The Vedas
Page 37
The singing men of ancient time, open the doors of sacred songs, for the mighty to accept.
Combined in close society sit the seven priests, the brotherhood, filling the station of the One.
He gives us kinship with the gods, and with the Sun unites our eye; the sage’s offspring has appeared.
The sun with his dear eye beholds that quarter of the heavens which priests
Have placed within the sacred cell.
(Rig Veda 9.10)
IV
Pleasant to Indra’s, Mitra’s, Pushan’s and Bhaga’s taste, speed onwards Soma, with thy flowing stream.
Let Indra drink, O Soma, of thy juice for wisdom, and all deities for strength.
So flow thou on as bright celestial juice, flow to the vast immortal dwelling place.
Flow onwards, Soma, as a mighty sea, as father of the gods to every form.
(Rig Veda 9.109)
DIVINE METRE
All the poetic metres used in the Rig Veda are considered divine and associated with various deities. Later, the gayatri metre was identified with a goddess named Gayatri. One verse in this metre that occurs in the Rig Veda is considered the most sacred and a powerful mantra. An invocation to the sun as Savitr, it reads: Om bhur bhuva svaha, tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. This verse has been variously translated. One version is: ‘We meditate on that excellent light of the divine sun; may he illumine our minds’ (H.H. Wilson). According to the Mahabharata, the twenty-four aksharas (syllables) of the gayatri metre represent the universe, containing nineteen classes of beings and five elements. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, ‘Among metres, I am the Gayatri’. Other verses too can be composed in this metre, and are referred to with a qualifier, such as Vishnu Gayatri or Surya Gayatri.
Gayatri is also one of the names of the god Shiva, who is said to have made Gayatri and Savitri his reins.
RISHIS
Numerous rishis or sages are mentioned in the Rig Veda, as well as the other Samhitas and the anukramanis. Some of the main rishis and rishi families are described here.
AGASTYA
The rishi Agastya is first mentioned in the Rig Veda. Here he is referred to as a Mana or Manya and the son of Mana. He is known as Maitravaruni, as he is said to be the son of the gods Mitra and Varuna. His brother was the rishi Vasishtha, and both were born through the apsara Urvashi. His wife was Lopamudra, whom he himself had created. In one passage in the Rig Veda, he cured the leg of Vishpala with the help of the Ashvins. Agastya appears in all the four Vedas, as well as in the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, epics, and Puranas. He was one of the seven main rishis. The later texts recount several stories about him, and he is said to have settled in south India.
Agastya Shishyagana, a group of students of the rishi Agastya, along with the rishi himself and his wife Lopamudra, are the authors of one Rig Vedic hymn (1.179). The Anukramani gives the names of two students as Antye and Brihatya. Another Agastya mentioned as the author of one Rig Vedic hymn is Dalhachyuta Agastya (9.25).
ANGIRASA
A great rishi, described in the Rig Veda and later texts. He is the first of the Agni-devas or fire gods, the first sacrificer associated with fire rituals, and a teacher of divine knowledge (brahma vidya). Angirasas were the descendants of the rishi Angiras, or sometimes of the god Agni. In the Rig Veda, Angirasas are mentioned over sixty times, two-thirds of these in the plural. Also, there are an additional thirty, which are derivatives of the word. They are mentioned as pitris along with Atharvans and Bhrigus and are associated with Yama. They are said to have become immortal through sacrifice and to have gained Indra’s friendship. They are closely associated with Indra, and helped Indra in getting the cows from the Panis. They are also associated with song. Thus one hymn (1.62) says, singing they found the cows, while another (1.72) says that they burst the rock with their song and found the light. Brihaspati is once called Angiras. Some scholars feel they were priests of the ancient past, dating to the Indo-Iranian period.
As descendants of Angiras, some Angirasas represented various types of agnis.
The anukramanis attribute several Rig Vedic hymns to members of the Angirasa family. They are said to be authors of some hymns in mandalas 1, 5, 8, 9, and 10. Among the Angirasas mentioned are Abhivarta, Amahiyu, Ayasya, Baru, Bhikshu, Bindu, Brihanmati, Brihaspati, Dharana, Dhruva, Divya, Harimanta, Hiranyastupa, Krishna, Murdhanvan, Nrimedha, Pavitra, Prabhuvasa or Prabhuvasu, Pracheta, Priyamedha, Purumila, Purushamedha, Putadaksha, Rahugana, Samvarta, Saptagu, Savya, Shishu, Shrutakaksha or Sukaksha, Suditi, Tiraschi, Uchathya, Vihavya, and Virupa. Some of these are also referred to in later texts including the Mahabharata and Puranas, as sons or descendants of Angirasa.
