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  1 Intro,  1 |           the exact period when the hymns were composed is a matter
  2 Intro,  1 |     concluded that the oldest Vedic hymns date from 3000 B.C., While
  3 Intro,  1 |             the relationship of the hymns of the Rigveda to the oldest
  4 Intro,  2 |            purpose of these ancient hymns was to propitiate the gods
  5 Intro,  2 |          the sacrificial grass. The hymns which have survived in the
  6 Intro,  2 |         B.C. These family groups of hymns were gradually brought together
  7 Intro,  2 |            alter the diction of the hymns here collected together,
  8 Intro,  3 |           as later additions, 1,028 hymns. These contain a total of
  9 Intro,  3 |             cycles') and Suktas or 'hymns'. The latter method is an
 10 Intro,  4 |       homogeneous in character. The hymns contained in each of them
 11 Intro,  4 |              names mentioned in the hymns, and by that of the refrains
 12 Intro,  4 |            constituted by being the hymns composed by different individual
 13 Intro,  4 |            from the rest by all its hymns being addressed to one and
 14 Intro,  4 |            these the first group of hymns is invariably addressed
 15 Intro,  4 |             of less importance. The hymns within these deity groups
 16 Intro,  4 |          Book the Agni group of ten hymns begins with one of sixteen
 17 Intro,  4 |            increasing number of the hymns in each of those books,
 18 Intro,  4 |        seventh one hundred and four hymns. The homogeneity of the
 19 Intro,  4 |          them in not beginning with hymns to Agni and in the prevalence
 20 Intro,  4 |             of its containing fewer hymns than the seventh book shows
 21 Intro,  4 |            of the majority of these hymns; their favourite strophic
 22 Intro,  4 |             It consists entirely of hymns addressed to Soma while
 23 Intro,  4 |            viii together only three hymns invoking Soma in his general
 24 Intro,  4 |          general character. Now the hymns of Book ix were composed
 25 Intro,  4 |             be assumed that all the hymns to Soma Pavamana were removed
 26 Intro,  4 |          recondite allusions in the hymns of this book suggest that
 27 Intro,  4 |            Indo-Iranian period. The hymns of the first part of this
 28 Intro,  4 |             contains some very long hymns (one of forty-eight and
 29 Intro,  4 |           also differ in metre: the hymns of the first are, excepting
 30 Intro,  4 |         fact that the number of its hymns (191) is made up to that
 31 Intro,  4 |        supplementary character. Its hymns were composed by a large,
 32 Intro,  4 |            the case of a great many hymns. In spite of its generally
 33 Intro,  4 |         character, it contains some hymns quite as old and poetic
 34 Intro,  5 |                    5. LANGUAGE.~The hymns of the RV. are composed
 35 Intro,  5 |            is marked throughout the hymns. This accent has in Sanskrit
 36 Intro,  6 |                       6. METRE.~The hymns of the RV. are without exception
 37 Intro,  6 |             a different metre. Some hymns are strophic in their construction.
 38 Intro,  7 |           the powers of nature. The hymns are mainly invocations of
 39 Intro,  7 |         only in a few of its latest hymns. The gods are usually stated
 40 Intro,  7 |              Finally, in other late hymns of the RV. we find the deities
 41 Intro,  7 |          Soma. This Reader contains hymns addressed to all these gods,
 42 Intro,  7 |       independent deity to whom two hymns (x. 81. 82) are addressed.
 43 Intro,  7 |    occurring in the tenth book. Two hymns (83, 84) are addressed to
 44 Intro,  7 |             celebrated in two whole hymns (vi. 61; vii. 95) as well
 45 Intro,  7 |            are celebrated in entire hymns, and about a dozen more
 46 Intro,  7 |           far the largest number of hymns is addressed to the couple
 47 Intro,  7 |          147), who, invoked in many hymns, form a comprehensive group,
 48 Intro,  7 |            are celebrated in eleven hymns. They are a deft-handed
 49 Intro,  7 |         invoked as deities in three hymns (x. 76. 94. 175): spoken
 50 Intro,  7 |             addressed in one of the hymns (vi. 75).~The Demons often
 51 Intro,  7 |       Demons often mentioned in the hymns are of two kinds. The higher
 52 Intro,  7 |       corpses.~Not more than thirty hymns are concerned with subjects
 53 Intro,  8 |             IN THE RIGVEDA.~Secular hymns.--Hardly a score of the
 54 Intro,  8 |               Hardly a score of the hymns are secular poems. These
 55 Intro,  8 |         There are also five funeral hymns (x. 14-18). Four of these
 56 Intro,  8 |           human race. This group of hymns has a special literary interest
 57 Intro,  8 |            of a later age.~Didactic hymns.--Four hymns are of a didactic
 58 Intro,  8 |          age.~Didactic hymns.--Four hymns are of a didactic character.
 59 Intro,  8 |         noted.~Riddles.--Two of the hymns consist of riddles. One
