Ancient History - Culture and Heritage Know About the Country

THE VEDIC AGE 

  (Chapter-3rd)  

The Harappan cities began to decline around 1900 B.C and around the same time, we find archaeological evidence of the arrival of new people known as  Aryans or Indo-Aryans on the outskirts of the Harappan region. With the arrival of Indo-Aryans, Vedic Age Started in India.

COMING OF ARYANS

Some scholars believe that the Aryans were native to the soil of India while others believe that the Aryans migrated from outside, i.e. Central Asia ( Max Muller); Europe, Arctic region (B.G Tilak) and so on.

Do You Know? Although we get the information about Rig Vedic age from the literary sources but people during that period did not know either to read or write.

·       Sapta Sindhu is a place where the first group that came to India settled here. And they lived here and gradually pushed into the valleys of the Ganges and the Yamuna.

·       The foremost wave of Aryans is called the Rig Vedic people who appeared in about 1500 B.C.

·       Before the coming of the Aryans in India, it is believed that the greater part of Northern-Western India was covered by Dravidians. After the arrival of the Aryans, they moved southwards.

·       Aryans mean- the best or eminent.

·       In order to prove that supremacy the Aryans took this name and called themselves ‘the Aryans’ and they called their opponents ‘ Anarya’, ‘Dasy’ or ‘Das’.

·       The Aryans were fair, handsome and slim shape persons.

·       Their minds were filled with natural imaginations.

·       They were brave and arduous with a highly developed attitude.

·       They were farmers and they loved nature in the form of God

                                                  

IMPORTANT VEDIC FACTS

·       Vedic literature  passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Hence these are called Shruti (to hear)

·       Some historians said that later Vedic period as the period of epics(long poems)

·       According to the Rig-Veda, the river Saraswati was the most pious river.

·       The most mentioned river- Sindhu

·       Mention of the Ganges-1time

·       Mention of the Yamuna- 3times

·       Rigveda mentions 40 rivers.

·       Rigveda refers to Sapta Sindhu northland of 7 rivers.

·       Land between the Saraswati and Drishadwati is called Brahmavarta.

RIG VEDIC LIFE   

The Rigvedic society was patriarchial.

The basic unit of society was family or Kulas

The head of the family o the Kula was Kulapa. The eldest male member was usually regarded s kulapa.

Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent.

·       The female member of the house took care of the household and participated in all the major ceremonies.

·       Women were given equal opportunities as men frothier spiritual and intellectual development . There were women poets like Apala, Viswaavara, Ghost, and Lopamudra during the Rigvedic period.

·       Women could even attend the popular assemblies.

·       The girls were free to choose their life partners.

·       There was no child marriage, No Sati pratha or Purdah system

·       The widows were free to remarry the brother of the late husband or someone else of their choice.

·       Garments are made of cotton and wool .and these garments wore both men and women.  A variety of ornaments were also used by both men and women.

·       Wheat and Barley, milk and its products like curd and ghee, vegetables and fruits were the chief articles of food. Chariot racing, horse racing, dicing, music, and dance were the favorite pastimes. The social divisions were not rigid during the Rig Vedic age

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·       The 10^th Mandal of Rig Veda contains Purushsukta in which the four varnas, i.e, Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra are mentioned for the first time.

VEDIC POLITY

·       The land of the Vedic Aryans was divided into several small tribal principalities. Each tribe had its own monarch. There were constant wars among these tribes.

·       There were a few non-monarchial states as well. These states were called Gana.

·       The Ganapati or tystha (elder) was the head of a non-monarchial state.

·       The area ruled by the Aryans was known as ‘Aryavarta’.

.’ Bharat’ was the most important tribe after whom this country has been named ‘Bharat’.

·       Divodas and Sudaswere the two renouned rulers of the Bharat race.

·       Divodas fought against Turuvasas, Purus, and Yadus.

·       Sudas had to fight the ‘War of Ten kings’.

KINGSHIP

·       The kingship in the Vedic the period seems to be hereditary but the king did not enjoy unlimited powers.

·       The king was responsible for the protection of the tribe. Aitareya Brahman denotes that the in the Vedic age originated as are the result of human needs and military necessity.

·       In times of peace the  king dispensed justice and performed sacrifice.

·       The ideal of kingship was very high. He was called ‘Mitra in kindness, Varuna in virtues and Indra in Valour.”

·       His coronation the oath before the people was “May my life and offspring be cut off if I work against your interests.”

