Rigveda: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:42, 12 October 2006

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{{Hindu scriptures}}

The '''''Rigveda ''''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{Unicode|ऋग्वेद}} ''{{IAST|ṛgveda}}'', a [[tatpurusha]] compound of ''{{IAST|ṛc}}'' "praise, verse" and ''{{IAST|veda}}'' "knowledge") is a collection of [[Vedic Sanskrit]] [[hymns]] dedicated to the [[Rigvedic deities|gods]]. It is counted as the holiest among the four series of [[Hindu]] religious texts known as the [[Vedas]]. Geographical and ethnological passages in the Rigveda provide evidence that the Rigveda was composed between 1700–1100 BCE (the early [[Vedic period]]) in the [[Punjab]] ([[Sapta Sindhu]]) region of the [[Indian subcontintsubcontinent]] making it one of the world's oldest [[religious text|religious texts]], and one of the oldest texts of any [[Indo-European language]]. It was preserved in the Indian subcontinent over centuries by [[oral tradition]] alone and was probably not put in writing until [[Late Antiquity]] or even the [[early Middle Ages]].<ref>The earliest surviving manuscripts date to the [[11th century]] script.</ref>

Today, this text is still revered by Hindus in India and [[Nepal]] and its verses recited at prayers, religious functions and other auspicious occaisions.