VEDAM, among the Indian Bramins or Brachmans, is the book of their law, containing all that they are to believe and practise. See BRACHMANS.
The vedam is written in what they call the Samscritan tongue, which is understood by such of the Bramins as never traffic. It is divided into four parts; namely, 1st, Rogo-Vedam, which treats of the first cause, of
the first matter, of the angels, of the soul, of rewards and punishments, of the generation and corruption of creatures, of sin, and in what manner it may be remitted, &c. 2d, Iffure-Vedam, which treats of the powers that preside over and govern all things. 3d, Sama-Vedam, containing a system of morality. And, 4th, Addaravana-Vedam, which treated of the religious ceremonies, temples, sacrifices, and feasts: but this last part has been lost for many years; and to this the Bramins impute the diminution of their honours, and the powers they formerly enjoyed. This book is of indisputable authority among them: but as they used frequently to dispute about interpreting it, the sense of it has been fixed by the jastas or declarations.