Rasa (rásāरसा) is the name of a western tributary of the Indus in the Rigveda (verse 5.53.9). The word rasa means "moisture, humidity" in Vedic Sanskrit.
In RV 9.41.6, RV 10.108 and in the Nirukta of Yaska, it is the name of a mythical stream supposed to flow around the Earth and the atmosphere (compare Oceanus), also referring to the underworld in the Mahabharata and the Puranas (compare Styx).
The corresponding term in Avestan is Ranha/Raŋhā. In the Vendidad, Ranha is mentioned just after Hapta-Həṇdu, and may possibly refer to the ocean.[1]
Witzel makes the case that the verse is a remembrance of distant emigration and denotes the river Volga in the steppe homeland of the aryans :- "IIr. river *Raså corresponds in name to the Vedic Raså (RV, JB), the E.Ir. (Avest.) Rahå, and the N.Ir. *Rahå that ispreserved in Greek as Rhå and designates the R. Volga" .
See alsoedit
Rasa, dew in Lithuanian
Referencesedit
^Sethna, K D (1992). The problem of Aryan origins from an Indian point of view. New Delhi: Aditya Prakasana. ISBN9788185179674.
Further readingedit
Talageri, Shrikant: The Rigveda: A Historical Analysis, 2000. ISBN81-7742-010-0 (chapter 4)
rasā, rasa, rásā, रस, name, western, tributary, indus, rigveda, verse, word, rasa, means, moisture, humidity, vedic, sanskrit, nirukta, yaska, name, mythical, stream, supposed, flow, around, earth, atmosphere, compare, oceanus, also, referring, underworld, mah. Rasa rasa रस is the name of a western tributary of the Indus in the Rigveda verse 5 53 9 The word rasa means moisture humidity in Vedic Sanskrit In RV 9 41 6 RV 10 108 and in the Nirukta of Yaska it is the name of a mythical stream supposed to flow around the Earth and the atmosphere compare Oceanus also referring to the underworld in the Mahabharata and the Puranas compare Styx The corresponding term in Avestan is Ranha Raŋha In the Vendidad Ranha is mentioned just after Hapta Heṇdu and may possibly refer to the ocean 1 Witzel makes the case that the verse is a remembrance of distant emigration and denotes the river Volga in the steppe homeland of the aryans IIr river Rasa corresponds in name to the Vedic Rasa RV JB the E Ir Avest Ra ha and the N Ir Raha that ispreserved in Greek as Rha and designates the R Volga See also editRasa dew in LithuanianReferences edit Sethna K D 1992 The problem of Aryan origins from an Indian point of view New Delhi Aditya Prakasana ISBN 9788185179674 Further reading editTalageri Shrikant The Rigveda A Historical Analysis 2000 ISBN 81 7742 010 0 chapter 4 nbsp This Hindu mythology related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rasa amp oldid 1165482267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
