The Rig Veda Blog
Journeys into Vedic Thought
Long-form, researched essays on the deities, language, ritual and history of the Rig Veda. All free to read.
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The Racehorse Who Became a God: Dadhikrāvan in the Rigveda
Three consecutive hymns of the Rigveda praise a named horse called Dadhikrāvan, with the dust, the reins and the shouting crowd all in place. One of those verses is still recited every morning by people who have no idea they are complimenting an animal.
Yoke First, Posture Later: What the Rigveda Actually Says About Yoga
The oldest surviving use of the word yoga has nothing to do with mats or breathing. It means backing two horses under a wooden crossbar before dawn. Following that word from a Bronze Age harness to Patanjali reveals a stranger and better story than the one on the studio wall.