At the sacrifices where Rig Veda hymns were recited, the devas were invited to come and sit around the sacrificial fire, to receive the hospitality of the Aryans who sacrificed animals in their honor. The priests of the Aryans attempted to incur the goodwill of the devas by singing them songs of praise. The composition of these hymns became confined to a small number of poetpriests who were considered inspired.
Because the Vedas were sacred and essential to the well-being of the Aryans, their priests developed special techniques to aid them in remembering the words to the hymns accurately and in teaching them to younger generations of priests. Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from the these hymns, though archeological excavations increasingly contribute