Hindu Origins of Judeo-Christian Religion

[sarabhanga]

There are many proper names in the Old Testament affixed with yhv (yeho- or -yahu), and yhvh is the very name of God, which is known from inscriptions dated c. 830 BC.

The Hebrew derivation of yhv is unclear, and scholars have suggested that it may have a non-Israelite origin, with some seeking meanings in Aramaic or Arabic or Egyptian. Although Sanskrit sources, where the same term is found with exactly the connotations appropriate to the biblical usage, have rarely been considered.

Why did the followers of Abraham and Moses refer to their god as Yahweh? The evidence from Hebrew language seems rather slight.

From ‘The Oxford Companion to the Bible’:

The name yahweh looks like the third-person singular of the verb hāwā, a rare alternative to the usual hāyā, “to be”. The “a” vowel suggests a causative theme of the verb (“he causes” or “will cause to be”), but that theme is not used with this verb in the Bible.

If, however, the name is archaic or of non-Israelite origin, then another meaning is possible, and some have sought a meaning found in Aramaic (“to fall” as well as “to be”) or in Arabic (“to fall, blow,” etc.), but firm evidence is lacking.

More plausible ~ though still uncertain ~ is a connection with yhw (perhaps yahweh) in Egyptian texts from ca. 1400-1200 BC, which may be a place associated with pastoral nomads in or near the Sinai peninsula.

Both the name and the nature of the God, however, are easily taken straight from ancient Sanskrit usage. And yahva (yahvaH or yahvIH), which is doubtfully explained from Hebrew grammar, is repeatedly found in vedic Sanskrit, with exactly the same connotations as apply to the biblical term (yhv, yhvh, or ‘yahweh’).

YHV appears 41 times in 33 of the Rgveda’s 1028 hymns ~ in maNDala I (5x), II (2x), III (9x), IV (5x), V (5x), VI (1x), VII (4x), VIII (2x), IX (3x), and X (5x) ~ with forms of the masculine yahva appearing 21 times, and forms of the feminine yahvI appearing 20 times. And there are 16 hymns with yahva, 16 with yahvI, and only one with both (RV 3.1) ~ making 33 hymns altogether (trayastriMsha, the traditional sum of the Gods).

In hymns to agni:

RSi kaNva ghaura

pra vaH yahvam purUNAm vishAm devayatInAm |
agnim sUktebhiH vacobhiH Imahe yam sIm it anye ILate || 1.36.1 ||

RSi nodhA gautama

bRhatI iva sUnave rodasI giraH hotA manuSyaH na dakshaH |
svarvate satyashuSmAya pUrvIH vaishvAnarAya nRtamAya yahvIH || 1.59.4 ||

RSi parAshara shAktya

agnim vishvAH abhi pRkshaH sacante samudram na sravataH sapta yahvIH |
na jAmibhiH vi cikite vayaH naH vidAH deveSu pramatim cikitvAn || 1.71.7 ||

svAdhyaH divaH A sapta yahvIH rAyaH duraH vi RtajñAH ajAnan |
vidat gavyam saramA dRLham Urvam yena nu kam mAnuSI bhojate viT || 1.72.8 ||

RSi vishvAmitra

avardhayan subhagam sapta yahvIH shvetam jajñAnam aruSam mahitvA |
shishum na jAtam abhi AruH ashvAH devAsaH agnim janiman vapuSyan || 3.1.4 ||

vavrAja sIm anadatIH adabdhAH divaH yahvIH avasAnAH anagnAH |
sanAH atra yuvatayaH sayonIH ekam garbham dadhire sapta vANIH || 3.1.6 ||

pituH cit Udhar januSA viveda vi asya dhArAH asRjat vi dhenAH |
guhA carantam sakhibhiH shivebhiH divaH yahvIbhiH na guhA babhUva || 3.1.9 ||

akraH na babhriH samithe mahInAm didRksheyaH sUnave bhARjIkaH |
ut usriyAH janitA yaH jajAna apAm garbhaH nRtamaH yahvaH agniH || 3.1.12 ||

