Changes

According to the मण्डल-क्रमः ॥ Mandala krama, ऋग्वेद-संहिता ॥ Rigveda Samhita is divided into 10 Mandalas or books. The Mandalas are subdivided into  85 अनुवाक-s || Anuvakas, 1028 सूक्त-s || Suktas and 10522 मन्त्राः ॥ mantras<ref name=":0223222" /> and 10552 mantras according to another version<ref name=":123222" />. In Rig veda, in शाकल-संहिता ॥  Shakala samhita the number of suktas in each Mandala is - 191, 43, 62, 58, 87, 75, 104, 103, 114, 191 (1028) respectively from the first to tenth Mandala.<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":123222">Rigveda Classification on [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/ Vedic Heritage Portal] </ref>

According to the मण्डल-क्रमः ॥ Mandala krama, ऋग्वेद-संहिता ॥ Rigveda Samhita is divided into 10 Mandalas or books. The Mandalas are subdivided into  85 अनुवाक-s || Anuvakas, 1028 सूक्त-s || Suktas and 10522 मन्त्राः ॥ mantras<ref name=":0223222" /> and 10552 mantras according to another version<ref name=":123222" />. In Rig veda, in शाकल-संहिता ॥  Shakala samhita the number of suktas in each Mandala is - 191, 43, 62, 58, 87, 75, 104, 103, 114, 191 (1028) respectively from the first to tenth Mandala.<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":123222">Rigveda Classification on [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/ Vedic Heritage Portal] </ref>

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!<nowiki>मण्डल  | Mandala      ►</nowiki>

!मण्डलम् ॥ Mandala      ►

!<nowiki>अनुवाक  | Anuvaka      ►</nowiki>

!अनुवाकः ॥ Anuvaka      ►

!<nowiki>सूक्त  | Sukta       ►</nowiki>

!सूक्तम् ॥ Sukta       ►

!<nowiki>| Mantra</nowiki>

!मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra

|}Rig Veda contains 10552 mantras (about 10,170 Rks) according to some other scholars, spread over 1028 Suktas and 85 Anuvakas in 10 Mandalas.<ref name=":03222">Introduction to Samhitas in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref> According to Shaunaka rishi there are 10580 mantras (Page 17 of Reference 4).<ref name=":223222">Gopal Reddy, Mudiganti and Sujata Reddy, Mudiganti (1997) ''[https://archive.org/stream/SAMSKRUTAKAVIJEEVITAMULUByMALLADISURYANARAYANASASTRIGARU/SAMSKRUTA%20SAHITYA%20CHARITRA%20BY%20MUDUGANTI%20GOPALA%20REDDI%26SUJATA%20REDDI%20#page/n33/mode/2up Sanskrita Saahitya Charitra] (Vaidika Vangmayam - Loukika Vangamayam, A critical approach)'' Hyderabad : P. S. Telugu University</ref> According to Shaunaka Anukramanika 11 suktas of Valakhilyas are present removing which from the total number of suktas (1028) will yield 1017 Suktas in Rig Veda Samhita. Vashkala or Baskala shaka has 8 suktas more than 1017 thereby is mentioned as having 1025 Suktas.<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":223222" />

|}Rig Veda contains 10552 mantras (about 10,170 Rks) according to some other scholars, spread over 1028 Suktas and 85 Anuvakas in 10 Mandalas.<ref name=":03222">Introduction to Samhitas in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref> According to शौनक-ऋषिः ॥ Shaunaka rishi there are 10580 mantras (Page 17 of Reference 4).<ref name=":223222">Gopal Reddy, Mudiganti and Sujata Reddy, Mudiganti (1997) ''[https://archive.org/stream/SAMSKRUTAKAVIJEEVITAMULUByMALLADISURYANARAYANASASTRIGARU/SAMSKRUTA%20SAHITYA%20CHARITRA%20BY%20MUDUGANTI%20GOPALA%20REDDI%26SUJATA%20REDDI%20#page/n33/mode/2up Sanskrita Saahitya Charitra] (Vaidika Vangmayam - Loukika Vangamayam, A critical approach)'' Hyderabad : P. S. Telugu University</ref> According to शौनक-अनुक्रमणिका ॥ Shaunaka Anukramanika, 11 suktas of वालखिल्य-s || Valakhilyas are present. Removing which from the total number of suktas (1028), will yield 1017 Suktas in Rig Veda Samhita. वष्कल ॥ Vashkala or बाष्कल-शाखा ॥ Baskala shaka has 8 suktas more than 1017. Thereby is mentioned as having 1025 Suktas.<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":223222" />

In Rigveda, not only are the suktas and mantras counted but also there is a system of counting even the Aksharas or letters in such texts called Sarvanukramanikas, thereby leaving no scope of additions or deletion of letters in the Veda. This was one main reason why there are no changes in this Veda since ancient times. It is to be noted that in this Aksharaganana the Valakhilya sutras are not seen, hence they Suktas are counted without them. The differences in the counting of mantras is mainly because of the differences in the shakas, additionally in modern times the differences in counting the Rks is attributed to breaking the mantras having 4 padas into 2 padas each (Page No 6 of Reference 4<ref name=":223222" />).   

