or Rgveda
Oldest religious scripture in the world and most revered of the Veda s, completed by the 12th century BC.
Consisting of more than 1,000 hymns addressed to deva s (gods), it reflects a polytheism that is mainly concerned with the propitiation of divinities associated with the sky and the atmosphere. It makes reference to such rituals as marriage and funeral rites, which differ little from those practiced today in Hinduism. It is the source of much Indian thought, and many consider its study essential to understanding India.