Vedic

Vedic. Adjective applied to the language, literature, religion, mythology and ritual pertaining to the Veda. Generally it indicates the archaic period in Indian culture preceding the classical. Vedic language encompasses the Skt. composed prior to its codification in Pāṇini's Grammar which set the rules for classical Skt. For Vedic literature, see VEDA. Vedic religion (sometimes called Brahmanism) can be distinguished from the religion which grew out of it, now usually referred to as Hinduism. Some of the more notable differences between the two religions are seen in their mythology and ritual. Vedic mythology presents a pantheon of deities many of which are solar or meteorological in some of their aspects. These deities are summoned to the human plane in the Vedic rituals (yajñas, see sacrifice). Of the many deities of the Vedic pantheon, few survive into Hinduism and those that do are transformed in character. Similarly, the Vedic ritual, though preserved among some Brahmans to this day, gives way to a ritual centred not in yajña but in pūjā.