Part-III A Glimpse of Rig-Veda

Part-III A Glimpse of Rig-Veda

(Copy right protected by Dr. G.S. Tripathy)

Rig-Veda Samhita:

a) It is very important to understand that there were four classes of priests required at any sacrifice yagna. The first class consists of the officiating priests or acolytes (HOTRI). They invoke Gods by reciting mantras prepared for the sacrificial ground and the alter. They pour out the libations. The hymns of the Rig-Veda are for this class of priests.

b) The second class of priests consists of choristers (Udgatri) who chant sacred hymns and the hymns of the Samaveda are far them only.

c) The third class of priests consists of recitals (ADHVARYA) who carry out sacrificial rites while chanting sacred texts and the hymns of the YajurVeda are for them only.

d) The fourth class of priests consists of Brahman overseers. They supervise the sacrifice and the hymns of AtharvaVeda are for this class of priests.

2. a. The Rig-Veda derives its name from the word RIK which means a mantra. In the Rig-Veda samhita, there are 10589 verses. They are divided into ten mandals. Each of the mandals is subdivided into anuvaks (lessons) and sukts (hymns).

b. The ten mandals have 85 anuvaks, 1080 sukts and 10589 verses.

c. There is also a Valakhilya section or supplement. This seems to have been a later addition.

Rig – Veda is Fairly Long

Mandala One:- This mandala has 181 suktas and 2006 mantras. The bulk of the mantras are addressed to Indra. Agni comes next in order to importance.

[Agni] Fire God is Agni.

Those oblations are offered to Agni in a sacrifice. Agni is regarded as messenger who summons the other Gods to the sacrifice and carries the offering for them. This practical hymn is ascribed to a sage named Madhuchhandra Vishvamitra. Various hymns follow various metre and this one is in Gayatri metre. Agni makes sacrifice a success and brings welfare of mankind. By many sages Agni is praised since earlier times. To the sacrifice Agni brings other Gods.

[Vayu] God of wind is Vayu. To the sage Madhuchhandra Vishvamitra this hymn is also ascribed is in Gayatri metre.

Although the hymns are basically addressed to Vayu; Indra and Varun also figure in it. The chief God of Vedas is Indra who rules over the atmosphere (antariksha) the intervening region between the earth (Prithiv) and heaven (Dyuloka) with his weapon Vajra, Indra killed the demons.

In the particular the demon Vritra had been killed by Indra only.

[Mitra] Mitra is an aspect of the Sun that presided over the day. Correspondingly Varun presided over the night. Soma Juice was extracted from the Soma herb, the herbs having been collected by moonlight. To extract the Juice the herbs were crushed. Then the juice was purified by straining. The purified juice was mixed with water, milk and flour and then offered to Gods.

[Indra] This hymns is also ascribed to Madhuchhandra Vishvamitra and the metre continues to be Gayatri only.

The RIBHUS

Angiras formed an important priestly family. In this line born a sage named Sudhava who had three sons. They were RIBHA, Vibhvan, and Vaja. These three collectively called RIBHUS. To the status of Gods, they were elevated.

The hymn is ascribed to the sage MEDHATITHI, son of kanva. The metre is Gayatri.

They were righteous and straight forward in conduct. They travelled in all directions. They made their aged parents young again.

[Varun] This hymn is ascribed to a sage named Shunahshapa. He was the son of Ajigatra. The metre in which this hymn is composed is Gayatri.

Varun is the source of all valour-source of good fortune also. Mitra and Varun are the Gods who wish to elevate those who observed religious rites. They elevate those who give alms. They will partake of the oblations who have offered.

Varun is acquainted with twelve months that bring prosperity to the subjects.

Ashvinis

These two Ashvinis are Gods whose identities are not clear. They brought light to the morning sky. They were probably two stars. One identified with the morning and the other with the evening. They were subsequently characterized as the physicians of the Gods. This hymns is ascribed to a sage named Hiranya Stupa who was the son of the sage Angirasa. The metre is partly Jagat is partly tristupa.

The chariot of Ashvinis bears honey and three whose are attached to the chariot. This is a reference to the three daily sacrifices that are held. This ensures the performance of righteous deeds.

- Grant us thrice – medicine from heaven.

- Grant us thrice – herbs from earth.

- Grant us thrice – herbs from water.

- Grant protection and happiness to our children.

- Grant them a proper balance of three constituents.

- The three constituents (dhatu) of human body are Vata (wing) Pitha bile and kafa (Phlegm).

- When these three are I perfect balance a person is quite well.

- These are seven secret rivers – they are as follows. Sindhu (indus), Vitasta, Asiki, Parushni, Vipasa, Satadru and Saravati.

- NASATYAS is another name of Ashvinis. Literally, the word means one who preserves the truth.

- Come with thirty three God to drink Soma Juice we have offered.

