Comparing the Bible and the Rig-Veda
Comparing the Bible and the Rig-Veda
The Rig-Veda is a collection of hymns, which contain the mythology of the Hindu gods, and is considered to be one of the foundations of the Hindu religion. The Rig Veda was passed on orally for many generations. When they were written down, they were first written in Vedic, an early form of Sanskrit. Then around 300 B.C. the Vedas were written down in the form we have them today. The Rig Veda, Book of Genesis, and the Book of Psalms are all fundamental to the thought of each of the followers. Although the Rig Veda and The King James Version of the Bible are quite different, they have a various quantity of similarities.
The first similarities between the two texts (The Book of Genesis and the Rig Veda) are the ideas of creationism. The two manuscripts both imply that earth was nothing before our creator. The documents use sensory detail to include that before the creations of earth everything was dark there was nothingness. “And the earth was without form and, void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (1:2 The Book of Genesis.) “The non-existent was not; the existent was not at that time. The atmosphere was not nor the heavens which are beyond. What was concealed? Where? In whose protection? Was it water? An unfathomable abyss?” (Creation hymn from the Rig Veda) Each insisting that earth would be formed and flourish under the power of its creator.
A further comparison with the idea of creationism is water. In and around the same point in both texts water was created. In each ancient script water was brought down from the heavens to earth through the rain. In the Rig Veda the creator of rain is also the god of war and the sky. “The one who, having killed the serpent, released the seven rivers.” This piece from the Rig Veda is praising the god for making rain after a very long drought, which released streams and gave the people water. “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” (1:6 in The Book of Genesis.) This shows how god wanted to create water for the earth. In the Bible God creates water...