Understanding myths requires special methods of interpreting them, first of all, methods of identifying the content that can be considered as cognitive information, as well as methods of reconstructing the events and phenomena behind mythological images. Thus, the problem of understanding myths is the approach to them as sources of knowledge, the search for real referents represented by esoteric content. The author applies this attitude to one of the central myths of the great monument of world literature of the Rig Veda (hereinafter - RV), created by ancient Indian poets-rishis - to the myth of the demon Vritra, about his evil deeds and about the murder of this demon by the god of thunder and lightning Indra.
Keywords: Rig Veda, myth, Vritra, Indra, ancient Indian mythology, mythological perception.
CONTENT OF THE MYTH
This myth was of such great importance to the Indo-Aryans and occupied such a significant place in their minds that its content is repeatedly reproduced in various variations in the Russian Orthodox Church. Here is the most complete of them, as set forth in Hymn I, 32 1:
Indra's heroic deeds now I want to proclaim:The first ones that the thunderer did. He killed the serpent, he drilled the channels of the waters, He cut through the bowels of the mountains. He killed the serpent that rested on the mountain. Tvashtar had carved him a noisy club. Like lowing cows rushing toward their calves, The waters run down directly to the sea. Furious as a bull, he chose soma for himself, He drank soma squeezed in three vessels,and the Generous One grabbed a vajra projectile. He killed him, the firstborn of the serpents. When you, Indra, slew the first-born of the serpents And outwitted the tricks of the sly ones, And gave birth to the sun, the sky, the dawn, You haven't really found an opponent since.
1 Meanings of the names and titles found in the hymn: Tvashtar-God-creator of all forms in the universe, living and inanimate. Soma is an intoxicating ...
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