Angirasa or his descendant Ghora Angirasa is associated with the composition of the Atharva Veda. In later texts, he is one of the mind-born sons of the god Brahma. He is also said to be one of the sixteen Prajapatis created by Brahma, who then created the universe.
ASHVALAYANA
An ancient scholar and composer of Sanskrit texts, Ashvalayana is said to have been the disciple of Shaunaka and the author of a Shrauta Sutra, a Grihya Sutra, and of other texts, as well as the originator of a Rig Veda Shakha (branch or school). He is not mentioned as the author of any Rig Vedic hymn.
ATHARVAN
An ancient priest, his name is found fourteen times in the Rig Veda, three times in plural, and several times in the Atharva Veda, which was once known as Atharvana Veda. In the Rig, Atharvan produced Agni or fire, who became the messenger of Vivasvat. Atharvan also brought order through sacrifices. Indra is said to be his helper. According to the Atharva Veda, Atharvan was a companion of the gods. He gave a cup of Soma to Indra and received a Kamadhenu (‘wish-fulfilling cow’) from the god Varuna. Possibly, he was the head of a family of real or mythical priests. Atharvan is also used as a generic term for a priest, while Atharvans in plural are a class of pitris, who live in heaven. He was the father of Dadhyanch, a rishi known for his knowledge (see below). Two people mentioned as composers of hymns in the Rig Veda are Bhishaj or Bhishak Atharvana (10.97) and Brihaddiva Atharvana (10.120).
Bhishaj Atharvana is one of the traditional composers of the Atharva Veda. The name Bhishaj refers to his connection with medicine and healing.
In the Shatapatha Brahmana, Atharvan is an ancient teacher. Atharvan originally meant ‘fire priest’, corresponding with Athravan of the Avesta, therefore this text may have an Indo-Iranian origin, though in its present form is later than the Rig Veda. The name may be related to the Avestan word for fire, atar.
As a group Atharvans are associated with the Angirasas, Navagvas, and Bhrigus.
ATRI
An ancient rishi, Atri is described in the Rig Veda and later in the Mahabharata, Puranas, and other texts. He is mentioned around forty times in the Rig Veda, six times in the plural. He is a rishi of the five tribes and, along with Manu, an ancient ancestor. Atri is mentioned with Indra and Agni but is mainly connected with the Ashvins, who are said to have saved him from a deep pit, from darkness, and from a demon. The Ashvins prevented him from burning in fire and are said to have made him young again. Atri, or the Atris together, found the sun that was hidden by Svarbhanu and placed it in the sky. This is also referred to in the Atharva Veda. In the Shatapatha Brahmana, Atri, a priest who removed darkness, was the same as Vach, or originated from her. Atri is once given as a name of Agni (Rig Veda 2.8). In four passages, Atri is mentioned in connection with the rishi Saptavadhri, who is connected with the Ashvins and also referred to as Atri Saptavadhri. Mandala 5 of the Rig Veda is attributed to Atri and his descendants. In the same text, he is one of the ancestors of the human race. In later texts, he was one of the sons of the god Brahma, and was married to Anasuya.
Atreya is a collective name for the sons or descendants of the rishi Atri. The anukramanis mention a number of rishis known as Atreya or Atri, mainly in Mandala 5, but also in mandalas 8 and 10. Among them are: Archanana, Arishtanemi Tarkshya,
Aruchakri, Avasyu, Babhru, Bahuvrikta, Dhyugna Vishvacharshani, Evayamarut, Gatu, Gaya, Gopavana, Kumar, Mriktavaha Dvita, Paura, Pratikshatra, Puru, Ratahavya, Sadaprina, Saptavadhri, Sasa, Satyashrava, Shrutavrita, Shyavashava, Sutambhara, Svasti, Vasuyu, Vavri, Vishvasama, Vishvavara, Yajata, Budha, Gavishthara, Vasushruta, Apala, Bhauma, Sankhya, Prayasvan Atrigana, and Isha.
BHARADVAJA
An ancient rishi, to whom several hymns in the Rig Veda are attributed. The entire Mandala 6 is said to be composed by Bharadvaja or the family of Bharadvajas. He is also known as Bharadvaja Barhaspatya, that is, ‘Bharadvaja, descendant of Brihaspati’. According to the Panchavimsha Brahmana, Bharadvaja was the purohita of Divodasa, a king mentioned in the Rig Veda, who was the ancestor of Sudas. He is also mentioned in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and other texts. In the Puranas, his love for Vedic study is described. One lifetime was not sufficient, so he obtained a boon from the god Indra, to live for thousands of years to continue his study. Others of the Bharadvaja family mentioned in the Rig or anukramanis include Nara, Payu, Rijishva, Shasa, Shunahotra, Suhotra, Vasu, Garga, and Shirimbitha.
