Compilers Composers Rig Veda Six Major Families

The Vedas are heard, Sruthi, and grasped.

There is no written record of them.

They have been transmitted  orally since 5000 years.

The Vedas were intutively grasped in the for of Sounds by the Seers,Rishis.

They can not be really called composers, they have complied what they have intutively learnt.

The major families that composed these hymns are the Bharadvajas, Visvamitras, Vasisthas, Vamadevas, Grtsamadas and Atris. Each of these is attributed a Mandala (or Book) in the Rig Veda. These Mandalas are thus referred to as the Kula Mandalas (Family Books).

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The AnukramaNIs or Indices of the Rigveda provide us with the most basic information about each of the 1028 hymns of the Rigveda:

a. The RSi ( Rishi: ऋषि  ) or composer of each hymn or verse.

b. The DevatA (  देवता  ) or deity of each hymn or verse.

c. The Chhanda ( छंद  ) or metre of each hymn or verse.

For the purpose of our historical analysis of the Rigveda, we will be concerned only with the index which deals with the most undeniably historical aspect of the Rigveda: the index of RSis which provides us with details about the living and breathing historical personalities who composed the hymns.

The Rigveda consists of 10 MaNDala ( मंडल ) or Books, which contain 1028 sUktas ( सूक्त ) or hymns, consisting of 10552 mantras ( मंत्र ) or verses as follows:

The names of the composers of the different hymns in the Rigveda:

MaNDala.I  (191 hymns)

1-10 11 12-23 24-30 31-35 36-43 44-50 51-57 58-64 65-73 74-93 94-98 99 100 101-115 116-126 127-139 140-164 165-191

Madhucchandas VaiSvAmitra JetA MAdhucchandas MedhAtithi KANva SunahSepa AjIgarti later DevarAta VaiSvAmitra HiraNyastUpa ANgiras KaNva Ghaura PraskaNva KANva Savya ANgiras NodhAs Gautama ParASara sAktya Gotama RAhUgaNa Kutsa ANgiras KaSyapa MArIca RjrASva VArSAgira Kutsa ANgiras KakSIvAn Dairghatamas Parucchepa DaivodAsI DIrghatamas Aucathya Agastya MaitrAvaruNI

MaNDala II (43 hymns)

1-3 4-7 8-26 27-29 30-43

GRtsamada Saunahotra, later GRtsamada Saunaka SomAhuti BhArgava GRtsamada Saunahotra, later GRtsamada Saunaka KUrma GArtsamada GRtsamada Saunahotra, later GRtsamada Saunaka

MaNDala III (62 hymns)

1-12 13-14 15-16 17-18 19-22 23-35 36 37 38 39-53 54-56 57-61 62

ViSvAmitra GAthina RSabha VaiSvAmitra UtkIla KAtya Kata VaiSvAmitra GAthin KauSika. VaiSvAmitra GAthina VaiSvAmitra GAthina, Ghora ANgiras VaiSvAmitra GAthina VaiSvAmitra GAthina, Prajapati VaiSvAmitra/VAcya VaiSvAmitra GAthina PrajApati VaiSvAmitra /VAcya VaiSvAmitra GAthina VaiSvAmitra GAthina, Jamadagni BhArgava

MaNDala IV (58 hymns)

1-42 43-44 45-58

VAmadeva Gautama PurumILha Sauhotra, AjamILha Sauhotra VAmadeva Gautama

MaNDala V (87 hymns)

1 2 3-6 7-8 9-10 11-14 15 16-17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2425-26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33-34 35-36 37-43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50-51 52-61 62 63-64 65-66 67-68 69-70 71-72 73-74 75 76-77 78 79-80 81-82 83-86 87