In Rigveda, not only are the suktas and mantras counted but also there is a system of counting even the अक्षराणि ॥ Aksharas (letters) in such texts called सर्वाणुक्रमणिका-s | Sarvanukramanikas, thereby leaving no scope of additions or deletion of letters in the Veda. This was one main reason why there are no changes in this Veda since ancient times. It is to be noted that in this अक्षरगणना ॥ Aksharaganana, the Valakhilya sutras are not seen, hence they Suktas are counted without them. The differences in the counting of mantras is mainly because of the differences in the shakhas, additionally in modern times the differences in counting the Rks is attributed to breaking the mantras having 4 पादा-s || padas into 2 padas each (Page No 6 of Reference 4<ref name=":223222" />).   

==== अष्टक-क्रमः ॥ Ashtaka Krama ====

==== अष्टक-क्रमः ॥ Ashtaka Krama ====

According to the Ashtaka krama, Rigveda Samhita is divided into 8 Ashtakas each containing 8 Adhyayas thus a total of 64 Adhyayas are available. The number of Vargas in each Ashtaka is -  265, 221, 225, 250, 238, 331, 248, 246 respectively from first to eighth Ashtaka. Thus a total of 2024 vargas are present in Rk samhita. The total number of mantras are 10522 according to some scholars(Page 34 of Ref 1).<ref name=":0223222" />

According to the अष्टक-क्रमः ॥ Ashtaka krama, ऋग्वेद-संहिता ॥ Rigveda Samhita is divided into 8 Ashtakas each containing 8 Adhyayas. Thus, a total of 64 Adhyayas are available. The number of वर्ग-s || Vargas in each Ashtaka is -  265, 221, 225, 250, 238, 331, 248, 246 respectively from first to eighth Ashtaka. Thus, a total of 2024 vargas are present in Rk samhita. The total number of mantras are 10522 according to some scholars(Page 34 of Ref 1).<ref name=":0223222" />

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!<nowiki>| Ashtaka      ►</nowiki>

!अष्टकः ॥ Ashtaka      ►

!<nowiki>| Adhyaya      ►</nowiki>

!अध्यायः ॥ Adhyaya      ►

!<nowiki>| Varga          ►</nowiki>

!वर्गः ॥ Varga          ►

!<nowiki>| Mantra</nowiki>

!मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra

|}

|}

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakas ===

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakhas ===

Only one Shaka (school or recension) of the Rigveda is available today

Only one Shaka (school or recension) of the Rigveda is available today

* '''शाकल शाखा || Shakala'''<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":123222" />

* '''शाकल-शाखा || Shakala'''<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":123222" />

According to Sarvanukramani vritti, Ahirbudhnyasamhita, Muktikopanishad and Pathanjali's Mahabhashyam, and recently many scholars opined that Rigveda had 21 shakas.   

According to सर्वाणुक्रमणि-वृत्तिः ॥ Sarvanukramani vritti, अहिर्बुध्न्यसंहिता ॥ Ahirbudhnyasamhita, मुक्तिकोपनिषद् ॥ Muktikopanishad and पतञ्जलेः महाभाष्यम् ॥ Patanjali's Mahabhashya, and recently many scholars opined that Rigveda had 21 shakhas.   

However, according to Pt. Satyavrat Samashrami<ref name=":0223222" />, Rig veda has only 2 ancient shakas namely, शाकला || Shakala and माण्डूकेया || Mandukeya. These two shakas became 21 shakas gradually. Shakalacharya taught this veda to 5 of his disciples and gradually in their pronunciation there were differences bringing about 5 different versions of the Veda, which according to the text Vikruti Kaumudi is as follows  <blockquote>शाकल्यसेय शतं शिष्या नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिणः | पञ्च तेषां गृहस्थास्ते धर्मनिष्ठाश्च कुटुम्बिनः ||</blockquote><blockquote>शिशिरो वाष्कलो सांख्यो वात्स्यश्चैवाश्वलायनः | पञ्चैते शाकलाः शिष्याः शाखाभेदप्रवर्त्तकाः ||</blockquote>Meaning : Shakala had 100 students who were brahmacharis. Of them 5 who were having dharmanistha, and were grihasthas bearing the responsibility of maintaining a family. शिशिरः || Shishira, वाष्कलः || Vashkala (Bashkala) सांख्यः || Samkhya वात्स्यः || Vatsya and अवाश्वलायनः || Asvalayana were the five disciples who were the pravartakas of the different shakas.<ref name=":0223222" /> Asvalaayana-Samhita was available as lately as 17th century but is presently unavailable. Sankhyayana samhita is not available but its Brahmanas and Aranyakas are available. Some scholars opine that Sankhyayana and Kaushitaki shakas are one and the same.<ref name=":223222" />

