ICSE Class 9 Answered

The Rig Veda is considered the oldest religious text in the world. Therefore, it is also called the ‘first testament of mankind’. It has 1,028 hymns which are further divided into 10 mandalas. It is believed that they were composed during the early Vedic epoch. The hymns were dedicated by the sages to the ancient Gods. They were passed on from generation to generation in oral form. These hymns are considered relatively authentic sources of information about the life of the people during those times. Furthermore, Indian philosophy has its roots in the Rig Veda. It also contains the well-known Gayatri Mantra. Although categorised as ‘religious literature’, the Vedas are a valuable source of knowledge on many topics.