RSi vishvAmitra gAthina

tisraH yahvasya samidhaH parijmanaH agneH apunan ushijaH amRtyavaH |
tAsAm ekAm adadhuH martye bhujam ulokam u dve upa jAmim IyatuH || 3.2.9 ||

vishpatim yahvam atithim naraH sadA yantAram dhInAm ushijam ca vAghatAm |
adhvarANAm cetanam jAtavedasam pra shaMsanti namasA jUtibhiH vRdhe || 3.3.8 ||

pAti priyam ripaH agram padam veH pAti yahvaH caraNam sUryasya |
pAti nAbhA saptashIrSANam agniH pAti devAnAm upamAdam RSvaH || 3.5.5 ||

ut u stutaH samidhA yahvaH adyaut varSman divaH adhi nAbhA pRthivyAH |
mitraH agniH IDyaH mAtarishvA A dUtaH vakshat yajathAya devAn || 3.5.9 ||

mAdhyaMdine savane jAtavedaH puroLAsham iha kave juSasva |
agne yahvasya tava bhAgadheyam na pra minanti vidatheSu dhIrAH || 3.28.4 ||

RSi vAmadeva gautama

mA nindata yaH imAm mahyam rAtim devaH dadau martyAya svadhAvAn |
pAkAya gRtsaH amRtaH vicetAH vaishvAnaraH nRtamaH yahvaH agniH || 4.5.2 ||

idam me agne kiyate pAvaka aminate gurum bhAram na manma |
bRhat dadhAtha dhRSatA gabhIram yahvam pRSTham prayasA saptadhAtu || 4.5.6 ||

tRSu yat annA tRSuNA vavaksha tRSum dUtam kRNute yahvaH agniH |
vAtasya meLim sacate nijUrvan Ashum na vAjayate hinve arvA || 4.7.11 ||

yam sIm akRNvan tamase vipRce dhruvakshemAH anavasyantaH artham |
tam sUryam haritaH sapta yahvIH spasham vishvasya jagataH vahanti || 4.13.3 ||

sindhoH iva prAdhvane shUghanAsaH vAtapramiyaH patayanti yahvAH |
ghRtasya dhArAH aruSaH na vAjI kASThAH bhindanUrmibhiH pinvamAnaH || 4.58.7 ||

RSi budha Atreya

abodhi agniH samidhA janAnAm prati dhenum iva AyatIm uSAsam
yahvAH iva pra vayAm ujjihAnAH pra bhAnavaH sisrate nAkam acha || 5.1.1 ||

RSi pUru Atreya

adha hi agne eSAm suvIryasya maMhanA |
tam it yahvam na rodasI pari shravaH babhUvatuH || 5.16.4 ||

RSi vasiSTha maitrAvaruNi

yaH dehyaH anamayat vadhasnaiH yaH aryapatnIH uSasaH cakAra |
sa nirudhya nahuSaH yahvaH agniH vishaH cakre balihRtaH sahobhiH || 7.6.5 ||

ayam u sya sumahAn avedi hotA mandraH manuSaH yahvaH agniH |
vi bhAH akar sasRjAnaH pRthivyAm kRSNapaviH oSadhIbhiH vavakshe || 7.8.2 ||

RSi havirdhAna AÑgi

vRSA vRSNe duduhe dahasA divaH payAMsi yahvaH aditeH adAbhyaH |
vishvam sa veda varuNaH yathA dhiyA sa yajñiyaH yajatu yajñiyAn RtUn || 10.11.1 ||

And to apAMnapAt:

RSi gRtsamada bhArgava (originally AÑgirasa) shaunaka

apAm napAt A hi asthAt upastham jihmAnAm UrdhvaH vidyutam vasAnaH |
tasya jyeSTham mahimAnam vahantIH hiraNyavarNAH pari yanti yahvIH || 2.35.9 ||

asmin pade parame tasthivAMsam adhvasmabhiH vishvahA dIdivAMsam |
ApaH naptre ghRtam annam vahantIH svayam atkaiH pari dIyanti yahvIH || 2.35.14 ||

In hymns to indra:

RSi gaurivIti shAktya

anu yat Im marutaH mandasAnam Arcan indram papivAMsam sutasya |
A adatta vajram abhi yat ahim han apaH yahvIH asRjat sartavai u || 5.29.2 ||

RSi bharadvAja bArhaspatya

paprAtha kshAm mahi daMsaH vi urvIm upa dyAm RSvaH bRhAt indra stabhAyaH |
adhArayaH rodasI devaputre pratne mAtarA yahvI Rtasya || 6.17.7 ||

