There are repeated references to the horse the Vedas (c. 1500 - 500 BC). In particular, the Rigveda has many equestrian scenes, often associated with chariots.[1][2]
The Ashvins are divine twins named for their horsemanship. Although the usual assumption has been that the Indo-Aryan migration relied heavily on riders, who may have introduced the domesticated horse to the subcontinent, there are few clear references to actual horse riding in their earliest text, the Rigveda, most clearly in RV 5.61.2-3, describing the Maruts as riders:
Where are your horses, where the reins? How came ye? how had ye the power? Rein was on nose and seat on back.
The whip is laid upon the flank. The heroes stretch their thighs apart, like women when the babe is born. (trans. Griffith)
According to RV 7.18.19, Dasyu tribes (the Ajas, Shigrus and Yakshus) also had horses. McDonnell and Keith point out that the Rigveda does not describe people riding horses in battle.[3] This is in accord with the usual dating of the Rigveda to the late Bronze Age, when horses played a role as means of transport primarily as draught animals (while the introduction of cavalry dates to the early Iron Age, possibly an Iranian (specifically Parthian) innovation of around the 9th century BC).
RV 1.163.2 mythologically alludes to the introduction of the horse and horseriding:
This Steed which Yama gave hath Trita harnessed, and him, the first of all, hath Indra mounted.
His bridle the Gandharva grasped. O Vasus, from out the Sun ye fashioned forth the Courser. (trans. Griffith)
One of the famous avatars of Vishnu, Hayagriva, is depicted with a horse head. Hayagriva is worshipped as the God for Knowledge.
The legend of Uchchaihshravas states that the first horse emerged from the depth of the ocean during the churning of the oceans. It was a horse with white color and had two wings. It was known by the name of Uchchaihshravas. The legend continues that Indra, one of the gods of the Hindus, took away the mythical horse to his celestial abode, the svarga (heaven). Subsequently, Indra severed the wings of the horse and presented the same to the mankind. The wings were severed to ensure the horse remains on the earth (prithvi) and does not fly back to Indra's suvarga.
Modern interpretationsedit
According to Aurobindo (Secret of the Veda, pp. 44), Asva may not always denote the horse. Aurobindo argued the words asva and asvavati symbolize energy.[4]Asva or Ratha was also interpreted to be sometimes the "psycho-physical complex on which the Atman stands or in which it is seated".[5] In another symbolic interpretation based on RV 1.164.2 and Nirukta 4.4.27, asva may also sometimes symbolize the sun.[6]
See alsoedit
Ashvamedha – Horse sacrifice ritual followed by the Śrauta tradition of Vedic religion
^Subhash Kak. Birth and Early Development of Indian Astronomy. In Astronomy across cultures: The History of Non-Western Astronomy, Helaine Selin (ed), Kluwer, 2000
Sourcesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tempelwagen Hamm.
Bryant, Edwin (2001). The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-513777-9.
Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
Kazanas, N. Anatolian bull and Vedic horse in the Indo-European diffusion. 2005. Adyar Library Bulletin (2003)
February 16, 2024
ashva, sanskrit, अश, romanized, aśva, sanskrit, word, horse, significant, animals, finding, references, vedas, well, later, hindu, scriptures, word, cognate, avestan, 𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀, aspa, latin, equus, ancient, greek, ἵππος, hippos, proto, germanic, ehwaz, obsolete, pr. Ashva Sanskrit अश व romanized asva is the Sanskrit word for a horse one of the significant animals finding references in the Vedas as well as later Hindu scriptures The word is cognate to Avestan 𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀 aspa Latin equus Ancient Greek ἵppos hippos Proto Germanic ehwaz obsolete Prussian Lithuanian asva from Proto Balto Slavic eswaˀ all from Proto Indo European h eḱwos Ashva and chariot Contents 1 Usage in Vedas and Hindu mythology 1 1 Vedas 1 2 Hindu mythology 1 3 Modern interpretations 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Sources 4 Further readingUsage in Vedas and Hindu mythology edit nbsp UchchaihshravasFurther information History of the horse in the Indian subcontinent Vedas edit There are repeated references to the horse the Vedas c 1500 500 BC In particular the Rigveda has many equestrian scenes often associated with chariots 1 2 The Ashvins are divine twins named for their horsemanship Although the usual assumption has been that the Indo Aryan migration relied heavily on riders who may have introduced the domesticated horse to the subcontinent there are few clear references to actual horse riding in their earliest text the Rigveda most clearly in RV 5 61 2 3 describing the Maruts as riders Where are your horses where the reins How came ye how had ye the power Rein was on nose and seat on back The whip is laid upon the flank The heroes stretch their thighs apart like women when the babe is born trans Griffith According to RV 7 18 19 Dasyu tribes the Ajas Shigrus and Yakshus also had horses McDonnell and Keith point out that the Rigveda does not describe people riding horses in battle 3 This is in accord with the usual dating of the Rigveda to the late Bronze Age when horses played a role as means of transport primarily as draught animals while the introduction of cavalry dates to the early Iron Age possibly an Iranian specifically Parthian innovation of around the 9th century BC RV 1 163 2 mythologically alludes to the introduction of the horse and horseriding This Steed which Yama gave hath Trita harnessed and him the first of all hath Indra mounted His bridle the Gandharva grasped O Vasus from out the Sun ye fashioned forth the Courser trans Griffith In RV 1 162 18 the sacrificial horse is described as having 34 2x17 ribs The four and thirty ribs of the Swift Charger kin to the Gods the slayer s hatchet pierces Cut ye with skill so that the parts be flawless and piece by piece declaring them dissect them trans Griffith The Ashvamedha or horse sacrifice is a notable ritual of the Yajurveda Hindu mythology edit One of the famous avatars of Vishnu Hayagriva is depicted with a horse head Hayagriva is worshipped as the God for Knowledge The legend of Uchchaihshravas states that the first horse emerged from the depth of the ocean during the churning of the oceans It was a horse with white color and had two wings It was known by the name of Uchchaihshravas The legend continues that Indra one of the gods of the Hindus took away the mythical horse to his celestial abode the svarga heaven Subsequently Indra severed the wings of the horse and presented the same to the mankind The wings were severed to ensure the horse remains on the earth prithvi and does not fly back to Indra s suvarga Modern interpretations edit According to Aurobindo Secret of the Veda pp 44 Asva may not always denote the horse Aurobindo argued the words asva and asvavati symbolize energy 4 Asva or Ratha was also interpreted to be sometimes the psycho physical complex on which the Atman stands or in which it is seated 5 In another symbolic interpretation based on RV 1 164 2 and Nirukta 4 4 27 asva may also sometimes symbolize the sun 6 See also editAshvamedha Horse sacrifice ritual followed by the Srauta tradition of Vedic religion Ashvins Hindu twin gods of medicine Ratha Indo Iranian term for a spoked wheel chariotReferences edit www wisdomlib org 2021 08 27 Rig Veda 10 75 8 English translation www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2023 02 17 www wisdomlib org 2021 08 27 Rig Veda 5 57 7 English translation www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2023 02 17 Bryant 2001 p 117 Aurobindo Secret of the Veda Arya December 1914 Coomaraswamy 1942 Subhash Kak Birth and Early Development of Indian Astronomy In Astronomy across cultures The History of Non Western Astronomy Helaine Selin ed Kluwer 2000 Sources edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tempelwagen Hamm Bryant Edwin 2001 The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 513777 9 Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0 500 51088 1 by Anna Dallapiccola Lietuviu kalbos zodynas Archived 2010 03 09 at the Wayback Machine Coomaraswamy Ananda 1942 Horse Riding in the Rgveda and Atharvaveda Journal of the American Oriental Society 62 2 Further reading editKak Subhash 2004 The Asvamedha The rite and its logic Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 9788120818774 Kazanas N Anatolian bull and Vedic horse in the Indo European diffusion 2005 Adyar Library Bulletin 2003 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ashva amp oldid 1174958850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
