Aryan Civilization remains a mystery. The Vedic period ended in 900 BC. A new hybrid civilization that was based on localized knowledge and culture replaced the civilization along with the Vedas and Upanishads. As a result, Puranas came into existence in the form of stories that revolves around deities. The relevance of these stories of Puranas was not part of the Vedas, though some of the Vedic deities were referenced.
Modern Hindus may have some Aryan heritage but are disconnected from Vedas and Upanishads (Vedanta). Something changed between 1000 BC and 500 BC. We also see the emergence of Jainism and Buddhism during the same period, giving a new dimension to the Dharma which was followed before 1000 BC. What happened during this period is a matter of research and intellectual debate.
I have tried to capture many Myths which has been floating around in social media or elsewhere. They have become part of our belief systems. Those interested can refer them. I have given evidence of each of them and am happy to agree or disagree with the divergent opinions.
My study is mostly based on the primary research of translation of Rig Vedic (RV) hymns and secondary research from trusted sources. I have used multiple sources for translations. That includes Griffith, wisdom library, research papers, Aurobindo’s translation, etc.
Myth 1: Aryans Practiced Cremation
Early Aryans used to bury their dead. They did not cremate when they came to this land (early days). 𝗜𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴 𝗩𝗲𝗱𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹. Cremation was a Harappan Culture. Modern Hindus do not fully follow the Aryan practices as described in the Vedas.
Below is the meaning of the Hymns of Mandala 10, Chapter 18, of Rigveda that indicate Aryans used to bury their dead.
“O earth! You lift this dead, do not give him any trouble. Give him all the best varieties of gifts, give him fair allurements. You give him affectionate cove as a mother covers her son with the end of her loincloth from all sides.” (RV 10.18.11)
“(Let) the earth stays heaped upon (it, the dead) cordially. Let one thousand specks of dust lay heaped upon the dead. Let them behave like a house full of ghee to him; every day they become the resting home of this person.” (RV 10.18.12)
“I keep the earth held upon you, I keep a piece of stone upon you so that the clay or dust would not be able to penetrate and destroy you. May this pole be held by your ancestors. Let Yama build here a dwelling for you.” (RV 10.18.13)
There are parts of Rigveda that have hymns related to cremation as well. Since Rigveda has been compiled by various authors at various periods, the culture of cremation and burial both exists. The local Indus Valley Civilization used to practice cremation. Did Aryans, learn from them? Or is it because Aryans came as different groups and settlements? The Sinthastha Civilization in Russia, where Aryans lived before coming to South Asia, has evidence of Burial. The graves indicated Rig Vedic rituals of animal sacrifices before burials.
Now, look at these hymns, indicating the cremation. Observe carefully as they talk about both cremation and burial.
O self-revealing fire! Those of my forefathers who have been burnt by fire and those who have not been, those who enjoy the most fruitful gifts obtained from heaven, on behalf of them you undertake this fresh body for fulfilling their and our wishes. (RV 10.15.14)
O, dead person! The black-colored bird i.e. the crow has inflicted pain to which part of your body or the ant or snake or ferocious animal has inflicted pain to which part of your body, let this all-devouring fire heal that part as also let Soma who has entered the bodies of the invokers heal it. (RV 10.16.6)
O Agni! Do not completely reduce the dead into ashes, do not give him pain, do not tear his skin or flesh. O Yataveda (one who knows the Veda, literally ‗born from the Veda‘)! When the body of this person gets completely ripened (= reduced to ashes), then send him to the place of his forefathers, i.e. to heaven. (RV 10.16.1)
Conclusion: Both cremation and burial were part of the rituals. Seems cremation came later and possibly came from Indus Valley Civilization. The Aryan migration/invasion is still a big piece of mystery.
You can read further research on cremation and burial here.
Myth 2: Caste System was followed by Aryans
The most ancient source of information about Aryans we can investigate is Rigveda. Rigveda does not mention any caste system, nor does it establish any Varna system. Society appears to be homogenous at that time.
We often hear references to Purusha Sukta mostly referred to in arguments contrary to this. Purusa Sukta is the only place where the RV describes the four categories and how they came. But it does not discriminate against them anywhere. The Purusha Shukta was later researched by many contemporary researchers like Max Muller et al who have indicated that RV at some point was fiddled as the Sanskrit does not match and the flow of hymns does not have reference whatsoever anywhere else. Usually, a concept used in RV has many repetitions in many places. Hence, we can conclude that caste was not prevalent when Aryans came. In the research conducted by Sonawani, Sanjay. (2017), “The Origins of the Caste System: A New Perspective”, he indicates that Purusha Sukta is a later interpolation. Sanskrit and Philosophy Scholars like John Muir, Albrecht Weber, Henry Thomas Colebrooke, and Friedrich Max Müller have shown similar findings in their own research that Sanskrit itself is coming from a different period. In fact, my own findings, which I have indicated below (also see Myth 5), that Sudras were not part of the Aryan tribe as indicated in Atharvaveda. This vindicates the stand taken by other contemporary researchers.
