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Echoes of the Stonehenge in the Rig Veda?

Does the Rig Veda echo events that lead to the creation of the Stonehenge and the rituals that were practiced there? If it does, that would mean the people of the Rig Veda or at a minimum their...

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Identity of the Pani

The generally accepted view is that the Pani is a non-Arya tribe of tradesman who by nature were extremely miserly. Let us examine the evidence available in Mandala VI and see if it leads us to the...

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Mandala IV – The Vamadeva family book

It is perhaps 200 years from the heydays of the Bharadvajas and their main patron Divodasa. The Vedic society is far more settled and have put behind their conflicts with the Dasas. For the most part,...

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Vrtra Myth – A political interpretation – Creation of a hero?

Consider the political situation during early Rig Vedic history. Faced with new challenges,  perhaps as a result of migration to a new land (debatable), they have to deal with a new foe – the Dasa –...

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The Dawn of Mankind – according to Rishi Vamadeva

That Rishi Vamadeva, son of Rishi Gotama, is an intellectual is apparent in the very first hymn of Mandala IV. Not for him the mundane hymns asking for wealth and protection (there are a few though in...

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The Vamadeva Danastutis

This article is a compilation of the Vamadeva danastutis. A Danastuti, or “Praise of Gifts”, recounts the gifts or donations received from a king or prince. Such gifts and donations were made in...

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Agni – The Messenger God

I often wondered why Agni was the second most important deity, next only to Indra, to the vedic civilization (if importance is measured in terms of the number of hymns in the Rig Veda). After all, fire...

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Bharata

Ancient Indian texts the Puranas and the epic Mahabharata contain accounts of a legendary emperor named Bharata. According to these texts, Bharata conquered vast areas of present day India, Pakistan,...

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Rishi Atri rescues Surya from the demon Svarbhanu

Verses 5 to 9 of Hymn 40, Mandala V contain an unmistakeable account of a solar eclipse. The demon Svarbhanu by his magical powers pierces Surya through and through with darkness. The result is total...

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A prayer to Parjanya – the Rain God

Just as a farmer or cattle-herd turns his gaze skywards in northern India, anxiously looking for signs of rain, so did his ancestors several thousands of years ago. With every passing dry day, anxiety...

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Mandala V – The Atri family book

Of the 87 hymns in Mandala V, 79 are composed by members of the Atri family and therefore, this Mandala is referred to as the Atri family book. Family-wise Authorship Family Hymns Angirasas 15, 35-36...

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The Atri Danastutis

This article is a compilation of the Atri family danastutis. A Danastuti, or “hymns in praise of donors”, recounts the gifts or donations received from a king or prince. Such gifts and donations were...

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Indra – According to the Atris

This article is a collection of accounts of Indra found in the Indra hymns from Mandala V – the Atri family book. Indra – According to Babhru Atreya RV 5.030.04-11 Indra, when born, thou madest firm...

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Rjisvan Bharadvaja – the warrior priest – Part I

Rjisvan Bharadvaja is ascribed as the composer of four hymns in Mandala VI – RV 6.049-052, one in Mandala IX – RV 9.098 and a two verses in RV 9.108.06-07. Going by the number of hymns ascribed to...

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The birth of Indra – end of an ice age?

Hymn 18 of Mandala IV of the Rig Veda appears to be an allegorical account of the end of the last ice age. It is recounted as a story of the birth of Indra and his slaying the dragon Vrtra immediately...

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The Vrtra myth – an overview

When I first came across the Vrtra myth in Mandala VI, based on the content, I treated it as a subject by itself. However, as I read more material from other Mandalas, especially Mandala IV – the...

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Evidence for the flooding of Vedic rivers at the end of the last ice age

This article examines and interprets verses, relevant to the Vrtra myth, from Mandala VI – the Bharadvaja family book. It then examines scientific evidence I have found thus far, compares that against...

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Artificial limb replacement during vedic times

Among the many acts of healing attributed to the Asvin twins (vedic gods of healing and medicine) is the replacement of Vispala’s broken leg with an artificial one. The backdrop is an impending battle...

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A hymn to ward off an epidemic?

Every once in a while, i come across hymns from which real people, real events and real places jump out at me. It is one of the reasons why i research the Rig Veda. As i read through the hymn, a...

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The Frog Hymn: Indianization of the Vedic people

RV 7.103 – the Frog hymn as I would like to call it – was composed by Rishi Vasistha. The frogs have been quite for a year, no doubt awaiting the onset of rains. RV 7.103.01 THEY who lay quiet for a...

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