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| 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" />). | | 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 ऋग्वेद-संहिता ॥ Rigveda Samhita can be classified into 3 groups. |
| ==== '''स्तुतिपराः || Eulogical''' ==== | | ==== '''स्तुतिपराः || Eulogical''' ==== |
− | The first group is in praise of the deities like [[Agni (आग्निः)|अग्निः || Agni]], [[Indra|इन्द्रः || lndra]], [[Varuna|वरुणः || Varuna]], [[Mitra (मित्रः)|मित्रः || Mitra]] and others. The Vedic deities numbering 33 are assigned to the three regions of the universe viz. पृथ्वी || Prithvi (earth), द्यौस् || Dyaus (heaven) and अन्तरिक्षम् || Antariksha (intermediary space). Although these deities appear as personifications of forces of nature, they are actually different facets of Brahman, the Only One Supreme Reality. The famous mantra on this point occurs in this Samhita. <blockquote>एकम् सत् विप्रः बहुध वदन्ति || ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti || (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Truth is one, learned call it by various names.</blockquote> | + | The first group is in praise of the deities like अग्निः || Agni, इन्द्रः || lndra, वरुणः || Varuna, मित्रः || Mitra and others. The Vedic deities numbering 33 are assigned to the three regions of the universe viz. पृथ्वी || Prithvi (earth), द्यौस् || Dyaus (heaven) and अन्तरिक्षम् || Antariksha (intermediary space). Although these deities appear as personifications of forces of nature, they are actually different facets of ब्रह्मन् ॥ Brahman, the Only One Supreme Reality. The famous mantra on this point occurs in this Samhita. <blockquote>एकम् सत् विप्रः बहुध वदन्ति || ekam sat vipraḥ bahudha vadanti || (Rig. Ved. 1.164. 92)</blockquote>Meaning : Truth is one, learned call it by various names. |
| + | |
| ==== '''उपासनापराः ॥ Philosophical''' ==== | | ==== '''उपासनापराः ॥ Philosophical''' ==== |
− | The second group is concerned with philosophical speculations like the origin of the Universe and the real nature of human beings. Although the Samhita contains mantras in praise of the devatas, the concept of Vedanta is present at least in a rudimentary form. However, advocacy of worship of devatas with form and qualities - सगुणोपासन || Sagunopasana - is predominant. Various Rig veda mantras show एक देवता वद || eka-devata-vada or monotheism and not polytheism. For example, the Samhita states that Prajapati creates the world out of Himself and rules over it; He is omnipresent (present everywhere), omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing), He is ever perfect, infinitely compassionate, easily approachable by the devotees and He grants us immortality. But the idea about actual process of creation of the universe finds a place only in the later Vedantic literature i.e. the Upanishads. The concept of Brahma is clearer in the Upanishad parts. | + | The second group is concerned with philosophical speculations like the origin of the Universe and the real nature of human beings. Although the Samhita contains mantras in praise of the devatas, the concept of Vedanta is present at least in a rudimentary form. However, advocacy of worship of devatas with form and qualities - सगुणोपासना || Sagunopasana - is predominant. Various Rigveda mantras show एकदेवतावादः || eka-devata-vada or monotheism and not polytheism. For example, the Samhita states that प्रजापतिः ॥ Prajapati creates the world out of Himself and rules over it; He is omnipresent (present everywhere), omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing). He is ever perfect, infinitely compassionate, easily approachable by the devotees and He grants us immortality. But the idea about actual process of creation of the universe finds a place only in the later Vedantic literature i.e. the उपनिषदः ॥ [[Upanishads]]. The concept of Brahman is clearer in the Upanishad parts. |
| ==== '''इतिहासपराः ॥ Miscellaneous''' ==== | | ==== '''इतिहासपराः ॥ Miscellaneous''' ==== |
− | The third group deals with several secular subjects like marriage, war etc., which show the nature of society of those times. A just and equitable social order existed. However, social life was conditioned by spiritual consciousness. There was समन्वय || Samanvaya or harmony of life here and hereafter. सत्य || Satya (truth) and धर्म || Dharma (righteousness) are glorified and अमृतत्व || Amritatva (immortality) as the goal of life was accepted. | + | The third group deals with several secular subjects like marriage, war etc., which show the nature of society of those times. A just and equitable social order existed. However, social life was conditioned by spiritual consciousness. There was समन्वयः || Samanvaya or harmony of life here and hereafter. सत्यम् || Satya (truth) and धर्मः || Dharma (righteousness) are glorified and अमृतत्वम् || Amritatva (immortality) as the goal of life was accepted. |
| === विशेष-विषयाः ॥ Famous Aspects <ref name=":223222" /> === | | === विशेष-विषयाः ॥ Famous Aspects <ref name=":223222" /> === |
| * Urvashi Pururava Samvada (Rig. Veda. 10.85) | | * Urvashi Pururava Samvada (Rig. Veda. 10.85) |