The Vedas are the earliest Hindu texts, and they were composed and performed orally for several centuries (generally believed to be from 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE).
The word veda means knowledge or wisdom. There are four of them, and they are collectively referred to as Sruti, which means "that which is heard", and Samhita, which simply means "collection."
The oldest is called the Rig Veda, with the other three being the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda is the most important, with the others having come later and are based upon it.
They are considered by Hindus to be revealed literature, having originated with the gods whose praise they sing. Important later Hindu scriptures such as the Brahmanas and the Upanishads, which are ascribed to humans, are commentaries on the original Vedas.
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