Publication
Imprint: Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York, N.Y. : Penguin Books, 1981. Edition: Reprint 1984. Responsibility: Translated from Sanskrit and edited by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty. OCLC Number: 10072448. Physical: Text : 1 volume : 343 pages ; 20 cm. Features: Includes appendices, bibliography, glossary, index.
Call number
GT-H / TX / Rigveda
ISBN
0140444025 / 9780140444025
Original publication date
1981
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: A work of intricate beauty, it provides a unique insight into early Indian mythology, religion and culture. This selection of 108 of the hymns, chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, focuses on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, the sacred plant soma and the gods. Inspirational and profound, it provides a fascinating introduction to one of the founding texts of Hindu scripture - an awesome and venerable ancient work of Vedic ritual, prayer, philosophy, legend and faith.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Creation
Death
The elements of sacrifice
The horse sacrifice
Agni
Soma
Indra
Gods of the storm
Solar gods
Sky and earth
Varuṇa
Rudra and Viṣṇu
Realia
Women
Incantations and spells
Appendices
FY1991
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Creation
Death
The elements of sacrifice
The horse sacrifice
Agni
Soma
Indra
Gods of the storm
Solar gods
Sky and earth
Varuṇa
Rudra and Viṣṇu
Realia
Women
Incantations and spells
Appendices
FY1991
Physical description
343 p.; 20 cm
Description
The earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any Indo-European language, the Rig Veda (c. 1200-900 BC) is a collection of over 1,000 individual Sanskrit hymns. A work of intricate beauty, it provides a unique insight into early Indian mythology, religion and culture. This selection of 108 of the hymns, chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, focuses on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, the sacred plant soma and the gods. Inspirational and profound, it provides a fascinating introduction to one of the founding texts of Hindu scripture - an awesome and venerable ancient work of Vedic ritual, prayer, philosophy, legend and faith. -- Back cover.
Language
Original language
Sanskrit
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User reviews
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Couldn't read it. Too much like Psalms, like 652 pages of hymns from which I was getting nothing.
LibraryThing member CurrerBell
Wasn't quite sure how to rate this but finally decided on 4****.
I'd like to read the entire Rig Veda – in fact, the Vedas in their entirety – in translation, but I have other Hindu scriptures that are currently a higher priority. Considering Doniger's arrangement of these selections
Not the ideal way to read the Rig Veda or any other scripture, of course, but it's practical as a starter. Also, Doniger's introductions and annotations are helpful for a beginner like myself.
I'd like to read the entire Rig Veda – in fact, the Vedas in their entirety – in translation, but I have other Hindu scriptures that are currently a higher priority. Considering Doniger's arrangement of these selections
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thematically, I suspect this abridged translation probably gives the contents a greater thematic ordering than will be found in the full texts. That's a good idea, though, considering that this is a Vedas 101 type of edition.Not the ideal way to read the Rig Veda or any other scripture, of course, but it's practical as a starter. Also, Doniger's introductions and annotations are helpful for a beginner like myself.
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