Bell Ringer 3/3Bell Ringer 3/3

What is the purpose of music? What is the purpose of music? How can music without words How can music without words be as powerful as a song with be as powerful as a song with lyrics? What specific purposes lyrics? What specific purposes do hymns serve as a type of do hymns serve as a type of

music? Give at least one music? Give at least one example for any question.example for any question.

Rig VedaRig Veda

Sacred TextSacred Text

TranslationTranslation

►Originally written in SanskritOriginally written in Sanskrit►Relies on double negatives: “non non-Relies on double negatives: “non non-

existence”existence”►Earliest surviving record of Indian Earliest surviving record of Indian

religious thoughtreligious thought Collection of 1,028 hymnsCollection of 1,028 hymns Focus on devotion and pietyFocus on devotion and piety

BackgroundBackground

►Authors unknown – believed to be a Authors unknown – believed to be a collection of “Aryan” (meaning noble) collection of “Aryan” (meaning noble) Indo-EuropeansIndo-Europeans

►Hindu writingHindu writing See nature as both benevolent and See nature as both benevolent and

threateningthreatening Focuses on praising gods for power, beautyFocuses on praising gods for power, beauty Believe sacrifices control the gods and the Believe sacrifices control the gods and the

order of the universeorder of the universe

Literature TermsLiterature Terms

►Vedic Hymn: poem or song of praise Vedic Hymn: poem or song of praise that emphasizes the importance of that emphasizes the importance of gods and nature in Indian life; and gods and nature in Indian life; and ponder timeless questions – such as ponder timeless questions – such as origin of universeorigin of universe Meant to be chanted, so diction and Meant to be chanted, so diction and

syntax reflect this intention – though syntax reflect this intention – though some of scheme is lost in translationsome of scheme is lost in translation

Terms Continued…Terms Continued…

►Personification – giving human Personification – giving human characteristics to non-human objectscharacteristics to non-human objects Ex: Ex: The goddess night has drawn near…The goddess night has drawn near…

Creation HymnCreation Hymn

► AbstractAbstract► Speaker speculates on the origin of the worldSpeaker speculates on the origin of the world► Establishes the archetypal setting of order Establishes the archetypal setting of order

from chaos (there was nothing in the from chaos (there was nothing in the beginning)beginning)

►Distinguished from other systems of belief Distinguished from other systems of belief because the Hindu believe that the gods because the Hindu believe that the gods came after creationcame after creation

►Gives vague indication of hierarchy of godsGives vague indication of hierarchy of gods Only he knows – perhaps he does not knowOnly he knows – perhaps he does not know

NightNight

►Appeals to the goddess Night to give Appeals to the goddess Night to give protection from the dangers of the protection from the dangers of the darknessdarkness

►By personifying night as a goddess, By personifying night as a goddess, the hymn suggests that nature is a the hymn suggests that nature is a force worthy of worship, to which force worthy of worship, to which humans must appeal for protection.humans must appeal for protection.

Central MessagesCentral Messages

►Creation HymnCreation Hymn: Did the universe come : Did the universe come from nothing? Is there a supreme from nothing? Is there a supreme creator who knows the origin?creator who knows the origin?

►NightNight: Nature is supreme and to be : Nature is supreme and to be worshipped from a spirit of respect. worshipped from a spirit of respect.