Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c4.4

c4.4

The first systematic attempt to delimit the popular Rigveda was made many years ago by Professor HERMANN OLDENBERG in his *Prolegomena* to the Rigveda (Berlin, 1888). Oldenberg also adopted the method of statistical calculations; and was thus led to observe that even those parts of the Rigveda which were not in his view later additions, differed very materially in their metrical structure. It is the principal object of this book to examine these differences, and to see whether they can assist us to obtain an arrangement of the whole of the Rigveda upon historical principles.