- Thirty three Gods are – Eight Vasus, Eleven Rudras, Twelve Adityas. This adds up to thirty one. The remaining two are identified as Prajapati and Vashatka.

- The VISHVS – DEVAS

- The Vishva Devas is a general expression which sacrifices all the Gods collectively. Sometimes the suggestion however is that VISHVA – Devas are a special group of Gods.

- The hymns says – “EKAM SAD VIPRA VAHUDHA VADANTI” meaning trth is one, but the learned speak of it in various ways. This hymn is ascribed to the sage DIRGHATAMA – the son of the sage OUCHATHYA.

- The metres are TRISHTUPA, JAGATI, PRASTARAPAMKTI and ANUSTUPA.

- Three brothers are Surya, Vayu and Agni.

- Surya rules Dyuoka and is the eldest. Vayu rules Antariksha – brother in the middle.

- Agni rules on Prithvi and is the youngest brother.

Mandala – II

This mandala has 43 Suktas and 429 mantras. All most all the suktas are ascribed to a sage named Gritsamada.

Rudra – Bulk of the suktas addressed to Indra and Agni and then to Rudra.

- The Rudra of the Vedas deems to have been a God to storm. Later identified as Shiva.

- Rudra is the father of Maruta – God of the wind.

- Hymns that follows is TRISHTUPA metre.

- The MARUTS – hymn that follows is Jagati metre.

Mandala – III

This mandal has 62 suktas and 617 mantras ascribed to the sage Vishvamitra or his family. Primarily addressed to sacrificial post or Yupa. Hymn is trishtupa & Anushtupa.

Yupa – a tree, made out of a tree stand up straight at an auspicious spot on the earth.

Usha – it is the personification of dawn. There is a sukta addressed to usha. The sage to whom this hymn is ascribed continues to be Vishvamitra – metre is Trishtupa.

Mandala – IV

This mandala has 58 suktas & 589 mantras and it is ascribed to the sage Vamadeva, son of sage Gautama. SHYENA, DADHIKRA, GHARITA (clarified butter) are there in this mandala.

Mandala – V

There are 87 suktas & 727 mantras in this mandala.

- This is ascribed to various sages and seers.

- Here in this mandala, suktas are addressed mostly to Agni followed by VisvaDeva, Maruta and Indra.

- Also Mitra, Varun, Sabita, Parajanya (God of thunder storm and rain).

Prithvi – appear in this mandala.

Mandala – VI

There are 75 suktas & 765 mantras. This is ascribed to the sage Varadvaja and his family. These suktas are addressed mostly to Indra followed by Agni and then cows.

- Cow, SUSHA (Manifestation of Surya), Saraswati, Dyavaprithvi, Brihaspati, Weapons of war found mention here in this mandala.

Mandala – VII

This mandala have 104 suktas & 841 mantras.

- Here in this mandala suktas are addressed to Indra followed by Agni.

- Here hymns are ascribed to the sage VASISHTA and his family in TRISHTUPA metre.

- About Vasishta, water vastoshpati, Vishnu. The frog song found mention here.

Mandala – VIII

103 suktas and 1716 mantras are here in this mandala.

- Here the suktas are ascribed to various seers and sages.

- The mantras here are addressed to Indra followed by to Agni and Ashvinis.

Flames of Agni and energies will endure our welfare. Surya will radiate just the right amount of heat. So that we are warmed, but not burnt up. May all Gods banish our enemies. May the pure vague blow and grant us happiness.

We find many such good things in this mandala.

Mandala – IX

In this mandala there are 114 suktas and 1108 mantras. Baring a single exception all the suktas are addressed to PAVAMANA SAMA. SAMA is the personification of the same juice and is also identified with the moon God. Pavamana signifies that which is being purified.

This refers to the purification of the extracted same juice. To avoid repetition, we reproduce only one sukta from ninth mandala which is composed in the Gayatri mantra and is addressed to the sage Vishvamitra.

[Pavaman Sama] Sama is the one who destroys all the demons. Sama is the one who sees everything cows should never be killed. They look pon Sama as their son. Veda is against killing of cows, which is to be noted seriously and carefully.

Mandala – X

This the richest mandala of the Rig-Veda samhita. Most of the references that one finds to the Rig-Veda are from this mandala only. As a whole this mandala has 181 suktas and 1754 mantras.

We start with a dialogue between Yama and Yami. Yama & Yami were respectively the son and daughter of Vivasana or Surya.

In this mandala, sukta is ascribed to no particular sage. Yama & Yami are themselves refered to as the sages. The hymn is composed in trishtupa metre. Here there is an interesting discussion between Yama & Yami – though they are brother & sister. Yami requests Yama to unite to which the later disagrees. Yami wants that Yama should be her husband which disagreeable for Yama.

At last Yama advised to Yami as follows “Go and embrace some other man like a creeper embracing tree”. May you be happy with him.