Chapter-3

Vedic Age
 Early Vedic age (1500 BC-1000 BC) [Rigvedic period- Rig-Veda is compiled]
 Later Vedic age (1000 BC – 600 BC)

Sources

Literary Sources Non Literary Sources

Indian Foreign Indian Foreign

Vedas P.G.W

Painted Grey Wares

Zend Avesta (Iranian text)

Iliad and Odyssey (Greek Text)

Boghazkoi inscription (Asia Minor) Mittani
Inscription (Syria)
 14th Century BC
 4 Vedic Gods Hittite Inscription
1. Indra (Anatoliya)
2. Varun
3. Mitra Kassite
4. Nastya inscription (Iraq)

Aryans
 Aryan meaning-common speech group / good men.
 Aryans were semi nomadic tribe whose society was based on Pastoral economy
(economy based on animal rearing).
 Some historians suggest that Aryans originated from central Asia while some suggests
steppes of Russia.
  Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his book “The Arctic Homes in the Vedas ”mentioned that the
origin of Aryans is the Arctic region.
 It is believed that Aryans entered India from the Hindukush mountains.
 Most accepted theory is that they came to India as immigrants.

Expansion of Early and later vedic age

Sapt saindhav region – Early vedic expansion.

Gangatic valley- Later vedic expansion.

Society Of Early Vedic age

 Society was a tribal and patriarchal society.

Family (Griha) Kula Gram Vis

Head was a male Head was a male Head was a male Head was a male
called Grihapati called Kulpa. called Gramin. called Vishpati.

Tribe(Jana)

Head was a male

called Rajana.

 No concept of child marriage only adult marriage is promoted.

 Usually monogamous (one wife) society but polygamy (more than one wife) concept was
also present similarly polyandry (more than one husband) was also present.
 Widow Remarriage was allowed, known as NIYOGA but there was no concept of sati,
therefore we can conclude that status of women was good.
 Gambling is there but not promoted & chariot races were common.

Varnas
No proper varna system till 1100 BCE society was divided based on trade (merchant class
division) and the term varna is used for color Arya varna (light skinned Indo-Aryans) & Dasa
and Dasyu varna (dark-skinned local people – possibly indigenous tribes).

Late Rigvedic period has concept of four varna Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra but this
varna system is flexible therefore it was an egalitarian society.
 Economy of Early Vedic age
Primarily pastoral economy (animal rearing based) secondarily agriculture based (yava i.e barley
was an important crop mentioned in Rig-Veda).

Important animals were-:

Horses and cows

Aghanya-Cow shouldn’t be killed.

Cow pen (Gotra)-Place where all cows of village kept.

Wars (Gavisthi)-Search of cows.

Bali- Voluntary offering to the chief.

 Barter system was used for trade and no coins were present.
 No taxation system.
 No Iron term is mentioned but a term “Ayas (ore)” is mentioned & it might be copper
ore.

Political life and administration of early vedic age

Chief
 Chief post is mostly hereditary but election by tribal assembly (samiti) was also there.
 Chief has two major works
1. To protect jana (tribe).
2. To protect cows (wealth).

Administrative officers
Purohit-Person giving suggestion to chief.

Senani-Commander-in-chief

Vrajpati-Head of pasture land.

Gramin-Head of village unit.

Tribal Assembly
Vidhat-Oldest assembly.

Sabha-Group of elites.
Samiti-Group of common men.

Gana,Vrat,Sharda

Note-:

Women were part of Sabha, Samiti & Vidhat.

Wars
Divodas V/S Sambara

Divodas-Head of Bharata tribe of tritsu family.

Divodas defeats Sambara.

Sudasa V/S 10 kings [Dashrajan yuddha]

 Sudasa was grandson of Divodas & head of Bharata tribe.

 10 kings [5 aryan tribes (Panchjana) + 5 non Aryan tribe].
 5 aryan tribes were-Anu, Yadu, Puru, Dhahyu, Turwasa.
 Purohit of Bharata tribe was Vashishtha.
 Purohit of panchjana was Vishwamitra.
 Bharata tribe got victory.
 This war took place on the bank of the Purushni River (Ravi River).
 This war is mentioned in 7th mandala of Rig-Veda compiled by Vashistha.