Budha/ GaviSThira Atreya KumAra/VRSa JAna Atreya VasuSruta Atreya ISa Atreya Gaya Atreya Sutambhara Atreya DharuNa ANgiras PUru Atreya Dvita Atreya Vavri Atreya Prayasvanta Atreya Sasa Atreya ViSvasAman Atreya Dyumna ViSvacarSaNI Atreya Bandhu, Subandhu, Srutabandhu, Viprabandhu (GaupAyanas) VasUyava Atreya Atri Bhauma ViSvavArA AtreyI GaurivIti SAktya Babhru Atreya Avasyu Atreya GAtu Atreya SamvaraNa PrAjApatya PrabhUvasu ANgiras Atri Bhauma AvatsAra KASyapa, various Atreyas SadApRNa Atreya PratikSatra Atreya Pratiratha Atreya PratibhAnu Atreya Pratiprabha Atreya Svasti Atreya SyAvASva Atreya Srutavida Atreya ArcanAnas Atreya RAtahavya Atreya Yajata Atreya Urucakri Atreya BAhuvRkta Atreya Paura Atreya Avasyu Atreya Atri Bhauma Saptavadhri Atreya SatyaSravas Atreya SyAvASva Atreya Atri Bhauma EvayAmarut Atreya

MaNDala VI (75 hymns)

1-30 31-32 33-34 35-36 37-43 44-46 47 48 49-52 53-74 75

BharadvAja BArhaspatya Suhotra BharadvAja Sunahotra BharadvAja Nara BharadvAja BharadvAja BArhaspatya Samyu BArhaspatya Garga BharadvAja Samyu BArhaspatya RjiSvan BhAradvAja BharadvAja BArhaspatya PAyu BharadvAja

MaNDala VII (104 hymns)

1-31 32 33-100 101-102 103-104

VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI Sakti VAsiSTha VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI, Kumara Agneya VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI

MaNDala VIII (103 hymns)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16-18 19-22 23-25 26 27-31 32 33 34 35-38 39-41 42 43-44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57-58 59 60-61 62-65 66 67 68-69 70 71 72 73-74 75 76-78 79 80 81-83 84 85 86 87 88 89-90 91 92-93 94 95-96 97 98-99 100 101 102 103

PragAtha KANva, MedhAtithi KANva, MedhyAtithi KANva MedhAtithi KANva, Priyamedha ANgiras MedhyAtithi KANva DevAtithi KANva BrahmAtithi KANva Vatsa KANva Punarvatsa KANva Sadhvamsa KANva SaSakarNa KANva PragAtha KANva Vatsa KANva Parvata KANva NArada KANva GoSUktin KANva, ASvasUktin KANva IrimbiTha KANva Sobhari KANva ViSvamanas VaiyaSva ViSvamanas VaiyaSva, VyaSva ANgiras Manu Vaivasvata or KaSyapa MArIca MedhAtithi KANva MedhyAtithi KANva NIpAtithi KANva SyAvASva Atreya NAbhAka KANva NAbhAka KANva, ArcanAnas Atreya VirUpa ANgiras TriSoka KANva VaSa ASvya Trita Aptya PragAtha KANva PraskaNva KANva PuSTigu KANva SruSTigu KANva Ayu KANva Medhya KANva MAtariSvan KANva KRSa KANva PRSadhra KANva Medhya KANva SuparNa KANva Bharga PrAgAtha PrAgAtha KANva Kali PrAgAtha Matsya SAmmada or MAnya MaitrAvaruNI riyamedha ANgiras Puruhanman ANgiras SudIti PurumILha Haryata PrAgAtha Gopavana Atreya VirUpa ANgiras Kurusuti KANva KRtnu BhArgava Ekadyu NaudhAsa usIdin KANva USanA KAvya, KRSna ANgiras KRSna ANgiras, ViSvaka KArSNI KRSna ANgiras, DyumnIka VAsiSTha, Priyamedha ANgiras NodhAs Gautama NRmedha ANgiras, Purumedha ANgiras ApAlA AtreyI SukakSa ANgiras Vindu ANgiras, PUtadakSa ANgiras TiraScI ANgiras Rebha KASyapa NRmedha ANgiras Nema BhArgava Jamadagni BhArgava Prayoga BhArgava, Agni BArhaspatya Sobhari KANva

MaNDala IX (114 hymns)

