Mandala 8

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The eighth Mandala of the Rigveda has 103 hymns. Other than the "family books" (Mandalas 2-7, dated as an old part of the RV) and RV 1 and RV 10 (dated as the latest portion of hymns composed shortly before redaction of the Rigveda into shakhas), Mandala 8 cannot straightforwardly be dated as a whole relative to the other books, and its hymns may include both ancient and late specimens. Most hymns in this book are attributed to the kāṇva family. The hymns 8.49 to 8.59 are the apocryphal vālakhilya, the majority of them are devoted to Indra; these are accepted as a recent portion, properly already post-Rigvedic. It mentions the introduction of camels to Vedic ṛṣis by kings with proto-Iranian names (in VIII.5, 6, 46).

The hymns are dedicated to Indra, Agni, the Asvins, the Maruts, the Adityas, Varuna, Mitra-Varuna, the Vishvadevas, and Soma. 8.100 is dedicated to Indra and Vak (Speech). Of the Valakhilya, six hymns are dedicated to Indra, and one each to the Asvins, the Vishvadevas and Indra-Varuna. 8.55 and 8.56 praise "Praskanva's Gift", the reward given to the rishi by Dasyave-vrka "the wolf of the Dasyus", a hero who in alliance with the Kanvas has won a victory over the Dasyus.

According to some scholars, the 8th Mandala has the most striking similarity to the Avesta.:[1] it contains allusions to Afghan Flora and Fauna,[2] e.g. to camels (úṣṭra- = Avestan uštra (c.f. Zaraθ-uštra; RV 8.4.7, 8.5.37, 8.46.22, 8.46.31; elsewhere in the RV only in 1.138.2). The river name Suvastu in 8.19.37 refers to the Swat River in Gandhari.

The hymns 8.49 to 8.59 are the apocryphal valakhīlya, the majority of them are devoted to Indra. Most hymns in this book are attributed to the kāṇva family.

The Mandala is often seen as a relative young part of the Rig Veda.

This Mandala has also allusions to Afghan Flora and Fauna, e.g. to camels (RV 8.5; 8.46; 8.56). According to some scholars, the eight Mandala has the most striking similarity to the Avesta.[3]

Vālakhilya hymns

Hymns VIII.49-59 (80 verses) are later additions, which are separately known as the Vālakhilya hymns.

Rivers and places

Eastern regions in Book 8: 1. mayūra-25. 4. gaura-3. 7. pṛṣatī-28. 12. mahiṣa-8. 21. Sarasvatī-17,18. 33. vāraṇa-8. 35. mahiṣa-7-9. 38. Sarasvatī-10. 45. gaura-24. 54. Sarasvatī-4. 69. mahiṣa-15. 77. mahiṣa-10. 96. Amśumatī-13.

Western: Book 8: 1. (gandharva-11). 2. meṣa-40. 5. uṣṭra-37. 6. Śaryaṇāvat-39, uṣṭra-48. 7. Ārjīka-29, Suṣoma-29, Śaryaṇāvat-29. 12. Sindhu-3. 19. Suvāstu-37. 20. Sindhu-24,25. 24. Gomatī-30. 25. Sindhu-14. 26. Śvetyāvarī-18, Sindhu-18. 34. urā-3. 46. uṣṭra-22,31, mathra-23. 64. Ārjīkīyā-11, Suṣomā-11, Śaryaṇāvat-11. 66. urā-8. 72. Sindhu-7, Rasā-13. 77. varāha-10, (gandharva-5). 97. meṣa-12.

Central rivers: 20. Asiknī-25. 24. Saptasindhavah-27. 54. (sapta+sindhu-4). 69. (sapta+sindhu-12). 75. Paruṣṇī-15.

Source:Talageri 2008

Words

Babylonian words:

  • bekanāṭa (money-lender to traders, the Paṇi, who are referred to in the same verse) in VIII.66.10[4]
  • manā (a unit of measure which is still used to this day) in VIII.78.2.[5]

Possible Dravidian words:

  • pūj- in VIII.17.12, attributed to Irimbiṭhi Kāṇva [6]
  • -khaṇḍ- in VIII.17.12,[7]
  • kuṇḍa in VIII.17.13,[8]
  • muni, holy men in VIII.17.14[9]

References

  1. ↑ Indo-Iranian Studies: I by J.C. Tavadia, Vishva Bharati, Santiniketan, 1950; Talageri, Shrikant. (2000) The Rigveda: A Historical Analysis
  2. ↑ (RV 8.5; 8.46; 8.56)
  3. ↑ Indo-Iranian Studies: I by J.C. Tavadia, ViSva Bharati, Santiniketan, 1950; Talageri, Shrikant. (2000) The Rigveda: A Historical Analysis
  4. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]
  5. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]
  6. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]
  7. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]
  8. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]
  9. ↑ https://talageri.blogspot.com/2019/10/dravidian-connections-with-harappan.html [archive]

Text

Rig Veda Mandala 8 (Griffith)

External links


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