Question

Which one is the ancient Vedas?

Answer 1

Answer: Rigved

Explanation:

The Rigved (Rigveda) is considered the most ancient among all the Vedas and holds the distinction of being one of humanity's oldest religious texts. Dating back to approximately 1500-1200 BCE, this sacred collection represents the foundation of Vedic literature and Hindu philosophy.

The Rigved consists of 1,028 hymns organized into ten books called mandalas. These hymns are primarily addressed to various deities including Agni (fire god), Indra (king of gods), Soma (sacred drink), and Varuna (god of water and cosmic order). The text was composed in Sanskrit and passed down through oral tradition for centuries before being written down.

What makes the Rigved particularly significant is its role as the source material for the other three Vedas - Samaved, Yajurved, and Atharvaved. Many verses from the Rigved are incorporated into these later texts, establishing it as the foundational scripture of Vedic tradition.

The content of the Rigved provides invaluable insights into early Indo-Aryan society, their beliefs, rituals, and way of life. It contains prayers, philosophical discussions, and cosmological concepts that continue to influence Hindu thought today. The famous Gayatri Mantra, one of the most revered prayers in Hinduism, originates from the Rigved.

Due to its antiquity and fundamental importance in shaping Vedic civilization, the Rigved is universally recognized by scholars as the oldest and most ancient of all the Vedas, making it the correct answer to this question.