 60 Intro,  8 |          and 360 nights.~Cosmogonic hymns.--About half a dozen hymns
 61 Intro,  8 |          hymns.--About half a dozen hymns consist of speculations
 62 Intro,  8 |            the seers composed their hymns. They yield incidental genealogical
 63 Intro,  8 |             among the supplementary hymns of the eighth book.~Geographical
 64 Intro,  8 |          Indo-Aryan tribes when the hymns were composed occupied the
 65 Intro,  8 |          The historical data of the hymns show that the Indo-Aryans
 66 Intro,  8 |            scattered throughout the hymns supply a good deal of information
 67 Intro,  9 |         RIGVEDA.~The diction of the hymns is on the whole natural
 68 Intro,  9 |          their great antiquity, the hymns are composed with a remarkable
 69 Intro,  9 |        especially noticeable in the hymns addressed to the two ritual
 70 Intro,  9 |         literary merit in different hymns naturally varies a good
 71 Intro,  9 |             high. The most poetical hymns are those addressed to Dawn,
 72 Intro,  9 |             literature. Some of the hymns to Indra show much graphic
 73 Intro,  9 |           with the demon Vrtra. The hymns to the Maruts, or Storm
 74 Intro,  9 |           with great vividness. The hymns in praise of Varuna describe
 75 Intro,  9 |          poetry. One of the funeral hymns (x. 18) expresses ideas
 76 Intro,  9 |       beauty. One of the cosmogonic hymns (x. 129) illustrates how
 77 Intro,  10| INTERPRETATION.~In dealing with the hymns of the RV. the important
 78 Intro,  10|           but of the remainder many hymns and a great many single
 79 Intro,  10|            as saying that the Vedic hymns we obscure, unmeaning, and
 80 Intro,  10|             the time when the Vedic hymns were composed. That the
 81 Intro,  10|       Indian character of the Vedic hymns, connects the interpretation
 82   1       |           addressed in at least 200 hymns. The anthropomorphism of
 83   2       |         celebrated in eleven entire hymns and in many detached stanzas
 84   3       |            in the RV., thirty-three hymns being addressed to them
 85   3       |         prowess with their prayers, hymns, and songs, and generally
 86   4       |      celebrated in only five or six hymns. The only anthropomorphic
 87   4       |            the fight with Vrtra. In hymns addressed to Visnu alone,
 88   5       |            invoked as a pair in six hymns, Dyáus is never addressed
 89   6       |             about one-fourth of the hymns of the RV., far more than
 90   6       |            been born, and two whole hymns deal with the subject of
 91   7       |     celebrated in only three entire hymns, in part of another, and
 92   7       |     regarded as malevolent; for the hymns addressed to him chiefly
 93   8       |             Agni, moreover, in some hymns addressed to him, is spoken
 94  10       |          addressed in eleven entire hymns, and in two others conjointly
 95  11       |           addressed in about twenty hymns. The personification is
 96  11       |             reference to her in the hymns in which she is invoked.~
 97  12       |            celebrated in only three hymns. His name often means 'rain-cloud'
 98  13       |          god is celebrated in eight hymns, five of which occur in
 99  14       |        Waters are addressed in four hymns, as well as in a few scattered
100  15       |            to Heaven and Earth. The hymns in which they are conjointly
101  16       |                      SÚRYA~Some ten hymns are addressed to Surya.
102  17       |           in more than fifty entire hymns and in parts of several
103  18       |            though the number of the hymns in which he is celebrated
104  20       |           for at least forty entire hymns are addressed to them. It
105  21       |           With rather more than 120 hymns (all those in Mandala ix,
106  21       |  charioteers. In about half a dozen hymns he is associated with Indra,
107  21       |       thought: he is a generator of hymns, a leader of poets, a seer
108  21       |         fully dealt with in the two hymns iv. 26 and 27. Being the
109  21       |              In a few of the latest hymns of the RV. Soma begins to
110  22       |                             FUNERAL HYMNS~The RV. contains a group
111  22       |            contains a group of five hymns (x. 14-18) concerned with
112  23       |                         PITÁRAS~Two hymns (x. 15 and 54) are addressed
113  24       |           is one, among the secular hymns, of a group of four which
114  25       |       PÚRUSA~There are six or seven hymns dealing with the creation
115  25       |           is one of the very latest hymns of the Rigveda. It not only
116  25       |      different from that of the old hymns, for it is pantheistic: '
117  28       |                          YAMÁ~Three hymns are addressed to Yama, the
118  29       |           is addressed in two short hymns. He is invoked in a more