5-24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33-34 35-36 37-38 39-40 41-43 44-46 47-49 50-52 53-60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75-79 80-82 83 84 85 86 87-89 90 91-92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99-100 101 102 103 104-105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113-11

1  .Madhucchandas VaiSvAmitra,  MedhAtithi KANva 2.    SunahSepa AjIgarti 3.     HiraNyastUpa ANgiras 4.   Asita KASyapa, Devala KASyapa DRLhacyuta Agastya IdhmavAha DArLhacyuta NRmedha ANgiras Priyamedha ANgiras NRmedha ANgiras Bindu ANgiras Gotama RAhUgaNa SyAvASva Atreya Trita Aptya PrabhUvasu ANgiras RahUgaNa ANgiras BRhanmati ANgiras MedhAtithi KANva AyAsya ANgiras Kavi BhArgava Ucathya ANgiras AvatsAra KASyapa AmahIyu ANgiras Jamadagni BhArgava Nidhruvi KASyapa KaSyapa MArIca Jamadagni BhArgava Sata VaikhAnasa SaptaRSis, Pavitra ANgiras VatsaprI BhAlandana HiraNyastUpa ANgiras ReNu VaiSvAmitra RSabha VaiSvAmitra Harimanta ANgiras Pavitra ANgiras KakSIvAn Dairghatamas avi BhArgava asu BhAradvAja Pavitra ANgiras PrajApati VAcya Vena BhArgava Atri Bhauma, GRtsamada Saunaka, AkRSTa MASA, Sikata NivAvarI, PRSni AjaUSanA KAvya VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI KaSyapa MArIca NodhAs Gautama KaNva Ghaura PraskaNva KANva Pratardana DaivodAsI VasiSTha MaitrAvarunI, Indrapramati VAsiSTha, VRSagaNa VAsiSTha, Manyu VAsiSTha, Upamanyu VAsiSTha, VyAghrapAda VAsiSTha, Sakti VAsiSTha, KarNaSrut VAsiSTha, MRLIka VAsiSTha, Vsukra VAsiSTha, ParASara SAktya, Kutsa ANgiras.AmbarISa VArSAgira, RjiSvan ANgiras RebhAsUnu KASyapas AndhIgu SyAvASvI, YayAtI NAhuSa, NahuSa MAnava, Manu SamvaraNa, PrajApati VaiSvAmitra. Trita Aptya Dvita Aptya Parvata KANva, NArada KANva Agni CakSuSa, CakSu MAnava, Manu Apsava SaptaRSis GaurIvIti SAktya, Sakti VAsiSTha, Uru ANgiras, RjiSvan BhAradvAja Agni DhISNya AiSvaraya TryaruNa TraivRSNa, Trasadasyu Paurukutsa AnAnata PArucchepi SiSu ANgiras KaSyapa MArIca

MaNDala X (191 hymns)

1-7 8 9 10 11-12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20-26 27-29 30-34 35-36 37 38 39-40 41 42-44 45-46 47 48-50 51-53 54-56 57-60 61-62 63-64 65-66 67-68 69-70 71-72 73-74 75 76 77-78 79-80 81-82 83-84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191

