Vedic India: Land of Sages and Seers

 

  THE VEDIC PERIOD

                                                 (1500BC-600BC)


  • The Aryans are supposed to have migrated from central Asia into the Indian subcontinent in several stages or wages during 2000 B.C – 1500 B.C.

  • Boghazkai inscription, which mentions 4 Vedic goods Indra, Varuma, Mitra and Nasatya.

  • The Group that came to India first settled in the present frontier province and the Punjab then called Sapt a Sindu i.e. region of seven rivers.



VEDIC LITERATURE:

Vedic Literature comprises of four litracy productions:


  1. The samhitas or Vedas.

  2. The Brahmas.

  3. The Aram akas

  4. The Upanishads


The most important of Vedic literature are Vedas. 

   - Vedas are called apaurasheya i.e. not created by man but god – gifted and Nitya i.e. existing in all eternity


THERE ARE FOUR VEDAS :

  • Rig Veda,

  • Yajur Veda,

  • Samaveda,

  • Atthar Veda



  1. Rig Veda - It the oldest tent in the world.

-The Rig Veda contains loz hymus and 10560 Verses, divided inot 10 mandals.

- The hymns of Rig Veda were recited by Hatri. - Also contains the famous Gayatri Mantra.


  1. The Yajur Veda – Is a Ritual Veda - It is vided inot two parts Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajur Veda. - Rituals of Yajnas. 

  2. The Sama Veda – had 1549 Verses. - This Veda is important for India music. - Book for chants. 

  3. The Athar Veda: Contains Charms and Spells to word off evils and discuses. - Mantras for magic spells. 


The Upanishadas: 



- The upanishadas are philosophical texts. 
- They are generally called Vedanta. 
- There are 108 upanishads. 
- Vrihadaranyaka is the oldest upnishadas. 

Vedangas:

There are six Vedangas 
  1.  Shiksha 
  2. Kalpa Sutras
  3. Vyakarana
  4. Nirukta 
  5.  Chanda 
  6. Jyotisha 

Mahakavyas: There are mainly two Mahakavyas. 

(1) The Ramayana 
(2) The Mahabharata. The Purana: 
The Purana means “The old”: 
- There are 18 famous ‘Puranas’ 
- The matsya purana is the oldest puranic text
- The important puranas are the Bhagavata, the Vishnu. The vegu and the Brahmnda.

Rig Vedic (1500 BC – 1000 B.C):

- Rig Veda is the only source of knowledge for period. 
- Rig Veda people, who called themselves Aryans were confined in the are which came to be known as Sapta Sinddhu i.e land of the seven rivers. 
- According to Rig Veda the famous Dassajan was the interaine war of the Aryans. The Rig Veda speaks of assemblies such as the Sabha Samiti, Vidath, and Grana. 
- Rig Vedic society comprised four Vramas, namely: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. 
- Teacher and priests were called Brahmas, Rules and administrators were called Kshatriyas and artisans and laburses were reckoned or shudras. 
- Child marriage was not in vogue. 
- Milk and its product curd, butter and ghee formed on important part of the diet. 
- The cow was already deemed Agnaya i.e. not to be killed. 
- Alcoholic drinks, Sura and soma were also consumed. 
- Indira, Agni Varuma were the most Popular Duties of Rig Vedic Aryans. 
- The Aryana crossed the nomadic stage. Yet, great important was attached to herds of cattle various animals were domesticated. 
- Tiger was not known but the wild animals like – lion, elephant and bear were known to them.

Later Vedic period: 100 B.C – 600 B.C 

- During the eater Vedic period the Aryan Settlements covered virtually the whole northern Indira – Aryavarta. 
- The center of culture now shifted from Saraswati to Ganges. 
- The expansion of people towards the east in indicate in a legend of Sataptha Brahamana. 
- Large kingdom and stately cities made their appearances in the later Vedic period. 
- In Taittariya Brahmas we notice the theory of the divine origin of Kingship. 
- The military officials of the Rig Vedic times the Semanj and the Grramini. 
- The Sthapati being entrusted with the duty of administering. 
- Adhikrita was the village officials. 
- The popular control over the affairs of the Kingdom was exercised through Sabha and Samiti. 
- The Earliest references to the 4 Ashrams: Brahmachrya, Grihastha, Vanprastha and Sanyasa is found in the Jobala uponishad. 
- Woman were prohibited to attend the political Assemblies. 
- The earlier divinites Indra and Agni were relegated inot the background while prajapati, Vishnu and Rudra. 
- Prajapati Become Supreme God. 
- Land had become more valuable than cows.
- Rice, Barley, beans, sesame and wheat were cultivated.
- Production of goods advanced as indicated by new occupations like fisherman, washer man, dyers, doorkeepers and footmen.

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