Online Course · BORI

Veda Vidya Vedas to Vedaangas

This beginner-friendly online course delves into the four Vedas, explores Brahmana-granthas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Vedaangas and includes a 2-hour documentary of a Vedic Yajna.

  • 11 sections
  • 53 materials
  • 10h+ video
  • Lifetime access
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₹2,000

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  • 10h+Video Lectures
  • 11Topics
  • 53Learning Resources
  • 2hDocumentary
  • ✓Certificate

Course Overview

The Vedas are among the oldest surviving texts of Indian civilisation. They began as oral compositions, carried through disciplined memorisation. Teacher to student. Generation to generation.

There are four Vedas. The Rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to deities, ideas, and sages. The Yajurveda preserves the language of ritual. The Samaveda sets Vedic verses to chant (sāmans), and stands among the early sources of Indian musical tradition. The Atharvaveda includes domestic rites, social life, and everyday anxieties alongside sacred speech.

The tradition continues through the Brahmanas, the manuals of ritual and meaning. The Aranyakas turn inward, and the Upanishads take that inquiry to its philosophical edge. Around them stand the Vedangas — Vyakarana, Chhandas, Nirukta, Jyotisha, Shiksha, and Kalpa — without which Vedic study remains incomplete.

This course traces the entire arc. It also blends tradition with academics. It includes an original two-hour documentary of a vedic Yajna.

Taught by BORI scholars, it requires no prior knowledge of Sanskrit or the Vedas.

Vedas are not just history. They are a collective inheritance. The words for mother, father, water, fire. Many rituals in Indian weddings. The sense that actions have consequences. They all come from the Vedas. We carry the Vedas with us in our lives. Everyday.

11 Sections · 53 Materials

Complete Curriculum

~10 hours of expert-led instruction + 2-hour documentary

01

Introduction to the Vedic Literature

6 materials · 37m
  1. Introduction, meaning of the word "Veda" and timeline
  2. Samhitaa
  3. Vedic Literature
  4. The Oral Tradition
  5. Essentials of the Veda-s
  6. Introduction Quiz (15 questions)

02

Rigveda

6 materials · 1h 5m
  1. Rigveda - Introduction
  2. Mandala-s & Rishi-s
  3. Rigveda Recitation
  4. The Deities of the Rigveda
  5. The Essentials of the Rigveda
  6. Rigveda Quiz (27 questions)

03

Yajurveda

7 materials · 1h 5m
  1. Yajurveda & Its Branches
  2. Yajnya
  3. Vidhi & Arthavada
  4. Patra-Parichay
  5. Yajnavedi
  6. Yajurveda Quiz (29 questions)

04

Samaveda

10 materials · 1h 22m
  1. Saamveda
  2. Expanse & Spread
  3. The Structure of the Saamveda
  4. Svara & Gaatraveena
  5. Panch & Sapt Vidha Saama
  6. Vikara-s
  7. Creative Aspects
  8. Samana & Samagana
  9. Conclusion
  10. Samaveda Quiz (20 questions)

05

Atharva Veda

5 materials · 47m
  1. What is Atharvaveda
  2. Themes of Atharvaveda
  3. Sukta-s
  4. Abhichaara
  5. Atharvaveda Quiz (29 questions)

06

Braahmana-s and Aaranyaka-s

3 materials · 22m
  1. Braahmana Texts
  2. Stories from the Braahmana Texts
  3. Aaranyaka-s

07

Upanishads

6 materials · 56m
  1. General Introduction
  2. Composition, Structural Features and Number of Upanishads
  3. Jiva, Jagat and Brahman
  4. Yama-Nachiketa Story, and Discussion on Death
  5. Aruni-Shwetaketu Samwaada and Discussion on Atman
  6. Summary

08

Vedaanga-s

7 materials · 1h 22m
  1. Shiksha Vedaanga
  2. Kalpa Vedaanga
  3. Vyaakarana Vedaanga
  4. Nirukta Vedaanga
  5. Chhandas
  6. Jyotisha Vedaanga
  7. Vedangas Quiz (30 questions)

09

Mantra Pathan - A Glimpse of the Oral Tradition

1 material · 21m
  1. Mantra Pathan

10

Glimpses of a Yajna

1 material · 2h 8m
  1. Ishti — Complete Documentary

11

Ved Paathashaalaa - Vedic Learning Today

1 material · 16m
  1. A visit to "Pune Veda Paathashaala"

Course Exclusive

Experience Vedic Ritual in Action

Many resources simply describe a Yajna; this course shows it through a detailed documentary. Filmed in high-definition, our exclusive documentary captures the preparation, construction, and conclusion of a traditional Ishti ceremony — bridging the gap between theory and tradition.

  • HDCinematic Production
  • ✦Scholarly Commentary
  • ◎Altar Construction

Guided by Experts

Your Instructors

  • Dr. Gauri Moghe

    Faculty

    Specialist in Mahabharata and Vedic literature with decades of research experience at BORI.

  • Dr. Mugdha Gadgil

    Faculty

    Expert in Sanskrit grammar and literature with decades of experience of teaching and research.

Questions

Common Questions

Do I need to know Sanskrit to take this course?

No, the course is delivered in English. All Sanskrit terms are explained in context. This course is designed for anyone interested in understanding Vedic literature, regardless of their background in Sanskrit.

What makes this course different from others on the Vedas?

This course is taught by BORI scholars and includes a unique 2-hour documentary of a live Yajna ceremony. It provides both academic rigour and authentic ritual documentation — bridging theory and practice in a way no other course does.

How long do I have access to the course?

You have lifetime access to all course materials. Watch at your own pace, revisit any section, and return whenever you want to deepen your understanding.

Is there a certificate?

Yes, upon completing all sections and quizzes, you will receive a certificate of completion from BharatVidya in association with the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.

What does the Yajna documentary cover?

The 2-hour documentary captures a traditional Ishti ceremony from start to finish — including altar construction, ritual preparation, mantras, and offerings. It's filmed in high-definition with scholarly commentary explaining each step.

Continue

Veda Vidya — Select Suktas from the Vedas

11 Vedic suktas from the Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Suktas on creation, deities, and society — with scholarly commentary.

₹1,500Dr. Mugdha Gadgil

Vedakatha — Stories from the Rigveda

Ten stories from the world's oldest scripture — Indra, Vishwamitra, Vasishtha, the Ashwins, and the women seers. A narrative journey into Vedic thought.

₹1,500Dr. Sucheta Paranjpe

Vedakatha — Stories from Vedic Literature

Five curated stories from the Brahmana texts and the Upanishads — from ritual to philosophy.

₹800Dr. Sucheta Paranjpe · English, 4.5 hours

Begin Your Journey Into Wisdom

Join learners discovering ancient insights. No prerequisites required.

₹2,000

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