Oldest book in the world- Rigveda

Oldest book in the world- Rigveda

We all are well accustomed with the Vedas. There are four vedas- Rigveda, yajurveda, samaveda ,atharvaveda. Rigveda is the oldest of all. It was composed around 3500 years ago with hymns called sukta meaning well said. These hymns were in praise of Gods and Goddess.

Three gods were equally praised, Agni or the God of fire, Indra or the warrior God, soma or the plant from which special drink was prepared.

These hymns were composed by the sages or the rishis. The priests taught students to pronounce, recite and learn any word, sentence with great care. Men were mostly responsible for composing or learning any hymns. However some were composed by women as well.

The Rigveda was composed in old or vedic Sanskrit which was very different from that children learn today.

The books that we use today we’re written and printed, while Rigveda was cited and heard, rather than been read.

Some of the hymns in Rigveda were in the form of dialogues.

OLDEST BOOK IN THE WORLD- THE RIGVEDA

• There are four Vedas-
  • The Rigveda
  • The Samaveda
  • The Yajurveda
  • The Atharvaveda

THE RIGVEDA:

• The oldest Veda is the Rigveda.
• Composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda was composed in the north-west of the subcontinent.

• Includes more than a thousand hymns, called Sukta or ‘well said’
• Hymns/ Sukta are in praise of various Gods and Goddesses.
  • Agni- The God of Fire
  • Indra- A Warrior God
  • Soma- a Plant from which a Special drink was prepared.
• These hymns were composed by sages(rishis)

• Priests taught students to recite and memorise each syllable, word, and sentence with great care.
• Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men.
• A few were composed by women
• The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit ( different from today’s Sanskrit).
• The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read.
• It was written down several centuries after it was first composed.
• And printed less than 200 years ago.

SANSKRIT AND OTHER LANGUAGES:

The mother language- Sanskrit

‘MATR’-SANSKRIT

‘MA’- HINDI

‘MOTHER’- ENGLISH

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