Shamyu Barhaspatya is said to be the composer of some hymns in Mandala 6 and Tapumurdha Barhaspatya of one in Mandala 10 (10.182). Bharadvaja was also the name of other rishis.
BHRIGU
An ancient rishi whose name occurs twenty-one times in the Rig Veda, Bhrigu means ‘shining’, from the root bhraj, and is thought to have originally been a name of fire.
In the Rig Veda, Bhrigu is said to have received Agni (fire) from heaven. In the Brahmanas, he is referred to as Varuni, that is, a son of Varuna. The Bhrigus were a family of priests related to the Angirasas, descended from Bhrigu. Even in the Rig, the Bhrigus seem to have been priests of olden times. Both the Bhrigus and Matarishvan are connected with fire. Matarishvan brought it as lightning but the Bhrigus kindled the fire on earth. Bhrigus are mentioned with the Yatis and Praskanva and, in another passage with the Dhruyus and Turvasha, as the enemies of Sudas. Thus in some passages they seem to be a historic group. In one Rig Vedic hymn (8.35) they are invited to drink Soma, along with the thirty-three devas, the Maruts, Apah, Ashvins, Ushas, and Surya. In the Atharva (5.19), Bhrigu is a rishi, a leader of a clan or group, and also in the Brahmanas. In later texts there are several stories relating to Bhrigu.
The Bhargavas are those descended from Bhrigu. The Anukramani lists some Bhargavas as composers of hymns in mandalas 8, 9, and 10. Among them the most important is Jamadagni Bhargava, also known as Rama Jamadagnya. Others include: Bharga Pragatha, Bhriguvaruni, Syumarashmi, Ita, Kavi, Nema, Somahuti, and Vena. Shukra in later texts is known as Bhrigu and was the priest of the asuras. In the Puranas Bhrigu was one of the Prajapatis.
DADHYANCH
An ancient rishi, first mentioned in the Rig Veda where his name occurs nine times, he was the son of Atharvan (6.16, 1.116–117) and kindled Agni. The Ashvins wanted the secret knowledge of Soma (madhuvidya) revealed to him by the god Indra. They replaced his head with that of a horse, as he had promised not to reveal the knowledge. After the horse’s head had told the Ashvins what they wanted to know, his real head was restored. The horse head fell on a lake on Mt Sharyanavat, where it remained, granting boons to men. Indra used them to kill ninety-nine Vritras (1.84). Here again the horse, or the horse head, is symbolic of knowledge.
DASHAGVAS
A group mentioned seven times in the Rig Veda, thrice in the singular, and twice associated with the Navagvas. They are also associated with Indra. Together with Indra, the Navagvas and Dashagvas broke open the rock and defeated Vala. In one hymn (10. 62), Dashagva, mentioned with Navagva, is said to be chief Angiras. The commentators see it as a numerical variation of Navagva.
GOTAMA
An ancient rishi, Gotama Rahugana is referred to as a composer of several hymns in Mandala 1 and of one hymn in Mandala 9. Nodha Gautama, of the same family, also composed several hymns.
GRITSAMADA
A rishi, the composer of most of the hymns in Mandala 2, he was also known as Gritsamada Bhargava Shaunaka (later Angirasa Shaunahotra). Kurma Gartsamada is alternatively mentioned as the composer of some of the hymns in this mandala.
KANVA
An ancient rishi. The name Kanva is mentioned in both singular and plural around sixty times in the Rig Veda. In plural, it refers to his descendants. Kanva is said to be the son of Nrishad and was known as Narshada both in the Rig and Atharva. He is listed with other ancestors including Manu and Angiras. Agni was his friend, helping him in battle along with Trasadasyu, Atri, and others. Indra gave gold and cattle to Kanva, Trasadasyu, and others (Valakhilya hymns). The Maruts helped Kanva, Turvasha, and Yadu while the Ashvins helped Kanva several times. He was blind but they restored his eyesight. Most of the hymns of the eighth book of the Rig Veda are attributed to him and his family, and he is sometimes mentioned as one of the seven great rishis. Kanva himself is not mentioned as existing at the time of the Rig, hence he was either a distant ancestor or a mythical figure, but the Kanvas were a real family. His descendant Medhyatithi is mentioned nine times in the Rig. Priyamedha is referred to a few times with Kanva but his descendants also call themselves Priyamedhas and Priyamedha in the anukramanis is referred to as Angirasa. In later texts, Kanva is described as the rishi who took care of Shakuntala, daughter of Vishvamitra and Menaka, in his ashrama. Members of Kanva’s family listed in the anukramanis as authors of hymns, mainly in Mandala 8 but also a few in 1 and 9 include: Ghaura, Ayu, Brahmatithi, Devatithi, Irimbathi, Krisha, Kusidi, Matarishva, Medatithi, Medhya, Nabhaka, Nipatithi, Pragatha, Praskanva, Prishadra, Punarvatsa, Pushtigu, Sadhvansa, Shashkarna, Shrushtigu, Sobhari, Suparna, Varusuti, Vatsa, and Vishoka.
