Rigveda

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ancient Indian sacred collection of hymns, serving as a foundational text for Vedic literature
2. A revered scripture composed in Sanskrit, forming the basis of Hindu spiritual and philosophical traditions
3. A historical religious document consisting of poetic verses that express early Vedic beliefs and rituals

Etymology: The Rigveda is one of the oldest texts in any Indo-European language, and its name is a plain description of what it contains. It is built from two Sanskrit elements: "ṛc," meaning "praise" or "verse," and "veda," meaning "knowledge." Together they give "veda of praise," a label for a collection of hymns rather than a title coined for a sacred book in the modern sense. The word "veda" itself comes from the same root as English "wit" and "wise," so the name carries the idea of knowing or seeing. The Rigveda is the oldest and most central of the four Vedas, and its hymns were composed in verse and passed down orally for generations before being fixed in writing. Its name therefore records the text's self-understanding as a body of sacred knowledge expressed through praise.

Synonyms: veda, scripture, hymn collection, sacred text, ancient scripture