(3) The most ancient and basic scriptures are known as‘Vedas.’ Derived from the root‘vid’ (= to know), they represent a vast body of religio-spiritual knowledge transmit ted orally from generation to generation over the millennia. Sage KicGa-Dvaipâyana Vyâsa, systematized and edited the vast Vedic literature with a view to preserve it for the posterity. Sage KicGa-Dvaipâyana divided the Vedas into four parts. These four Vedas have been well-known as Rigveda,Yajurveda, Sâmaveda and Atharvaveda. The word ‘Atharvan,’ is derived from ‘athar,’ which is an obsolete word for fire. It means ‘the priest of fire.’ So,Atharvan is the name of an ancient sage who ‘brought down fire from heaven’ and started the sacrificial rites here. In the mythology, he is described as a son of Brahmâ,the Creator, who introduced fire-rituals with soma and other materials.