India - Facts, Vedas, Mountains, Rivers, Rituals and Mythology

The Vedas; The Rigveda: Rigveda is the oldest religipus text in the world. 'The first testament of mankind'. Composed around 1700BC. The first three Vedas are collectively known as Trayi or 'trio'. Written down and commented in South India during the second half of the fourteenth century AD. The last hymns were probably composed between 1500 and 1200BC. Neither a historical nor a heroic poem but is mainly a collection of hymns by a number of priestly families. Recited at the time of sacrificial rites. The Rigveda contains 1017(1028, including 11 hymns of the valakhilya recension)hymns(sukta) is divided into Ten mandalas.