Where did dhyAna or meditation originate?

 

According to Wynne, the earliest clear references to meditation are in the middle Upanishads and the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad Gita). According to Gavin Flood, the earlier Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is describing meditation when it states that "Having become calm and concentrated, one perceives the self (Ātman) within oneself" (BU 4.4.23).

—-

However, the earliest reference to dhyAna or meditation can be found in Rig Veda.

Please note the word dīdhyānāḥ - दीध्यानाः .

Rig Veda 4.50.1 - rishi - vāmadeva gautama

यस्तस्तम्भ सहसा वि ज्मो अन्तान्बृहस्पतिस्त्रिषधस्थो रवेण । तं प्रत्नास ऋषयो दीध्यानाः पुरो विप्रा दधिरे मन्द्रजिह्वम् ॥

yas tastambha sahasā vi jmo antān bṛhaspatis triṣadhastho raveṇa | tam pratnāsa ṛṣayo dīdhyānāḥ puro viprā dadhire mandrajihvam ||

Shri Aurobindo’s translation:

He, who established in his might the extremities of the earth, Brihaspati, in the triple world of our fulfilment, by his cry, on him the earlier sages meditated and, illumined, set him in their front with his tongue of ecstasy.

—

Please also note puro viprā - ancient sages

The rishi was stating that Brihaspati was meditated upon even by sages earlier to him.