What does Rigveda contain?

Rigveda is the oldest sacred text that exists in the world. Mantras of Rigveda are used to invoke, praise, and make offerings to Gods during Yajnas. Learn here about the books of Rigveda, their origin, contents, purpose, how Rigveda is preserved and transmitted.

What does Rigveda contain?

Rigveda Samhita contains 10,552 hymns composed in meters called Chhandas.

They are called Riks, Richas, or Mantras.

They are mainly praises of Vedic Gods.

The following types of texts are also associated with Rigveda -

Brahmanas
Aranyakas
Upanishads

What is the use of Rigveda in Yajnas?

Mantras of Rigveda are used to invoke, praise, and make offerings to Gods during Yajnas. The priests of the four Vedas function together in the performance of the Yajnas. The Rigvedic priests in Yajnas are called Hotas.

When was Rigveda written?

Rigveda was neither written by any author or authors nor it was written at a particular time.

The Vedas are eternal.

They came into the possession of Brahma at the time of creation.

Brahma created the world with the power of the vibrations of the VedaMantras.

Later, these mantras were revealed to various Rishis.

Originally, the Vedas existed as a single corpus.

During DwaparaYuga, VedaVyasa compiled a collection of these mantras useful in performing Yajnas into four books.

They are Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.

Scheme of classification

The Rigveda Samhita is classified using 2 schemes.

Mandala - Sukta scheme - In this, the Samhita is divided into 10 Mandalas of uneven sizes. The Mandalas are subdivided into anuvakas, the anuvakas into suktas, and the suktas are made up of mantras or Riks.
Ashtaka - Adhyaya scheme - In this, the Samhita is divided into 8 ashtakas. Each Ashtaka has 8 adhyayas. Each adhyaya has 8 vargas. Each varga has 5 verses. This scheme is more helpful in memorizing.

The Mandala - Sukta scheme is more popular.

Mandala	Anuvaka	Sukta	Mantra	Deities	Rishis
1	24	191	2006	Agni, Indra, Varuna, Maruts, Rudra, Mitra ...	Kanva, Angirasa, Vishwamitra, Vasishta, Kashyapa, Bharata
2	4	43	429	Indra, Agni ...	Gritsamadas, Bhrigu
3	5	62	617	Agni, Indra, Vishwedevas ...	Vishwamitra, Angirasa, Bhrigu
4	5	58	589	Indra, Agni, Ushas, Brihaspati, Ashwins...	Angirasa
5	6	87	727	Indra, Agni, Vishwedevas, Maruts ...	Atri, Angirasa, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Vasishta
6	6	75	765	Indra, Agni, Ashwins, Pusha, Ushas ...	Angirasa
7	6	104	841	Indra, Agni, Vishwedevas, Maruts ...	Vasishta
8	10	103	1716	Various Devas	Kanva, Angirasa, Agastya, Atri, Kashyapa, Bhrigu
9	7	114	1108	Soma Pavamana	Kanva, Angirasa, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Atri, Vasishta, Kashyapa, Bharata, Bhrigu
10	12	191	1754	Agni and various Devas	Kanva, Angirasa, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Atri, Vasishta, Kashyapa, Bharata, Bhrigu
Total	85	1028	10552

Recensions of Rigveda

Several Rigvedic schools came into existence through which Rigveda was preserved and transmitted.

They are called Shakhas, each with its own recension of Rigveda.

Patanjali mentions 21 such recensions.

According to CharanaVyuha, 5 recensions are prominent -

Shakala
Bashkala
Ashwalayana
Sankhyayana
Mandukayana

Among these, Bashkala existed till the 16th century.

Only Shakala is available now.

These schools not only preserved and transmitted the Vedas but also tried to interpret their meaning.

Topics of Rigveda Samhita

Topic 1 - Praises

These Riks describe the characteristics and supernatural powers of Devas such as Indra, Agni, and Varuna. They are useful in Yajnas and Sagunopasana. They are expected to induce the Devas to grant favors. Many of the glorious deeds of the Devas are recounted. Referring to their past deeds, the mantras call upon the Devas to replicate them in the present and bless their worshipers. The praises seek wealth, long life, progeny, aid in defeating enemies. A large part of Rigveda is dedicated to the conduct of SomaYagas.

Topic 2 - Philosophy

Origin of the universe
True nature of man
Omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience of God.
Monotheism.

Topic 3

Marriage, warfare, social order, etc.

Rigveda Brahmanas

Brahmana texts provide detailed procedures and principles behind Yajnas. They belong to the KarmaKanda of the Vedic corpus.

Aitareya Brahmana - Mahida Aitareya is the author of this text. It deals with the procedures of SomaYaga, Rajasuya, etc. It is also known as Ashwalayna Brahmana. There are 40 chapters divided into 8 Panchakas.
Kaushitaki Brahmana - This is also known as Sankhyayana Brahmana. There are 30 chapters in this.

Rigveda Aranyakas

They discuss the mystical and philosophical aspects of Yajna. Aranyakas are the UpasanaKanda of the Vedas.

Aitareya Aranyaka - There are five books each one divided into adhyayas. Each adhyaya is further subdivided into khandas. The main topics discussed are -