Rigveda – In this Veda, the Priest of Hotha or Hotrvarg used to ignite the fire in the yagya kund and call upon the gods by the Veda mantras. Rigveda is the most sacred and ancient texts of the Aryans.
In which 1028 suktas have been compiled, it also includes Balkhilya sukta, whose number is 11. Each of these sukta contains mantras from 3 to 100. This Veda has 10 divisions, 1028 Sukta, and 3 branches.
Rigvedic period (1500-1000 BC) information is obtained from the Rigveda. The number of Vedas is 4 – Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.
Opinion related to the composition of Rig Veda –
- According to Tilak – Rig Veda was composed in 6000 BC.
- Maxmulor – 1200-1000 BC (closest opinion)
- Winter Nits – 3000 BC
- Valid opinion – 1500-1000 BC
Three branches of Rigveda-
- Sakal Branch- 1017 Mantra (currently available)
- Vashakal branch- There are 57 Mantras in the Vashakal branch.
- Balkhilya branch- There are 11 mantras in the branch.
Brahmin texts of Rigveda –
- Aitareya Brahmin
In the Aitareya Brahmana, among the Panchajans, Dev, Man, Gandharva, Apsara, Pitras are enumerated. First, the principle of the origin of the king is found in Atereya Brahmin and the information about the karmas of the four classes is also found in this Brahmin.
- Kaushitaki Brahmin
Subdivision of Rigveda is Ayurveda. Dhanvantari the composer of Ayurveda.
Division of Rigveda- There are 10 divisions in Rig Veda, of which 2 to 7th division is the oldest and also called Gautrah Mandal because these were composed by Rishis of Gautrah vishesh. The 1st and the 10th Division are the newest divisions.
- Division of Rigveda – Composer
- Second Division – Grtsamad bhaargav
- Third Division – Vishvamitra (In this 3 mantras are composed by 3 kings- -Ajmeedh, Purmeedh, Trasdasyu)
- Fourth Division – Vamdev
- Fifth Division – Atari
- Sixth Division – Bharadwaj
- Seventh Division – Vashishth
- Eighth Division – Kanadv Angiras
The 7th Division of Rigveda is related to education.
The 9th division is dedicated to Som (God of the vegetation), hence this division is called Som Mandal.
Chaturvarna (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) is mentioned for the first time in the Purusukta of the 10th Mandal. Vedic period marriage system is also mentioned in Vivah Sukta in this division.
Important facts related to Rigveda –
- Among the male author of the Rigveda sukta, major are the Gratsamad, Vishwamitra, Vamdev, Atri, Bhardwaj, Vashishta, etc.
- Lopamudra, Ghosha, Shachee, Kanshavratti, Paulomi, etc. are major among the female author’s of Suktas.
- In the 95th Sukta of the 10th Division of the Rig Veda, there is a dialogue of Pururwa, Ail, and Urvasi.
- In this Veda, the word Sapta Sindhavah is used everywhere for the residence of the Aryans.
- In this, the Ganga has been used once and the Yamuna has been used three times.
- Names of some non-aryan such as Kikathas, Pisakaas, Seemiyan, etc. have been mentioned in the Rig Veda.
- The King’s post was hereditary in the Rig Veda.
- In the Rig Veda, the word vay(वाय) is used to weaver and the word ththr(ततर) is used in the meaning of the loom.
- About 25 rivers have been mentioned in this Veda in which the description of the most important river Indus is more, and Sarasvati is considered the most sacred river and it has also been mentioned several times.
- Names of Soot, Rathkar, and Karmar have been mentioned in Rigveda who was present at the time of the coronation. These are 12 in numbers including the king.
- The Rigveda mentions 33 gods and goddesses. In this Ved, the fire has been called Aashirsha, Apaad, Ghritmukh, Ghrit Prashdh, Ghrit-Lome, Archilom, and Vabhralom.
- The phrase “Asato Maa Sad Gamaya” has been taken from the Rig Veda. The “Gayatri Mantra” is mentioned in the Rigveda addressing the goddess Savitri related to the Sun.
- In a division of the Rig Veda, there are shlokas in the praise of only one deity and that is Som Devta.
- Som Ras has been praised in 9th Division of Rig Veda. In this Veda, the word Ahanya has been used for the cow.
- Hiranyapind, Takshan, and Tvashtra have been described in this Veda. Ashwin’s description has also happened many times in Rig Veda and he has also been called Nasatya (Ashwani Kumar).
- In the Rigveda, Indra is considered the most popular and most powerful deity. There are 250 verses in the Rigveda in praise of Indra.
- The 7th division of this Vedas describes the war between Sudaas and ten kings, which was fought on the banks of the river Purushani (Ravi) and Sudaas won in this war.
- In Rigveda, there are examples of girls who had been unmarried for a long time or for a lifetime. These girls were called Amaju.
- This Veda mentions vastra, vaas, and vasan words for the clothes. Bhishak is said to be a doctor of the Gods in this Veda.
- Avrat (not adhering to the vow), mridhavacha (obscure voice speaker), anaas (flat nose) is said for the non-aryans in the Rig Veda.
- In the Rig Veda, Jan is mentioned 275 times and Vish of 170 times.
- In Rigveda, Panchjanya was said due to having five tribes of the Aryans. These were-Puru, Yadu, Anu, Turvashu and Drahayu. Only the Himalaya Mountains and one of its peak Mujvant have been mentioned in this Vedas.
- The mention of agriculture in Rigveda is 24 times. In this Vedas, goddesses like Surya, Usha, and Aditi are described.
- This Vedas mentions polytheism, monotheism, monogamy (एकात्मवाद).
- The Nasdiya Sukta of Rigveda described Nirguna Brahmin.
Rivers mentioned in the Rig Veda-
| Ancient Name Modern Name | |
| Parushni Raavi Vitasta Jhelam Suvastu Swath Shtudri Satlaj Askini Chinav Bipasha Vyas Gomati Gomal Sindhu Sindh Krubhu Kurram Kubha Kabul Hashdwati Ghaggher |
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