Vedic Age

வேதகாலம்
Vedic Age / வேதகாலம்
 It is a period in the History of India between 1500 BC (BCE) – 600 BC (BCE).

 It gets its name from four ‘Vedas’.

 It belonged to the period of Iron Age (இரும்பு யுகம்).

Vedic Age
Polity / அரசியல்
 Kula (clan) Headed by Kulapathi (குலபதி).

 Grama (village) headed by Gramani(கிராமணி).

 Vis (clan) and was headed by Vishayapati (விஷயபதி).

 Rajan was the head of the Jana (tribe) and he was addressed as Janasyagopa (guardian
of the people).

 There were two bodies- Sabha(council of elders) and Samiti(general assembly of people)
Polity
Later Vedic Period / பின் வேத காலம்

 Larger kingdoms by amalgamation formed ‘Mahajanapadas or rashtras‘

(மகாஜனபதங்கள்).

 Power of the king increased and he performed various rituals and sacrifices to make his
position strong like Rajasuya (ராஜசூய), Asvamedha (அஸ்வமேத) and Vajpeya
(வாஜ்பேய).

 The kings assumed titles of Rajavisvajanan (ராஜவிஸ்வஜனன்),

Ahilabhuvanapathi(அகிலபுவனபதி), Ekrat and Samrat (sole ruler).

 Importance of the Samiti and the Sabha diminished.

Social Organisation / சமூக அமைப்பு
 Family was patriarchal (ஆணாதிக்க).

 The Dasas and Dasyus (Non-Aryans) were conquered and treated as slaves.

 Slavery was common and slaves were given as gifts to the priests.

 அடிமைக ள் மத குருமார்களுக்குப் பரிசாக வழங்கப்பட்டனர்.

 Within the early Vedic Society there were three divisions (Treyi) ; the general public were
called Vis, the warrior class was called Kshatriyas and the Priestly class was named
Brahmanas.

 Rigid four-fold Varna system was developed during the end of early Vedic Period.
Social Organisation / சமூக அமைப்பு
 Monogamy (ஒருதார மணம்) was practiced while polygamy (பலதார மணம்) among
royal and noble families was observed.

 Women had equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.

 Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa and Lopamudra were women poets.

 அபலா, விஸ்வவரா, கோசா மற்றும் லோபமுத்ரா ஆகியோர் பெண்

கவிஞர்கள்.
Social Organisation / சமூக அமைப்பு
Later Vedic Period

 The Varna system became prevalent- four divisions of society :Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaisyas and Sudras.

 பிராமணர்கள், க்ஷத்திரியர்கள், வைசியர்கள் மற்றும்

சூத்திரர்கள்.

 Brahmin and Kshatriyas occupied higher positions.

Social Organisation / சமூக அமைப்பு
 Various sub-castes on the basis of occupation emerged.

 Women were considered inferior and subordinate to men now and also lost their political
rights of attending assemblies.

 Child marriages became common.

 The concept of dvija (twice-born) developed and the upanayana (sacred thread) was
limited to the upper sections of the society.

 இருபிறப்பாளர் (துவிஜா) எனும் கோட்பாடு வளர்ச்சி பெற்றது.

 அதனுடன் தொடர்புடைய உபநயனச்சடங்கு சமூகத்தின் மேல்தட்டு

மக்களுக்கு மட்டுமே உரியதானது.
Economic conditions
 Pastoralism and agriculture / மேய்ச்சல் மற்றும் விவசாயம்.

 When Aryans permanently settled in Sindh and the Punjab regions they began to practise
agriculture.

 The staple crop was yava (barley).

 There is no mention of wheat or cotton in the Rig-Veda.

 There were carpenters, chariot makers, potters, smiths, weavers, and leather workers.
Economic conditions
 Cattle were considered wealth.

 The term for war in the Rig Veda was “gavishthi”.

