How were the Vedas initially treated before being memorized by priests?

The Vedas were initially treated as oral traditions before being codified in written form. This means that they were predominantly recited orally, transmitted from teacher to student through a carefully maintained tradition, ensuring their preservation and accuracy over generations. The oral transmission was crucial in the development of the Vedic texts, as this method allowed for a deep level of engagement and memorization among the priests, who would perform rituals and invoke the sacred knowledge contained within the Vedas. This form of oral culture helped in maintaining the fidelity of the texts until they were eventually documented in written form.

Even though some might think that the Vedas were written down initially or widely shared, the oral recitation played a fundamental role in their historical context, ensuring that the sacred knowledge remained intact and vibrant within the community of practitioners.