RSi nArada kANva

tat it rudrasya cetati yahvam pratneSu dhAmasu |
manaH yatra vi tat dadhuH vicetasaH || 8.13.20 ||

tam Imahe puruSTutam yahvam pratnAbhiH UtibhiH |
ni barhiSi priye sadat adha dvitA || 8.13.24 ||

RSi vamra vaikhAnasa

sa yahvyaH avanIH goSu arvA A juhoti pradhanyAsu sasriH |
apAdaH yatra yujyAsaH arathAH droNyashvAsaH Irate ghRtam vAr || 10.99.4 ||

In hymns to soma:

RSi trita Aptya

abhi brahmIH anUSata yahvIH Rtasya mAtaraH |
marmRjyante divaH shishum || 9.33.5 ||

RSi kavi bhArgava

abhi priyANi pavate canohitaH nAmAni yahvaH adhi yeSu vardhate |
A sUryasya bRhataH bRhan adhi ratham viSvañcam aruhat vicakshaNaH || 9.75.1 ||

RSi kashyapa mArIca

tava tye soma pavamAna niNye vishve devAH trayaH ekAdashAsaH |
dasha svadhAbhiH adhi sAno avye mRjanti tvA nadyaH sapta yahvIH || 9.92.4 ||

In hymns to the vishvedevA:

RSi atri bhauma

upa vaH eSe vandyebhiH shUSaiH pra yahvI divaH citayadbhiH arkaiH |
uSAsAnaktA viduSI iva vishvam A ha vahataH martyAya yajñam || 5.41.7 ||

RSi shAryAta mAnava

imam añjaspAm ubhaye akRNvata dharmANam agnim vidathasya sAdhanam |
aktum na yahvam uSasaH purohitam tanUnapAtam aruSasya niMsate || 10.92.2 ||

RSi tAnva pArtha

mahi dyAvApRthivI bhUtam urvI nArI yahvI na rodasI sadam naH |
tebhiH naH pAtam sahyasaH ebhiH naH pAtam shUSaNi || 10.93.1 ||

To the marudgaNa:

RSi vasiSTha maitrAvaruNi

sam yat hananta manyubhiH janAsaH shUrAH yahvISu oSadhISu vikshu |
adha sma naH marutaH rudriyAsaH trAtAraH bhUta pRtanAsu aryaH || 7.56.22 ||

To ashvinIkumAra:

RSi vasiSTha maitrAvaruNi

yAni sthAnAni ashvinA dadhAthe divaH yahvISu oSadhISu vikshu |
ni parvatasya mUrdhani sadantA iSam janAya dAshuSe vahantA || 7.70.3 ||

And in three AprI hymns:

RSi dIrghatamA aucathya

A bhandamAne upAke naktoSAsA supeshasA |
yahvI Rtasya mAtarA sIdatAm barhiH A sumat || 1.142.7 ||

RSi vasushruta Atreya

supratIke vayovRdhA yahvI Rtasya mAtarA |
doSAm uSAsam Imahe || 5.5.6 ||

RSi jamadagni bhArgava (rAma jAmadagnya)

AjuhvAnaH IDyaH vandyaH ca A yAhi agne vasubhiH sajoSAH |
tvam devAnAm asi yahva hotA saH enAn yakshi iSitaH yajIyAn || 10.110.3 ||

[sarabhanga]

mahat is “great (in space , time , quantity or degree)”. And mahat is the mahattattvam (“the great principle”), which is budhi (“intellect”, “wisdom”, “sacred knowledge”).

yahva is synonymous with mahat, and the shatarudriyam praises rudra as “the great ones” (namo mahadbhyaH).


pitushcidUdharjanuSA viveda vyasya dhArA asRjadvi dhenAH |
guhA carantaM sakhibhiH shivebhirdivo yahvIbhirna guhA babhUva || RV 3.1.9 ||

From birth he knew even his father’s bosom, he set his voices and his streams in motion,
Knew him who moved with blessed friends in secret, with the young dames of heaven, he stayed not hidden.

guhA carantam sakhibhiH shivebhiH | divaH yahvIbhiH na guhA babhUva

The masculine instrumental plural sakhibhiH shivebhiH (sakhi shiva or shiva sakhi ~ “the auspicious companion”) is paired with the feminine instrumental plural divaH yahvIbhiH (divo yahvyas, “the young dames of heaven”, and yahvI, “the great dame”).

