Faculty: Dr. P Ramanujan

The Vedas (Rgveda)

Course content:

Vedic texts constitute the foundation of the worldview and way of life that informs Hindu life and culture. The Rigveda is one of the oldest collections of hymns i.e. Mantras also called as rca-s in Vedic Sanskrit.   Like the other Vedas, Rigveda is also structured into sections called Samhita (verses in praise of Vedic devatas or deities), Brahmana (ritual practice or liturgy), Aranyaka (the link between ritual and spiritual expositions) and Upanisad (spiritual and philosophical expositions or exegesis). While the Rigveda varies in content and purpose from the other Vedas, it contains the kernel of the Vedic worldview and its social and philosophical implications.

In this course students will be able to:

1. Understand the arrangement of mantras in the Rgveda and an overview of their content
2. Understand the Vedic worldview and its philosophy of life
3. Recognize the variation and divergence of Vedic and classical Sanskrit language
4. Distinguish the convergence and divergence in nature, features, form, content, structure, and utility of the four Vedas, with regards to Vedic practices.

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Pre-requisite:

1) The medium of Instruction is Sanskrit

2) Only currently enrolled Sanskrit master’s certificate students can register for these courses. (MIT-SVS)

3) Admission into Master Program in Sanskrit through MIT-SVS

4) Completed previous MA Sanskrit Course 

Faculty: Dr. Ramanujan

Quarter: Winter Quarter