Trita Aptya TriSirAs TvASTra TriSirAs TvASTra, SindhudvIpa AmbarISa Yama Vaivasvata, YamI VaivasvatI HavirdhAna ANgi VivasvAn Aditya Yama Vaivasvata Sankha YAmAyana Damana YAmAyana DevaSravas YAmAyana Sankusuka YAmAyana Matitha YAmAyana, or BhRgu, or Cyavana BhArgava Vimada Aindra, VasukRt VAsukra Vasukra Aindra KavaSa AilUSa LuSa DhAnaka AbhitApa Saurya Indra MuSkavAn GhoSA KAkSIvatI Suhastya GhauSeya KRSNa Angiras VatsaprI BhAlandana Saptagu ANgiras Indra VaikuNTha Agni Saucika BRhaduktha VAmadevya Bandhu, Subandhu, Srutabandhu, Viprabandhu (GaupAyanas) NAbhAnediSTha MAnava Gaya PlAta VasukarNa VAsukra AyAsya ANgiras Sumitra VAdhryaSva BRhaspati ANgiras GaurivIti SAktya SindhukSit Praiyamedha JaratkarNa Sarpa AirAvata SyUmaraSmi BhArgava Agni SaucIka or Sapti VAjambhara ViSvakarmA Bhauvana Manyu TApasa SUryA SAvitrI VRSAkapi Aindra, Indra, IndrANI PAyu BhAradvAja MUrdhanvAn VAmadevya ReNu VaiSvAmitra NArAyaNa AruNa Vaitahavya SAryAta MAnava TAnva PArthya Arbuda KAdraveya Sarpa PurUravas AiLa, UrvaSI Baru ANgiras, Sarvahari Aindra BhiSag AtharvaNa DevApi ArSTiSeNa Vamra VaikhAnasa Duvasyu VAndana Budha Saumya Mudgala BhArmyaSva Apratiratha Aindra ASTaka VaiSvAmitra Sumitra Kautsa, Durmitra Kautsa BhUtAMSa KASyapa Divya ANgiras, DakSiNA PrAjApatya SaramA, PaNis JuhU BrahmajAyA RAma JAmadagnya, Jamadagni BhArgava ASTAdaMSTra VairUpa Nabhahprabhedana VairUpa Sataprabhedana VairUpa Sadhri VairUpa Upastuta VArSTihavya Agniyuta Sthaura BhikSu ANgiras UrukSaya ANgiras Laba Aindra BRhaddiva AtharvaNa HiraNyagarbha PrAjApatya CitramahA VAsiSTha Vena BhArgava Agni, VaruNa, Soma VAk AmbhRNI AMhomuk VAmadevya KuSika Saubhara, RAtrI BhAradvAjI Vihavya ANgiras PrajApati ParameSThin Yajña PrAjApatya SukIrti KAkSIvata SakapUta NArmedha SudAs Paijavana MAndhAtA YauvanASva KumAra YAmAyana JUti, VAtajUti, ViprajUti, VRSAnaka, Karikrata, EtaSa, RSyaSRnga (VAtaraSanas) SaptaRSis ANga Aurava ViSvavAsu Devagandharva Agni, PAvaka Agni TRpasa SArNga, JaritR, DroNa, SArisRkva, Stambhamitra Atri SAnkhya Urdhvasadman YAmAyana IndrANI DevamunI Airammada Suvedas SairISI PRthu Vainya Arcan HairaNyastUpa MRLIka VAsiSTha SraddhA KAmAyanI SAsa BhAradvAja IndramAtara DevajAmaya YamI VaivasvatI SirimbiTha BhAradvAja Ketu Agneya Bhuvana Aptya, SAdhana Aptya CakSu Saurya SacI PaulomI PUraNa VaiSvAmitra YakSmanASana PrAjApatya RakSohA BrAhma VivRhA KASyapa Pracetas ANgiras Kapota NairRta RSabha VairAja SAkvara ViSvAmitra, Jamadagni Anila VAtAyana Sabara KAkSIvata VibhrAt Saurya ITa BhArgava SaMvarta ANgiras Dhruva ANgiras AbhIvarta ANgiras UrdhvagrAvA Arbuda SUnu Arbhava PataNga PrAjApatya AriSTanemi TArkSya Sibi AuSInara, Pratardana KASirAja, Vasumanas RauhidaSva Jaya Aindra Pratha VAsiSTha, Sapratha BhAradvAja, Gharma Saurya TapurmUrdhan BArhaspatya PrajAvAn PrAjApatya ViSNu PrAjApatya SatyadhRti VAruNi Ula VAtAyana Vatsa Agneya Syena Agneya SArparAjñI AghamarSaNa MAdhucchandas SaMvanana ANgiras

There are some fictitious composers ,especially in Mandala X.