In the beginning, agni set his voices (the shiva sakhayas of gopati rudra) and his streams (the sapta yahvyas of gomatI rodasI) in motion.

yahvIH Rtasya mAtaraH indicates “the great mothers of sacred law”, and yahvI is Rtasya mAtA, “the mother of divine truth” ~ coupled with shivAH pitaraH (“the auspicious fathers”) and shiva, the Rtasya pitA (“father of truth”).

mAtA = yahvI = gomatI = yajanIya (“to be worshipped or sacrificed”)
pitA = shiva = gopati = yajamAna (“worshipping or sacrificing”)

gomatI is pArvatI, as the greatness to which gopati shiva rises. And their twin yahvyau (the gAvau, mahyau, pitarau, etc.) signifies “heaven and earth” ~ as the ashvinau compelled by agni ~ as rodasI (the lightning wife of rudra).

[sarabhanga]

yahva appears in only 3% of the Rgveda’s hymns, virtually disappearing in post-vedic scripture.

yahvI itself appears just five times in the Rgveda, with three of those repeating the same phrase ~ yahvI Rtasya mAtarA in two of the AprI hymns, and mAtarA yahvI Rtasya in bharadvAja bArhaspatya’s hymn to lord indra. In atri bhauma’s hymn to the vishvedevA (5.41), the formula is pra yahvI divaH. And in tAnva pArtha’s hymn to the vishvedevA (10.93), yahvI appears in the first line as yahvI na rodasI.

RSi vasushruta Atreya

supratIke vayovRdhA yahvI Rtasya mAtarA |
doSAm uSAsam Imahe || 5.5.6 ||


RSi dIrghatamA aucathya

A bhandamAne upAke naktoSAsA supeshasA |
yahvI Rtasya mAtarA sIdatAm barhiH A sumat || 1.142.7 ||


RSi bharadvAja bArhaspatya

paprAtha kshAm mahi daMsaH vi urvIm upa dyAm RSvaH bRhAt indra stabhAyaH |
adhArayaH rodasI devaputre pratne mAtarA yahvI Rtasya || 6.17.7 ||


RSi atri bhauma

upa vaH eSe vandyebhiH shUSaiH pra yahvI divaH citayadbhiH arkaiH |
uSAsAnaktA viduSI iva vishvam A ha vahataH martyAya yajñam || 5.41.7 ||


RSi tAnva pArtha

mahi dyAvApRthivI bhUtam urvI nArI yahvI na rodasI sadam naH |
tebhiH naH pAtam sahyasaH ebhiH naH pAtam shUSaNi || 10.93.1 ||

And yahvIH appears eleven times, in eight hymns, but only once as yahvIH Rtasya mAtaraH, in trita Aptya’s hymn to soma (9.33).

The compound sapta yahvIH appears five times, in four hymns (three to agni and one to soma).

And there are single instances of five other combinations ~ apaH yahvIH (to indra), divaH yahvIH and (to agni), pariyanti yahvIH and paridIyanti yahvIH (to agni apAMnapAt, “grandson of the waters”), and vaishvAnarAyanRtamAya yahvIH (to agni vaishvAnara).

RSi trita Aptya

abhi brahmIH anUSata yahvIH Rtasya mAtaraH |
marmRjyante divaH shishum || 9.33.5 ||


RSi parAshara shAktya

agnim vishvAH abhi pRkshaH sacante samudram na sravataH sapta yahvIH |
na jAmibhiH vi cikite vayaH naH vidAH deveSu pramatim cikitvAn || 1.71.7 ||

svAdhyaH divaH A sapta yahvIH rAyaH duraH vi RtajñAH ajAnan |
vidat gavyam saramA dRLham Urvam yena nu kam mAnuSI bhojate viT || 1.72.8 ||


RSi vishvAmitra

avardhayan subhagam sapta yahvIH shvetam jajñAnam aruSam mahitvA |
shishum na jAtam abhi AruH ashvAH devAsaH agnim janiman vapuSyan || 3.1.4 ||

vavrAja sIm anadatIH adabdhAH divaH yahvIH avasAnAH anagnAH |
sanAH atra yuvatayaH sayonIH ekam garbham dadhire sapta vANIH || 3.1.6 ||

pituH cit Udhar januSA viveda vi asya dhArAH asRjat vi dhenAH |
guhA carantam sakhibhiH shivebhiH divaH yahvIbhiH na guhA babhUva || 3.1.9 ||


