Vishpala
Encyclopedia
Vishpala is a woman (alternatively, a horse) mentioned in the Rigveda
(RV 1.112, 116, 117, 118 and RV 10.39). The name is likely from "settlement, village" and "strong", meaning something like "protecting the settlement".
Vishpala, "seeking booty", is helped in battle (alternative, in the prize-race) by the Ashvins
. As she lost her leg "in the time of night, in Khela's battle" (alternatively, "in Khela's race, eager for a decision"), they gave her a "leg of iron" so that she could keep running (1.116.15).
The interpretation as a female warrior in battle is due to Griffith (in keeping with Sayana
), the interpretation as a horse race is due to Karl Friedrich Geldner
.
As is often the case in the Rigveda, especially in the young books 1 and 10 (dated to roughly 1000 BC) a myth is only alluded to, the poet taking for granted his audience's being familiar with it, and beyond the fact that the Ashvins gave Vishpala a new leg, no information has survived, neither about Vishpala herself nor about "Khela's battle", or indeed the character of Khela (the name meaning "shaking, trembling").
Nevertheless, the allusion qualifies as the earliest reference to the concept of a prosthesis, while in Sayana's interpretation it can also be taken as an early reference to a female warrior.
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
(RV 1.112, 116, 117, 118 and RV 10.39). The name is likely from "settlement, village" and "strong", meaning something like "protecting the settlement".
Vishpala, "seeking booty", is helped in battle (alternative, in the prize-race) by the Ashvins
Ashvins
The Ashvins , in Hindu mythology, are divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranya , a goddess of the clouds and wife of Surya in his form as Vivasvat. The Ashvins are Vedic gods symbolising the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot,...
. As she lost her leg "in the time of night, in Khela's battle" (alternatively, "in Khela's race, eager for a decision"), they gave her a "leg of iron" so that she could keep running (1.116.15).
The interpretation as a female warrior in battle is due to Griffith (in keeping with Sayana
Sayana
' was an important commentator on the Vedas. He flourished under King Bukka I and his successor Harihara II, in the Vijayanagar Empire of South India...
), the interpretation as a horse race is due to Karl Friedrich Geldner
Karl Friedrich Geldner
Karl Friedrich Geldner was a German linguist best known for his analysis and synthesis of Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit texts.-Biography:...
.
As is often the case in the Rigveda, especially in the young books 1 and 10 (dated to roughly 1000 BC) a myth is only alluded to, the poet taking for granted his audience's being familiar with it, and beyond the fact that the Ashvins gave Vishpala a new leg, no information has survived, neither about Vishpala herself nor about "Khela's battle", or indeed the character of Khela (the name meaning "shaking, trembling").
Nevertheless, the allusion qualifies as the earliest reference to the concept of a prosthesis, while in Sayana's interpretation it can also be taken as an early reference to a female warrior.