What is rigved in Hinduism and what it say all about?

The Rigveda is one of the oldest and most sacred texts of Hinduism, considered the first of the four Vedas—Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit between 1500–1200 BCE, it forms the foundation of Vedic knowledge, philosophy, rituals, and spirituality.

What is the Rigveda?

Name meaning: "Rig" means "praise" or "verse", and "Veda" means "knowledge". So Rigveda = Knowledge of hymns or praises.

Form: It is a collection of 1,028 hymns (suktas) divided into 10 books (mandalas).

Language: Vedic Sanskrit (much older than classical Sanskrit).

Composed by: Ancient sages (Rishis) like Vishvamitra, Vasistha, Atri, Bharadvaja, etc.

 What does the Rigveda talk about?

The Rigveda is a spiritual and philosophical treasure, praising various aspects of nature and divinity. Here's what it contains:

1. Hymns to Devas (Gods)

Agni – God of Fire and mediator of offerings.

Indra – God of thunder and rain; the most praised deity in the Rigveda.

Varuna – Guardian of cosmic order (Rta).

Soma – A sacred plant and also a deity associated with bliss and divine ecstasy.

Surya – The Sun god.

Vayu – The Wind god.

Usha – The Dawn goddess.

These hymns praise the forces of nature and request protection, rain, health, food, cattle, and victory.

2. Cosmology and Creation

Contains profound philosophical hymns about the origin of the universe, such as:

> Nasadiya Sukta (10.129) – "Who really knows? Who can declare it? Whence was it born, whence came this creation?"

3. Rituals and Sacrifices

Offers guidance on yajnas (sacrificial rituals) to connect with the divine and maintain cosmic order.

4. Moral and Social Ideas

Speaks of truth (satya), order (ṛta), hospitality, charity, and harmony in society.

Mentions early forms of social divisions (varnas) like Brahmins, Kshatriyas, etc.

5. Spiritual Insights

Early ideas of divine unity – all gods are seen as different forms of the same Supreme Truth:

> "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti"

(Truth is One, sages call it by many names) – Rigveda 1.164.46

Significance in Hinduism

It is shruti (divinely heard) – considered apauruṣeya (not man-made). All Vedas are called shruti. Because knowledge of Vedas are transferred from one generation to other generations by speeching and hearing way. Shruti means gained knowledge by hearing from Gurus.

Forms the core of Hindu spiritual tradition and Vedic rituals.

The Gayatri Mantra, one of Hinduism's holiest chants, is from Rigveda (3.62.10).