RSi vAmadeva gautama

yam sIm akRNvan tamase vipRce dhruvakshemAH anavasyantaH artham |
tam sUryam haritaH sapta yahvIH spasham vishvasya jagataH vahanti || 4.13.3 ||


RSi kashyapa mArIca

tava tye soma pavamAna niNye vishve devAH trayaH ekAdashAsaH |
dasha svadhAbhiH adhi sAno avye mRjanti tvA nadyaH sapta yahvIH || 9.92.4 ||


RSi gaurivIti shAktya

anu yat Im marutaH mandasAnam Arcan indram papivAMsam sutasya |
A adatta vajram abhi yat ahim han apaH yahvIH asRjat sartavai u || 5.29.2 ||


RSi nodhA gautama

bRhatI iva sUnave rodasI giraH hotA manuSyaH na dakshaH |
svarvate satyashuSmAya pUrvIH vaishvAnarAya nRtamAya yahvIH || 1.59.4 ||


RSi gRtsamada bhArgava

apAm napAt A hi asthAt upastham jihmAnAm UrdhvaH vidyutam vasAnaH |
tasya jyeSTham mahimAnam vahantIH hiraNyavarNAH pari yanti yahvIH || 2.35.9 ||

asmin pade parame tasthivAMsam adhvasmabhiH vishvahA dIdivAMsam |
ApaH naptre ghRtam annam vahantIH svayam atkaiH pari dIyanti yahvIH || 2.35.14 ||

yahvAH occurs only twice (in hymns to agni).

RSi vAmadeva gautama

sindhoH iva prAdhvane shUghanAsaH vAtapramiyaH patayanti yahvAH |
ghRtasya dhArAH aruSaH na vAjI kASThAH bhindanUrmibhiH pinvamAnaH || 4.58.7 ||


RSi budha Atreya

abodhi agniH samidhA janAnAm prati dhenum iva AyatIm uSAsam
yahvAH iva pra vayAm ujjihAnAH pra bhAnavaH sisrate nAkam acha || 5.1.1 ||

yahvasya occurs twice, in RSi vishvAmitra’s hymns to agni.

RSi vishvAmitra

tisraH yahvasya samidhaH parijmanaH agneH apunan ushijaH amRtyavaH |
tAsAm ekAm adadhuH martye bhujam ulokam u dve upa jAmim IyatuH || 3.2.9 ||

mAdhyaMdine savane jAtavedaH puroLAsham iha kave juSasva |
agne yahvasya tava bhAgadheyam na pra minanti vidatheSu dhIrAH || 3.28.4 ||

And yahvyaH appears just once, in vamra vaikhAnasa’s hymn to indra.

RSi vamra vaikhAnasa

sa yahvyaH avanIH goSu arvA A juhoti pradhanyAsu sasriH |
apAdaH yatra yujyAsaH arathAH droNyashvAsaH Irate ghRtam vAr || 10.99.4 ||

yahvam appears seven times, in six hymns (four to agni, one to indra, and one to the vishvedevA).

RSi kaNva ghaura

pra vaH yahvam purUNAm vishAm devayatInAm |
agnim sUktebhiH vacobhiH Imahe yam sIm it anye ILate || 1.36.1 ||


RSi vishvAmitra gAthina

vishpatim yahvam atithim naraH sadA yantAram dhInAm ushijam ca vAghatAm |
adhvarANAm cetanam jAtavedasam pra shaMsanti namasA jUtibhiH vRdhe || 3.3.8 ||


RSi vAmadeva gautama

idam me agne kiyate pAvaka aminate gurum bhAram na manma |
bRhat dadhAtha dhRSatA gabhIram yahvam pRSTham prayasA saptadhAtu || 4.5.6 ||


RSi pUru Atreya

adha hi agne eSAm suvIryasya maMhanA |
tam it yahvam na rodasI pari shravaH babhUvatuH || 5.16.4 ||


RSi nArada kANva

tat it rudrasya cetati yahvam pratneSu dhAmasu |
manaH yatra vi tat dadhuH vicetasaH || 8.13.20 ||

tam Imahe puruSTutam yahvam pratnAbhiH UtibhiH |
ni barhiSi priye sadat adha dvitA || 8.13.24 ||