Conclusion: There are several research and books written by contemporary researchers, that indicates that the Verna system is a division of labor and nothing else. Every section of our society had its code of conduct. The Brahmins were identified in RV purely as a section who will conduct rituals.
Myth 3:Aryans Came without women and kids
A lot of people raise concerns indicating that Aryans came alone and settled here. While the genetic studies indicate that a proportionately, less number of women were genetically connected to Aryans, it will be wrong to say that the Indo-European steppe population whom we called Aryans were not migrating with their women and kids.
First, it is impossible to assume that a population on the move will survive for hundreds of years without women. The Urals in Russia has evidence of culture which was brought there by the migrant European Steppe who came on horse and chariots. Sintashta Civilization prevailed from 2200 BC — 1800 BC (part of the Bronze Age). This exactly coincides with the dates on which the Aryans migrated.
They built fortresses. They used Swastika. They spoke early versions of Sanskrit. Their burial site reveals the kids and women buried with sacrifices performed on smaller animals. The grownup men were buried with their horses. The place is near Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. These men also used Bronze, Weapons, and Jewellery. They also had an economic model. They also built fortresses. It also inherited some portion of its civilization from local civilizations like Catacomb, Poltavka, and northern Abashevo. It was known as a nation of elite warriors and master smiths.
It has been suggested that the kind of funerary sacrifices evident at Sintashta have strong similarities to funerary rituals described in the Rig Veda, an ancient Indian religious text often associated with the Proto-Indo-Iranians. To date, this culture is a puzzle but when I am tracking migrations connecting the dots with RV, its hymns, and other evidence, it starts unfolding the mystery.
Conclusion: The very evidence of the existence of women and children in the graves of Sinthastha people following Rigvedic rituals, using Indo-European language indicates the existence of women and kids. Besides, there is evidence of R1a DNA in Indian Males and females points towards the theory of females being part of the tribe.
Myth 4:Aryans were teetotallers & Vegetarians
Soma Juice has more than 1500 Hymns. In many Mandalas (RV books), Aryans praised Soma and craved it. In RV, Indra, Soma, Mitra, Varuna, and Ashwins were a few of the most important deities. Ashwins were horses pulling Indra’s chariots. Some RV hymns, indicate the meat and soma eating processes. Look at these Hymns
They who observe that the Horse is ready to call out and say, the smell is good; remove it; And, craving meat, await the distribution, -may their approval help promote labor. (RV 01.162.12)
The trial fork of the flesh-cooking caldron, the vessels out of which the broth is sprinkled, The warming pots, the covers of the dishes, hooks, carving boards,-all these attend the Charger (RV 01.162.13)
When thou three hundred buffaloes’ flesh hadst eaten, and drunk, as Maghavan, three lakes of Soma(RV 05.029.8)
The bridal pomp of Surya, which Savitar started, moved along. In Magha days are oxen slain, in Arjuris they wed the bride (RV 10.85.13)
You can also read my other studies:-
Uncovering Soma Drink from the Hymns of Rigveda
Rigveda and References to Consumption of Bovine Meat by Ancient Hindus
Conclusion: They consumed the meat and Soma Juice and craved Soma. Besides, a hunter-gatherer nomadic community will be staying away from meat will not create a plausible explanation. The meat was an integral part of their meal and animals were an integral part of their sacrifices.
Myth 5: Sudras were part of the Aryan System
According to RV, there is no description or distinction of attributes about different Varnas. The Purusa Sukta only indicates how the four Varnas came but contemporary researchers have identified this Sukta as a later addition and not the original hymn (See Myth 2). This is evident from two facts — one is that it is only one Hymn out of the blue and disconnected. It has not been referred anywhere else. Secondly, they screwed with the Sanskrit as it was not the Sanskrit which RV uses. Sanskrit has changed over a period leaving behind the footprint of the era. Hence during RV times, there was no that distinction that existed.
Atharvaveda holds the key. It uses a term Arya and Sudra. This Means Sudras were non-Aryans. Sudra term has been mentioned five times.