Popular Assemblies

·       Sabha and Samiti controlled the affairs of Vedic states. These two assemblies were called the two daughters of Prajapati.

·       The Sabha was the body of the elders and was constituted mainly of the Brahmanas and rich patrons who controlled the vagrancy of the King and used to advise the King.

THE EARLY VEDIC ECONOMY

The Early Vedic economy was mostly based on cattle breeding and agriculture. In addition, people were engaged in craft trade.

·       Cattle Breeding was the primary occupation. They used several animals, The most significant role in their life is played by horse.

·       Although the Rig Vedic people possessed good knowledge of agriculture was the secondary occupation.

·       Ploughshare is mentioned in the earliest part of the Rig Veda though some consider it an interpolation.

·       Trade was present during the Rig Vedic Age but its influence on the economy was negligible. Clothes and leather goods were the most traded items.

·       There was no sign of urbanization and it was a rural economy. The term for war in the Rig Vedas gavishi or the search for cows’.

·       The Rig Veda mentions occupations such  as artisans the carpenter, the chariot-maker, the weaver, the leatherworker, the potter, etc.

·        For copper or bronze, the  term used is  ‘ayas’  shows that  metalworking was known.

·       Bali was the earliest tax but it was voluntary and there was no officer or functionary who was associated with tax collection.

Religion In the Early Vedic Period

People of the Rig Vedic age were mainly polytheists having no scientific outlook.

The Vedic Aryans worshipped various forces of nature but believed in the basic unity.

The Rig Vedic people sang hymns to please the Gods.

·       Animals were not worshipped. There is no evidence of tree worship. No sign for Animism.

·       The Rig Vedic Aryans worshipped the natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain, and thunder. They personified these natural forces into many gods and worshipped them. The important Rig Vedic gods were Prithvi (Earth), Agni ( Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain ) and Indira ( Thunder).

·       Indira  was the most popular among them during the early Vedic period . Next in importance was Agni who was regarded as an intermediary between the gods and people. Varuna was supposed to be the upholder of the natural order. There were also female gods like Aditi and Ushas. Prayers were offered to the gods in the expectation of rewards. Ghee, milk, and grain were given as offerings. Elaborate rituals were followed during worship.

·       The Aryans through their prayers wanted to evoke sky gods who could actively help them fight against their enemies. The Vedic hymns were recited at sacrifices to Aryan gods which they called devs. Devas were believed to control the forces of nature, they were divine power.

LATER VEDIC AGE

                          

EDUCATION

During the later Vedic age, education became more systematic but restricted.

The right of education was not given to the Shudras. Only the so-called twice-born were entitled to an education.

The education was imparted at the home of the teachers who were Brahmins. It was done so far for a number of years. It was oral and students learned by rote.

During the later Vedic age, a vast volume of  Vedic literature was composed.It consisted of 3 Vedas- Yajurved, Samved, and Atharved, The Brahmanas, The Ayanks, and the Upanishad.

YAJUR VEDA

§  It is in prose

§  It has 2 parts-

a)    Shukla (these are verses);

b)    Krishna (verses accompanied with commentary on them )

SAM VEDA

§  It is lyrical

§  It had 1549 or 1810 verses

ATHARVEDA

§  It has 20 mandals, 731 riches, 5839 mantras

§  It discusses and describes charms and magic.

BRAHAMANAS

§  These texts are commentary in prose on Vedas.

§  Every Veda has its own Brahamana text.

ARANYAKAS

§  These were composed, studied and discussed in forests.

§  These works are also attached to Vedas.

UPANISHADS

§  Upanishads were written in prose as well as in poetry. They were the 1^st bok on philosophy in India.

LATER VEDIC AGE (1000-600BC)

        

.Later Vedic age witnessed the constitution of three Veda namely, the Samveda Samhita, Veda Samhitas the Yajurveda Samhita, the Atharveda Samhita along with the Brahmans and the Upanishads of all the four veds. This period is also marked  as Iron-PGW Age because of the use of Iron in agriculture and painted grey ware (PGW).

                                    

GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION

·       All later Vedic text was compiled in the upper Gangetic basin during 1000-600BC.During the later Vedic Period, The Aryans moved into Eastward and southward areas.

·       The Aryans moved into Eastward and southward areas.The literature  of this period mentions the Arabians sea, the Vindhayan range, and the Nothern plains of the Ganga- Yamuna Doab.