RSi shAryAta mAnava

imam añjaspAm ubhaye akRNvata dharmANam agnim vidathasya sAdhanam |
aktum na yahvam uSasaH purohitam tanUnapAtam aruSasya niMsate || 10.92.2 ||

And yahvaH appears nine times, in eight hymns (seven to agni, and one to soma), with the combination yahvaH agniH appearing five times ~ twice as nRtamaH yahvaH agniH, and once each as kRNute yahvaH agniH, nahuSaH yahvaH agniH, and manuSaH yahvaH agniH. yahvaH caraNam sUryasya, samidhA yahvaH adyaut, and yahvaH aditeH adAbhyaH , appear in the remaining two hymns to agni, and in the one hymn to soma we find the notable phrase yahvaH adhi yeSu.

RSi vishvAmitra

akraH na babhriH samithe mahInAm didRksheyaH sUnave bhARjIkaH |
ut usriyAH janitA yaH jajAna apAm garbhaH nRtamaH yahvaH agniH || 3.1.12 ||


RSi vAmadeva gautama

mA nindata yaH imAm mahyam rAtim devaH dadau martyAya svadhAvAn |
pAkAya gRtsaH amRtaH vicetAH vaishvAnaraH nRtamaH yahvaH agniH || 4.5.2 ||

tRSu yat annA tRSuNA vavaksha tRSum dUtam kRNute yahvaH agniH |
vAtasya meLim sacate nijUrvan Ashum na vAjayate hinve arvA || 4.7.11 ||


RSi vasiSTha maitrAvaruNi

yaH dehyaH anamayat vadhasnaiH yaH aryapatnIH uSasaH cakAra |
sa nirudhya nahuSaH yahvaH agniH vishaH cakre balihRtaH sahobhiH || 7.6.5 ||

ayam u sya sumahAn avedi hotA mandraH manuSaH yahvaH agniH |
vi bhAH akar sasRjAnaH pRthivyAm kRSNapaviH oSadhIbhiH vavakshe || 7.8.2 ||


RSi vishvAmitra gAthina

pAti priyam ripaH agram padam veH pAti yahvaH caraNam sUryasya |
pAti nAbhA saptashIrSANam agniH pAti devAnAm upamAdam RSvaH || 3.5.5 ||

ut u stutaH samidhA yahvaH adyaut varSman divaH adhi nAbhA pRthivyAH |
mitraH agniH IDyaH mAtarishvA A dUtaH vakshat yajathAya devAn || 3.5.9 ||


RSi havirdhAna AÑgi

vRSA vRSNe duduhe dahasA divaH payAMsi yahvaH aditeH adAbhyaH |
vishvam sa veda varuNaH yathA dhiyA sa yajñiyaH yajatu yajñiyAn RtUn || 10.11.1 ||


RSi kavi bhArgava

abhi priyANi pavate canohitaH nAmAni yahvaH adhi yeSu vardhate |
A sUryasya bRhataH bRhan adhi ratham viSvañcam aruhat vicakshaNaH || 9.75.1 ||

There are two occurrences of yahva in the locative plural form, in RSi vasiSTha maitrAvaruNi’s hymns to the host of marutas and the ashvinas’ son ~ and in each case the formula is yahvISu oSadhISu vikshu.

To the marudgaNa:

sam yat hananta manyubhiH janAsaH shUrAH yahvISu oSadhISu vikshu |
adha sma naH marutaH rudriyAsaH trAtAraH bhUta pRtanAsu aryaH || 7.56.22 ||

And to ashvinIkumAra:

yAni sthAnAni ashvinA dadhAthe divaH yahvISu oSadhISu vikshu |
ni parvatasya mUrdhani sadantA iSam janAya dAshuSe vahantA || 7.70.3 ||

[oSadhi is “light-containing” indicating a medicinal herb or an annual plant (which dies after becoming ripe). And oSadhIsha is “lord of herbs”, indicating the soma.]


And the final example is yahva itself, in the vocative singular case (“O yahva”), which occurs in the bhArgava AprI hymn (10.110).