However, in the first eight MaNDala, except in the case of one single hymn (VIII.47), it is very easy to identify the actual composer (by which we mean the RSi who actually composed the hymn, or his eponymous ancestor to whose name the hymn is to be credited as per the system followed in the particular MaNDala) of a hymn ascribed to a fictitious composer.

Hymn	Fictitious Composers	Actual Composer
I.100	AmbarISa, Sahadeva, BhayamAna, SurAdhas	RjrASva
I.105	Trita Aptya	Kutsa
I.126	BhAvayavya, RomaSA	KakSIvAn
III.23	DevaSravas, DevavAta	ViSvAmitra
IV.42	Trasadasyu Paurukutsa	VAmadeva
V.27	Trasadasyu, TryaruNa, ASvamedha	Atri
VI.15	VItahavya	BharadvAja
VIII.1	AsaNga, SaSvatI	MedhAtithi
VIII.34	Vasurocis	NIpAtithi

(2) Dialogue hymns, in some of which verses are ascribed to Gods and even rivers:

Hymn	Fictitious Composers	Actual Composer
I.165	Indra, Maruts, (epon.) Agastya	Agastya
I.170	Indra, (epon.) Agastya	Agastya
I.179	(epon.) Agastya, LopAmudrA, a pupil	Agastya
III.33	(epon.) ViSvAmitra, Rivers	ViSvAmitra
IV.18	(epon.) VAmadeva, Indra, Aditi	ViSvAmitra

(3) Hymns which are ascribed alternatively to the actual composers and to their remote ancestors:

Hymn

Fictitious ComposersActual Composer

III.31KuSika AiSIrathIViSvAmitra GAthinaVIII.27-31Manu VaivasvataKaSyapa MArIcaVIII.71PurumILha ANgirasSudIti PurumILha.

Female Composers.

he female Vedic writers credited with composing hymns are noted below:
(1) Vak Devi: she was the daughter of Rishi Ambhrina. She is credited with composing the eight riks of 125 Sukta, Book X and Rig Veda. These riks are known as Devi-Sukta. In the ancient Vedic times it was a custom to read the Devi-Sukta on special occasions. In modern times instead of the Devi Sukta, the Chandi (recounting of the deeds of Durga) is read. In the eight hymns Vak Devi has conveyed her ideas of monotheism and chastity.

(2) Biswavara: She belonged to the Atri clan. She was the composer of six hymns. These hymns illustrate the gentle ideas, beauty and loving affections of the female.

(3) Aditi: She was the spouse of the great sage Kasyapa. Her father was King Daksha and she was the mother of twelve Aditya brothers of the deva-Aryans. Aditi is credited with composing five hymns of R. V.X, 153 Sukta. She has also composed the fifth, sixth and the seventh hymns of R. V., IV and 18 Sukta.

(4) Apala: She belonged to the Atri clan. She has also composed many beautiful hymns like Biswavara, the eight hymns of R.V. VIII and 91 Sukta.

(5) Yami: She has written the first, third, fifth, seventh, and eleventh hymns of R.V, 10 Sukta and even the five hymns of 154th Sukta.

(6) Urvashi: She has described her love marriage with Pururava, a lunar king, in seven hymns of the 95th Sukta, Book X and Rig Veda.

(7) Lopamudra: She was the Princess of Vidarbha and wife of the great sage Agastya. She has composed the first two hymns of the 179th Sukta of Book I of the Rig Veda.

(8) Romasa: she was the Queen of Bhava-Yavya and the mother of King Svanaya. She has composed the seventh hymn of 126th Sukta, Book I, and Rig Veda.

References.

The History and Culture of the Indian People

2. The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi, Vikas Publishing House Pvt.  Ltd, Delhi-Bombay-Bangalore-Kanpur, 1975 (first printed 1970).

3. Rgveda Repetitions Vol.2 by Maurice Bloomfield, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachussetts,  1916.  p. 634

4. The Rise of the Greek Epic by Gilbert Murray

Courtesy: – Rigveda: A historical Analysis by  Shrikant G. Talageri

Citation.

https://cpdarshi.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/rigveda-%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6-a-historical-analysis-1/

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