Rig Veda
in Sanskrit literature, the oldest and most original of the four Vedas, and probably the oldest literary composition in the world. In all likelihood it was in course of composition about 1,400 years B. C., but was not committed to writing at that time. It contains no writing or writing materials, and Max Müller believes that for a long period it was transmitted orally from generation to generation. It consists of 1,017 short lyrical poems, with 10,580 verses. The religion was nature worship, -compeller, being the chief object of adoration , and, after him, Agni, the God of fire. The Hindu Triad had not yet arisen . The Rig Veda does not recognize the institution of caste.
Beef was eaten. Women held a high position, and some of the hymns were composed by them. The rite of suttee was unknown; the conquest of India had only begun, and the Ganges, incidentally mentioned, had not become a sacred stream.