Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)

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The Rigveda is the oldest of the Vedas. All the other Vedas are based upon it and consist to a large degree of various mantras from it. It consists of about thousand richas of different seers, each sukta averaging around ten mantras. That the Rig Veda is the oldest book in Sanskrit or any language is widely accepted by the followers of Sanatana Dharma. Its date of composition is not definite and the Vedic period is a topic of debate among many scholars. As such it is not in the scope of this article.

Primarily the Rigveda is a treasure trove of stuti (a praise, a prayer, invocation) offered to different devatas by various rshis. It consists of respectful thoughts, praises of deeds of various deities in the form of mantras.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

The Rig Veda is the book of Mantras called Rks or Richa-s. It contains the oldest form of all the Sanskrit mantras. It is built around a science of sound which comprehends the meaning and power of each letter. Most aspects of Vedic science like the practice of yoga, meditation, mantra and Ayurveda can be found in the Rig Veda and still use many terms that come from it.

While originally several different versions or recensions of the Rig Veda were said to exist, only one remains. Its form has been structured in several different ways to guarantee its authenticity and proper preservation through time.

व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology of Rks

Rigveda consists of Rks (ऋक् also called as ऋचः - Richas) according to Shabdakalpadhruma.

ऋच्यन्ते स्तूयन्ते देवा अनया । (ऋच् + क्विप् ।) वेदविशेषः । ऋग्वेदः । इत्यमरः ॥

The (vaidik) devatas are offered worship and are prayed to using these Rik-s (ऋक्). Rcha means prarthana (to pray) or stuti (to praise), thus it is synonymous with them. Another name for Mantra is Rcha (ऋचः), but all mantras are not Rcha-s (ऋचः). The Purusha Sukta, in the famed Sahasra-sirsha (सहस्रशीर्षा) mantra, mentions that Rcha-s (ऋचः) were the first to arise from Parameshavara.

तस्माद्याज्ञात् सर्वहुतः ऋचः सामानि जज्ञिरे । छन्दांसि जज्ञिरे तस्माद्यजुस्तस्मादजायत । (Purusha Sukta)

A collection of Rchas is the Rigveda. It was first studied by Shakala (mentioned also as Shakalya) and further by Baskala and four other (rshis).

ऋचां समूह ऋग्वेदस्तमभ्यस्य प्रयत्नतः। पठितः शाकलेनादौ चतुर्मिस्तदनन्तरम्।। (Rk. Pratisakhya)

All the aspects about rigveda vargeekarana, the shakas involved and extant texts, the arrangement of the mandalas and ashtakas are given in the article Veda Vargeekarana.

ऋचां क्रमविन्यासः ॥ Arrangement of Rks (Mantras)

There are many versions about the total number of richa-s and suktas in the Rgveda. Both ancient and modern scholars have put forth explanations about the differences in shakas of Rgveda. These differences are primarily due to the variations of the same richa-s during usage (प्रयोगकाल) and study times (अध्ययन-काल). Some richa-s have 4 padas during study but only two padas (द्विपदाः) during usage of the mantra.

In some texts, the valakhilya mantras, 80 of them at the end of the eighth mandala, are not taken into account along with the Rgveda mantras. Hence, after including the dvipada mantras and valakhilya mantras the total number of richa-s are given as 10552 in Katyayana's Rksarvanukramani text.

मण्डलक्रमः ॥ Mandala krama

The Rgveda samhita has 10552 mantras, grouped into 1017 suktas collected in ten mandalas of unequal length given by various rshis. In the Mandala krama it is arranged into 10 mandalas, 1017 suktas and 10552 or 10580 (as given in Shaunaka's Anuvakaanukramani) mantras, and 153826 words.

ऋचां दश सहस्राणि ऋचां पञ्च शतानि च । ऋचामशीतिः पादश्च पारणं संप्रकीर्तितम् ॥ (अनुवाकानुक्रमणी, 43)

Each sukta in a mandala is a collection of mantras. The number of mantras in a sukta are highly variable. Each mantra is associated with a Rshi, a Chandas, and a Devata. Given below are the mandalas, suktas and the number of mantras therein.

