The Vedas are the most ancient sacred texts of Hinduism. Each of the four Vedas consists of the metrical Mantra or Samhita’ part and the prose ‘Brahmana’ part giving discussions and directions for the detail of the ceremonies at which the Mantras were to be used and explanations of the legends connected with the Mantras and rituals. Both these portions are termed shruti (which tradition says to have been heard but not composed or written down by men).