RSi rAma jAmadagnya

AjuhvAnaH IDyaH vandyaH ca A yAhi agne vasubhiH sajoSAH |
tvam devAnAm asi yahva hotA saH enAn yakshi iSitaH yajIyAn || 10.110.3 ||

[sarabhanga]

maha or mahi is “great, mighty, strong, or abundant”, as “a sacrifice, a buffalo, light or brilliance”, and mahA or mAhA is “a cow”.

mahI is “the great world or earth”, indicating “a region”, “a legion”, or “a cow”; mahyas are “the waters or streams” (sapta yahvyas); and the mahyau is “heaven and earth” (yahvI rodasI). And the number of that great beast is 6.66.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.

Rgveda 6.66

vapurnu taccikituSe cidastu samAnaM nAma dhenu patyamAnam |
marteSvanyaddohase pIpAya sakRcchukraM duduhe pRshnirUdhaH || 1 ||

Even to the wise, let that be still a wonder, to which the general name of cow is given.
The one hath swelled among mankind for milking: pRshni hath drained but once her fair bright udder.

ye agnayo na shoshucannidhAnA dviryattrirmaruto vAvRdhanta |
areNavo hiraNyayAsa eSAM sAkaM nRmNaiH pauMsyebhishca bhUvan || 2 ||

They who like kindled flames of fire are glowing, the maruts, twice and thrice have waxen mighty.
Golden and dustless were their cars, invested with their great strength and their heroic vigour.

rudrasya ye mILhuSaH santi putrA yAMshco nu dAdhRvirbharadhyai |
vide hi mAtA maho mahISA setpRshniH subhve garbhamAdhAt || 3 ||

They who are sons of the rain-pouring rudra, whom the long-lasting one had power to foster:
The mighty ones, whose germ great mother pRshni is known to have received for man’s advantage.

na ya ISante januSo’yA nvantaH santo’vadyAni punAnAH |
niryadduhre shucayo’nu joSamanu shriyA tanvamukshamANAH || 4 ||

They shrink not from the birth; in this same manner still resting there they purge away reproaches.
When they have streamed forth, brilliant, at their pleasure, with their own splendour they bedew their bodies.

makshU na yeSu dohase cidayA A nAma dhRSNu mArutaM dadhAnAH |
na ye staunA ayAso mahnA nU citsudAnurava yAsadugrAn || 5 ||

Even those who bear the brave bold name of maruts, whom not the active quickly wins for milking.
Even the liberal wards not off those fierce ones, those who are light and agile in their greatness.

ta idugrAH shavasA dhRSNuSeNA ubhe yujanta rodasI sumeke |
adha smaiSu rodasI svashocirAmavatsu tasthau na rokaH || 6 ||

When, strong in strength and armed with potent weapons, they had united well-formed earth and heaven,
RodasI stood among these furious heroes like splendour shining with her native brightness.

aneno vo maruto yAmo astvanashvashcidyamajatyarathIH |
anavaso’nabhIshU rajastUrvi rodasI pathyA yAti sAdhan || 7 ||

No team of goats shall draw your car, O maruts, no horse, no charioteer be he who drives it.
Halting not, reinless, through the air it travels, speeding alone its paths through earth and heaven.

nAsya vartA na tarutA nvasti maruto yamavatha vAjasAtau |
toke vA goSu tanaye yamapsu sa vrajaM dartA pArye adha dyoH || 8 ||

None may obstruct, none overtake, O maruts, him whom ye succour in the strife of battle
For sons and progeny, for kine and waters: he bursts the cow-stall on the day of trial.

pra citramarkaM gRNate turAya mArutAya svatavase bharadhvam |
ye sahAMsi sahasA sahante rejate agne pRthivI makhebhyaH || 9 ||

Bring a bright hymn to praise the band of maruts, the singers, rapid, strong in native vigour,
Who conquer mighty strength with strength more mighty: earth shakes in terror at their wars, O agni.

tviSImanto’dhvarasyeva didyuttRSucyavaso juhvo nAgneH |
arcatrayo dhunayo na vIrA bhrAjajjanmAno maruto adhRSTAH || 10 ||

Bright like the flashing flames of sacrifices, like tongues of fire impetuous in their onset,
Chanting their psalm, singing aloud, like heroes, splendid from birth, invincible, the maruts.

taM vRdhantammArutambhrAjadRSTiM rudrasya sUnuM havasA vivAse |
divaH shardhAya shucayo manISA girayo nApa ugrA aspRdhran || 11 ||

That swelling band I call with invocation, the brood of rudra, armed with glittering lances.
Pure hymns are meet for that celestial army: like floods and mountains have the strong ones battled.