Religion of Early vedic age

 Religion was polytheistic and concept of ekeshwarvada is also there, sacrifices are
performed by purohit for the purpose of protection of jana and animals which indicates
that sacrifices are made for the materialistic purpose but not for spiritualistic purpose.
 Purohits get cows and women slaves (for domestic help) as dakshina.
 Concept of Henotheism was present (Multiple gods are present but you believe in one
god).
 In sacrifices & rituals generally complete tribe takes part but it can be done alone by chief
also on behalf of the whole tribe.

Concept of Rita- Natural order.

Head of rita was Ritsyagopa (Varuna- God of ocean).

Concept of Dharma (Duty)

Duty for themselves and others.

Natural forces

 Natural forces are worshipped through open air yajna and sacrifices like grains sacrifice.
 No concept of animal sacrifice.
 Rain god Indra is the most mentioned (250 hymns) god in Rig-Veda.
 Fire god Agni is 2nd most mentioned (200 hymns) god in Rig-Veda, Agni serves as a
cosmic bridge i.e a channel of communication between Humans and Gods.
 Water god Varuna is 3rd most mentioned (46 hymns) god in Rig-Veda.
 Rudra is the God of disease and animals.
 Usha is the goddess of Dawn (First light just before sunrise)
 Aditi is the mother goddess of Gods.
 Ashwini brothers are the physician of gods.

Vedic Literature

Shruti (Revealed by god) Smiriti (Remembered)

Veda
Purana Vedanga Dharmasutra

Karmakanda Gyankanda

Samhita Brahamana Aryanaka Upnishada

Samhita

Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sam-Veda, Atharva-Veda

Brahmana

Explanation of Samhita.

Ayanaka

 Discussion between hermits and students in forests.

  Discusses about philosophical meaning of rituals.

Upnishada/Vedanta (600 BCE)

Philosophical discussion.

Further Upnishadas compiled by sage Badarayana (Vedavyasa) in one text called Brahmasutra.

Note-:
 Yama-Nachiketa discussion in Kathopanishada.
 Vasudhaiva kutumbakam in Maha-upanishada.
 Satyamev Jayate in Mundakopanishada.
 There are total 108 upanishada.

Rig-Veda

It is the oldest text containing 1028 hymns and 10 books (Mandala).

1st Mandala discusses about gods like Indra, Agni etc.

2nd to 7th Mandala are oldest (Family books).

Note-:

 3rd Mandala has Gayatri mantra compiled by Vishwamitra.

 7th Mandala has a war mentioned known as Dashrajana yudh.
 9th Mandala dedicated to god of plants “Soma”.

10th Mandala

Nadisukta Purushasukta

 Most Mentioned river is  Brahmana (Head).

Indus river.  Kshatriya (Shoulder).
 Most pious river is saraswati  Vaishya (Thighs).
referred as Nadittama.
 Shudra (Lower leg).
Sam-Veda

Shortest and also known as veda of chants includes in UNESCO intangible list.

Yajur-Veda

Discusses about the procedure of sacrifice.

Atharva-Veda

 Inclusion of Non-Aryan Beliefs and Practices

 Magical Charms and Spells to Ward Off Evil Spirits

Up-Veda

Technical information that had been added to a particular veda in later phase.

 Rig-Veda has an upveda known as Ayur-Veda

 Sam-Veda has an upveda known as Gandharva-Veda
 Yajur-Veda has an upveda known as Dhanur-Veda Compiled by Vishwamitra.
 Atharva-Veda has an upveda known as Shilpa-Veda

Vedanga
Vedanga are 6 limbs or parts of Vedas compiled for the purpose of protection of Vedas.

These 6 limbs are-:

1. Shiksha (Phonetics).
2. Vyakarana (Grammar).
3. Niryukta (Etymology).
4. Jyotisha (Astrology).
5. Chhanda(Meter).
6. Kalpa.

