Upadevata Suktas Webinar

The Rigveda is one of the oldest and most revered texts in the world, serving as the foundation of Hinduism. Being a treasure trove of ancient Indian wisdom, it covers a wide range of subjects, including cosmology, philosophy, rituals, social order and morality. The 1028 suktas in the Rigveda praise various deities, among which Agni, Indra, Varuna, Soma, etc. are commonly known. Besides them, there are a few other deities, which occupy a secondary place in the Rigveda. Nonetheless, the suktas devoted to them are not less enthralling than any other famous suktas.

The hymns to lesser-known deities exhibit a high degree of devotion to the divinities they are addressed to. They bring forth special features of eulogized deities in a fascinating way. By alluding to their exemplary deeds, these suktas highlight their greatness and ask them in supplication for mercy and protection. Some of the prominent deities of the post-Vedic pantheon appear to have emerged over centuries from some lesser-known divinities in the Rigveda into their current form. The suktas devoted to such deities shed light on earlier stages of their evolution and offer a valuable contribution to the study of theology.

This Webinar will discuss five unique suktas about lesser-known divinities in the Rigveda. These are:

1. Pusha Sukta (RV 6.54) with 10 mantras, wherein the god Pushan has been praised. He has been asked for guidance, protection of livestock and riches of his worshippers.
2. Brihaspati Sukta (RV 4.50), with 11 mantras, glorifies the important role played by Brihaspati, Indra’s companion, in the liberation of the celestial cows imprisoned in the cave of the demon Vala.
3. Ribhu Sukta (RV 1.20), with 8 mantras, speaks of illustrious deeds of Ribhus, which elevated them from being mortals to the status of gods, by leading them to immortality.
4. Marut Sukta (RV 1.85), with 12 mantras, depicts Maruts, sons of Rudra, as valorous warriors possessing divine powers and faithful allies of Indra in his battle against the demon Vritra.
5. Mitra Sukta (RV 3.59), with 9 mantras, portrays Mitra, Aditi’s son, as a mighty but benevolent deity, who is supportive of men and encourages them to activity as their well-wisher.

Webinar Highlights

• Introduction to Vedic suktas in general and hymns dedicated to five lesser-known divinities in particular.
• Five unique suktas that acquaint the participants with five lesser-known, but nevertheless, marvelous divinities in the Rigveda.
• Fascinating stories revealing the nature of the lesser-known divinities.
• Etymology, word by word meaning, and translations of selected sūktas
• Various interpretations of the hymns offered by scholars.

Webinar Format

• 6 online sessions + 1 Q&A Session
• The sessions will be streamed on Zoom.
• Recordings will be available on dashboard the next day for those who miss the sessions.
• Recordings will be available for a period of 6 months after the completion of the webinar.

Schedule and Fees
Dates: 3 to 8 March 2025
Number of Sessions: 6 + 1 Q&A
Everyday 7:00 to 8:00 PM IST
Webinar Fees: ₹1500, US$40

Prerequisite

Availability of a computer with audio-video internet conferencing facility etc. is mandatory.

Reference Text

PDF will be shared with the registered participants.

Facilitator
Prof. Gauri Mahulikar is the Academic Director at CIF. As the Gurudev Tagore Chair of Comparative Literature Professor, she headed the Department of Sanskrit at the University of Mumbai. She also served as a former Dean of Faculty at Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth.

To know more about Prof. Gauri Mahulikar, please click here.

Contact Details

For further information or clarification
Contact: +91 92077 11511
Email: cifwebinars@chinfo.org