supreme God who is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of the universe. 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