The Rig Veda is considered to be foundational in Hindu religion, containing mythology of the Hindu gods through the form of hymns. It is assumed that The Rig Veda was passed on orally for many generations, much like the theories of the compilation of the Bible. At around 300 B. C. the Vedas were written down in the form we have them today, first inscribed in Vedic, an early form of Sanskrit. The Bhagavad Gita also stands as an ancient Indian text which became an important work of Hindu tradition in terms of both literature and philosophy, written at some point between 400 BCE and 200 CE.
Similar to the Rig-Veda, the Bible is also a collection of texts in which one single origin cannot be identified, but rather is argued by historians to have evolved overtime, overlapping and diverging its contents. The Rig Veda, the Bhagavad Gita and the Old Testament are clearly fundamental to the thought of each of the followers and religious groups, and though displaying some major differences, it can be argued that some ideas within the texts show similarities. The Book of Genesis is the first book in the Bible, telling the story of the Hebrew people – from the creation of the world to their migration to Egypt.
In strong contrast with all other creation myths, the Hebrew version exhibits more simplicity and confidence deriving from devout monotheists. However, it is clear that the Book of Genesis, as a creation myth, shows distinct similarities to several ancient religions with stories of creation, such as the Rig Veda, one of the sacred scriptures of the Aryans who invaded India around 1500 B. C. Both texts convey the traditions, beliefs, and rituals of particular religions and are often referred to as sacred literature or scriptures.
The Rig Veda and the Book of Genesis boast the concept of reationism – both manuscripts imply that a greater force (whether one God or multiple) was responsible for the generation of Earth, and before God there was nothing. Each text insists that earth was formed and would flourish under the power of its creator, depicting desolation before creation -‘And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters’ (1:2 The Book of Genesis), ‘The non-existent was not; the existent was not at that time. The atmosphere was not nor the heavens which are beyond. What was concealed? here? In whose protection?
Was it water? An unfathomable abyss? ‘ (Creation hymn, Rig Veda). Though the Rig Veda and the Bhagavad Gita consist of many Gods which all serve their own purpose, both these texts and the Old Testament encourage worship to the creator, whether it be one ultimate creator or multiple. Therefore, it can be argued that a similarity lay within the deep-rooted philosophy of each text, all based upon the idea of worship and devotion, this is explicitly shown within the Bhagavad Gita when Krishna points out that knowledge, work and devotion are all paths to salvation and that the central value in life is that of loyalty to God.
On the other hand, some may argue that one of the most dominant themes of the Old Testament was adherence to monotheism and the rejection that any other gods exist, any other form of worship was sin and betrayal of God. The Bhagavad Gita and the Rig-Veda, however, assert the existence of multiple gods, and can therefore be contended to be completely incompatible with the Hebrew and Christian religions. Hinduism teaches that life is an endless cycle of reincarnation, whereby all living must die in one bodily form but return in a different form, based on their previous life.
This cycle is ongoing until one reaches enlightenment. The Bhagavad Gita clearly expresses this concept, stating ‘Reaching the highest perfection, and having attained Me [the Imperishable, Supreme Brahman], the great-souled ones are no more subject to re-birth – which is the home of pain, and ephemeral. All the worlds, O Arjuna, including the realm of Brahma, are subject to return, but after attaining Me [the Imperishable, Supreme Brahman), O son of Kunti, there is no re-birth…
The very same multitude of beings (that existed in the preceding day of Brahma), being born again and again, merge, in spite of themselves’. This concept largely contradicts with the Old Testament, which instead implies that one’s soul is eternal and physical being is temporary, if one repents his sins and leads a good life, they shall be sent to the heavens with the Gods after death – a clear example of this is found with the story of Enoch in the Book of Genesis as he ‘did not die, but was taken up to be with God’ (Genesis 5:24).
Though it can be said that some similarities can be held between the texts, it is undeniable that they essentially operate under disparate paradigms and assumptions. It cannot be overlooked that the Indian religion operates under a concept of timelessness. Time is seen as an illusion (maya) and the individual parts are in reality the whole – it is only through innermeditation can enlightenment truly be found and the holy books are not the destination of realization but rather guidance towards it.
Whereas, Hebrew and Christianity hold the common concept of life after death being through the soul and its movement toward heaven or hell following judgment day. Overall, it can be argued that some similarities are held between all three texts, particularly in the stories of creation of the earth. It is clear that religion and worship played an important role in early culture, and the ancient scripts of each religion still maintain tremendous significance today.