·       In the East, Aryans habituated the Awadh region and after that they entered into Bihar. A proof of the Eastward march was given in the Satpatha Brahamana through the story of Agni and Videha.

The later Vedas give three broad divisions of India

1.    Aryavarta ( Nothern India

2.    Madhyadesa ( Central India)

3.    Dakshina Patha( Southern India)

POLITICAL ORGANISATION

1.   Rise of Big States

The small tribal states of the Rig Vedic period were replaced by powerful states. Many famous tribes of Rig Vedic period like Bharatas, Purus, Tritsus, and Turvasas passed into oblivion and new tribes like the Kurus and Panchalas rose into prominence. There was the transformation of the Rigvedic Jana (meaning, people or tribe )into the Janapada (meaning the area where the tribe settled). The Rajanayas of the Rigvedic now became the kshatriyas of their territories.

2.    GROWTH OF ROYAL POWER

In the Later Vedic period, Rigvedic popular assemblies lost their importance and royal power increased. The Vidhata completely disappeared.

The Saha became more powerful than the Samiti and was dominated by the Nobles and the Brahmans. Women were not allowed to attend the sabha.

3.    ORIGIN OF KINGSHIP

There were two theories regarding the origin of kingship. The Aitareya Brahamana explained the rational theory of election by common consent of origin of kingship and the Taittiriya Brahmana explained the divine origin of kingship.

4.    Five Types Of State System

·       Rajya ( Central kingdom) Ruled by the Raja

·       Bhojya (the southern kingdom)  Ruled by the Bhoja

·       Swarajya ( Western kingdom) Ruled by theSvarat

·       Vairajya ( Northern kingdom) Ruled by the Virat

·       Samrajya ( Eastern kingdom) Ruled by the Samrat

LATER VEDIC ECONOMIC CONDITION

·       The early Vedic Period was a Bronze( (chalcolithic ) Age culture whereas the later Vedic period was an Iron Age culture.

·       The transition of Vedic society from semi-nomadic life to settled agriculture in the later Vedic age led to an increase in trade and competition for resources.

·       Rice, barley, beans, sesame, and wheat were cultivated.

·       Rice is called Vrihi in the Vedic texts.

Agricultural technology was developed. The farmers started plowing lands with the help of 6 to24 bulls.

Various binds of lentils were also produced by the later Vedic people.

The land was cultivated with the help of the Shudras and the slaves.

                               

The Vaisya were the producing class and the Kshatriyas  (rajanya) and the Brahmans (priests) depended on them for their subsistence.

SOCIAL LIFE

 The people dispersed in various parts of India In the later period. This affected social structures and made it more complex.

PATRIARCHIAL FAMILY SYSTEM

The head of the family is the eldest male member of the family and  called as ‘grihapati’

CONCEPT OF VARNA

In the 10^th mandala, in Purushsukta of Rigveda clear-cut division of the society, has been mentioned. According to this system, various duties were assigned to each varna like,

Brahman  Teaching, learning, performance, and hosting of sacrifice.

Kshatriya Learning, sacrifice and protection of people and land and they also called a warrior.

Vaishya Trade and agriculture: the agriculturists, traders, and artisans belonged to this varna.

Shudra  Submission of service to upper three classes, this was the lowest of the varna –ladder and had powers  and no rights in society.

The three ( Brahmans, Kshatriya, Vaishya) in the combination was perceived as men of higher Varnas, i.e. traivarnikas.

THE SYSTEM OF MARRIAGE

·       Marriage was considered as the main duty of Vedic people and hence it became a point of religious importance. In the grihastha ashrama, a person is expected by the canons to get married.

·        ‘Inter-Varna’ marriages were disliked in this period. Whereas’ similar gotra/ family marriages’ were forbidden.

 LATER VEDIC RELIGION

The religion became very complex in the Later Vedic period.

The Gods like Indra, Varuna and Surya became unpopular. There emerged new Gods like Vishnu , Rudra, Shiva.

Prajapati, the lord of created beings cast all the older deities into the shade.

Pushan became the God of the shudra who was the protector of cattle in the early Vedic period?

Vishnu occupied the place of Varuna as the most sublime among the celestials and his highest step became the goal of the stages.

The sacrifices varied and codified with various types of rules and regulations, i.e karmakanda.

Some rights are snatched from kulapatis like rights of sacrifices and this became the monopoly of the priest class.

The main tenets of Hinduism are the doctrines of karma, Maya transmigration, identification of individual soul with the universal soul and the Mukti.

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