The Rigveda is India’s oldest religious text. Composed in ancient Sanskrit, it is also the oldest extant collection of poetry in any Indo-European language.
Can you also cover the deities mentioned in the Rigvedic hymns? There is always a debate between Brahmins of Saivite Rudra Sampradaya and Vaisnavite Sampradaya about who is Supreme according to the Vedas. There is Agni, Surya, Vayu, Indra, Varuna, Rudra, and Narayana. What do the Vedas establish about these Deities? Would be interested in a scholarly response.
Well, that was a great start! You have referred to it as an "Introduction", but it was way more than that. For a start, while it set out a short synopsis of the Rigveda, it also provided a nice framework for what is to come. It certainly has peaked my interest greatly. So many questions popped into my head, as I was reading the piece, which is marvellous. I note that many of them are in your list at the end. I look forward to the next newsletter.
I am delighted that this post has raised questions in your mind - this is one of my objectives in writing this newsletter, to raise queries and spark discussion! I hope my subsequent posts will answer your questions adequately - if not, please do ask what you wish to know, and I will do my best to answer you.
This is very intriguing indeed. Popular discourse on the Rig Veda is all too often often coloured by a preoccupation with establishing its authenticity as a religious text belonging to a specific community, and thereby locating the origins of that community in a specific time and place. I'm very glad you pointed out how little basis there is for declarations of that kind and highlighted how much remains unknown.
Thank you for this. I agree that there are way to many preconceptions about this text, and very little objective discourse. That is one of the reasons I have begun this newsletter - to cut through the noise.
Can you also cover the deities mentioned in the Rigvedic hymns? There is always a debate between Brahmins of Saivite Rudra Sampradaya and Vaisnavite Sampradaya about who is Supreme according to the Vedas. There is Agni, Surya, Vayu, Indra, Varuna, Rudra, and Narayana. What do the Vedas establish about these Deities? Would be interested in a scholarly response.
Thank you for writing in. Yes, this is an important aspect of the Rigveda, and I will look at it in some detail when I discuss the hymns.
Well, that was a great start! You have referred to it as an "Introduction", but it was way more than that. For a start, while it set out a short synopsis of the Rigveda, it also provided a nice framework for what is to come. It certainly has peaked my interest greatly. So many questions popped into my head, as I was reading the piece, which is marvellous. I note that many of them are in your list at the end. I look forward to the next newsletter.
I am delighted that this post has raised questions in your mind - this is one of my objectives in writing this newsletter, to raise queries and spark discussion! I hope my subsequent posts will answer your questions adequately - if not, please do ask what you wish to know, and I will do my best to answer you.
This is very intriguing indeed. Popular discourse on the Rig Veda is all too often often coloured by a preoccupation with establishing its authenticity as a religious text belonging to a specific community, and thereby locating the origins of that community in a specific time and place. I'm very glad you pointed out how little basis there is for declarations of that kind and highlighted how much remains unknown.
Thank you for this. I agree that there are way to many preconceptions about this text, and very little objective discourse. That is one of the reasons I have begun this newsletter - to cut through the noise.
It arouses a great deal of curiosity.
Looks as it is going to be very interesting
Usha Bubna