{"product_id":"the-rigveda-samhita","title":"The Rigveda Samhita","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eRigveda Samhita\u003c\/em\u003e—the oldest and most sacred of the four Vedas, containing 1,028 hymns composed in archaic Sanskrit between 1500-1200 BCE, representing humanity's earliest preserved religious and philosophical literature and the foundational scripture of Hinduism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e (from \u003cem\u003erig\u003c\/em\u003e meaning 'praise' and \u003cem\u003eveda\u003c\/em\u003e meaning 'knowledge') is the oldest text in the Indo-European language family and one of the world's oldest religious documents. Composed by ancient seers (rishis) in the Vedic period, these hymns were transmitted orally with extraordinary precision for millennia before being written down. The \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e contains hymns to the Vedic deities—Agni (fire), Indra (thunder), Varuna (cosmic order), Soma (sacred plant), and many others—along with profound philosophical speculation about the nature of existence, creation, and the ultimate reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you'll discover:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1,028 hymns (suktas) organized into ten books (mandalas)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHymns to Vedic deities revealing ancient Indo-Aryan cosmology and ritual\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn of Creation)—one of the earliest philosophical inquiries into existence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Purusha Sukta—cosmic vision of reality as the sacrifice of the primordial being\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfound questions about creation, consciousness, and ultimate reality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe origins of concepts central to Hindu philosophy: rita (cosmic order), brahman (ultimate reality), atman (self)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeautiful poetic imagery celebrating nature, cosmic forces, and the sacred\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete unabridged edition with Sanskrit terms indexed for scholarly study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e is not a systematic philosophical treatise but a collection of sacred hymns composed over centuries by different poet-seers. Yet within these hymns lie the seeds of all later Hindu philosophy. The famous Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn 10.129) asks profound questions about creation: 'Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it? Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation? The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen?' This questioning spirit, this willingness to acknowledge mystery, characterizes the Vedic approach to ultimate questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e essential for your contemplative library is its status as the source text for all Hindu philosophy and spirituality. The Upanishads, which develop non-dual Vedanta philosophy, are commentaries on the Vedas. The concepts of brahman (ultimate reality), atman (self), rita (cosmic order), and dharma (righteous action) all originate in Rigvedic hymns. Understanding the \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e means understanding the roots of Hindu thought—the worldview, cosmology, and spiritual vision that gave birth to yoga, Vedanta, and all schools of Hindu philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe hymns reveal a worldview where the natural and supernatural interpenetrate, where ritual action maintains cosmic order, where poetic vision accesses transcendent truth. The Vedic seers saw the universe as fundamentally interconnected—fire on earth corresponds to the sun in heaven, the sacrifice mirrors cosmic processes, human consciousness participates in universal consciousness. This vision of correspondence and interconnection profoundly influenced all later Indian philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e also contains some of the most beautiful religious poetry ever composed. The hymns to Ushas (dawn), to Agni (fire), to the rivers and mountains, celebrate the natural world with reverence and wonder. The language is rich with metaphor, the imagery vivid and evocative. Even in translation, the power and beauty of these ancient verses shine through.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis complete unabridged edition presents all 1,028 hymns of the \u003cem\u003eRigveda Samhita\u003c\/em\u003e with proofed Sanskrit terms and comprehensive indexing, making this foundational text accessible for serious study. Whether you're a student of Hindu philosophy, a scholar of ancient religions, or a seeker interested in humanity's earliest spiritual and philosophical expressions, the \u003cem\u003eRigveda\u003c\/em\u003e offers profound insights into the origins of contemplative wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Students of Hindu philosophy and Vedic literature, scholars of ancient religions and Indo-European studies, readers interested in the origins of Hindu thought, those studying the Upanishads and Vedanta seeking their source texts, students of comparative religion and ancient philosophy, anyone interested in humanity's earliest religious and philosophical literature, serious students of Sanskrit and Vedic studies, and contemplative readers drawn to the foundational scriptures that shaped Hindu spirituality and philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis paperback edition presents the complete unabridged \u003cem\u003eRigveda Samhita\u003c\/em\u003e with indexed Sanskrit terms—the oldest and most sacred Veda, offering access to humanity's earliest preserved religious and philosophical wisdom.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ralph T. H. Griffth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46368346439811,"sku":"BS-3QC-459075","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0695\/1583\/7571\/files\/9781542459075-HD.jpg?v=1768659384","url":"https:\/\/www.merceliarose.com\/products\/the-rigveda-samhita","provider":"Mercelia Rose","version":"1.0","type":"link"}