Ṛgvedic Sajanīya Sūkta (2/12) vis-à-vis Hiraṇyagarbha (10/121) Sūkta: Resolution of Conflicts and Management

Abstract

According to Helmuth von Glasenapp, “All philosophical thoughts begin with an attempt to drive the unending abundance of appearances towards a limited number of things.” The word conflict derives from the Latin confligere, which can be understood as collision. Conflict is an unavoidable circumstance that exists as a struggle because of limited resources. This statement beautifully suits our ancient Vedic seers. Various concepts have been found in the Vedas, such as Henotheism, Polytheism, and Monotheism. However, another type of outlook also prevailed simultaneously, which is known as Skepticism or, to some extent, Mysticism. Under the shadow of Skepticism, various Vedic hymns appeared as contradictions, but in-depth, all verities turned into unity.

For instance, we have taken very often the famous Sajanīya Sūkta (2/12) and Hiraṇyagarbha Sūkta (10/121) in the Ṛgveda. In the Sajanīya Sūkta, Indra was described as a supreme deity, whereas in the Hiraṇyagarbha Sūkta, Hiraṇyagarbha (Golden Embryo) is greater than Indra and all other deities: yo jāta eva prathamo manasvān... sa janāsa indraḥ (2/12/1), whereas in the Hiraṇyagarbha hymn, Hiraṇyagarbha is the epitome of this universe, which is the nearest approach to the later mystical conception of Brahmā. It is said that Hiraṇyagarbha is the supreme lord of the existent: hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartatāgre bhūtasya jātaḥ patireka āsīt, without him kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema (ṚV-10/121/1) – to whom shall we offer for worship?

This state of conflict leads them to mysticism where they seem to resolve their doubt-ness by stating: indraṁ mitraṁ varuṇamagnimāhu... ekaṁ sad viprā bahudhā vadanti (ṚV-1/164/46) – meaning every deity is nothing but the manifestation of the supreme reality. Therefore, the skeptic’s view of the Vedic seer leads to the concept of monotheism. This approach is quite applicable to understanding the underlying reality between the contradictions of Vedic thoughts and tradition.