Richa

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Richa refers to a shloka (couplet) or mantra, usually two to four sentences long, found in the Hindu religious scriptures, the Vedas.

The etymological origin of Richa is the sanskrit word, ric, which means ,to praise (reference: A Sanskrit English Dictionary 2005 Deluxe Edition: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages by M Monier-Williams). Richa, is therefore, one ric after the other.

Other meanings of ric are splendour, worship, a hymn. (reference: Apte sanskrit dictionary: http://aa2411s.aa.tufs.ac.jp/~tjun/sktdic/)

The four vedas, Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda are sacred to the Hindus, and along with the Bhagavad Gita form the foundation of Hinduism.

The Rigveda is a collection of hymns, many of which are intended for various sacrificial rituals. These hymns praise the Aryan gods, like the Sun, the Moon, and other celestial bodies.

The Samaveda is a collection of hymns that are supposed to be chanted by the priests during the performance of religious sacrifices and rituals.

The Yajurveda contains the mantras to be chanted during religious sacrifices and rituals, and describes how to perform these ceremonies.

The Atharvaveda is the source of ancient medicinal system, which is popularly known as Ayurveda. Atharvaveda also talks about warfare, e.g. the use of weapons, various kinds of poison and biological attacks that can be used during war.

The Bhagvad Gita is a chapter from the holy epic of Mahabharata, which is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. During the conversation, Krishna summarizes the philosophies of Hinduism, and explains the meaning and purpose of life.

Richa is a verbal composition of celestial sounds called "Shrutis". The famous Gayatri Mantra is a Richa, too.

It is also a popular name among females in Hindus.