Discovering the Vedas: Origins, Mantras, Rituals, Insights

by Frits Staal

This is a remarkable book. It untangles the many complexities of the Vedas and combines Staal's scholarly respect for the texts, with explanations that are lucid and occasionally witty. His insights are thoughtful and perceptive. ??"Romila Thapar In this unprecedented guide to the Vedas, Frits Staal, the celebrated author of Agni: The Vedic Ritual of the Fire Altar and Universals: Studies in Indian Logic and Linguistics examines almost every aspect of these ancient sources of Indic civilisation. Staal extracts concrete information from the Oral Tradition and Archaeology about Vedic people and their language, what they thought and did, and where they went and when. He provides essential information about the Vedas and includes selections and translations. Staal sheds light on mantras and rituals, that contributed to what came to be known as Hinduism. Significant is a modern analysis of what we can learn from the Vedas today: the original forms of the Vedic sciences, as well as the perceptive wisdom of the composers of the Vedas. The author puts Vedic civilisation in a global perspective through a wide-ranging comparison with other Indic philosophies and religions, primarily Buddhism For Staal, originally a logician, the voyage of discovering the Vedas is like unpeeling an onion but without the certainty of reaching an end. Even so, his book shows that the Vedas have a logic all their own. Accessible, finely-argued, and with a wealth of information and insight, Discovering the Vedas is for both the scholar and the interested lay reader.

Genres: Philosophy, History, India, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Hinduism

456 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2008

Reviews

[Avinesh Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT a translation or transliteration of the Vedas. If you want to read the Vedas in English then this is not your book.

This is a great book (hence 4 stars!) though a very dry academic work of linguistics and logic in the historical and geographical context of writing of the Vedas. It is fantastic if you are a linguist or logician but for most of us who are interested in history, spirituality and comparative theology, there is very little here.

[Nakul Sashidharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who are skeptical about the 'super human' origin of the Vedas, this work might help you out with a starting point.
First half of the book is interesting and informative but the rest is somewhat difficult to comprehend for a common reader; too much of linguistics !!!

[Pramod Vemuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frits Staal was a remarkable indologist whose love for Vedic culture was well known, for having documented in 1975 (what was then thought) to be the last performance of the agnicayana ritual. The author is one of the few academics I've read who actually discuss the spirit of the Vedas than appropriate it for historical analysis.

It's certainly a book written for academics, but not in itself an academic book. This book took me a few years to finish, but I'm satisfied for finishing it. To anyone interested, I'd suggest they postpone reading Part III ("Analysing the Vedas") for the last, as that's the most difficult part of the book, ironically about the meaning of the mantras. I'd also suggest they read this article on Indica on his theories. Besides the Vedas, the last section is about the relation between Buddhism and Vedas, which is also a rather interesting read and sets the record straight about the exchange of ideas between the religions.


"What can we learn from it? That our language, the characteristic of our species, is mysterious and has profound limitations of which we know little. Our understanding of the world and of ourselves necessarily suffers from these limitations. There is hope if we are willing to let languages expand."

[Gunjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to start with if you are interested in knowing about the Vedas. As the name suggests the book discusses about how these books came to be, also the possible authors and their origins.
It's not very dense and exhibits the scholarship and thoroughness of the author's work.

[Manu Prashanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great effort by the author, I believe it is just a beginning to knowing about vedas. Book gives us deep insight into the Vedic world which we are leaving behind in a hurry

[Erik Steevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top book!!!

[A. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

August 2025:

THE perfect introduction to the Vedas -- lucid, well-written, and scholarly. Unlike the last time, the book did not go over my head and I leave a much less acerbic review. My previous review was quite inaccurate. This book is a very good summation of the message of the Vedas.

June 2024:

One wishes the author delved deeper into certain issues and not be so hyper-focused on linguistics and logic. Learnt something about the Vedas alright, but in such an oblique manner that this book was hardly the ideal starting-point.

[Steven Ledbetter]

This Is A Remarkable Book. It Untangles The Many Complexities Of The Vedas And Combines Staal S Scholarly Respect For The Texts, With Explanations That Are Lucid And Occasionally Witty. His Insights Are Thoughtful And Perceptive. Romila Thapar In This Unprecedented Guide To The Vedas, Frits Staal, The Celebrated Author Of Agni: The Vedic Ritual Of The Fire Altar And Universals: Studies In Indian Logic And Linguistics Examines Almost Every Aspect Of These Ancient Sources Of Indic Civilisation. Staal Extracts Concrete Information From The Oral Tradition And Archaeology About Vedic People And Their Language, What They Thought And Did, And Where They Went And When. He Provides Essential Information About The Vedas And Includes Selections And Translations. Staal Sheds Light On Mantras And Rituals, That Contributed To What Came To Be Known As Hinduism. Significant Is A Modern Analysis Of What We Can Learn From The Vedas Today: The Original Forms Of The Vedic Sciences, As Well As The Perceptive Wisdom Of The Composers Of The Vedas. The Author Puts Vedic Civilisation In A Global Perspective Through A Wide-Ranging Comparison With Other Indic Philosophies And Religions, Primarily Buddhism For Staal, Originally A Logician, The Voyage Of Discovering The Vedas Is Like Unpeeling An Onion But Without The Certainty Of Reaching An End. Even So, His Book Shows That The Vedas Have A Logic All Their Own. Accessible, Finely-Argued, And With A Wealth Of Information And Insight, Discovering The Vedas Is For Both The Scholar And The Interested Lay Reader.