These paintings are mainly from the Hindu traditions in India and illustrate various stories from the great epics of those traditions. Many religeons and traditions of the east have their roots back in the Veda that are certainly one of the oldest records of human experience in the world. Much of eastern art draws its symbolism from the various traditions based on the Veda. The Veda (comprising Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva) is a collection of poetry and ritual songs. The richness of these expressions has made them a cornerstone of many later traditions and no modern Hindu religeon or tradition in India has much credibility if it does not root back into the Veda.