Samhitas

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Rigveda

RIGVEDA A Nature and Importance The Rigveda is the oldest compilation of human wisdom This Samhita Collection is unique in its nature In fact it is not a book but a compilation composed of several books which can be individually distinguished from each other The present from of this Samhita clearly indicates that the collection is not a single work but consists of older and later elements Various indications of language style and ideas prove this point Different hymns of this Samhita were composed long before they were systematically arranged Being a compilation of different stages there is something which stamps the Rigveda with an individuality of its own It is much more natural in character and form than other Samhitas The Rigveda represents the earliest sacred book of India It is oldest and biggest amongst all the four Vedas All the features of Classical Sanskrit poetry can be traced to the Rigveda In it we find the seeds of India8217s religious and philosophical development Thus both for its poetry and its religious and philosophical importance the Rigveda should be studied by one who wants to understand Indian literature and spiritual culture The value of the Rigveda today is not confined to India for its wellpreserved language and mythology have helped a better understanding of languages literatures and cultures of a whole world B Form and Classification The whole of the RigvedaSamhita is in form of verses known as Rik 8216Rik8217 is the name given to those Mantras which are meant for the praise of the deities Thus the collection Samhita of Riks is known as RigvedaSamhita Only one recession or school Shakha of the Rigveda is available today and it is the Shaakala The Rigveda Samhita contains about 10552 Mantras classified into ten books called Mandalas Each Mandala is divided into several sections called Anuvakas Each Anuvaka consists of a number of hymns called Suktas and each Sukta is made up of a number of verses called riks This division of the Rigveda is most popular and systematic There are two ways of dividing the contents of the Rigveda but today other division is uncommon among the students of the Veda A Sukta is a group of Mantras The number of Mantras in a Sukta is not fixed Some Suktas have a small number of Mantras while others have a large number of Mantras It is important to note that every Sukta has a seer ie Rishi a deity ie Devata and a metre ie Chandas The Samhita of the Rigveda comprises 10 Mandalas 85 Anuvakas 1028 Suktas and 10552 Mantras Usually Anuvaka is not mentioned for the reference of a Mantra of the Rigveda For example RV 3167 simply means the seventh Mantra of the sixteenth Sukta of the third Mandala of the Rigveda Through this chart we can know the division of Mandalas number of Suktas in each Mandala and name of Rishis of some Mandalas Mandala Suktas Mantras Name of Rishis 01 191 2006 Maducchanda Medhatithi Gotama and many others 02 43 429 Gritasamada and his family 03 62 617 Vishvamitra and his family 04 58 589 Vamadeva and his family 05 87 727 Atri and his family 06 75 765 Bhardvaja and his family 07 104 841 Vashistha and his family 08 103 1716 Kanva Angira and their family 09 114 1108 Soma Devata but different Rishis 10 191 1754 Vimada Indra Shachi and many other C Some Important Hymns Among 1028 Suktas of the Rigveda Samhita some suktas are very popular and frequently referred by the readers of Vedas Some of them are Purusha Sukta Hiranyagarbha Sukta Dhanaannadana Sukta Aksha Sukta Nasadiya Sukta Duhsvapnanashna Sukta Yamayamisamvada Sukta Besides there are Suktas offered to different deities such as Indra Maruta Varuna Usha Surya Bhumi Soma Agni etc Thus we can briefly say about the contents of Rigveda that it has various subjects which are narrated by Vedic seers poetically philosophically or religiously Major part of the Article contributed by DrShashi Tiwari Retd Sanskrit Department Delhi University