Mandalas	Number of Suktas	Number of Mantras	Mantra Drshtas
Mandala 1	191	2006	शतर्चिनः
Mandala 2	43	429	गृत्समदः
Mandala 3	62	627	विश्वामित्रः
Mandala 4	58	589	वामदेवः
Mandala 5	87	727	अत्रिः
Mandala 6	75	765	भरद्वाजः
Mandala 7	108	841	वसिष्ठः
Mandala 8	92	1636	कण्व अङ्गिरसः
Mandala 9	114	1108
Mandala 10	191	1754
Total	1017	10472
Valakhilya Suktas	11	80
Total	1028	10552

• First and tenth mandalas exactly have 191 suktas. They are said to be more recent as compared to other mandalas. Analysis of the modernity of the language and chandas used, and invocations to new devatas, along with new darshanika concepts forms the basis to say that of all the mandalas the tenth mandala is the most recent having new mantras.
• वंशमण्डल - Second to eight mandalas have complete unity in authorship. Mandalas second to sixth are have rshis Grtsamada, Vishvamitra, Vaamadeva, Atri, Bharadvaja, respectively and their families as the mantra-drashtas. The seventh mandala is given entirely by Vasishta. The eight mandala is predominantly given by rshis Kanva and Angiras.
• पवमानमण्डल - Ninth mandala is made up of suktas addressed to Soma Pavamana; its mantra drsthas belong to rshis of different families.
• Except in the eighth and ninth mandalas, everywhere the suktas to Agni are placed first, then those of Indra followed by those addressed to other deities are seen.
• Simple chandas, having three or four lines of eight, eleven and twelve syllables as well as some complicated chandas are seen in Rigveda.

The internal arrangement within a mandala places the mantras given by the father (rshi) first and followed by those given by the son. However, in a few cases the mantras given by the son are arranged earlier than the sukta of the father, because the son had given more suktas than the father.

अष्टकक्रमः ॥ Ashtaka krama

In the Ashtaka krama, eight ashtakas, each ashtaka has 8 adhyayas thus a total of 64 adhyayas, 2006 vargas are present. Here vargas are the collection of mantras compiled in this arrangement to facilitate convenience while studying. The number of mantras in a varga are not definite, but containing at least 5 mantras in a varga. In the end of the Samhita, we find the Rk Parishista in which 36 suktas are collected. Given below are the number of vargas and mantras according to the Ashtaka krama.

Ashtakas	Number of Suktas	Number of Vargas	Mantra
Ashtaka 1	121	265	1370
Ashtaka 2	119	221	1147
Ashtaka 3	122	225	1209
Ashtaka 4	140	250	1289
Ashtaka 5	129	238	1263
Ashtaka 6	124	313	1650
Ashtaka 7	116	248	1263
Ashtaka 8	146	246	1281
Total	1017	2006	10472
Valakhilya	11	18	80
Total	1028	2024	10552

Rgveda Samhitas

The extant and available samhita of Rgveda belongs to the Shakala shaka. It is the only available samhita of Rgveda. Bashkala, Ashvalayana, Shankhyayana, Mandukayana, shaka samhitas are not available in present times.

शाकल संहिता Shakala Samhita

Shakalya (शाकल्यः)

Padapatha of Rgveda samhita was given by Shakalya (शाकल्यः). In the Brhdaranyaka Upanishad (Adhyaya 4) we find a debate between Shakalya and Yajnavalkya in Janaka's sabha. According to the Puranic evidences, it was this same Shakalya who composed the Rgveda Padapatha. In the Brahmanda Purana we find the following

शाकल्यः प्रथमस्तेषां तस्मादन्यो रथीतरः ।। बाष्कलिश्च भरद्वाज इति शाखाप्रवर्त्तकाः ।। ३४.३२ ।।

देवमित्रस्तु शाकल्यो ज्ञानाहंकारगर्वितः ।। जनकस्य स यज्ञे वै विनाशामगमद्द्विजाः ।। ३४.३३ ।। (Brahmanda. Pura. Purv. 2.34.32-33)

Reference to Shakalya has also been found in Nirukta and Rk-Pratisakhya. It has been shown that Shakalya's padapatha has not been accepted by Yaska in his Nirukta. For example in Nirukta (5.21) "अरुणो मासकृद् वृकः" has been mentioned. Yaska interpreted मासकृत् as one word in the sense of "मासो का कर्ता" or one who makes a month. Shakalya considered it as two padas or words as मा and सकृत्. Thus we see how Yaska and Shakalya differed in their interpretations.

