Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c8.14

c8.14

‘**Nivid**.’ Another early form of the Mantra is known as *Nivid*. Its origin is described in the *Aitareya-Brāhmaṇa*. Prajāpati, filled with desire for creation, gave himself up to *tapas* in silence for a year, and then uttered the first Word twelve times, from which emerged the Universe. This Word of twelve syllables is known as *Nivid*. *Nivids* are described as being ‘ancient’ (*pūrva*) and “many” in several passages in the Rigveda such as i, 89, 3; i, 96, 2; ii, 36, 63, and referred to in iv, 18, 7 and vi, 67, 10.