The Rig Veda

· Penguin UK
2.3
56 reviews
Ebook
352
Pages
Eligible
Ratings and reviews aren’t verified  Learn More

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

2.3
56 reviews
Soham
September 18, 2013
A near pathetic exposition of a few chosen hymns out of a thousand, nihilised further by the apparent lack of knowledge of the six vedaangas. Max Muller, Griffith, Swami Dayanand, Sri Aurobindo have all, in the past, though far from ideal, produced better works. Far from justice to a text that : is bound in rhyming poetry despite following exceptionally strong metrical rules throughout, is the single most important source of not just religious but linguistic and socio-cultural insight into Indo-Aryan society, and is the oldest attestation of any Indo-European language there is.
13 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
A Google user
October 9, 2016
Seems the author was high on crack while writing the book. Or maybe she is a fanatic who likes disrespecting other religions.
10 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
Surya Prakash
December 14, 2014
It gives the correct meaning, which we might have missed over ages. Or we were knowing only its misinterpretation purposefully all these years.
3 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Wendy Doniger is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago, and the translator of numerous Sanskrit texts including the Laws of Manu, and Kamasutra.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.