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Indian Literature. “Night” from the Rig-Veda. “Night” from the Rig-Veda. The Rig-Veda is a collection of more than a thousand hymns revered as sacred texts in the Hindu religion. Can you think of important hymns from a religious text you may know of?
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Indian Literature “Night” from the Rig-Veda
“Night” from the Rig-Veda • The Rig-Veda is a collection of more than a thousand hymns revered as sacred texts in the Hindu religion. • Can you think of important hymns from a religious text you may know of? • Can you remember why songs were so important to early societies and their religious/cultural traditions?
“Night” from the Rig-Veda • The Rig-Veda was written in Sanskrit, an ancient language brought to India by the Aryans around 1500 B.C.E. • “Rig-Veda—means “hymns of supreme sacred knowledge—and is one of four Vedas, the most sacred books in Hinduism. • The Rig-Veda is considered to be the most important of Vedic scripture.
“Night” from the Rig-Veda • The hymns were originally sung only by priests of the early Hindu religion. • However, they were believed to have been a product of divine inspiration and should be passed down through the generations. • This is why they were recorded in Sanskrit. • Can you think of another story we have studied that has a similar history?
“Night” from the Rig-Veda • Generations of Brahmans, or Hindu priests, devoted their lives to the methodical memorization of Vedic literature. • This process proved effective: Vedic scripture from different regions and different historical periods have virtually no differences. • What does this tell us about the importance of Oral Tradition in early societies?
“Night” from the Rig Veda • The Vedas provide great insight into the early history of Hinduism and the Aryan culture that founded it. • The scriptures tell us how the Aryans were nomadic people that came to settle in Northern India began to develop simple farming societies which eventually led to the rise of Indian culture. • They were known for their reverence for poetry and song which demonstrated their worship of the forces of nature.
“Night” from the Rig Veda • The Aryan culture laid the foundation for Indian culture. • However, modern day Hinduism departs from early Aryan forms on some basic rituals and traditions. • But, Hindu priests still memorize and solemnly chant hymns from the Vedas to this day.
Night from the Rig Veda • In Vedic literature a god was assigned to every aspect of nature. • The phenomena of darkness or “Night” was no different. • “Night” is the only hymn, however, dedicated to Ratri, the goddess of night. “Night” was thought to be the sister of Dawn, a bright Goddess.
“Night” from the Rig Veda • “Night” is not just simply described as the absence of light. • On the contrary, Ratri was said to have beautiful bright eyes like the stars that drove away the darkness of nighttime.
Vocabulary • Hymn: a lyric poem, or song that is addressed to a divine being. Hymns are songs that often address god(s) for mercy or aid. They often contain repeated words or phrases to emphasize important ideas or beliefs. • Apostrophe: a figure of speech in which abstract qualities or inanimate objects are directly addressed as if they were present.
“Night” from the Rig Veda Read “Night” from the Rig Veda *Scavenger Hunt--read “Night” on page 368. With a Partner identify examples of personification, apostrophe, And aspects of the poem that fit the definition of a hymn. Finally, on the SAME sheet of paper, answer question 1-6 “Thinking Critically” & “Extending & Evaluating” on page 369.
“Night” from the Rig Veda *Remember a Hymn is a lyric poem that is meant to be sung. Hymns or songs often repeat key phrases, words, or ideas: *Look for repeated words or phrases that are emphasized *What effect does the repetition create? Hymnsoften contain a requests for divine aid or mercy: *What request does the hymn make of “Night”?
“Night” from the Rig Veda Apostrophe is often seen in hymns where god(s) that are not actually present (transcendence) are addressed. *Why do you think the speaker begins to speak directly to “Night” in verse 4? Personification is a literary device in which inanimate objects are given human or living qualities. This is largely due to the fact that ancient religions saw their gods as having an active role in their everyday lives. *Where do we see examples of Personification in “Night”?
