What is the Rigveda?

Category: Rigveda | Author : THT | Date : 29 October 2025 13:06

What is the Rigveda?

The Rigveda, composed in an archaic form of Sanskrit between 1500–1200 BCE, is one of the world’s oldest religious texts and the foundation of Hindu spiritual knowledge. It contains 1,028 hymns (suktas) organized into ten mandalas (books), each exploring the divine, cosmic, and human realms through poetic, ritualistic, and contemplative expressions.

Unlike the Puranas (which are narrative) or the Upanishads (which are philosophical), the Rigveda is primarily a collection of hymns devoted to various deities such as Agni (Fire), Indra (Thunder), and Varuna (Cosmic Order). It reflects the cosmology, philosophy, and social life of the early Vedic people, while also laying the foundation for later Hindu thought and ethics.

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Core Universal Teachings of the Rigveda for the Modern World

The Rigveda’s enduring relevance lies in its unifying vision of existence and humanity. Its universal truths continue to inspire modern thought, spiritual pluralism, and global ethics.

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1. Cosmic Unity and the One Truth (Ekam Sat)

Rigveda 1.164.46 proclaims the profound truth:

“Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti” — “Truth is One, but the wise call it by many names.”

Modern Relevance:

• Antidote to Religious Intolerance: This idea establishes a spiritual foundation for religious harmony. All deities—Indra, Agni, Varuna—are diverse expressions of the same truth.

• Global Message: It teaches that all faiths are valid pathways to one ultimate reality, promoting unity amidst diversity.

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2. The Hymn of Creation: Nasadiya Sukta (Rigveda 10.129)

This hymn is one of the earliest and most philosophical explorations of cosmic origins. It begins before existence and non-existence, before gods or creation itself. It ends with a humble acknowledgment:

“He who surveys it in the highest heaven, He only knows — or perhaps He does not know.”

Modern Relevance:

• Celebration of Inquiry: The hymn values questioning over dogma.

• Bridge Between Science and Spirituality: Its open-ended curiosity aligns with the modern scientific spirit — exploring, not assuming.

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3. The Hymn of the Cosmic Person: Purusha Sukta (Rigveda 10.90)

This famous hymn describes the entire universe as the body of a single Cosmic Being (Purusha), from whose sacrifice all creation emerges.

• The moon arises from his mind, the sun from his eyes, and the social orders from different parts of his body.

Modern Relevance:

• Unity in Diversity: All beings, social classes, and natural elements come from one divine source — making the entire cosmos one organic whole.

• Social Harmony: Reformers like Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo highlighted that the hymn symbolizes unity based on action (karma) and aptitude (guna), not birth (janma) — opposing all hereditary discrimination.

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4. Universal Ethical Principles

The Rigveda emphasizes moral and harmonious living through the principle of Rita — the cosmic order that sustains truth, morality, and balance.

• Prayer for All Beings: “May all beings look on me with the eye of a friend; may I look on all beings with the eye of a friend.”
  This compassionate vision transcends caste, creed, and race, teaching that the welfare of one is bound to the welfare of all.

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How the Rigveda Promotes a World Beyond Caste, Creed, Color, and Race

1. Spiritual Equality: The teachings of Ekam Sat and Purusha Sukta affirm that one divine consciousness pervades all existence — rejecting discrimination of any kind.

2. Intellectual Freedom: The Nasadiya Sukta nurtures an open, inquisitive mind — essential for inclusivity and acceptance.

3. Shared Human Experience: The Rigveda’s hymns reflect universal human emotions — awe, gratitude, curiosity — reminding us of our shared humanity.

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Conclusion

The Rigveda envisions a unified cosmos where truth is one, yet expressed in many forms. Its hymns invite us to transcend narrow identities and rediscover our shared divine essence.
By embracing the Rigvedic vision of “Ekam Sat” — One Truth, Many Paths — humanity can build a future founded on unity in diversity, compassion, and the recognition of a single human family within a sacred universe.