विषयविवेचन ॥ Contents of Rgveda

Rgveda is a vast collection of stotras, where many devatas are praised and eulogized by various rshis and their family using beautiful comparisons and emotional expressions, both to please the devatas as well as to achieve their wishes. We find numerous references to geography, descriptions about the three worlds (पृथ्वी or the earth, अन्तरिक्षम् or द्युलोकः referred to as the outer space including the atmosphere and स्वर्गः refers to the higher worlds loosely translated as heaven) the devatas, rivers and oceans, countries, asuras or dasyus, people and their society, marriage, lifestyle, construction of villages and cities, rulers of countries and wars, dialogue suktas such as that of Sarama and Pani, darshanika suktas to name a few.

Astronomical aspects

In the Aitareya Brahmana (3.44) we find the concept that Surya never raises or sets but it only flips at the end of daylight and returns with the bright side up on the next day. On reaching the end of the day, the sun flips such that the dark night side faces us. This concept was agreeable in the Rgveda suktas also (1.115.4 and 5.81.4). And that the earth was circular like a discus was known to the people in those times.

Geology

According to Dr. Kapil Dev Dwivedi many geological aspects are revealed in the study of Rgveda. It was long known to ancient people that the earth has 7 strata (Rgveda 1.22.16), and that the movements within both the earth and in the paramanus (atoma) are regulated by Vishnu.

Rgveda (10.1.6) states that the core of the earth is filled with Agni covered by a brilliant cloak.

स तु वस्राण्यध पेशनानि वसानो अग्निर्नाभा पृथिव्याः ॥ (Rg. Veda. 10.1.6)

The concept of fire and its tejas (तेजोमय वस्त्र) the brilliant cloak or garment is expressed in many mantras. Yajurveda also states that prthvi or earth is the center (yoni) of agni and it is due to this central Agni that causes the movement of the earth. Atharvaveda states that Agni is present in the Earth, अग्निवासाः पृथ्विवी (Atha. Veda. 12.1.21) and hence prthvi is called Agnivaasas (अग्निवासस्). That the rivers and ocean waters contain Agni is also expressed in the Rgveda. Agni is present in all living beings and the same is said to spread into the waters of rivers and oceans.

यो अग्निः सप्तमानुषाः श्रितो विश्वेषु सिन्धुषु ॥ (Rg. Veda. 8.39.8)

In the above mantra Sindu (सिन्धु) indicates both the rivers and oceans. It is said that Agni exists in the waters and it is well known that by the churning of the river water electricity is generated. Rgveda clearly mentions the presence of Ratnas (gems) and treasures of gold etc which are the cause of prosperity, in the earth.

रियं त इन्द्र पृथिवी बिभर्ति ॥ (Rg. Veda. 3.55.22)

पुरू वसूनि पृथिवी बिभर्ति ॥ (Rg. Veda. 3.51.5)

Mountains

Rgvedic mantras give us a detailed account of how the earth was once full of mountains that could "move" around and how Indra made them firm and immovable (2.12.1). Kanva samhita and Maitrayani samhita both support the puranic version that in the very remote past mountains had 'wings' and they could travel to any place they chose. Indra cut those wings off and protected the people on earth from loss of life and property. The factual basis may be debatable yet the legend has a significant place in many texts.

In these texts there is a mention about 'Himavanta' (Himalayas) however, their dimensions are not given. Rgveda (10.34.1) refers to a specific mountain called Moojavat on which grows the Somalata. In the Nirukta, it has been referred to as a mountain, while its location is known from the Atharva samhita. Atharva samhita (5.22) mentions that Moojavat is a mountain located in the far North-western region of Gandhaar or Balhik country. This mountain is verily the native habitat of Somalata, from where it was brought for use in yajnas. As the people of those times moved to and settled in the eastern plains, bringing soma became difficult and commercial trade began.

In the Taittriya Aranyaka (1.31) we find a mention of Krauncha, Mainaka, and Sudarshana parvatas. In the same Aranyaka (1.7) there is a clear mention of Mahameru.

