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Vedā: Yama Yami Rig Vedā 10:10 is indeed a very deep hymn – and one of the few hymns in Rigveda to show a typically mythological character. There are several things we need to see here. What we essentially know as we proceed to the sūkta is that Yama and Yamī are twins. So...

Vedā: Varṇa The philosophical idea of varṇa (not “caste”) in Upaniṣad and Veda First, let us look at the following passages of Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4: ब्रह्म वा इदमग्र आसीदेकमेव तदेकं सन्न व्यभवत् । तच्छ्रेयोरूपमत्यसृजत क्षत्रं यान्येतानि देवत्रा क्षत्राणीन्द्रो वरुणः...

Vedā: Ṛṣi Bharadvāja Ṛṣi Bharadvāja’s enlightenment in the Ṛgveda The Ṛgveda Samhitā is the fount of all religious, spiritual and philosophical systems that originated in India. It contains the seeds of all subsequent developments. And yet, it is misunderstood even by people...

Vedā: Vyaṣṭi – Samaṣṭi Vyaṣṭi and Samaṣṭi in Vedic philosophy The concepts of Vyaṣṭi (व्यष्टि) and Samaṣṭi (समष्टि) are quite apt in describing the outlook and perspective of someone who has truly imbibed and internalized Vedic philosophy. Vyaṣṭi denotes the individuality and...

Vedā: Cow Significance The Cow Hymn in the Rig Veda (Gomātha) The cow is known universally as an animal that is preeminently held sacred and holy by Hindus since time immemorial. She is used as a metaphysical symbol of nature’s bountiful and selfless generosity. She...

Vedā: Sāyaṇācārya Sāyaṇācārya: His life and work Sāyaṇācārya is a unique personality in India’s history, and as equally unique as his older brother Mādhavācārya, who was better known as Svāmī Vidyāraṇya of the famous Śṛṅgerī Maṭha. These brothers, who lived in the 14th...

Vedā: Concordance Samhitā – Upaniṣads Concordance of Ṛg Veda Samhitā with Upaniṣads The following table of concordance is an attempt to build a comparative list of equivalent concepts seen in the Ṛg Veda Samhitā and the Upaniṣads. It is well-known that Hindu tradition...

Vedā: Lineage of Rishis Lineage of Rishis (Ṛṣi) in the Rig Veda The Rig Veda is the most ancient sacred literature in the world, and is without a doubt the foundational cornerstone of the architectural wonder that is Hinduism. Anyone with even a faint familiarity with the Rig...

Vedā: Āśrama Ḍharma In the Vedas and earliest brāhmaṇas, we find evidence only for the brahmacārin and gṛhastha āśramas as a system followed by common people. However, some form of sannyāsa did exist, so did vānaprastha, both of which were mostly a sagely affair before the...

Vedā: Asuratva Asura in the Rig Veda In the Puranic and Epic theology and mythology of Hinduism, there are different classes of beings (super-human, human, sub-human, non-human) born from the creator Brahma. The major of these classes are the Devas (gods of light) and Asuras...

Vedā: Ādityas Rigveda 8.47 – Anehaso va ūtayaḥ suūtayo va ūtayaḥ We start from an outlier hymn in Eighth Maṇḍala – 8.47, the seer of which is not spared to us. (Anukramaṇī cluelessly assigns the hymn to Trita Āptya) This hymn presents the Vedic view of Ādityas and Aditi –...

Vedā: Hiraṇyagarbha Who is Hiraṇyagarbha Rigveda 10.121 In the beginning, evolved the Golden embryo, Born of what has been, the Lord existed alone. He has upheld the earth and the sky here….. To the radiant “who”, do we offer worship with oblations. He who is the giver of...

Vedā: Soma “Of you, none ever tastes, O Soma!” The confusion of religion with spirituality is what has ruined the spiritual traditions all over the world. Spiritual mindset is not as satisfying pastime as a religious ritual, nor is a philosophical mind a cheap solution as a...

Vedā: Dīrghatamas The unparallel Maharśi (Sage) Dīrghatamas “Dīrghatamas the son of Mamatā hath come to the length of days in the tenth age of humankind. He is the Brahman of the waters as they strive to reach their end and aim: their charioteer is he.” (RV 1.158.6) “Let not...

Vedā: Indra Indra in Vedā In the Veda, Indra along with other gods is the highest form of divinity and is worshiped as a protector and close friend. He is the creator and sustainer of the world. In all of the Rigvedic hymns, he is praised for killing Vrtra and releasing the...

Vedā: Agni Essential nature of Agni in the Rig Veda The general notion among most people who have heard of the Rig Veda, whether Hindu or non-Hindu, whether layperson or specialist, regarding the contents of the Rig Veda is that it is a collection of stutis, or “praises” of...

Veda: Rigveda Period of India The Vedic India – How was it like? The Vedic period was not a small period, it spanned over all the late neolithic age, to Bronze Age and even early Iron Age. It spanned from the states of small neolithic settlements to smaller tribal kingdoms...

Vedā: Where to Start RigVedā Note that first, you should be eligible for reading Rigveda. Do I sound sarcastic? No. Rigveda itself tells that its verses reveal only to the poet. Do you like to read poetry, riddles and enjoying them? If yes, you can continue, else Rigveda is...

RigVedā Summary RigVedā Summary on Creation, Deities, and GOD Note: As more and more people are not getting the Vedic philosophy and just asking the same questions, I am forced to write a detailed answer on Vedic philosophy and show in detail how and what Rigveda hymns mean I...

Vedā: Introduction & Poetic Significance Introduction: Vedā and its Poetic significance Much of the knowledge of Vedas is based on several misconceptions caused due to the carelessness of religions, several Indian scholars, and several other foreign scholars… All of them...