Look at the Atharvaveda Hymns below
“𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙎𝙪̄𝙙𝙧𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚” (AV, Book 4, Hymn 20)
“𝑫𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖, 𝑶 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒉𝒂, 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒂̄𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒂̄𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒂, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒖̄𝒅𝒓𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒓𝒚𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒀𝒆𝒂, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆”. (AV, Book 19, Hymn 32)
“𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙨, 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙪̄𝙙𝙧𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣.” (AV, Book 19, Hymn LXII)
[Note: Darbha is a Grass, Rajanya means Royals]
The Atharvaveda(AV) was the last Veda written so far till 900 BC. Atharvaveda brings more practical insights and is the origin of Ayurved, which was the medical science of Ancient Aryan Civilization. It is also called the book of magical formulas.
There is nothing wrong with mentions of Sudra I could find in AV, but it gave rise to the role of Brahmins and Kshatriyas in society. What I could only understand was that Sudras were not Aryans as it makes two distinct divisions — Sudra and Aryans. The native people were perhaps Sudras.
This is an interesting point. RV does not identify it and hence the early Aryans were not divided into caste systems. But the identification of Varnas and clarity of roles of Kshatriyas (warrior class) and Brahmins (Priests) in Atharvaveda indicates that something started changing between 1500BC — 900BC when they arrived in this land. The varna system started evolving.
Myth 6: Gayatri Mantra is about Sun
Savitr is a Rigvedic diety. Savitr disappeared as an independent deity from the hybrid concept followed by modern Hindus after 500 BC. This is true for most RV deities who disappeared. Even the most important deity of RV, Indra does not have any temple. Was there has been a systematic destruction of Vedas?
Most modern Hindus will call Savitr as Sun in the Gayatri mantra, which is entirely incorrect. Savitr and Sun (Surya) in Rigveda make a clear distinction. Hybrid civilization, which prevailed after 500 BC, may have some reasons to dilute the meaning of Savitr. This is a matter of investigation.
Rigveda has described the attributes of Savitr in detail with nearly two hundred references and, in one place, calls it “𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.”
I am surprised by the amount of misunderstanding that still exists about Savitr. The Gayatri Mantra is the only mantra perhaps for Savitr. Gayatri which is the sacred hymn is the prayer for the Savitr god in Rigveda’s’ Mandala 03, Sukta 062, and Hymn no 10. Savitr has many attributes uncommon to all regular Rigvedic deities, indicating the difference.
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः [तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ]॥ (RV 3.62.10)
𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 (RV 3.62.10)
Rigvedic Hymn that may create confusion is:-
SAVITAR, golden-haired, hath lifted eastward, bright With the sunbeams, his eternal luster; He in whose energy wise Pusan marches, surveying all existence like a herdsman (RV 10,139,1)
But subsequent hymns give clarity on Surya. It is clearly distinguished as a different deity in the Hymns.
HIS bright rays bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives, Surya, that all may look on him (RV 1, 50, 1)
Swift and all beautiful art thou, O Surya, maker of the light, Illuming all the radiant realm. (RV 1, 50, 4)
Conclusion: In RV, each deity has been identified as separate. But wherever they wanted to connect, they joined them like Mitra-Varuna has been referred together. Savitr is different from Sun. There is no Surya-Savitr in RV. When Panini streamlined Sanskrit, he simplified the language and words. The current understanding could be due to various changes where many words were merged into one.
Myth 7: Ram is not mentioned in RigVeda
Many say Ram is not part of Rig Veda and some think Ram is an integral part of Vedas. I refuse to believe so. Ram is mentioned twice in RV but does not have any significant presence. However, I do not know whether the Ram of Rigveda has any relevance to the Ramachandra we know today. Let us look at the hymns.
