Rig-Ve·da also Rig Ve·da or Rig·ve·da (rĭg-vā'də, -vē'də) n. The most ancient collection of Hindu sacred verses, consisting principally of hymns to various deities.
[Sanskrit gvedaḥ : k, verse, sacred text + vedaḥ, knowledge, veda; see weid- in Indo-European roots.]
1776, from Skt. rigveda, from rg- "song, praise, knowledge" + veda "knowledge." A thousand hymns, orally transmitted, probably dating from before 1000 B.C.E.