Oceans

Rgveda offers good information about oceans and seas. People were well aware about the vast waterbodies and trade via the seas was prevalent. Some important findings include the following

• Thar Desert was once a sea (Rgveda 7.95.2): In the present day Rajasthan where a desert stands now, the ancient texts have indicated the presence of a sea in the same area.
• Four seas (Rgveda 9.33.6 and 10.47.2): It is known that the present peninsular Indian subcontinent is surrounded by three seas (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian sea in the present terms). But the Rgvedic texts mention about the presence of a fourth sea in the northern region of India below the Himalayas. The land areas that are now known as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were we find the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, were once areas of a northern sea. Rgveda (10.136.5) mentions about 'purva' and 'apara' samudra or seas. The Purva (or Avara) samudra also called as Arvavat is where the sunrises and the Apara (or Para) samudra also called as Paraavat is where the sun sets. The Arabian sea is the Paraavat sea where the Sindhu and its tributaries drain into. Sarasvati river used to drain into a sea extending from the desert towards the flank of the Aravalli ranges in the east.
• Gases in Oceans (Rgveda 8.102.4)
• Medicinal substances in the oceans, rivers and mountains (Rgveda 8.20.25)

Rivers

While studying about the rivers of Rgvedic times, one must note that even though we find the same names of rivers at present in some instances, the course of the river may or mostly may not remain the same in the present times. It is well known that even now rivers change course of their flow due to various reasons. The Yangtsze river in China is one such famous example.

Following are more details about the rivers in Rgveda.

• Rivers flow towards and empty into the sea (Rgveda 1.190.7, 6.19.5, 8.6.4)

Geography in Rgveda

The geographical information in the Rigveda, to put it in a nutshell, more or less pertains to the area from Uttar Pradesh in the east to Afghanistan in the west, the easternmost river mentioned in the text being the Ganga, and the westernmost being the western tributaries of the Indus rivers.

Nature in Rgveda

The main part of Rigveda belongs to suktas related to nature and natural forces. The Vedic deities are explained in different ways by the scholars of India and West, but speaking generally, the suktas addressed to deities (Devata) are under the influence of the most impressive phenomenon of nature and its aspects. The word Devata means divine, divinity which is bright, strong, donor, and powerful. In these suktas we find prayers for certain natural elements such as air, water, earth, sun, rain, dawn etc. The glorious brightness of the sun, the blaze of the sacrificial fire, the sweep of the rain-storm across the skies, the recurrence of the dawn, the steady currents of the winds, the violence of the tropical storm and other such natural energies, fundamental activities or aspects are glorified and personified as divinities (Devata).

The interaction with nature resulted in appreciation and prayer but, indeed, after a good deal of observation. Attributes assigned to deities fit in their natural forms and activities, as Soma is green, fire is bright, air is fast moving and sun is dispenser of darkness. The characteristics of these forces described in the verses prove that Vedic seers were masters of natural science. All powers, aspects or activities of nature are generally regarded as deities because they are helpful, beneficial and essential for our life. Rivers, mountains, earth, air, water, plants, trees, forest, fire, rain, cloud, Sun, Moon etc, all are deities in Vedic mythology. In Rigveda the names of major deities are, such as Agni, Indra, Vayu, Earth, Soma, Varuna, Vishnu, Aditya, Usha, Aditi, Parjanya, etc.

Pravachanakaras of Rgveda

One may classify the Samskrit commentators of the Rgveda into the following five main categories :

• those commentators whose commentaries are now available in full in published form; Sayanacharya (1316-1388) alone can be cited as an example in this category. His commentary on Rgveda is called Vedarthaprakasa.
• those commentators who can be reasonably presumed to have written commentaries on the entire Rgveda but only some portions of whose commentaries have become available so far; Skandaswamin (around 600 AD). He named his commentary as Rgarthaagamasamhrti. Venkatamadhava (1100 AD) composed Rgarthadipika. According to Venkatamadhava Skandaswamin, Narayana and Udgitha together composed the Rgbhashya respectively, i.e., the first part was by Skandaswamin, the middle part by Narayana and the ending was given by Udgitha.

स्कन्दस्वामी नारायण उद्गीथ इति ते क्रमात् । चक्रुः सहैकमृग्भाष्यं पदवाक्यार्थगोचरम् ।।

• those persons who are known to have written commentaries only on certain specific mantras of the Rgveda; commentators. Haradatta (9th century A.D.) wrote the commentary called Asvalayana-mantra-patha-bhashya. Anandatirtha (Madhavaacharya) has written a commentary on Rgveda1.1-40 (except 1.34.7-12). Atmananda (around 13th Century) has commented on only one sukta namely 1.164. Dinakara Bhatta in his Rgarthasara has given his commentary on 207 mantras of the Rgveda.
• those persons who are directly or indirectly referred to in literature as commentators of the Rgveda but no portions of whose commentaries have become available so far; Narayana and Udgitha
• the Rgveda-commentators of the modern times.

Most commentators have interpreted Rgveda mainly in the light of the Vedic rituals.