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{{ | {{short description|Sanskrit term for a Vedic verse}} | ||
''' | {{about|the Hindu mantra and given name|the surname|Richa (surname)}} | ||
'''Richa''' ({{Langx|sa|ऋच|translit=Ṛca}}),<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-07-07 |title=Rica, Ṛca: 8 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rica |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> also rendered '''rucha''', refers to a [[mantra]], usually one in line, found in the [[Sanskrit]] religious scriptures, the [[Vedas]]. It is a term used to refer to each verse of the [[Rigveda]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Srinivasan |first=Liny |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-8ys6146S8C&dq=richa+hymn&pg=PR14 |title=Desi Words Speak of the Past: Indo-Aryans in the Ancient Near East |date=2011-11-22 |publisher=Author House |isbn=978-1-4670-9479-5 |pages=xiv |language=en}}</ref> | |||
== Etymology == | |||
The etymological origin of the richa is the Sanskrit word ''Ṛc'' (ऋच्), which means ''to praise''.<ref>''A Sanskrit English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages''; by [[Monier Monier-Williams|M. Monier-Williams]]; 2005 Deluxe ed.</ref> Richa, is therefore, one ṛc after the other. Other meanings of ''ṛc'' are splendor, worship, or a hymn.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vasu |first=Srisa Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QvEfRSnayf0C&dq=richa+hymn&pg=PA6 |title=The Upanishads |publisher=Cosmo Publications |isbn=978-81-307-0511-8 |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref> Richa can also refer to a verbal composition of celestial sounds called [[shrutis]]; the [[Gayatri Mantra]] is a rucha as well. | |||
== Literature == | |||
{{Hindu scriptures and texts}} | |||
=== Rigveda === | |||
In the [[Rigveda]], the richa refers to individual verses, which are collected into a sukta, translated as a hymn.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MazdaWXQFuQC&dq=richa+hymn&pg=PA116 |title=Indian History |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=978-81-8424-568-4 |pages=A-116 |language=en}}</ref> The suktas are combined into the 10 mandalas, the books of the Rigveda. For example, the famous [[Purusha Sukta|Purusha sukta]] has 16 richas. It is the 90th sukta of the 10th mandala of the Rigveda. The Rigveda contains about 10,600 richas, organised into 191 suktas. The other three Vedas use a similar terminology. | |||
One of the richas is composed in praise of the [[Ushas|dawn]]:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Ashok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4d3wDwAAQBAJ&dq=%E1%B9%9Aca&pg=PA62 |title=Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond |date=2019-08-03 |publisher=StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-88698-13-9 |pages=62 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
{{Blockquote|text=The radiant dawns have risen up for glory, in their white<br>splendour in the waves of water.<br>She makes paths all easy, fair to travel, and rich, has shown<br>herself benign and friendly|title=Rigveda}} | |||
Another richa is composed in praise of the [[Ratri|night]]:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Ashok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4d3wDwAAQBAJ&dq=%E1%B9%9Aca&pg=PA62 |title=Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond |date=2019-08-03 |publisher=StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-88698-13-9 |pages=62 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
{{Blockquote|text=The darkness she produces; soon advancing<br>She calls her sister morning to return,<br>And then each darksome shadow melts away.<br>Kind goddess, be propitious to thy servants<br>who at thy coming straightaway seek repose,<br>Like birds who nightly nestle in the trees|title=Rigveda}} | |||
The | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Hindu mantras]] | [[Category:Hindu mantras]] | ||
[[Category:Mantras]] | |||
Latest revision as of 08:51, 21 December 2024
Richa (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.),[1] also rendered rucha, refers to a mantra, usually one in line, found in the Sanskrit religious scriptures, the Vedas. It is a term used to refer to each verse of the Rigveda.[2]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The etymological origin of the richa is the Sanskrit word Ṛc (ऋच्), which means to praise.[3] Richa, is therefore, one ṛc after the other. Other meanings of ṛc are splendor, worship, or a hymn.[4] Richa can also refer to a verbal composition of celestial sounds called shrutis; the Gayatri Mantra is a rucha as well.
Literature[edit | edit source]
| Part of a series on |
| Hindu scriptures and texts |
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Rigveda[edit | edit source]
In the Rigveda, the richa refers to individual verses, which are collected into a sukta, translated as a hymn.[5] The suktas are combined into the 10 mandalas, the books of the Rigveda. For example, the famous Purusha sukta has 16 richas. It is the 90th sukta of the 10th mandala of the Rigveda. The Rigveda contains about 10,600 richas, organised into 191 suktas. The other three Vedas use a similar terminology.
One of the richas is composed in praise of the dawn:[6]
The radiant dawns have risen up for glory, in their white
splendour in the waves of water.
She makes paths all easy, fair to travel, and rich, has shown
herself benign and friendly— Rigveda
Another richa is composed in praise of the night:[7]
The darkness she produces; soon advancing
She calls her sister morning to return,
And then each darksome shadow melts away.
Kind goddess, be propitious to thy servants
who at thy coming straightaway seek repose,
Like birds who nightly nestle in the trees— Rigveda
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-07-07). "Rica, Ṛca: 8 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ↑ Srinivasan, Liny (2011-11-22). Desi Words Speak of the Past: Indo-Aryans in the Ancient Near East. Author House. pp. xiv. ISBN 978-1-4670-9479-5.
- ↑ A Sanskrit English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages; by M. Monier-Williams; 2005 Deluxe ed.
- ↑ Vasu, Srisa Chandra. The Upanishads. Cosmo Publications. p. 6. ISBN 978-81-307-0511-8.
- ↑ Indian History. Allied Publishers. pp. A-116. ISBN 978-81-8424-568-4.
- ↑ Mishra, Ashok (2019-08-03). Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond. StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd. p. 62. ISBN 978-93-88698-13-9.
- ↑ Mishra, Ashok (2019-08-03). Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond. StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd. p. 62. ISBN 978-93-88698-13-9.