| Rg veda is supposed to be the oldest of the Vedas. Thus, it is the oldest religious text and is surviving till today. It consists of Rks or hymns invoking Gods Rk means a verse in praise. The important gods in Rgveda are 33. Some of them are: INDRA � the God of war & thunderstorms AGNI � the God of Fire SOMA � Lord of the Ritual Sacrifice YAMA � Lord of the Dead & Underworld APAS � Lord of the Waters VAYU � Lord of the Wind SAVITR/SURYA � Lord of the Sun VARUNA � Saviour deity power to forgive sins and prevent the punishment and suffering Rgveda intones that let there be oneness in the aims, and let there be goodness in the hearts and thoughts. Since all are embodiments of the Divinity, all human beings are one. Human beings should trot the path of Satya and Rita- the truth. Rg veda sanhita consists of 10552 verses and 1008 hymns or suktas("eulogy") . These verses are collected into ten mandalas. Of which, second through the seven are said to be the oldest and the tenth mandala is the latest addition. First mandala consists of 181 suktas and 2006 mantras Second mandala consists of 43 suktas and 429 mantras Third mandala consists of 62 suktas and 617 mantras Fourth mandala consists of 58 suktas and 589 mantras Fifth mandala consists of 87 suktas and 727 mantras Sixth mandala consists of 75 suktas and 765 mantras Seventh mandala consists of 104 suktas and 841 mantras Eighth mandala consists of 103 suktas and 1716 mantras Ninth mandala consists of 114 suktas and 1108 mantras Tenth mandala consists of 181 suktas and 1754 mantras The verses of Rg Veda are primarily meant for chanting at various sacrificial rituals. However, the Scripture has more than ritualistic importance- it can be interpreted in various ways including those with spiritual, Yogic and cosmological meanings. For eg., the story of Indra and Vrtra has a cosmological significance indicating the beginning of Life, after the vrtra or inertia had been hit repeatedly by lightening from a specific Star to sprout Life. This theory of Life is not very far from the thinking of the modern scientists. Similiarly, the first sloka of the Rg Veda " agn�m i?e pur�hita? "(Agni I laud, the high priest, as my ancestors have done so") has grammatical connotations and is said to be an important rule in Grammar. The Vishnu padam, described in Rg Veda has multiple connotations in areas of astronomy, cosmology and has been replicated in later puranas as the story of Vamana (or Dwarf). The Rg Veda is also a good mine of history of Ancient India. For eg., the Anukramanikas has listed all the important names of the Rg Vedic Rsis. The Rgveda also refers to several kings of the yore. The Avesta of persians borrows extensively from RgVeda and repeats several of its mandalas ad verbatim. Know about purusa suktam next |
Introduction Vedas Vedangas Praathisakhas Anukramanikas Upavedas Agamas Nine names of Vedas. Rg Veda Yajur Veda Sama Veda Atharva Veda purusha suktam |
| by kishore patnaik |
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| page is revised on 25th November, 07 |
| Rg Veda |