Date of Rig veda in Ramanisblog
According to Ramanisblog, the date of the Rig Veda is subject to considerable debate, with modern scholarly estimates generally ranging between 2000 BCE to 1000 BCE[1]. However, Ramanisblog highlights that Hindu tradition considers the Vedas to be timeless and without a specific beginning[1].
Perspectives on Rig Veda Dating
- Modern Scholarly View: Most researchers estimate the composition of the Rig Veda took place between 2000 BCE and 1000 BCE[1].
- Philological-Linguistic Evidence: Some sources cited by Ramanisblog indicate the Rig Veda was likely composed in the northwestern Indian subcontinent, roughly between 1700–1100 BCE[1].
- Alternative Opinions: A minority of scholars, referenced by Ramanisblog, suggest much earlier dates, anywhere from 12000 BCE to 4000 BCE, though these are not widely accepted in the academic community[1].
- Hindu Tradition: According to traditional belief, the Vedas—including the Rig Veda—are considered eternal and “self-sustaining,” with no historical starting point[1].
Ramanisblog Summary
- General Scholarly Consensus: 2000–1000 BCE[1]
- Linguistic/Archaeological Range: 1700–1100 BCE[1]
- Traditional View: Eternal, no specific historical date[1]
- Outlier Claims: Sometimes as early as 12000–4000 BCE[1]
The core scholarly consensus, widely referenced by Ramanisblog, is the Rig Veda dates to between 2000 BCE and 1000 BCE, but tradition attributes an eternal status to the text[1].
Citations:
[1] Rig Veda Date Components Details – Ramanisblog https://ramanisblog.in/2013/08/16/rig-veda-date-components-details/
[2] Rig Veda date – Ramanisblog https://ramanisblog.in/tag/rig-veda-date/
[3] Vedic period – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period
[4] Hinduism – Ramanisblog – RSSing.com https://ramani69.rssing.com/chan-12351978/all_p42.html
[5] Rig Veda, History, Structure, Significance, Structure – Vajiram & Ravi https://vajiramandravi.com/upsc-exam/rig-veda/
[6] Types of Vedas UPSC Notes: Rig, Yajur, Sama, & Atharva Veda https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/types-vedas
[7] Dating of Vedas? : r/IndoEuropean – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/IndoEuropean/comments/1bvr8sx/dating_of_vedas/
[8] Rig Veda Summary for UPSC – BYJU’S https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/facts-about-rig-veda/
The Rig Veda is believed to have been composed between 1500 and 1200 BCE, making it one of the oldest known religious texts in the world.
‘Scientists in California have found one of the earliest proofs that the Vedic culture was not limited to India. The evidence lies in music, as a study has pointed out that a hymn written on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean 3,000 years ago shares striking similarities with the Rig Veda, one of the oldest Indian sacred texts. Dan C. Baciu, of the University of California, Santa Barbara, published his comparative analysis on the Preprints.org server. He says that the Hymn to Nikkal, written in Ugarit and the Rig Veda verses shared the same cadence, or repeated melodic or rhythmic units. The researcher used computer-assisted rhythm and melody mapping to draw parallels between the two bodies of work. He wrote in his study that one in five Rig Veda verses ends with the same cadence as the Hymn to Nikkal. What makes it intriguing is that, according to him, the odds of this occurring by accident are less than one in a million. In the one written in the Mediterranean, there are two cadences – one simple and heartbeat-like, and one more intricate. Baciu says that both models are also present in the Rig Veda verses, “with one most frequently ending verses and the other linked closely to the Triṣṭubh meter,” according to Baciu.