Purusha Sukta

The Purusha Sukta is a very important and sacred hymn in Hinduism. It is part of the Rigveda, the oldest and most revered of the four Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The Purusha Sukta describes the nature and origin of the universe and the Supreme Being, who is called Purusha. Purusha means "person" or "spirit" in Sanskrit, and it refers to the cosmic being who is the source of all creation. The Purusha Sukta also explains how the different classes of society (varnas) and the different elements of nature (bhutas) emerged from the body of Purusha after he sacrificed himself for the sake of creation. The Purusha Sukta is recited in many rituals and ceremonies, as well as for meditation and devotion. It is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and blessings to those who chant or listen to it.

The Purusha Sukta consists of 24 verses, divided into two parts: the Purvanarayana and the Uttaranarayana. The first part contains 16 verses from the Rigveda (10.90), and the second part contains 8 verses from other sources, such as the Taittiriya Aranyaka, the Vajasaneyi Samhita, and the Sama-veda Samhita. The second part also includes 6 additional verses from another hymn called the Vishnu Sukta, which praises Vishnu as the supreme deity. The Purusha Sukta is written in Vedic Sanskrit, an ancient form of the Indo-Aryan language that is different from classical Sanskrit. The verses are composed in various poetic metres, such as Gayatri, Anushtubh, Trishtubh, Jagati, etc.

The Purusha Sukta has been interpreted and commented upon by many scholars and sages throughout history. Some of them are:

- Yaska, a Vedic grammarian and etymologist who lived around the 6th century BCE. He wrote a commentary on the Rigveda called Nirukta, in which he explained the meaning of some words and phrases in the Purusha Sukta.

- Sayana, a 14th century scholar and minister who wrote a comprehensive commentary on all the four Vedas. He explained the Purusha Sukta in a literal and ritualistic way, based on the traditional Vedic worldview.

- Madhvacharya, a 13th century philosopher and founder of the Dvaita Vedanta school of Hinduism. He wrote a commentary on the Rigveda called Rigvedarthaprakasha, in which he interpreted the Purusha Sukta in a dualistic way, identifying Purusha with Vishnu and distinguishing him from other beings.

- Shankaracharya, an 8th century philosopher and founder of the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism. He wrote a commentary on the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, which contains some verses similar to the Purusha Sukta. He interpreted the Purusha Sukta in a non-dualistic way, identifying Purusha with Brahman, the ultimate reality that is one with all beings.

The Purusha Sukta is a profound and beautiful hymn that reveals the essence of Hindu spirituality. It shows us how everything in this world is connected to one supreme source, who is both transcendent and immanent. It also teaches us how to live in harmony with nature and society, by recognizing our roles and responsibilities as parts of a cosmic order. The Purusha Sukta invites us to contemplate on the mystery and glory of creation, and to worship and adore the Creator with love and devotion.

If you want to learn more about the Purusha Sukta, you can read some translations and commentaries online¹²³⁴ or listen to some recitations. I hope you find them interesting and enlightening.

Source:

(1) Purusha Sukta - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purusha_Sukta.

(2) The Purusha Sukta – Significance and Meaning - Shriguru Maharishi. https://shrigurumaharishi.org/2019/10/16/the-purusha-sukta-significance-and-meaning/.

(3) The Meaning of Purusha Suktam Sloka - GO4ETHNIC. https://go4ethnic.blog/the-meaning-of-purusha-suktam/.

(4) Purusha Suktam Anushthan Meaning, Significance, and Procedure. https://astromiracle.in/blog/purusha-suktam-anushthan.