अ॒भि त्यं मे॒षं पु॑रुहू॒तमृ॒ग्मिय॒मिंद्रं॑ गी॒र्भिर्म॑दता॒ वस्वो॑ अर्ण॒वं । यस्य॒ द्यावो॒ न वि॒चरं॑ति॒ मानु॑षा भु॒जे मंहि॑ष्ठम॒भि विप्र॑मर्चत ॥ [RV 01.51.1]
Do intoxicate by the words this Ram, invoked by many, him who is full of the riks (cluster of hymns), Indra, the stream of the wealth, whose expansions {are} for the human being like heavens, {so} do sing for {his} enjoyment to {this} most bounteous bright seer.[RV 01.51.1]
त्यं सु मे॒षं म॑हया स्व॒र्विदं॑ श॒तं यस्य॑ सु॒भ्वः॑ सा॒कमीर॑ते । अत्यं॒ न वाजं॑ हवन॒स्यदं॒ रथ॒मेंद्रं॑ ववृत्या॒मव॑से सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॑ ॥ [01/52/1]
Do greaten well that Ram, discoverer of Svar; his hundred well born {hymns} move together — by well carved would like to turn here Indra for protection, like a steed of plenitude, a swiftly arriving chariot.[RV 01.52.1]
(Svar means heaven)
प्र तद्दु॒:शीमे॒ पृथ॑वाने वे॒ने प्र रा॒मे वो॑च॒मसु॑रे म॒घव॑त्सु । ये यु॒क्त्वाय॒ पञ्च॑ श॒तास्म॒यु प॒था वि॒श्राव्ये॑षाम् ॥ प्र तद्दुःशीमे पृथवाने वेने प्र रामे वोचमसुरे मघवत्सु । ये युक्त्वाय पञ्च शतास्मयु पथा विश्राव्येषाम् ॥ (RV 10.93.14)
“This I proclaim in the presence of Duśīma, Pṛthavāna, Vena, the mighty Rāma, and (other)opulent (princes); those who (come), having yoked five hundred (chariots), their affection for us is renowned on the road.” (RV 10.93.14)
To summarize RV says there is something called Ram. He is a mighty person or daeva or may be a mighty king. He is the discoverer of heaven as well and is protected by Indra. Beyond a few mentions, I could not find anything in RV.
So I turned towards Atharvaveda, the last of the Vedas. It says “A ram bestowed as a sacrifice, white-footed, frees us from the tax” It seems that the meaning of Ram in Athraveda is totally different. It is some deity whom the saints praise but I could not arrive whether Ram had anything to do with the modern Ram which is more Puranic. There is one mention of Sita in Rigved
अ॒र्वाची॑ सुभगे भव॒ सीते॒ वंदा॑महे त्वा । यथा॑ नः सु॒भगास॑सि॒ यथा॑ नः सु॒फलास॑सि ॥ [RV 04.057.06]
Auspicious Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee That thou mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly. The same hymn of Rig Veda is repeated in Atharveda as well.[RV 04.057.06]
So both Ram and Sita are in RV. Ram could be a mighty king which they invoke. They invoked Sita as well but only once. Why once? I don’t know but the reference leaves behind more questions than it answers. One thing that can be noted is the Sita and Ram were not connected in RV.
Conclusion: This is a complicated situation. Since Sita is not connected to Ram and they both coexist as separate characters, it is not possible to assume anything closer to what role they played in Valmiki’s Ramayana. Moreover, there is not much reference to who they are. Hence, I cannot establish any connection.
Myth 8: Aryans worshipped Shiva Lingam
Shiva is not a Rigvedic deity. None of the four Vedas refer to Shiva nor there is a single Hymn that I could find invokes Shiva. The possibility of Shiva being an Indus Valley Deity cannot be ruled out. Indus Valley Civilization was used to worship Linga (Phallus). For Aryans who came to this land, it was a cultural shock. They found an alien culture surrounding them. The frustration was evident from the Rigvedic hymn below
The RigVeda hymn 07.021.5 says
न या॒तव॑ इंद्र जूजुवुर्नो॒ न वंद॑ना शविष्ठ वे॒द्याभिः॑ । स श॑र्धद॒र्यो विषु॑णस्य जं॒तोर्मा शि॒श्नदे॑वा॒ अपि॑ गुर्ऋ॒तं नः॑ ॥ (RV 07.021.5)
“Let not the Dasyus, Indra, do us harm; let not the evil spirits do harm to our progeny, most powerful(Indra); let the sovereign lord, (Indra), exert himself (in the restraint) of disorderly beings so that the (शि॒श्नदे॑वा॒) ‘phallus-worshippers’ do not disturb our rite.”(RV 07.021.5)
The Indus Valley civilization (IVC) was more liberal as per their standards, besides IVC was rich and prosperous. For the Aryans, it was an alien civilization as the color, culture, and practices did not match. This belief system of IVC led to brutal conflicts between the indigenous population and Aryans and conflict is captured in a number of Hymns. Aryans dismantled the IVC infrastructure and got rid of the population as well.
