THE VEDIC CULTURE
After 1500 B.C. the cities of Harappan culture
declined .
Around this period, the speakers
of Indo-Aryan language, Sanskrit, entered the north-west India from the
Indo-Iranian region.
Initially they would have come in
small numbers through the passes in the north western mountains.
Their initial settlements were in
the valleys of the north-west and the plains of the Punjab. Later, they moved
into Indo- Gangetic plains.
As they were mainly a
cattlekeeping people, they were mainly in search of pastures.
By 6th century B.C.,
they occupied the whole of North India, which was referred to as Aryavarta.
This period between 1500 B.C and 600 B.C may
be divided into
Early
Vedic Period or Rig Vedic Period
(1500 B.C -1000 B.C)
Later
Vedic Period (1000B.C - 600 B.C).
Vedic Literature
The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the root ‘vid’,
which means to know. In other words,
the term ‘Veda’ signifies ‘superior knowledge’.
The Vedic literature consists of the four
Vedas –
1.Rig
Veda
2.Yajur
Veda
3.Sama
Veda
4.Atharva
Veda
. The Rig Veda is the earliest of the four Vedas and it consists of 1028 hymns. The hymns were sung in
praise of various gods.
The Yajur Veda consists of
various details of rules to be observed at the time of sacrifice.
The
Sama Veda
is set to tune for the purpose of chanting during sacrifice. It is called the
book of chants and the origins of
Indian music are traced in it.
The Atharva Veda contains
details of rituals.
Besides the Vedas, there are
other sacred works like the Brahmanas,
the Upanishads, the Aranyakas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Brahmanas are the treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial
ceremony.
The Upanishads
are philosophical texts dealing with topic like the soul, the absolute, the
origin of the world and the mysteries of nature.
The Aranyakas are called forest books and they deal with mysticism,
rites, rituals and sacrifices.
The Ramayana was authored by Valmiki and that of Mahabharata was Vedavyas.
Rig vedic age 1500 -1000BC
During this period the Aryans were mostly confined to the Indus region.
There are seven rivers mentioned at that time in the rig Veda.
From the hyms of rig Veda we get the information of political social and cultural life of these people.
Political organisation
The basic unit of political organisation was Kula or Family.
Gramani was the leader of grama.
A group of villages constituted a larger unit called Vishu.
It was headed by Vishayapati.
Jana or tribe was the highest political unit.
There were many tribal kingdoms during the rig Vedic period such as Bharats, Matsyas, Yadus and purus.
Rajan was the head of kingdom.
The rig Vedic polity was normally monocle and the succession was hereditary.
The king was assisted by Purohit or priest and Senani or commander of the army in his administration.
There were two popular body is called Sabha and samiti.
Sabha - it seems to have been a council of elders.
Samiti - it is a General assembly of the entire people.
Social life
The rig Vedic society was patriarchal the basic unit of society was family or Graham.
Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent among the royal and noble families.
The wife participated in all the medal ceremony.
Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
There were women poet like a Apala, vishwavara, and lopamudra during the rig Vedic period.
women could attend the popular assemblies and there was no child marriage and the practice of sati was absent.
The eating of cows milk was prohibited since it was a sacred animal.
Chariot racing, horse racing, racing ,music and dance was the favourite pastimes.
In the rig Vedic period the social divisions was not rigid but it became rigid in later Vedic period.
Economic life
The rig Vedic Aryans were pastoral people and their main occupation was cattle rearing.
Their wealth was cattle.
When they permanently settled in North India they begin practice agriculture with the knowledge and use of iron they were able to clean forest and bring more land under cultivation.
Gold coins called Nishka were used as a medium of exchange and large transactions in trade.
Religion
The rig Vedic Aryans worship the natural forces like earth ,fire ,wind ,rain and thunder.
Important rig Vedic god's were Prithvi(Earth)
Agni (fire)
Vayu (wind)
Varun (rain ) and Indra (thunder).
Indra was the most popular among the gods.
After Indira Agni was regarded as important God.
Agni was regarded as an intermediary between the gods and people.
Varun was supposed to be the upholder of natural order.
There was also female gods like Aditi and Ushas.
David not temples and no Idol worship during the early Vedic period.
Prayers are offered to God in the expectations of reward.
Ghee, milk and grain were given as offering.
Later Vedic period (1000- 600B.C)
In this period orders for the moved towards east .
One important development during this period is growth of large kingdoms.
Rig vedic age 1500 -1000BC
During this period the Aryans were mostly confined to the Indus region.
There are seven rivers mentioned at that time in the rig Veda.
From the hyms of rig Veda we get the information of political social and cultural life of these people.
Political organisation
The basic unit of political organisation was Kula or Family.
Gramani was the leader of grama.
A group of villages constituted a larger unit called Vishu.
It was headed by Vishayapati.
Jana or tribe was the highest political unit.
There were many tribal kingdoms during the rig Vedic period such as Bharats, Matsyas, Yadus and purus.
Rajan was the head of kingdom.
The rig Vedic polity was normally monocle and the succession was hereditary.
The king was assisted by Purohit or priest and Senani or commander of the army in his administration.
There were two popular body is called Sabha and samiti.
Sabha - it seems to have been a council of elders.
Samiti - it is a General assembly of the entire people.
Social life
The rig Vedic society was patriarchal the basic unit of society was family or Graham.
Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent among the royal and noble families.
The wife participated in all the medal ceremony.
Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
There were women poet like a Apala, vishwavara, and lopamudra during the rig Vedic period.
women could attend the popular assemblies and there was no child marriage and the practice of sati was absent.
The eating of cows milk was prohibited since it was a sacred animal.
Chariot racing, horse racing, racing ,music and dance was the favourite pastimes.
In the rig Vedic period the social divisions was not rigid but it became rigid in later Vedic period.
Economic life
The rig Vedic Aryans were pastoral people and their main occupation was cattle rearing.
Their wealth was cattle.
When they permanently settled in North India they begin practice agriculture with the knowledge and use of iron they were able to clean forest and bring more land under cultivation.
Gold coins called Nishka were used as a medium of exchange and large transactions in trade.
Religion
The rig Vedic Aryans worship the natural forces like earth ,fire ,wind ,rain and thunder.
Important rig Vedic god's were Prithvi(Earth)
Agni (fire)
Vayu (wind)
Varun (rain ) and Indra (thunder).
Indra was the most popular among the gods.
After Indira Agni was regarded as important God.
Agni was regarded as an intermediary between the gods and people.
Varun was supposed to be the upholder of natural order.
There was also female gods like Aditi and Ushas.
David not temples and no Idol worship during the early Vedic period.
Prayers are offered to God in the expectations of reward.
Ghee, milk and grain were given as offering.
Later Vedic period (1000- 600B.C)
In this period orders for the moved towards east .
One important development during this period is growth of large kingdoms.
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