 கால்நடைகள் செல்வமாகக் கருதப்பட்டன.

 The field was known as kshetra and the term krishi referred to ploughing.

 The term Sita meant the furrow created by ploughing.

Economic conditions
 The potters made different kinds of vessels for domestic use.

 Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) was attributed to this period (பழுப்பு மஞ்சள் நிற
மட்பாண்டங்கள் ).

 Trade was conducted by barter system in begining but later shifted to use of gold coins
called ‘nishka‘(நிஷ்கா) for large transactions.

 Rivers acted as means of transport.

Economic conditions
Later Vedic Period

 Agriculture became the chief occupation of people growing barley, rice and wheat.

 The use of rice, rather than wheat, is noticed in the Vedic rituals.

 Industrial activity became specialized with metal work, leather work, carpentry and pottery
advancement.

 Pottery of this period was Painted Grey Ware Culture (வர்ணம் தீட்டப்பட்ட சாம்பல்
நிற மட்பாண்டப் பண்பாடு)

 Vaisyas indulged in trade and commerce organized themselves into guilds known as ‘ganas‘.

 Coins: Besides ‘nishka’, ‘satamana’– gold coins and ‘krishnala‘ – silver coins were also used as a
media of exchange.
Religion / மதம்
 Rig Vedic Aryans worshiped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain and thunder.

 Some important Rig Vedic gods – Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain) and
Indra (Thunder).

 ‘Indra’ was most popular.

 ‘Agni’ – an intermediary between the gods and the people.

 ‘Varuna’ – the upholder of natural order.

 Female Gods – ‘Aditi’ and ‘Ushas’.

 No temples and no idol worship.

 Prayers were offered to gods for rewards.

Religion / மதம்
Later Vedic Period

 Indra and Agni lost their importance.

 Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the destroyer) became.

 Sacrifices and the rituals became more elaborate.

 பலிகள் மற்றும் சடங்குகள் மிகவும் விரிவானதாக மாறியது.

 But the importance of prayers declined.

 Priesthood became a hereditary profession / புரோகிதம் ஒரு பரம்பரைத் தொழிலாக

மாறியது.

 They dictated the rules for these rituals and sacrifices.

Status of Women / பெண்களின் நிலை
 In Rig Vedic society, women relatively enjoyed some freedom.

 ரிக்வேத சமுதாயத்தில், பெண்கள் ஓரளவு சுதந்திரத்தை அனுபவித்தனர்.

 She could perform rituals along with her husband in their house.

 Child marriage and sati were unknown and widow remarriage was common.

 குழந்தைத் திருமணமும் சதியும் அறியப்படாதது மற்றும் விதவை மறுமணம்

பொதுவானது.

 Polyandry was also prevelant

 Women were denied right to inherit property from their parents.

 பெண்களுக்கு பெற்றோரிடமிருந்து வாரிசு சொத்துரிமை மறுக்கப்பட்டது.

 They played no role in public affairs

Education / கல்வி
 Gurukula System of Education / குருகுல கல்வி முறை

 The students received education through oral tradition meaning rote learning, and were
required to memorise everything.

 Only Dvijas could be Shishyas.

 த்விஜர்கள் மட்டுமே சிஷ்யர்களாக இருக்க முடியும்.

 No women could have formal education.

Education / கல்வி
 Brahmacharya / பிரம்மச்சரியம் (Student Life)

 Grihastha / க்ரிஹஸ்தா (Married Life)

 Vanaprastha / வனபிரஸ்தம் (Going to the forest to meditate)

 Sanyasa / சன்யாசம்(Leading a life of an ascetic so as to attain Swarga)

Education / கல்வி
Later Vedic Period

 Upanishads (உபநிடதங்கள்) were composed during this period.

 They were also referred to as Vedanta (வேதாந்தம்).

 They lay stress on knowledge and the realization of the self or atman and Brahman (the
Supreme Being), meditation, cycle of birth and death.