The Vedic Knowledge Tree
Explore the structure of 5,000 years of wisdom — from the Vedas to daily practice
The 4 Vedas
Each Veda has 4 layers: Samhita → Brahmana → Aranyaka → Upanishad
Rigveda
1,028 Hymns
Prayers to Agni, Indra, Varuna. Oldest text in any Indo-European language.
Yajurveda
Ritual Formulas
Instructions for performing Yajnas (fire rituals). Two versions: Shukla (White) and Krishna (Black).
Samaveda
Veda of Songs
Musical chants and melodies derived from Rigveda. Foundation of Indian classical music.
Atharvaveda
Daily Life
Mantras for healing, protection, medicine, architecture, and daily prayer.
Every Veda follows this structure:
The Upanishads (108+)
"Sit near the teacher" (upa-ni-shad) — The philosophical heart of Vedic wisdom
Isha
"All this is God" — 18 verses, shortest Upanishad
Kena
"By whom is the mind directed?" — nature of Brahman
Katha
Nachiketa & Yama — what happens after death?
Chandogya
"Tat Tvam Asi" (You are That) — Svetaketu & his father
Brihadaranyaka
Yajnavalkya & Maitreyi — "What use is wealth?"
Mundaka
"Two birds on a tree" — higher vs lower knowledge
Mandukya
The meaning of OM — 4 states of consciousness
Taittiriya
5 sheaths of the self (Pancha Kosha)
Aitareya
Creation of the universe and nature of Atman
Prashna
6 questions about the nature of reality
Shvetashvatara
Personal God, Rudra-Shiva as Supreme
Kaushitaki
Transmigration of the soul, prana as life force
Maitri
Meditation, Sankhya philosophy, inner light
The Epics & Puranas
Stories that bring Vedic wisdom to life
Ramayana
24,000 verses by Valmiki
Rama's journey of Dharma — exile, Sita's rescue, alliance with Hanuman, return to Ayodhya.
Mahabharata
100,000 verses by Vyasa
Pandavas vs Kauravas, the game of dice, 18-day war at Kurukshetra. Contains the Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita
700 verses
Krishna's counsel to Arjuna on the battlefield — the 3 paths to liberation.
The 18 Puranas
Ancient encyclopedias of mythology, cosmology, and dharma
Brahma Purana
Creation of the universe, geography of Bharat, pilgrimage sites
Brahmanda Purana
The cosmic egg — contains the Lalita Sahasranama (1000 names of the Goddess)
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
Krishna and Radha — divine love and creation through transformation
Markandeya Purana
Story of Markandeya who conquered death — contains Devi Mahatmya (glory of the Goddess)
Bhavishya Purana
Prophecies of the future — sun worship, festivals, customs
Vamana Purana
The dwarf avatar of Vishnu who measured the three worlds in three steps
Three Paths to Liberation
All rivers lead to the same ocean
Karma Yoga
Path of Selfless Action
"Do your duty without attachment to results" — Bhagavad Gita Ch. 3
Bhakti Yoga
Path of Devotion & Love
Surrender to God with complete love. Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya.
Jnana Yoga
Path of Knowledge & Wisdom
Study, meditate, realize Brahman = Atman. Adi Shankaracharya.
🧭 Your Learning Path
Start here — one step at a time