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The Rigveda is a collection of 1,028 hymns divided into how many mandalas (books)?

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Answer: Option B — 10

Detailed Solution

The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas and the oldest surviving text in any Indo-European language. It is believed to have been composed between about 1500 and 1000 BCE, in the region of the Sapta Sindhu (land of seven rivers), in present-day Punjab and nearby areas. It was passed down orally for many centuries before being written down.

The Rigveda contains 1,028 hymns (suktas), including 11 supplementary hymns called valakhilya, with about 10,600 verses (richas). The hymns are divided into 10 books called mandalas. The word "Rigveda" comes from "rik" (praise or verse) and "veda" (knowledge).

Structure of the mandalas:

Mandalas 2 to 7 are the oldest, called the "family books". Each is associated with a family of rishis (sages), such as Gritsamada, Vishvamitra, Vamadeva, Atri, Bharadvaja and Vasishtha.

Mandala 9 is dedicated entirely to Soma, the sacred drink and god.

Mandalas 1 and 10 are believed to be the latest additions.

Important hymns and features:

  • The Gayatri Mantra, dedicated to the Sun god Savitri, is in the third mandala; it was composed by Vishvamitra.
  • The Purusha Sukta in the tenth mandala describes the origin of the four varnas from the body of the cosmic being (Purusha); it is the first mention of the four varnas.
  • The Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn of Creation), also in the tenth mandala, raises questions about the origin of the universe.
  • The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasharajna), in which King Sudas of the Bharata tribe defeated a confederacy of ten tribes on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi) river, is described in the seventh mandala.
  • The most important gods of the Rigveda are Indra (about 250 hymns), the god of war and rain, Agni (about 200 hymns), the god of fire, and Varuna, the upholder of the cosmic order (rita).

The Aitareya and Kaushitaki Brahmanas are attached to the Rigveda. Its upaveda is Ayurveda. The Rigveda manuscripts were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2007.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗4 is the number of Vedas.
  • ✗8 and 12 are incorrect.

Quick tip

Remember: Rigveda = 10 mandalas, 1,028 hymns; Gayatri Mantra in Mandala 3; Mandala 9 = Soma; Purusha Sukta (four varnas) and Nasadiya Sukta in Mandala 10; Battle of Ten Kings in Mandala 7.

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Vedic Period — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Vedic Period, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

The Vedic period followed the arrival of the Indo-Aryans and is divided into the Early (Rig Vedic) and Later Vedic ages. This topic covers the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, Vedic society, polity, economy and religion, and the rivers and gods mentioned in Vedic texts. Exams often ask which Veda deals with what (the Sama Veda with music, the Atharva Veda with charms and medicine), the most important Rig Vedic god (Indra), and Vedic assemblies such as the Sabha and Samiti. Note how society changed from the Early to the Later Vedic age, especially the rise of the varna system and the growth of kingship. Practise the Vedic period questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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