- The Vedas are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. - Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, they constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. - The term "Aryans" here refers to the Indo-Aryan people who migrated into the Indian subcontinent during the Vedic period and whose culture and religion are reflected in the Vedas. - The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, philosophies, rituals, and prose commentaries.