What is Hiraṇyagarbha?

 

Rig Veda 10.121.1 mentions Hiraṇyagarbha.

हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेक आसीत् । स दाधार पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥
hiraṇyagarbhaḥ sam avartatāgre bhūtasya jātaḥ patir eka āsīt | sa dādhāra pṛthivīṃ dyām utemāṃ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema ||

English translation:

“Hiraṇyagarbha was present at the beginning; when born, he was the sole lord of created beings; he upheld this earth and heaven-- let us offer worship with an oblation to the divine Ka.”

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The widespread general meaning of Hiraṇya is Gold.  Hence, the popular concept Hiraṇyagarbha -  Golden womb.

However, there exists another meaning to Hiraṇya - imperishable matter.

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According to my understanding, since Rig Veda is all about spiritual matters, the meaning of Hiraṇya should only be taken as imperishable matter, but not as Brahma or Vishnu or something else.

Here, Hiraṇya - imperishable matter, should be understood as formless, all pervading BRAHMAN/God.

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So, in this background we can understand the meaning of the above Rik as

Formless, all pervading BRAHMAN was present at the beginning; when born, he was the sole lord of created beings; he upheld this earth and heaven-- let us offer worship with an oblation to the divine Ka.