वि जा॑नी॒ह्यार्या॒न्ये च॒ दस्य॑वो ब॒र्हिष्म॑ते रन्धया॒ शास॑दव्र॒तान् । शाकी॑ भव॒ यज॑मानस्य चोदि॒ता विश्वेत्ता ते॑ सध॒मादे॑षु चाकन ॥ वि जानीह्यार्यान्ये च दस्यवो बर्हिष्मते रन्धया शासदव्रतान् । शाकी भव यजमानस्य चोदिता विश्वेत्ता ते सधमादेषु चाकन ॥ (RV 1.51.8)
“Discriminate between the Āryas and them who are Dasyus; restraining those who perform no religious rites, compel them to submit to the performer of sacrifices; be you, who are powerful, the encourager of the sacrificer; I am desirous of celebrating all your deeds in ceremonies that give you satisfaction.”(RV 1.51.8)
प्र नू म॑हि॒त्वं वृ॑ष॒भस्य॑ वोचं॒ यं पू॒रवो॑ वृत्र॒हणं॒ सच॑न्ते । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रो दस्यु॑म॒ग्निर्ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अधू॑नो॒त्काष्ठा॒ अव॒ शम्ब॑रं भेत् ॥ प्र नू महित्वं वृषभस्य वोचं यं पूरवो वृत्रहणं सचन्ते । वैश्वानरो दस्युमग्निर्जघन्वाँ अधूनोत्काष्ठा अव शम्बरं भेत् ॥ (RV 1.59.6)
I extol the greatness of that showerer of rain whom men celebrate as the slayer of Vṛtra and dasyus; the Agni, Vaiśvānara, slew the stealer (of the waters) and sent them down (upon earth), and clove the (obstructing) cloud (RV 1.59.6)
अ॒क॒र्मा दस्यु॑र॒भि नो॑ अम॒न्तुर॒न्यव्र॑तो॒ अमा॑नुषः । त्वं तस्या॑मित्रह॒न्वध॑र्दा॒सस्य॑ दम्भय ॥ अकर्मा दस्युरभि नो अमन्तुरन्यव्रतो अमानुषः । त्वं तस्यामित्रहन्वधर्दासस्य दम्भय ॥ (RV 10.22.8)
“The Dasyu practicing no religious rites, not knowing as thoroughly, following other observances, obeying no human laws, baffle, destroyer of enemies, the weapon of that slave.”(RV 10.22.8)
Conclusion: The IVC civilization was wiped out somewhere during 1500 BC. This is the time when Aryans came to this region. The conflicts of civilizations mentioned in RV are not a coincidence. The multiple research work I studied indicated that Shiva Lingam was a part of IVC culture. Cultural integration happened later and the Rigvedic deity Rudra was merged with Shiva.
Myth 8: Aryans were peaceful migrants
We often believe that Vedic Aryans were peace-loving philosophical people. Rigveda has 350+ references to the slaying, and 180+ references to the killing, 100+ references to weapons, 250+ references to battle. Though these are hymns, hymns do not exist in isolation. It shows what the mindset would have been at the time of capturing them.
The slaying of enemies like Dasyu, Ashuras, Vrtras, Serpent, Dragons, foes, and demons to animals is common in RV. There are places where the brutal nature of slaying is also mentioned. Indra was a massive slayer.
The war between the Aryans and Vrtras, Dasyus, and Ashurs indicates that it was a brutal invasion and not even remotely a peaceful migration. A hunter-gatherer nomadic population, who crossed rough terrains and navigated civilizations that were not very friendly always can be expected to be battle-hardened and not a peace-loving hymn chanting saint. Yes, philosophy evolved alongside the Vedas.
Myth 9: Trimurti were important deities in the Vedas
It will be hard to find Trimurti playing the same role in Vedas as they play in the Puranic version of Hinduism. Shiva was not a Rigvedic god. But let us assume Rudra is the same as Shiva. Then Rudra has 155 hymns, Vishnu has 113 mentions and Brahma has zero mentions. Now compare this to Indra, which has 2911 Hymns, Soma has 1544 hymns, Mitra has 435 hymns, and Varuna has 579 hymns.
Rigveda does not consider Rudra and Vishnu the same as Indra, Soma, Mitra, and Varuna. Please go through my previous study on Forbidden or Forgotten Rigvedic Deities — By Conspiracy or By Chance?
Final Conclusion
Based on RV, I have tried to identify the various myths which are floating around. Today’s Hinduism is different from the dharma which was practiced before 500 BC and what Aryans have followed and practiced. Neither Vedas nor Upanishads could find a place in the puranic Hindu system. By definition, a Hindu is someone who subscribes to Vedas which means knowledge. In practice, Hindus did the opposite, they replaced with Purans. Puranas which we follow today is like a blockbuster masala movie. The real essence is residing in the Upanishads (Vedanta). Present and future evolve in the womb of the past. History hides more than it reveals.
Disclaimer: The intent here is to uncover the annals of history to deep dive into its origins. There may be factual errors and please feel free to make constructive criticism and provide inputs where there are errors. Besides, RV Sanskrit translations may look slightly different from others.