[sarabhanga]

mahi dyAvApRthivI bhUtam urvI nArI yahvI na rodasI sadam naH

Mighty are ye, and far-extended, heaven and earth: both worlds are evermore to us like two young dames.

yahvI na rodasI is “swift as lightning” and “mighty as heaven and earth”, and the nArI yahvI (twain) is invoked with narodasI (as naraH dashI ~ “the puruSa having ten parts”).

jU means “to press forwards, hurry on, be quick, impel quickly, urge or drive on, incite, scare, excite, promote, animate, or inspire”, and jU is “quick or speedy, inciting or driving”, as “a courser, the wind, or sarasvatI”.

The juhU is a jihvA, as “a tongue (of agni)”, and the sapta juhvaH are seven tongues of flame from the sacred hearth of brahmA, as brAhmI (the quivering goddess of speech). And the juhU is “a curved wooden ladle (for pouring clarified butter into the sacrificial fire)”, enshrining the puruSa as sadyojAta (“newly born”).

juhuvAna is “the invoked” (as agni or soma) or “the cryer or invoker” (as rudra or a sacrificing priest), and juhuvANa or juhurANa is “the invoker” or “the moon”.

And the juhvaH na agneH (“tongues as of fire”) are the marutas ~ “the brood of rudra” ~ “bright as the flashing flames of sacrifices, impetuous in their onset, chanting their psalm, singing aloud, like heroes, splendid from birth, invincible”.

sapta yahvIH = sapta juhvaH = sapta jihvAH = devI lelAyamAnA = vakshyaH vakshaNesthAH = vAk

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[sarabhanga]

The invoker and the invoked are united by the invocation.

Rgveda 10.125 ~ the vAgyajña of vAgAmbhRNI

ahaM rudrebhirvasubhishcarAmyahamAdityairuta vishvadevaiH |
ahammitrAvaruNobhA bibharmyahamindrAgnI ahamashvinobhA || 1 ||

I travel with the rudrAs and the vasavas, with the AdityAs and all-gods I wander.
I hold aloft both varuNa and mitra, indra and agni, and the ashvinau.

ahaM somamAhanasambibharmyahaM tvaSTAramuta pUSaNambhagam |
ahaM dadhAmi draviNaM haviSmate suprAvye yajamAnAya sunvate || 2 ||

I cherish and sustain high-swelling soma, and tvaSTar I support, pUSan, and bhaga.
I load with wealth the zealous sacrificer, who pours the juice and offers his oblation.

ahaM rASTrI saMgamanI vasUnAM cikituSI prathamA yajñiyAnAm |
tAmmA devA vyadadhuH purutrA bhUristhAtrAmbhUryAveshayantIm || 3 ||

I am the queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.
Thus gods have established me in many places, with many homes to enter and abide in.

mayA so annamatti yo vipashyati yaH prANiti ya IM shRNotyuktam |
amantavo mAM ta upa kshiyanti shrudhi shruta shraddhivaM te vadAmi || 4 ||

Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them, each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.
They know it not, but yet they dwell beside me. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.

ahameva svayamidaM vadAmi juSTaM devebhiruta mAnuSebhiH |
yaM kAmaye taMtamugraM kRNomi tambrahmANaM tamRSiM taM sumedhAm || 5 ||

I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall welcome.
I make the man I love exceeding mighty, make him a sage, a RSi, and a brAhmaNa.

ahaM rudrAya dhanurA tanomi brahmadviSe sharave hantavA u |
ahaM janAya samadaM kRNomyahaM dyAvApRthivI A vivesha || 6 ||

I bend the bow for rudra that his arrow may strike and slay the hater of devotion.
I rouse and order battle for the people, and I have penetrated earth and heaven.

ahaM suve pitaramasya mUrdhanmama yonirapsvantaH samudre |
tato vi tiSThe bhuvanAnu vishvotAmUM dyAM varSmaNopa spRshAmi || 7 ||

On the world’s summit, I bring forth the father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean.
Thence I extend over all existing creatures, and touch even yonder heaven with my forehead.

ahameva vAta iva pra vAmyArabhamANA bhuvanAni vishvA |
paro divA para enA pRthivyaitAvatI mahinA sambabhUva || 8 ||

I breathe a strong breath like the wind and tempest, the while I hold together all existence.
Beyond this wide earth and beyond the heavens, I have become so mighty in my grandeur.