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The first step in any historical analysis of the Rigveda is the establishment of the internal chronology of the text.
The Rigveda consists of ten MaNDalas or Books. And, excepting likely interpolations, these MaNDalas represent different epochs of history. The arrangement of these MaNDalas in their chronological order is the first step towards an understanding of Rigvedic history. Regarding the chronology of these MaNDalas, only two facts are generally recognised:
1. The six Family MaNDalas II-VII form the oldest core of the Rigveda.
2. The two serially last MaNDalas of the Rigveda, IX and X, are also the chronologically last MaNDalas in that order.
In this chapter, we will establish a more precise chronological arrangement of the MaNDalas based on a detailed analysis of evidence within the text.
However, the precise position of the last two MaNDalas does not require much analysis:
1. MaNDala X is undoubtedly the chronologically last MaNDala of the Rigveda.
Author : Shrikant G. Talageri
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