KASHYAPA
An ancient rishi. Some of the Vedic hymns are attributed to him, and in Vedic texts, he is also a mythical being associated with the sun. He is one of the seven great rishis, later said to be the grandson of the god Brahma, and the progenitor of human beings, as he was the father of Vivasvat and grandfather of Manu. He is also called Prajapati.
In the Mahabharata and Puranas, he is a rishi who married a number of daughters of Daksha, through whom all beings in the world were descended.
Kashyapa Maricha is mentioned as the author of some hymns in mandalas 1 and 9. Other Kashyapas listed as authors in mandalas 5, 8, 9, and 10, include Asita, Avatsara, Bhutasha, Devala, Nidhuvi, Rebha, Rebhusunu, and Vivriha.
KAVYA USHANA
Ushana is mentioned eleven times in the Rig Veda. He is called Kavi twice, and Kavya five times. He is wise, and Soma in his wisdom is compared with him. In one hymn, Kavya Ushana made Agni the hotr. In another, he is referred to in the same verse as Atharvan. Indra is once identified both with Ushana and with Kutsa. Kanva is also associated with Kutsa and Indra in the defeat of Shushna. He made the bolt for Indra to kill Vritra.
Kavya Ushana is similar to Kava-Ushan of Zoroastrian texts, who was also a legendary king of the Kayanian dynasty.
Shukracharya, the preceptor of the asuras, is also known as Kavya Ushana. In some Puranas, Shukra is said to be the strongest of the seven sons born to the rishi Bhrigu and Puloma. He is therefore referred to as Bhrigu.
The Mahabharata states that he had four sons, who were priests of the asuras: they were Tashtadhara, Atri, and two others of fierce deeds; they were like the sun in energy and had set their hearts on acquiring the region of Brahman.
Ushana or Shukra is also the name of the planet Venus, or of its regent.
KRISHNA
Krishna of the Rig Veda is a rishi, composer of a hymn (8.74). In the Chhandogya Upanishad, Krishna, son of Devaki, is a great scholar and student of Ghora Angirasa. In the Mahabharata Anukramani, Krishna is descended from Angirasa. In a few passages, Krishna is described as a ritvij, a priest. At the same time, Krishna was a great warrior. In later texts, there are several myths and stories relating to Krishna as an incarnation of the god Vishnu but he may not be the same as Krishna the rishi.
KUSHIKAS
KUTSA
A rishi and heroic figure mentioned forty times in the Rig Veda, Kutsa is associated with the god Indra. In one hymn, Kutsa is called Arjuneya, son of Arjun. In another, Indra helped a son of Kutsa in a fight with a dasyu. Once Kutsa is invoked with Indra as Indra-Kutsa. Kutsa is young, bright, and similar to Indra. Shushna is often mentioned as his enemy and Indra helps Kutsa to defeat him. Tugra, Snadibha, and Vetasu were also defeated by Indra for Kutsa. Indra removed the wheel of the sun for Kutsa. Kutsa is also called Indra’s charioteer. In a few passages, Kutsa is defeated by Indra, along with Ayu and Atithigva. In a hymn (1.53), these three are delivered by Indra to the young king Turvayana. Thus Kutsa was possibly a historical figure. The Kutsas are referred to in plural as a family of singers, in a hymn praising Indra. In the Naighantuka, Kutsa is a synonym of the vajra (Indra’s thunderbolt).
Several hymns in Mandala 1 are attributed to Kutsa Angirasa, and one in the eighth to Kutsa Bhargava. In Mandala 10, a hymn is attributed to Durmitra or Sumitra Kautsa (10.105), that is, a descendant of Kutsa.
MADHUCHHANDAS
Jeta Madhuchhandas and Adhamarshana Madhuchhandas are mentioned as composers of hymns.