Revisiting the ‘Evidence of Meters’

Abstract

A ṛk mantra, the basic unit of ṛgveda, is characterized by a chandas, the poetic meter. It is not at all like the poetry of ancient folk tales of Europe. The viniyoga of the mantra in yajña plays a crucial role in the structural organization and chronology of the ṛgvedasaṃhitā. It is shown that the view of some scholars discussing the chronology of meters (chandas) using Western terminology in terms of dimeters and trimeters is not fruitful in Vedic studies. The various meters used in ṛgveda play important roles in the performance of somayajña, construction of altar in agnicayana and of the symbolic altar chandaściti. A much deeper significance of cosmic principle may be appreciated.

Keywords

• ṛgveda
• chandas
• somayajña
• agnicayana
• chandaściti.