Vid Dictionary

Brahma-vid:

Brahma-vid (Brahma-vith). Knower of Brahman.

(See also: Brahma-vid , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

veda-vid:

veda-vid (vedha-vith). One who has mastered the Vedas.

(See also: veda-vid , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahma-vid-variya:

Brahma-vid-variya (Brahma-vith-vareeya). Excellent knower of Brahman.

(See also: Brahma-vid-variya , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahma-vid-vara:

Brahma-vid-vara (Brahma-vith-vara). Master knower of Brahman.

(See also: Brahma-vid-vara , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahma-vid-varishta:

Brahma-vid-varishta (Brahma-vith-varishtha). Supreme knower of Brahman.

(See also: Brahma-vid-varishta , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Veda (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root vid to know]

Knowledge; the most ancient and sacred Sanskrit works of the Hindus. Almost every hymn or division of a Veda is ascribed to various authors. It is generally believed that these subdivisions were revealed orally to the rishis or sages whose respective names they bear; hence the body of the Veda is known as sruti (what was heard) or divine revelation. The very names of these Vedic sages, such as Vasishtha, Visvamitra, and Narada, all of which belong to men born in far distant ages, shows that millennia must have elapsed between the different dates of their composition.

Krishna Sastri Godbole proves by astronomical data and mathematics that the Vedas must have been taught at least 25,000 years ago (cf Theosophist 2:238). Hindus claim that the Veda was taught orally for thousands of years, and then finally compiled by Veda-Vyasa 3,200 years ago, on the shores of the sacred lake Manasa-sarovara beyond the Himalayas in what is now Tibet (TG 362). Though compiled at that date their previous antiquity is sufficiently proved by the fact that they are written in an ancient form of Sanskrit, different from the Sanskrit of known later writings.

There are four Vedas: the Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, this last commonly supposed to be of later date than the former three. The Laws of Manu always speaks of the three Vedas. The Rig-Veda is the original work, the Yajur-Veda and Sama-Veda in their mantric portions are different arrangements of its hymns for special purposes. The Vedas are divided into two parts, the Mantra and Brahmana.

The Mantra part is composed of suktas (hymns in verse); the Brahmana part consists of liturgical, ritualistic, exegetical, and mystic treatises in prose. The Mantra or verse portion is considered more ancient than the prose works; and the books in which the hymns are collected are called sanhitas (collections). More or less closely connected with the Brahmanans (and in a few exceptional cases with the Mantra part) are two classes of treatises in prose and verse called Aranyaka and Upanishad. The Vedic writings are again divided into two great divisions, exoteric and esoteric, the former called the karma-kanda (the section of works) and the latter the jnana-kanda (section of wisdom).

Subba Row in "Brahmanism on the Sevenfold Principles in Man" (Theosophist 3:93) says: "The Vedas were perhaps compiled mainly for the use of the priests assisting at public ceremonies, but the grandest conclusions of our real secret doctrine are therein mentioned. I am informed by persons competent to judge of the matter, that the Vedas have a distinct dual meaning -- one expressed by the literal sense of the words, the other indicated by the metre and the swara (intonation), which are, as it were, the life of the Vedas . . . the mysterious connection between swara and light is one of its most profound secrets."

(See also: Veda , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Adhyatma-vidya (Sanskrit) (from adhi over, above + atman self + vidya knowledge from the verbal root vid to know, perceive, learn)

Knowledge of the supreme atman or self; used interchangeably with adhyatma-jnana.

(See also: Adhyatma-vidya , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Aparavidya (Sanskrit) (from a not + para supreme + vidya knowledge from the verbal root vid to see, know, percieve)

Nonsupreme knowledge; in Vedanta philosophy the lower wisdom of Brahman, relative knowledge acquired by the intellect and through the performance of ritual worship and duties, in contradistinction to paravidya (supreme wisdom), the transcendental knowledge of Brahman attainable by him who has achieved moksha (liberation) during life. This distinction between the exoteric and esoteric tradition and doctrine is found in practically all cultures.

(See also: Aparavidya , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Vedana (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root vid to know]

Perception or knowledge conveyed by the senses, sensation. The sixth nidana and the second skandha.

(See also: Vedana , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

A Theosophical definition of Vidya :

Vidya

(Sanskrit) The word (derived from the same verbal root vid from which comes the noun Veda) for "knowledge," "philosophy," "science." This is a term very generally used in theosophical philosophy, having in a general way the three meanings just stated. It is frequently compounded with other words, such as: atma-vidya  - "knowledge of atman" or the essential Self; Brahma-vidya  - "knowledge of Brahman," knowledge of the universe, a term virtually equivalent to theosophy; or, again, guhya-vidya  - signifying the "secret knowledge" or the esoteric wisdom. Using the word in a collective but nevertheless specific sense, vidya is a general term for occult science.

