The Rig Veda,9780140449891

The Rig Veda

by ; ;
Edition: Reprint
ISBN13: 9780140449891
ISBN10: 0140449892
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2005-09-27
Publisher(s): Penguin Classics
List Price: $18.00

Buy New

Usually Ships in 2-3 Business Days
$17.82
Add to Cart

Rent Book

Select for Price
Add to Cart
There was a problem. Please try again later.

Used Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eBook

We're Sorry
Not Available

Buy from our Marketplace starting at $8.68

How Marketplace Works:

  • This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
  • Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
  • Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
  • Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
  • Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.

Summary

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 more than 1,000 individual Sanskrit hymns. A work of intricate beauty, it provides unique insight into early Indian mythology and culture. Fraught with paradox, the hymns are meant to puzzle, to surprise, to trouble the mind,” writes translator Wendy Doniger, who has selected 108 hymns for this volume. Chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, they focus on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, and the gods. Doniger’s The Rig Vedaprovides a fascinating introduction to a timeless masterpiece of Hindu ritual and spirituality.

Author Biography

Wendy Doniger is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, where she is also a professor of South Asian languages and civilizations. Her other translations for Penguin Classics include The Laws of Manu and Hindu Myths.

Table of Contents

Introduction 11(22)
To All the Gods
22(1)
Creation
23(18)
Creation Hymn (Nasadiya)
25(1)
The Unknown God, the Golden Embryo
26(3)
Purusa-Sukta, or The Hymn of Man
29(4)
The Creation of the Sacrifice
33(1)
Cosmic Heat
34(1)
The All-Maker (Visvakarman)
34(3)
Aditi and the Birth of the Gods
37(4)
Death
41(18)
Yama and the Fathers
43(3)
The Funeral Fire
46(6)
Burial Hymn
52(2)
Funeral Hymn
54(1)
The Boy and the Chariot
55(2)
A Spell to Turn Back the Departing Spirit
57(2)
The Elements of Sacrifice
59(26)
The Origins of Sacred Speech
61(1)
Speech
62(2)
Royal Consecration
64(1)
Lament of the Aged Priest
64(2)
The Sacrificial Priests
66(2)
In Praise of Generosity
68(2)
Faith
70(1)
The Riddle of the Sacrifice (Asya Vamasya)
71(14)
The Horse Sacrifice
85(12)
Hymn to the Horse
87(2)
The Sacrifice of the Horse
89(4)
Requiem for a Horse
93(4)
Agni
97(22)
I Pray to Agni
99(1)
Agni and the Gods
99(2)
The Birth of Agni
101(3)
The Child of the Waters (Apam Napat)
104(4)
The Gods Coax Agni out of the Waters
108(2)
Indra Lures Agni from Vrtra
110(2)
The Mystery of Agni
112(3)
Agni and the Young Poet
115(2)
The Hidden Agni
117(2)
Soma
119(20)
This Restless Soma
121(1)
Soma Pressed in the Bowls
121(3)
The Pressing-Stones
124(2)
Butter
126(2)
Soma and Indra and the Eagle
128(3)
The Soma-Drinker Praises Himself
131(1)
The Ecstasy of Soma
132(2)
We Have Drunk the Soma
134(3)
The Long-haired Ascetic
137(2)
Indra
139(24)
The Birth and Childhood Deeds of Indra
141(5)
Indra Chastises His Son
146(2)
The Killing of Vrtra
148(3)
The Cows in the Cave
151(5)
Sarama and the Panis
156(2)
Indra Beheads the Sacrifice
158(1)
`If I were Like You, Indra'
159(1)
`Who is Indra?'
160(3)
Gods of the Storm
163(14)
The Maruts
165(2)
Indra, the Maruts, and Agastya
167(5)
Parjanya, the Bull
172(2)
Parjanya, the Cow
174(1)
The Gale Wind
175(2)
Solar Gods
177(24)
Dawn and the Asvins
179(3)
The Deeds of the Asvins
182(4)
The Rescue of Atri
186(1)
Atri and the Lost Sun
187(2)
The Sun, Surya
189(1)
Vena
190(3)
The Bird
193(1)
Pusan on the Road
193(1)
Pusan, Child of the Unharnessing
194(1)
Savitr at Sunset
195(3)
Savitr at Night
198(1)
Night
199(2)
Sky and Earth
201(8)
Sky and Earth
203(1)
Guard Us from the Monstrous Abyss
204(2)
The Two Full of Butter
206(3)
Varuna
209(10)
The Deeds of Varuna
211(1)
Varuna Provoked to Anger
212(3)
Varuna the Friend of Vasistha
215(1)
The House of Clay
216(1)
Varuna
217(2)
Rudra and Visnu
219(10)
Rudra, Father of the Maruts
221(3)
Have Mercy on Us, Rudra
224(1)
The Three Strides of Visnu
225(4)
Realia
229(16)
The Waters of Life
231(1)
The Waters, Who are Goddesses
232(1)
The Frogs
232(3)
Human Diversity: A Hymn to Soma
235(1)
To Arms
236(3)
The Gambler's Lament
239(3)
Lost in the Forest
242(3)
Women
245(38)
Yama and Yami
247(3)
Agastya and Lopamudra
250(2)
Pururavas and Urvasi
252(4)
Apala and Indra
256(1)
Indra and the Monkey
257(7)
The Courtship of Ghosa
264(3)
The Marriage of Surya
267(8)
The Rape and Return of the Brahmin's Wife
275(2)
Mudgala's Wife and the Bull in the Chariot
277(6)
Incantations and Spells
283(42)
The Healing Plants
285(2)
Against Bad Dreams and Sins
287(1)
Sleeping Spell
288(1)
Against Rival Wives
289(1)
The Triumphant Wife
290(1)
For a Safe Pregnancy and Birth
291(1)
To Protect the Embryo
292(1)
The Demons in Hell
292(4)
The Dove of Death
296(3)
APPENDICES
Abbreviations
299(2)
Dictionaries, Concordances, Bibliographies, and Selected General Studies of the Rig Veda
301(2)
Translations of the Rig Veda
303(2)
Bibliography of Translations and Commentaries on Hymns Translated in This Volume
305(16)
Hymns Translated in This Volume, Listed in Numerical Order, with Opening Sanskrit Phrase
321(4)
Index and Glossary
325

An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.

This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.

By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.

Digital License

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

More details can be found here.

A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.

Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.

Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.