Kalpa

Shruta sutra Griha Sutra Dharma Sutra

3 fires used. 1 fire used.

Grahapetya agni Dakshina agni Ahavaniya agni

 Circular structure.  Semi circular structure.  Square structure.

 Kept in western side  Kept in southern side  Kept in eastern side.
Note-:
Baudhyana shulba sutra discusses about the dimensions of vedi (Sacred ground or ritual area)
and altars (Structure for sacrifice) used in a sacrifice.

Puranas
 Puranas are compiled in 5th century AD and 6th century AD by ved vyasa (Gupta period).
 There are 18 purana.
 Puranas are considered as partial historical documents.

Theme of puranas are-:

1. Sarga (Creation).
2. Pratisarga (Re-creation after destruction).
3. Manvantara (Rule of manu) [there are 14 Manu’s therefore 14 Manvantaras should be
there].
4. Vamsa (Rule of Gods and Rishi).
5. Vamshanucharita (Genealogy/discussion of kings.)

Dharmashastra

 Discusses morality, ethics, duty of a particular person.

 Dharma will be decided on basis of gender, age, varna etc.
 Later Vedic age

Society

Dimensions Early Vedic age Later Vedic age

Varna Varna was color based. Four fold and flexible varna
system.
Marriage Widow remarriage was allowed, known Widow remarriage was
as NIYOGA. present but not promoted.
Women status Good Declined.
Ashramas No evidences Brahmacharya-Grihastya-
Vanprastha and sanyaas.
Purushartha No evidences Four purushartha
Dharma-Artha-Kaam-Moksha
Upnayana Sanskaar No evidences Sacred thread ceremony and
person known as DWIJA
(twice born),it was allowed to
males of upper three varnas &
rathakar only.
Untouchablility No evidences. Largely absent but as per
some Buddhist sources
reference of chandaal is there.
Sati & Child Totally absent. Largely absent although some
marriage. references are there.
 Economy

Dimensions Early Vedic age Later Vedic age

Type. Pastoral economy. Agriculture based economy.
Grains. Yava (Barley) is mentioned. Rices (Vrihi, Tandula, Sali) &
Godhama (wheat), Mudga (Moong
beans), Ikshu (sugarcane).
Mandatory taxation. No Evidences. It is present known as Bhaga.
Ore. Ayas (Copper). Shyamayas / Krishna ayas (Iron)
mentioned in Yajurveda.
Amusement/Gambling. Yes Yes.
Trade. Limited. More frequent.
Medium of Trade. Barter system. Barter system.
Slavery. Yes. Yes.
Coins. Nishka (Gold) but no Krishnala (copper) & shatamana
archealogical evidences. (silver).
Weaving Absent. Done by women only.
Pottery. Absent. P.G.W (Painted Grey Ware).

Political life and administrations.

Dimensions Early Vedic age Later Vedic age.

King system Chief, seems to be hereditary Hereditary.
but election was also there.
Tribal assemblies Vidhata, Sabha, Samiti Vidhat got disappeared
completely,character of Sabha
and Samiti was changed and
now led by princes and richer
class males (Women not
allowed).
Battle for Cows Lands
Standing army No evidences No evidences
Tribe Jana Janpada/Rashtra
Tax officer No Evidences Sanghrihtri (Ratnin) one of the
12 kind of ministers.
judiciary No evidences. King.
 Religion

Dimensions Early Vedic age Later Vedic age

Idol worship No evidences Largely absent but some
references might be present.
Method Open air yajna Present but more complex
Gods Indra and Agni Status of Indra and Agni declined
but status of Prajapati, Vishnu and
Rudra rises.
Sacrifices Grains Animal sacrifices
Sacrifices for To protect jana and To control public and establish
animals. supremacy.
 Ashwamedha yajna.
 Vajpeya yajna.
 Rajsuya yajna.
1. Aswamedha yajna was
for absolute supremacy.
2. Vajpeya was a chariot
race.
3. Rajsuya yajna was for
purpose of revitalizing the
king through various
devine powers.
Dakshina of Brahmana. Women slaves & Animals Land