Rigveda facts for kids

Rigveda (padapatha) manuscript in Devanagari, early 19th century. This page shows the first lines of the book.

The Rigveda is a very old and important religious book from India. It is one of the four main holy writings of Hinduism, which are called the Vedas. Many people consider it one of the world's oldest religious books that is still used today. It is also one of the oldest writings in a language group called Indo-European, which includes many languages spoken across Europe and parts of Asia.

The Rigveda is very important to Hindus, especially those in India and Nepal. Its words are often spoken during prayers and religious gatherings.

What is the Rigveda About?

The Rigveda mainly contains many hymns, which are like special songs or poems. These hymns are used to pray to ancient Vedic Gods. Some of these gods include:

• Agni: The God of Fire.
• Indra: The powerful lord of the Heavens.
• Mitra: A god often linked to agreements and friendship.
• Varuna: The God of Water and cosmic order.
• Surya: The Sun God.

These hymns are called Riks. That's why the book is named Rik-Veda or Rigveda, meaning "Veda of praises" or "Veda of verses."

Structure of the Rigveda

The Rigveda is a very large collection of writings. It is divided into 10 main parts, often called "books" or "Mandalas." In total, the Rigveda has 1,028 hymns and about 10,600 verses. Each verse is a short line of poetry.

Images for kids

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  A map showing tribes and rivers mentioned in the Rigveda.

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  This map shows where people lived during the Late Vedic Period. Different versions of the Rigveda existed in these regions.

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  A page from a Rigveda manuscript, showing the first hymn in Sanskrit.

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  The Devi Sukta, a hymn about a goddess, is found in the Rigveda. It is often recited during the Durga Puja festival.

See also

In Spanish: Rigveda para niños