The Secret of the Veda presents Sri Aurobindo’s revolutionary psychological interpretation of the Rig Veda, arguing that the Vedic hymns are not merely ritual and nature poetry but encode a sophisticated system of inner spiritual discipline expressed through symbol and myth. The work was published serially in the Arya between 1914 and 1920.

Structure

Volume 15 — The Secret of the Veda with Selected Hymns comprises four parts:

Part One: The Secret of the Veda — A systematic exposition of the psychological theory, including the problem and its solution, a retrospect of Vedic theory, modern theories, the foundations of the psychological theory, the philological method, and detailed studies of key deities and symbols: Agni and the Truth, Varuna-Mitra, the Ashwins, Indra, the Vishwadevas, Saraswati, the Seven Rivers, the Dawn, the Angiras legend, and the conflict between the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness.

Part Two: Selected Hymns — Translations of key hymns with commentary, including hymns to Indra, Agni, Surya Savitri, Dawn, Bhaga Savitri, Vayu, Brihaspati, the Ashwins, the Ribhus, Vishnu, and Soma.

Part Three: Hymns of the Atris — Translations of hymns by the Atri family of seers.

Part Four: Other Translations — Additional Vedic hymns from the Arya.

Volume 14 — Vedic and Philological Studies collects writings not published during Sri Aurobindo’s lifetime, including:

Part One: Essays in Vedic Interpretation — Drafts for The Secret of the Veda, including “The Veda and European Scholarship”, “The Gods of the Veda”, “Ritam”, “A System of Vedic Psychology”.

Part Two: Selected Vedic Hymns — Further translations of hymns from all ten Mandalas.

Part Three: Commentaries and Annotated Translations — Detailed commentaries on hymns.

Part Four: Vedic Notes — Detailed philological notes on Vedic hymns.

Part Five: Essays and Notes on Philology — Drafts for “The Origins of Aryan Speech”, including studies of word-formation, roots, and comparative philology.

Key Concepts

  • The Psychological Theory: Vedic gods represent powers of consciousness — Agni (the divine will or illumined mind), Indra (the luminous mind or pure intelligence), Soma (the delight of existence), the Ashwins (the twin powers of bliss)
  • Ritam (the Truth): The Vedic concept of cosmic order and truth, the foundation of the psychological interpretation
  • The Angiras Legend: The allegory of the recovery of the lost cows (light) by the Angiras Rishis (seers), representing the recovery of spiritual illumination
  • The Seven Rivers: Symbolic of the seven streams of consciousness
  • The Hound of Heaven: The divine quest and pursuit of the soul

Source Summary

CWSA Volume 15 contains all of Sri Aurobindo’s Vedic writings published in the Arya. CWSA Volume 14 is the first edition of his unpublished Vedic and philological writings, including extensive notes, translations, commentaries, and philological studies. Together they represent the most comprehensive psychological reinterpretation of the Vedas in modern times.

See Also