Is the concept of one Ishwara present in Vedas? Authenticity and Ancientness of Purusha Sukta

Question

The concept of Ishwara being one supreme being, Lord and God is used in Puranic and Modern Hinduism.

But was such a concept present in Vedas or authentic Upanishads?

This Wikipedia article says no

The word Īśvara does not appear in Rigveda.[15] However, the verb īś- does appear in Rig veda, where the context suggests that the meaning of it is "capable of, able to".[15] It is absent in Samaveda, is rare in Atharvaveda, but it appears in Samhitas of Yajurveda. The contextual meaning, however as the ancient Indian grammarian Pāṇini explains, is neither god nor supreme being.

Did the concept of Ishwara, the Single Supreme God exist in Vedas?

One can readily give example of Purusha Sukta, which is clearly Monotheistic, but again this Wikipedia article seems fo say that Purusha Sukta was a later addition.

Some scholars state that certain verses of Purusha Sukta are later interpolations to the Rigveda. One of the reasons given is that it is the only hymn in all the Vedas that mentions the four varnas by name - although the word "varṇa" itself is not mentioned in the hymn

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This four varna-related verse is controversial and is believed by many scholars, such as Max Müller, to be a corruption and a medieval or modern era insertion into the text

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Many 19th and early 20th century scholars questioned as to when parts or all of Purusha Sukta were composed, and whether some of these verses were present in the ancient version of Rigveda. They suggest it was interpolated in post-Vedic era[18] and is a relatively modern origin of Purusha Sukta

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There can be little doubt, for instance, that the 90th hymn of the 10th book (Purusha Sukta) is modern both in its character and in its diction. (...) It mentions the three seasons in the order of the Vasanta, spring; Grishma, summer; and Sarad, autumn; it contains the only passage in the Rigveda where the four castes are enumerated. The evidence of language for the modern date of this composition is equally strong. Grishma, for instance, the name for the hot season, does not occur in any other hymn of the Rigveda; and Vasanta also does not belong to the earliest vocabulary of the Vedic poets.

— Max Müller

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1. Is the concept of one Ishwara present in Vedas?

2. How old is Purusha sukta?

Answer 1

1. Is the concept of one Ishwara present in Vedas?

The term Isvara may not be there in the Rig Veda. The concept of monotheism, one Supreme, is in the Rig Veda.

They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutman.

To what is One, sages give many a title, they call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan.

Rig Veda 1.164.46

To you I come with this mine adoration, and with a hymn I crave the Strong One's favor

A hymn that truly makes joyful, Maruts. Suppress your anger and unyoke your horses.

Rig Veda 1.171.1

Radhakrishnan, however, thinks that the Rig Veda monotheism is not the monotheism of the modern age.

Monotheism characterizes some of the hymns of the Rg-Veda. There is no doubt that sometimes the several gods were looked upon as the different names and expressions of the Universal Being. But this monotheism is not as yet the trenchant clear-cut monotheism of the modern world.

Indian Philosophy, The hymns of the Rg-Veda, by S. Radhakrishnan

2. How old is Purusha sukta?

The tenth mandala, where Purusa Sukta is found, is believed to be a later addition by scholars.

Mandala ten seems to be a later appendage. At any rate, it contains views current at the last period of the development of the Vedic hymns.

Indian Philosophy, The Hymns of the Rg-Veda, by S. Radhakrishnan

Answer 2

Iswara (loosely translated as God, Lord, Deity) is another word for Saguna Brahman. There are many, many instances of the description of Saguna Brahman in the vedas (Upanishads). But to address what I think is you specific question, the Svetasvatara Upanishad 4.10 uses the word Maheisvarah (Mahe - great or supreme, Isvarah - Lord) specifically. The verse says (Swami Gambhirananda translator):

One should know that Nature is surely Maya, and the supreme Lord is the Ruler of Maya to be sure. This whole universe is verily pervaded by what are His limbs.

Wikipedia articles on Hinduism are for the most part written by Western 'scholars' of Hinduism, not Hindus. Their (Western scholars) views are colored by their own preconceived views and should not be considered sources. All of what is considered Hinduism today is derived from Vyasa, the writings of the Rig veda are not considered the ultimate definition or measure of what is or is not Hindu theology. Jesus Christ does not appear in the Torah; should Christians reject Jesus Christ or Christian theology then?