The History and Culture of the Indian People v1.c19.s1.13

v1.c19.s1.13

There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to the part of India where the bulk of the *Ṛigveda* was composed. Max Müller, Weber, Muir, and others held that the Punjab was the main scene of the activity of the *Ṛigveda*, whereas the more recent view put forth by Hopkins and Keith is that it was composed in the country round the Sarasvatī river south of modern Ambāla.⁹ Brunnhofer, Hertel, Hüsing, and others, however, argue that the scene of the *Ṛigveda* is laid, not in the Punjab, but in Afghānistān and Irān.¹⁰ These and other theories need not be discussed in detail. Keith has rightly observed that "conclusions can be drawn only with much caution. It is easy to frame and support by plausible evidence various hypotheses, to which the only effective objection is that other hypotheses are equally legitimate, and that the facts are too imperfect to allow of conclusions being drawn."¹¹