Fill in the blank:
Each Mandala of the Rigveda is further subdivided into ______.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Suktas.
The Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas, is structured into ten books known as Mandalas. Each Mandala is further subdivided into Suktas, which are hymns or "well-said" praises dedicated to various deities like Agni, Indra, and Soma. There are a total of 1,028 Suktas in the Rigveda, which are further composed of individual verses called Riks. This hierarchical arrangement was designed to facilitate the oral preservation and rhythmic chanting of these sacred texts over millennia.
Other Options:
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Kandas: These are major sections or chapters found in the Ramayana or the Atharvaveda, rather than the primary subdivision of a Rigvedic Mandala.
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Puranas: These are a separate genre of vast Indian literature about myths and legends, composed much later than the Vedic period.
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Samhitas: This term refers to the core collection of hymns in each Veda as a whole; for example, the Rigveda Samhita refers to the entire collection of all Mandalas.