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Thread: Should I start reading Rig veda?

  1. #1

    Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Namaste!
    I am new to this forum and eager to learn about sanatana dharma. I have completed reading the geeta which was the first hindu scriptures I read. Recently when I was surfing the net I came upon a article about aryan Invasion.
    I had heard about it but never cared but upon seeing that article I started to research about it a bit and then I found that rigvedas have description about Indra destroying and wrecking havoc on the locals etc, but it is said that western translation of vedas done by people like Muller and Griffith was full of mistakes so as Rig veda contains the oldest record of Indian History I am thinking about buyig it in hindi or any local language rather than reading the english versions. I really want to read the vedas myself and clear any doubts or misinformation. what are your thoughts?
    thank you

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Namaste,

    I have read many translations of Rig Veda, but the one I liked the most was by maulvi HawaaBaaz. I would recommend you do the same.

    Pranam.

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Believer doing what he does best - snoop out trolls!!!

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Vannakkam: Welcome to HDF, I would suggest reading introductory books or going to a Hindu temple first.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    namaskar,

    Quote Originally Posted by Believer View Post
    Namaste,

    I have read many translations of Rig Veda, but the one I liked the most was by maulvi HawaaBaaz. I would recommend you do the same.

    Pranam.
    The one I read by Poope Crapola is better. I guess either one would be good for this newcomer to 'read'.
    satay

  6. #6

    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Quote Originally Posted by proudparrot27 View Post
    Namaste!
    I am new to this forum and eager to learn about sanatana dharma. I have completed reading the geeta which was the first hindu scriptures I read. Recently when I was surfing the net I came upon a article about aryan Invasion.
    I had heard about it but never cared but upon seeing that article I started to research about it a bit and then I found that rigvedas have description about Indra destroying and wrecking havoc on the locals etc, but it is said that western translation of vedas done by people like Muller and Griffith was full of mistakes so as Rig veda contains the oldest record of Indian History I am thinking about buyig it in hindi or any local language rather than reading the english versions. I really want to read the vedas myself and clear any doubts or misinformation. what are your thoughts?
    thank you
    My thoughts. The Rig-veda was composed in archaic sanskrit over a long time and consequently, many parts of it are not understood by anyone today. Not just today, but it has been this way at least since the time of Yaska (around 7th century BC) - the author of the Nirukta. Numerous words can be and have been interpreted in different ways by different people and the choice among these interpretations is more subjective than anything else.

    On the controversial sections - there is the usage of Krishna (black) and tvac (skin). This has been interpreted in different ways by modern scholars such as "dark skinned" - which is also the controversial interpretation, "covered in darkness", etc. The 14th Century commentator Sayana (pre-British!) interpreted Krishna in this context as a demon.

    The Rig Vedic Aryans did have their share of enemies (Dasyus) as clearly mentioned in the Rig-Veda and also in the texts of their Western neighbors - the ancient Persians. In ancient Persian, the deva is the bad guy and the Ahura (Asura) is the good guy. One of Xerxes's inscriptions talks about how he, by the grace of Ahura) destroyed the place of the devas, who are not to be worshipped. On this side of the border, we had stories of how the Asuras were bad and the devas constantly had to fight them and keep them away.

    In short, sufficient time has passed and we are at a point where we ca n never really know what the original Rig-Veda authors had in mind. We will have to pick an interpretation based on personal preferences. The outcry against some interpretations is mostly by ideologically motivated jingoists who have barely any knowledge of history and you may want to steer clear of them.
    http://lokayata.info
    http://shivsomashekhar.wordpress.com/category/history/

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Namaste,
    Quote Originally Posted by shiv.somashekhar View Post
    The outcry against some interpretations is mostly by ideologically motivated jingoists who have barely any knowledge of history and you may want to steer clear of them.
    Do you have a list of these 'ideologically motivated jingoists' so that I can stay clear of all their writings and not be misled. Thanks. Also, do you find any of the posters on this forum who would fall in this category, so that I am not swayed by their ill conceived, detracting, vile thinking?

    Pranam.

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    That would be anyone who believes that the foundation of Hinduism has anything more than fiction, liars and bunch of created stories. That's obviously me and the rest of HDF excepting for some neutral hard workers, ofcourse.

    As long as you understand that these are fiction, then you are ok to start your sadhana.

    Hey, you may also need to watch out for yourself.

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    Re: Should I start reading Rig veda?

    Namaste ladies and gents,
    And this how a troll works his magic.
    satay

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