Question

The basic material or mantra text of each of the Vedas is called
A. Samhita
B. Brahmanas
C. Aranyakas
D. Pajamas

Answer 1

Hint: Vedic Samhitas were chanted during rituals and ceremonies . They are considered the oldest existing piece of Hindu tradition. From the collective study of Vedas and the later text, it was known that the compendium of Samhitas and associated Vedic text are huge than those that are currently available.

Complete step by step answer:
Samhitas is an ancient word of Sanskrit where ‘sam’ means ‘’correct’’ and ‘’proper’’, and hita means “wholesome” or “arranged”. The word is interpreted as a meaning which refers “to structure together with a combination of texts or verses” or “to arrange together in a union”. It is the ancient Hindu and yogic text of the Vedas. The Samhita consists of prayers, mantras, hymns, and litanies to God. It is believed that the text was directly received from God by scholars and was passed on verbally for thousands of years. For this reason, they are also known as sruti which means “that which is heard. “Samhita also contains the oldest element of Hindu tradition. There are four “Vedic” Samhitas: Yajur Veda, Sama-Veda, Atharva-Veda, and Rig-Veda.
So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Vedas are religious texts that originated from ancient India. Vedas are composed in Sanskrit and comprise the oldest Sanskrit literature and scripture of Hinduism. There are four Vedas: the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, the Atharvaveda, and the Rigveda. Each Veda has four subdivisions: the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas, and Upanishads. Some scholars also consider the fifth subdivision known as Upasanans