Mention of rice, wheat and barley in the Vedas

[Radhakrishna Warrier]

I read somewhere, but don’t remember where, that the Vedas mention rice and barley significantly a greater number of times than wheat.  And between barley and rice, it is barley that is mentioned more than rice. 

The Punjab and the Northwest, where the Vedas are supposed to have been composed, do not provide a natural habitat for rice.  Although rice cultivation is now prevalent in the Punjab, it is through modern artificial means that it is sustained, which include artificial irrigation and chemical fertilizers.  The Gangetic plains to the east, and parts of southern India provide a more natural and better environment for rice cultivation. 

My questions are: 

Is the first statement (the relative frequencies of the mention of barley, rice, and wheat in the Vedas) true? 

What are the names used in the Vedas for these grains?  Are they yava, vrīhi and godhūma for barley, rice, and wheat? 

Was the staple diet of the Vedic people based primarily on barley? 

When did wheat become the staple? 

How did rice, which was difficult to cultivate in the Punjab and Northwest in the olden times enter the diet of the Vedic people? 

Regards, 

Radhakrishna Warrier 

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

In Chamaka portion of Yajur Veda many grains are mentioned like Vrihi, Yava, Masha, Tila, Mudga, Khalva, Godhuma, Masura, Priyangu, Shyamaka, and so on. They are clearly saying Godhuma which is wheat. These grains and others were known and grown in ancient times.

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Regards

 

-Venkatesh

[Nabanarayan Bandyopadhyay]

 Dear Radhakrishns Warrierji,

You may consult the following book written by Jan Gonda:

    Rice and barley offerings in the Veda by  J Gonda 

    Publisher: Leiden ; New York : E.J. Brill, 1987.

Warm regards,

Nabanarayan Bandyopadhyay

[Radhakrishna Warrier]

Thank you Shri Nabanarayan ji!

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From: 'Nabanarayan Bandyopadhyay' via भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत् <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 1, 2022 10:24 AM
To: bharatiya vidya parishad <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} Mention of rice, wheat and barley in the Vedas

 

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[Shashi Joshi]

Is it possible that the rice was cultivated around Sarasvati river, mentioned so much in the Vedas?

Thanks,

~ Shashi

On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 10:31 AM Radhakrishna Warrier <radwa...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[rajeev Lochan]

Hello,

Indian Food - A historical companion by KT Achaya might give you some pointers. Though it was available in archive.org, i'm unable to find it anymore. Attaching the chapter of Aryas from my local copy.

Talageri's book has a small ref to the argument of Rice and Wheat pp 96-97

https://archive.org/details/the-rigveda-and-the-avesta-the-final-evidence/page/97/mode/2up

Two articles by Pvaal in indica are also very good reads on this topic

https://www.indica.today/long-reads/wheat-and-witzel-sanskrit-indology-cowsmoke-i/

https://www.indica.today/long-reads/wheat-and-witzel-sanskrit-indology-cowsmoke-ii/

In short Rig veda samhita does not mention Rice (Vrihi) or Wheat (Godhuma).

Regards,

Rajeev

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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are sure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

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