See also: Vidya , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

Pratisamvid (Sanskrit) [from prati-sam-vid to recognize, attain knowledge by cognition or recognition]

In Buddhism, "the four 'unlimited forms of wisdom' attained by an Arhat; the last of which is the absolute knowledge of and power over the twelve Nidanas," the twelve causes of existence on earth (TG 260-1).

(See also: Pratisamvid , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gimli (Icelandic) (from gimill, himill, himin heaven)

In Norse mythology, a heavenly abode, where "gentle gods of the chosen" shall abide in serenity after the destruction of the present world system (Ragnarok). Not to be confused with Valhalla, where Odin's heroes rest between battles on the Plain of Consecration (Vigridsslatten).

In Gimli a golden palace will shine brighter than the sun. It will surpass in splendor the heavens named Audlang (from aud empty, desolate + lang vast, spacious) and Vidblain (from vid wide, spacious + bla blue) and will be the future home of the gods when they return after Ragnarok.

"These are the three gradually ascending planets of our 'Chain.' There the gods were enthroned, as they used to be. . . . From Gimil's heights (the seventh plane or globe, the highest and the purest), they looked down upon the happy descendants of LIF and LIFTHRASIR (the coming Adam and Eve of purified humanity), and signed to them to CLIMB up higher, to rise in knowledge and wisdom, step by step, from one 'heaven to another,' until they were at last fit to be united to the Gods in the house of All-Father" (SD 2:100).

This is foretold by the sibyl in Voluspa.

(See also: Gimli , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Chinva or Chinvat (Avestan), Chinvar (Pahlavi) (from Pahlavi chitan, Avest chinaeta to arrange or lay as in bricklaying, pick and choose + the verbal root vid knowledge, recognition)

Alludes to the gradual attainment of knowledge of truth, hence the act of laying the path of knowledge brick by brick.

(See also: Chinva, Chinvat , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

A Theosophical definition of Veda (Vedas) :

Veda (Vedas)

(Sanskrit) From a verbal root vid signifying "to know." These are the most ancient and the most sacred literary and religious works of the Hindus. Veda as a word may be described as "divine knowledge." The Vedas are four in number: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda, this last being commonly supposed to be of later date than the former three.

Manu in his Work on Law always speaks of the three Vedas, which he calls "the ancient triple Brahman"  - sanatanam trayam brahma." Connected with the Vedas is a large body of other works of various kinds, liturgical, ritualistic, exegetical, and mystical, the Veda itself being commonly divided into two great portions, outward and inner: the former called the karma-kanda, the "Section of Works," and the latter called jnana-kanda or "Section of Wisdom."

The authorship of the Veda is not unitary, but almost every hymn or division of a Veda is ascribed to a different author or rather to various authors; but they are supposed to have been compiled in their present form by Veda-Vyasa. There is no question in the minds of learned students of theosophy that the Vedas run back in their origins to enormous antiquity, thousands of years before the beginning of what is known in the Occident as the Christian era, whatever Occidental scholars may have to say in objection to this statement. Hindu pandits themselves claim that the Veda was taught orally for thousands of years, and then finally compiled on the shores of the sacred lake Manasa-Sarovara, beyond the Himalayas in a district of what is now Tibet.

See also: Veda (Vedas) , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

2005-04-23

vid: (Sanskrit) "To know." Verbal root of Veda and vidya, "knowledge."

(See also: Vid , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

vid: (Sanskrit) "To know." Verbal root of Veda and vidya,

"knowledge."

(See also: Vid , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Vasthu in The Vedas

Each Veda has a subsidiary: ayurveda (knowledge of life) for rgveda, dhanurveda (knowledge of tools and weapon) for yajurveda, gandharvaveda (knowledge of arts) for samaveda and sthapatyaveda (architecture) for atharvaveda. In addition, puranas, nyayasastras, mimamsas and dharma sastras (smrtis) are also considered as upangas. Sthapatyaveda which is the subsidiary of atharvaveda is the subject of this discussion. Because it is the subsidiary of Veda, its authority is clear and undisputed.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vasthu in The Vedas

The Srutis are called the Vedas, or the Amnaya. The Hindus have received their religion through revelation, the Vedas. These are direct intuitional revelations and are held to be Apaurusheya or entirely superhuman, without any author in particular. The Veda is the glorious pride of the Hindus, nay, of the whole world!

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Srutis: The Srutis in the Hindu Scriptures