Sanskrit literature

The holy Hindu scriptures: RgVeda

The root for Veda is “Vida (Jnane)” which means knowledge. The Vedas are four in number: RgVeda, YajurVeda, SamaVeda and Athrva Veda respectively. According to some historical resources, RgVeda is considered the oldest among these four by its language and style. Vedas are not authored; Sage Vyasa or Krishna Dwaipayana classified the Veda. Vyasa has preached RgVeda to Paila, YajurVeda to Vaisampayana, SamaVeda to Jaimini and AtharvaVeda to Sumanta who are his disciples. For the ages, Vedas are surviving and prevalent on complete oral tradition.

RgVeda is divided in two schemes. Former one is Ashtaka krama and the later one is Mandala krama. Under Ashataka krama, whole RgVeda divided in eight ashtakas. Each ashtaka will have eight adhyayas. RgVeda is comprising sixty four adhyayas. Each adhyaya is further divided in to vargas. Totally there are 2006 vargas according to Ashtaka scheme.

Under the later scheme, RgVeda is divided in to ten Mandalas. It is called ‘Dasa tayee’ also. For every mandala, it is sub divided in to Anuvakas. Each Anuvaka contains some certain number of Suktas, which contains Riks/Mantras. There are eighty Anuvakas and 1017 Suktas found in RgVeda. Each and every Rik and even the characters are also so meticulously calculated and described in a text called Sarvanukramani.

The normal recitation of Rik is called ‘Samhita patha’. The patha is fixture of metre and pattern of recitation. Eight types of Pathas or Vikritis (various combinational patterns in Vedic recitation involving accented euphonic combinations) are available for Vedas. Respectevely that are-

1. Jata
2. Mala
3. Shikha
4. Rekha
5. Dhwaja
6. Danda
7. Ratha
8. Ghana

In Pada patha every word is exploded and recited. Based on Pada patha if the order is changed and recited, it forms the different variations like Samhita, Jata etc.

According to Patanjali, RgVeda was having twenty-one Sakhas. People will have different Vedic traditions and Samskaras depending on their Sakhas.

To elaborate the Vedic idea,

Brahmanas-Aranyakas-Upanishads-Pratisakhyas-Nighantu-Nirukta

were authored. Itareya and Sankhayana are the only available two Brahmanas/Aranyakas on RgVeda. Among the commentators on Veda, Sayanacharya has written commentaries for all the four Vedas.

Eleven Suktas in RgVeda are called ‘Valakhilya Suktas’ for which Pada patha is not available.

Glossory:

adhyaya- chapter

varga-sub-chapter in ashtakaa

nuvaka-sub-chapter in mandala

sukta-group of hymns

Rik-Rgvedic hymn

mantra-hymn

sarvanukramani-a text on Rgveda by Katyayana

sakha-branch

samskaras- hindu rites of passage