Keśin Explained

The Keśin were ascetic wanderers with mystical powers described in the Keśin Hymn (RV 10, 136) of the Rigveda (an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns).^[1] The Keśin are described as homeless, traveling with the wind, clad only in dust or yellow tatters, and being equally at home in the physical and the spiritual worlds. They are on friendly terms with the natural elements, the gods, enlightened beings, wild beasts, and all people.^[2] The Keśin Hymn also relates that the Keśin drink from the same magic cup as Rudra, which is poisonous to mortals.^[3]

The Kesin hymn of the Rigveda is the earliest evidence of yogis and their spiritual tradition, states Karel Werner.^[4] This concise hymn, depicting a long-haired ascetic, is considered a precursor to extreme ascetic practices and the Rudra-Siva tradition. The Hindu scripture Rigveda uses words of admiration for Kesins.

Description

The Keśin were lone ascetics, living a life of renunciation and wandering mendicants.^[5] The Keśin hymn appears as a precursor to extreme ascetic practices and the Rudra-Siva tradition, primarily due to its mention of Rudra and the ascetic drink in the final verse.^[6]

Yāska (c. 500 BCE) offered several etymological meanings to Keśin, including the sun or the sun God Surya. Sāyana (c. 14th century ACE) supported that view, followed by some early European Sanskrit scholars, including H. H. Wilson and M. Bloomfield.^[7] Hermann Oldenberg took the view that the Keśin Hymn described the "orgiastic practices of the old Vedic times" and the "drunken rapture" of the Keśin.^[8]

Ralph T. H. Griffith and Heinrich Roth rejected both the Surya and intoxicant-drinking views. Griffith supported Roth's view of the Keśin Hymn:

The hymn shows the conception that by a life of sanctity the Muni can attain to the fellowship of the deities of the air, the Vayu, the Rudras, the Apsarases, and the Gandharvas; and, furnished like them with wonderful powers, can travel along with them on their course.

Werner contrasts Kesin with Rishi, both loners, but the former being the silent wandering types and the latter being teachers, settled-in-a-hut types.^[1]

The Keśin Hymn (RV 10, 136)

The description of Keśin is found in hymn 10.136 of the Rigveda.^[9]

Jamison and Brereton translation (2014)

References

• Book: Flood , Gavin . Gavin Flood

. Gavin Flood. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. 1996. 9780521438780. registration. 78. refFlood1996.

• Book: Crangle , Edward Fitzpatrick . The Origin and Development of Early Indian Contemplative Practices. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. 1994. Studies in Oriental Religions. 29. 9783447034791. refCrangle1994.
• Book: Griffith , Ralph T. H. . The Hymns of the Rigveda. E. J. Lazarus and Co.. Benares. 1897. 582.
• McDaniel. June. 2009. Religious Experience in Hindu Tradition. Religion Compass. 3. 1. 99–115. 10.1111/j.1749-8171.2008.00120.x. refMcDaniel2009.
• Book: Werner , Karel . Karel Werner

. Karel Werner. The Yogi and the Mystic: Studies in Indian and Comparative Mysticism. Psychology Press. 1995. 9780700702725. refWerner1995.

• Book: Werner , Karel . Karel Werner

. Karel Werner. Yoga and Indian Philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass. 1998. 9788120816091. refWerner1998.

• Werner. Karel. Karel Werner. Sep 1977. Yoga and the Ṛg Veda: An Interpretation of the Keśin Hymn (RV 10, 136). Religious Studies. 13. 3. 289–302. 20005421. 10.1017/s0034412500010076. 170592174. refWerner1977.

Notes and References

1. [#refWerner1995|Werner 1995]
2. [#refWerner1998|Werner 1998]
3. [#refFitzpatrick1994|Fitzpatrick 1994]
4. Karel . Werner . 1977 . Yoga and the Ṛg Veda: An Interpretation of the Keśin Hymn (RV 10, 136) . Religious Studies . 13 . 3 . 289–302 . The Yogis of Vedic times left little evidence of their existence, practices and achievements. And such evidence as has survived in the Vedas is scanty and indirect. Nevertheless, the existence of accomplished Yogis in Vedic times cannot be doubted.. 10.1017/S0034412500010076 . 170592174 .
5. [#refFlood1996|Flood 1996]
6. Book: Jamison . Stephanie W. . The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India . Brereton . Joel P. . 2014 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-937018-4 . 1621 . en.
7. [#refWerner1995|Werner 1995]
8. [#refWerner1977|Werner 1977]
9. Sanskrit Original: (Wikisource of the Keśin hymn);
   केश्यग्निं केशी विषं केशी बिभर्ति रोदसी । केशी विश्वं स्वर्दृशे केशीदं ज्योतिरुच्यते ॥१॥मुनयो वातरशनाः पिशङ्गा वसते मला । वातस्यानु ध्राजिं यन्ति यद्देवासो अविक्षत ॥२॥उन्मदिता मौनेयेन वाताँ आ तस्थिमा वयम् । शरीरेदस्माकं यूयं मर्तासो अभि पश्यथ ॥३॥अन्तरिक्षेण पतति विश्वा रूपावचाकशत् । मुनिर्देवस्यदेवस्य सौकृत्याय सखा हितः ॥४॥वातस्याश्वो वायोः सखाथो देवेषितो मुनिः । उभौ समुद्रावा क्षेति यश्च पूर्व उतापरः ॥५॥अप्सरसां गन्धर्वाणां मृगाणां चरणे चरन् । केशी केतस्य विद्वान्सखा स्वादुर्मदिन्तमः ॥६॥वायुरस्मा उपामन्थत्पिनष्टि स्मा कुनन्नमा । केशी विषस्य पात्रेण यद्रुद्रेणापिबत्सह ॥७॥ – Rigveda 10.136, 2nd millennium BCE