Introduction to the Vedas
Traditionally, Hindus do not look upon the Vedas as a book. because a book is written by somebody expressing his knowledge or opinion. However, Veda is not a given person's knowledge or an opinion. Nor is it a revelation because revelation means something revealed by some super human being to a given person. But Hindus don't think so. They see it as discovered knowledge or seen knowledge. The Rishis had seen the poems or statemenrts of the Vedas. Hence they are called mantras and the Rishis are called seers. The same they say in Sanskrit that ऋषयो मन्त्र-द्रष्टारः. Thus they see it as a body of knowledge, not ordinary knowledge but an extra-sensory knowledge or a divine knoweldge. Hence the Vedas means a body of divine knoweldge discovered by the special seers.
It is not only a body of knowledge, but it is a means of knowledge too. In Sanskrit, a means of knowledge is called Pramana. We have a basic pramana that is sense percetion. Sense percetion is basic and common pramana, a means of knowledge to know things in life. We have five sences. called eyes, ears, skin, tounge and nose which perceive form, sound, touch, taste and smell. Each sense organ has a special object to reveal; it alone is the authority for it. and it is the final authority, no other sence-organ can either reaveal what it reveals nor it confirm it. it is sole and independent authority for it. others can not verify it. what it revela sis final and confirmed knowledge. no doubt is possible in whay it revelas.
Similarly we have an another means of knowledge, next to it. It is called anumana, or inference. What we do not perceive we infer. When one aspect is perceived, an aspect of it, or what is inevitably connected to it is infered.
Third means of knowledge is called shabda pramana, which means, a word is a means knowledge. This word is of two types. Human word and Vedic word or a seen word. A human being speaks some thing either after knowing it either by perception or inference or simply guesses or opines. But the Vedic word is not anybody's spoken word hence it is not anybody's personal knwoeldge nor is it a personal opinion. It is a simply a statement of a fact, a speaker is only conveyer or a medium not an originator of the idea expressed in it. Hence the Veda is a statement of a fact irrespective of who utters statement. hence it is called a super human statement or authorless statement. In Sanskrit it is discribed like this: apaurusheya vakyam vedah.
We shall see who is a Rishi? What is mantra? what does it see and reveal etc in future essays.