Khila Suktas (खिलसूक्तानि)

The Khila Suktas (Samskrit : खिलसूक्तानि) are a collection of mantras of the Rigveda, recorded in the Shakala shakha. They are late additions to the text of the Rigveda, but still belong to the "Mantra" period of Vedic times. Many scholars have referred to the number of suktas while a few mention the number of mantras as ninety-eight.

The Rigveda samhita has according to Shakala Shaka 1017 mantras. Shakala samhita is well known, widely referred and a definite form of the five shakas that are said to exist according to Charanavyuha. The other shakas did not differ much from Shakala except an omission or addition of certain suktas along with rearrangement. The additional mantras are called Khilani or Khila Suktas which have traditionally come down even though they cannot be attributed to any shaka and it is customary to publish them as a supplement to the Rigveda.

G. Buhler was the first to unearth the Khila suktas from the old manuscripts of Rigveda written in ancient Kashmiri Pandu lipi. These suktas were compiled after the 10th mandala. According to Max Muller, the number of Khila suktas are 32, while Aufrecht put them as 25. Pt. Satvalekar has included 32 khila-suktas in his edition of the Rigveda samhita. Shri. Chintamani Ganesh Kashikar published an edition where he placed 86 Suktas in five adhyayas along with the different versions.

Meaning of Khila (खिल)

According to Dr. Kapildev Dvivedi, the term Khila is used to represent - Parishishta (a supplement) or a Prakshipta (an insert or interpolation). Those aspects or mantras that are not present in the original text and based on the requirement are collected from other sources are termed Khila (खिल). Such mantras are sought from other shakas of the Veda are termed Khila. This definition applies to any textual insertions. For example, Harivamsha parva is the Khila of Mahabharata (a prakshipta). In the Rigveda samhita of Shakala, a few mantras from Baskala shaka samhita are grouped under the section of Khila suktas.

Famous Khila Suktas

1. Sauparna Sukta (सौपर्ण-सूक्तम्): Suktas 2 to 12 in adhyaya 1, i.e., 11 suktas constitute the Sauparna Sukta. Rshi Taarkshya Suparna is the mantra drastha hence these suktas are called Sauparna suktas. It is also called Suparna-adhyaya. Of the eleven suktas, ten suktas contain the stuti for Ashvini devatas.
2. Shri Sukta (श्री-सूक्तम्): A very famous sukta it is referred in many Shrautasutras and Agni Purana. During Lakshmi Puja and Durga Puja this sukta is recited.
3. Valakhilya Sukta (वालखिल्य-सूक्तम्): Suktas 1 to 8 in Adhyaya 3 constitute the Valakhilya sukta. They correspond to 11 suktas, 80 mantras in Mandala 8 (Suktas 49-59) of the Rigveda. Of these 11 suktas the first eight suktas are said to be the Khila suktas. The mantra drashtas for these 8 suktas belong to Kanva clan. They are Praskanva, Pushitgu, Srshtigu, Aayu, Medhya, Matarishva, Krsha and Prshadhra. Devata for most of these mantras is Indra. Mantra drashtas of these Valakhilya suktas are said to be very radiant rshis in the Brhaddevata (6.84-86).
4. Pavamani Sukta (पावमानि-सूक्तम्): This sukta is related to Pavamana Soma. All kinds of diseases, sorrows, pains etc are removed by worshiping and chanting this stuti.
5. Brahma Sukta (ब्रह्म-सूक्तम्): The ten mantras of this sukta describe about Brahma and Surya.
6. Ratri Sukta (रात्रि-सूक्तम्): Four mantras of this sukta describe about night time (ratri).
7. Krtya Sukta (कृत्या-सूक्तम्): The forty mantras of this sukta describe the enchantment spells of various kinds.
8. Shivasankalpa Sukta (शिवसंङ्कल्प-सूक्तम्): The twenty-eight mantras are recited to obtain purity of the mind. A few of these mantras are present in the Yajurveda Adhyaya 24.
9. Sanjnana Sukta (संज्ञान-सूक्तम्): The five mantras of this sukta is a stuti describing unity and collectiveness.