Rig Veda
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Written in Sanskrit at around 1000 BCE, the Rig Veda is the first Vedic literature and the world’s oldest known book. The authors of this book were the Aryans, a group of nomadic people who moved into the Indus valley at the decline of Harappan civilization. Because the writing of the Vedas had already begun before the Aryans arrived, it is thought that the Harappan civilization also had a heavy influence on the Rig Veda. It is a collection of over one thousand hymns and chants that tells the myths about different Hindu gods. These hymns include information about blessings, praises, sacrifices, and curses. The Rig Veda, central to Hinduism, is the oldest and perhaps the most important book in the collection of books called Vedas. The Rig Veda helped to shape Indian society, ultimately becoming a key factor in the establishment of the caste system.
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CF Manual pages 126 & 130
Grace Huang
