Wednesday 4 October 2017

Musings on the Rig Vedic world that can intrigue the modern reader




Long before the times of Draupadi and Sita
Immortalised in the hymns of the Rig Veda
But largely forgotten to the memory of India
Is the Warrior Queen with an iron leg, Vishpala

Brought up in the pristine forest school of Naimisha, Avishi reaches the republic of Ashtagani in search of her destiny. When Khela, the oppressive King of the neighbouring Vrishabhavati begins to overwhelm and invade Ashtagani, Avishi rises to protect her settlement. But peril pursues her everywhere.
Separated from her love, her settlement broken, with a brutal injury needing amputation of her leg, can Avishi overcome Khela?


Musings on the Rig Vedic world that can intrigue the modern reader

My fascination with the Rig Vedic world was kindled during a conference at a popular educational institution where Devi Suktam was chanted. It was interesting to note that the Seer or Rishi who envisaged the hymn was a woman called Vak-Ambhrani. Dedicated to the Supreme Feminine, the hymn is also composed in the first person!

A cursory reading of the Rig Veda would introduce the reader to the various female Rishikas who contributed to the oldest text of India. Ambhrani, Ghosha, Lopamudra and others are mentioned to have contributed to the ancient knowledge corpus while Mudgalini, Vadhrimati and Vishpala are thought of as warriors who excelled in martial arts. A telling example of pervasive female presence in various facets of Vedic life. Rig Vedic egalitarianism is that phase of human civilization where the greater role of a citizen (irrespective of birth, gender or profession) defined the social dynamics. Hence gender parity appears as a norm and not as a reform.

Gender parity being just one aspect of this egalitarian phase of India’s ancient past, a deeper reading would also reveal the existence of representative forms of governments in the period alongside the conventional monarchies. It is very much possible that women of the Rig Vedic Society held positions of representative powers too.

The hymn 10.191.2 of Rig Veda is referred to as a customary prayer chanted before a republican gathering commenced.

We pray for a spirit of unity;
May we discuss and resolve all issues amicably,
May we reflect on all matters (of state) without rancor,
May we distribute all resources (of the state) to all stakeholders equitably,
May we accept our share with humility

In Avishi, the fictional re-imagination of the ancient heroine Vishpala (Vishapala), I tried to explore this unique aspect of this ancient society. Envisaging characters who mirrored the society was an exciting experience. In an age where we are still debating the inclusion of women into combative roles, the Rig Vedic society can appear as ‘too forward’. Strange, but true!
Readers of Avishi were pleasantly surprised to notice the construction of a pre-marital society where the concept of wedlock was very nascent. This was inspired by references in the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva as observed by Bhishma) to a more ancient society and the evolution of mating into a more institutionalized form.

चैषां मैथुनो धर्मो बभूव भरतर्षभ
संकल्पादेवैतेषां अपत्यं उपपद्यते
ततः त्रेतायुगेकाले संस्पर्शात् जायते प्रजान
ह्य भूः मैथुनो धर्मस्तेषां अपि जनाधिप
द्वापरे मैथुनो धर्म प्रजानां भवन्नृपःतथा
कलियुगे राजन द्वन्द्व मापेदिरे जनाः

"In satya yuga, intercourse happened as desire arose in minds of fertile men and women. There were no words for mother, father, sibling etc. In Treta Yuga, when men and women touched each other and welcomed the touch, Dharma allowed them to copulate for time-being. (this is stage where concept of "favourite" mate started emerging). IN Dwapara Yuga, Men and women started cohabiting as couples but not as stable and committed pair-bonding couples. In Kali Yuga, the stable pair-bonding (what we refer to as institution of marriage) emerged."

(Ref: Brief history of Hindu Marriage - 1 - Evolution of Human Pair Bonding as seen from Puranas and Vedas by Kal Chiron)

Reading of Manusmriti’s classification of the different kinds of wedlock and the attempt to bring in different types of unions under the institution show the amount of thought and evolution that went into the process. One can imagine how many generations of Rishis and Rishikas, rulers and leaders, thinkers and counsellors might have spent thinking, observing and debating about the pros and cons of a life-long relationship like marriage.

The world of Rig Veda will continue to intrigue the modern reader in many ways. In adapting a small part of it for Avishi, I wondered many times if the society five millennia before already had the solutions for the problems we face today!


About the Author:
Saiswaroopa is an IITian and a former investment analyst turned author. Her keen interest in ancient Indian history, literature and culture made her take to writing. Her debut novel Abhaya, set in the times of Mahabharata was published in 2015. Avishi, her second novel set in Vedic India explores the legend of India’s first mentioned female warrior queen Vishpala.
She holds a certificate in Puranas from Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. She is also trained in Carnatic Classical music and has won a state level gold medal from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. 





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