However, according to Pt. Satyavrat Samashrami<ref name=":0223222" />, Rig veda has only 2 ancient shakhas namely, शाकलः || Shakala and माण्डूकेयः || Mandukeya. These two shakhas became 21 shakhas gradually. शङ्कराचार्यः ॥ Shakalacharya taught this veda to 5 of his disciples and gradually in their pronunciation there were differences bringing about 5 different versions of the Veda, which according to the text विकृति-कौमुदी ॥ Vikruti Kaumudi is as follows:   <blockquote>शाकल्यसेय शतं शिष्या नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिणः | पञ्च तेषां गृहस्थास्ते धर्मनिष्ठाश्च कुटुम्बिनः ||</blockquote><blockquote>शिशिरो वाष्कलो सांख्यो वात्स्यश्चैवाश्वलायनः | पञ्चैते शाकलाः शिष्याः शाखाभेदप्रवर्त्तकाः ||</blockquote><blockquote>śākalyaseya śataṃ śiṣyā naiṣṭhikabrahmacāriṇaḥ | pañca teṣāṃ gṛhasthāste dharmaniṣṭhāśca kuṭumbinaḥ ||</blockquote><blockquote>śiśiro vāṣkalo sāṃkhyo vātsyaścaivāśvalāyanaḥ | pañcaite śākalāḥ śiṣyāḥ śākhābhedapravarttakāḥ ||</blockquote>Meaning : शाकलः ॥ Shakala had 100 students who were ब्रह्मचारी-s || brahmacharis. Of them, 5 who were having धर्मनिष्ठा ॥ dharmanishtha were गृहस्थ-s || grhasthas bearing the responsibility of maintaining a family. शिशिरः || Shishira, वाष्कलः || Vashkala (Bashkala), साङ्ख्यः || Sankhya, वात्स्यः || Vatsya and आश्वलायनः || Ashvalayana were the five disciples who were the प्रवर्तक-s || pravartakas of the different shakhas.<ref name=":0223222" /> Ashvalayana Samhita was available as lately as 17th century but is presently unavailable. शाङ्खायन-संहिता ॥ Sankhayana samhita is not available but its ब्राह्मण-s || Brahmanas and आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas are available. Some scholars opine that शाङ्खायन ॥ Sankhayana and कौषीतकी शाखाः॥ Kaushitaki shakhas are one and the same.<ref name=":223222" />

=== देवताः छन्दसः ऋत्विक् च ॥ Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

=== देवताः छन्दसः ऋत्विक् च ॥ Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

Rig veda mantras are chanted by the '''[[Hotra|होत्र ||]]''' [[Hotra|'''Hotra''']], the Rig veda priest to invoke the deities to the yajna. Important Rig vedic deities are Agni, Indra, Varuna, Ushas, Savita, Pusha, Mitra, Vishnu, Rudra, Marut and Parjanya. Gayatri, Jagati, Bruhati, Pankti and Trishtubh and Anustubh are widely used meters (Page No 6 of Reference 4<ref name=":223222" />).   

Rigveda mantras are chanted by the [[Hota (होता)|होता || Hota]] (the Rigveda priest), to invoke the deities to the यज्ञः ॥ [[Yagya (यज्ञ)|yajna]]. Important Rigvedic deities are अग्निः ॥ [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]], इन्द्रः ॥ [[Indra]], वरुणः ॥ [[Varuna]], उषस् ॥ [[Usha (उषा)|Ushas]], सविता ॥ [[Savita (सविता)|Savita]], पूषा ॥ [[Pushan|Pusha]], मित्रः ॥ [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], विष्णुः ॥ [[Vishnu]], रुद्रः ॥ [[Rudra (रुद्रः)|Rudra]], मरुत् ॥ [[Maruts|Marut]] and पर्जन्यः ॥ [[Parjanya (पर्जन्यः)|Parjanya]]. गायत्री ॥ Gayatri, जगती ॥ Jagati, बृहती ॥ Bruhati, पङ्क्ती ॥ Pankti and त्रिष्टुभ् ॥ Trishtubh and अनुष्टुभ् ॥ Anustubh are widely used meters (Page No 6 of Reference 4<ref name=":223222" />).   

=== विषयविभागाः ॥ Vishaya vibhaga-s ===

=== विषयविभागाः ॥ Vishaya vibhaga-s ===

The topics dealt with in the Rig Veda Samhita can be classified into 3 groups.

The topics dealt with in the Rig Veda Samhita can be classified into 3 groups.