Final answer:
The Vedas were memorized by Brahmin priests and not written down initially due to the sacred oral tradition they were part of and the illiteracy of the early Aryan followers. Over time, as societal and cultural practices evolved, the texts were eventually recorded in writing during the late Vedic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brahmin priests originally memorized the Vedas rather than writing them down due to the sacred nature of these texts and the importance of oral transmission in Vedic culture. The Vedas were considered divine revelations that were to be passed down precisely through oral tradition. This method ensured the purity of the transmission and also signified a high status for those who could memorize and recite them accurately. Furthermore, the indo-European Aryans who followed the Vedas were initially illiterate, and their spiritual and historical knowledge was transmitted orally, much like with other ancient societies such as early Judaism and Greek epics like The Iliad and The Odyssey.
It was not until the late Vedic period, between 500 and 200 BCE, that the texts were written down, reflecting a change in cultural practices and possibly the influence of other literate societies. By this time, the Brahmins, or the priestly class, had established their authority as the keepers of this knowledge, further shaping the societal hierarchy and religious practice. As the epic poems, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, were composed, the tradition of written literature became more prevalent, leading to the recordings of these sacred texts.