Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages

Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages
Early Vedic Age –1500 – 1000 BC (General) But according to Max Muller – BC B. G. Tilak – 6000 BC R K Mookerjee – 2500 BC Boghaz Koi Inscription – B BC Later Vedic Age – 1000 – 600 BC or Period between Rig Ved Composition & Buddha

Max Muller Philologist - Study of literary texts and written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning Orientalist – Study of societies, cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology of Asia and Middle East Wrote - Sacred Books of the East - 50-volume set of English translations of Asian religious writings

Boghaz Koi/Bogazkoy Inscription
Now known as Boğazkale – in Turkey Inscription – dated 1400 BC - Treaty between Hittite and Mitanni Kings in the presence of Vedic gods Indra, Varuna, Mitra, Nasatyas(2) Significance – The presence of the Vedic gods, shows that Rig Veda came into existence b BC

Source of Vedic Civilization
Source is- Vedic Literature Vedic Literature is classified into The Vedic literature had grown in the course of many centuries and was handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Vedas are also called apaurusheya - which is not created by man nitya - which exists in all eternity

Sub – Parts of Vedic Literature
Samhitas – Basic material or Mantra text of Vedas Shruti Smriti Shruti Smriti Sanskrit that literally means what is heard. Comprises that part of Vedic literature that is remembered. Text contained has been revealed by God himself hence unquestionable They are creations of ancient sages and derive their authority from Shruti. It mainly consists of the four Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda It consists of Vedangas, Smritis, Dharmasastras, Mahakavyas, Puranas, Upvedas.

VEDIC LITERATURE

Vedas – Rig Veda It is the oldest religious text
Composed between 1700/ BC It had no Harappa or Buddha stories It is not a historical text but a collection of hymns (sukta) composed and recited by priests. Contains 1028 hymns which is divided into 10 mandals 1st and 10th – latest and longest 2nd to 7th – oldest and shortest, also called Gotra mandals 8th and 9th – can’t be dated 10th mandal - added in Later Vedic age, contained Purushasukta which explained the 4 varnas

Vedas – Rig Veda The Famous Gayatri mantra is in Rig Veda Mandala 3. Each mandala consists of Suktas which are basically eulogies. The first word of Rig-Veda is Agni. Hymn 1.1 is addressed to Agni. Mandala 9 is completely devoted to Soma. Nasadiya Sukta - origin of the Universe, is in 10th Mandala.

Vedas - Samveda Collection of songs mostly taken from Rig Veda
1549 or 1875 hymns Were to be sung at soma sacrifices by Udgatri Brahmanas The classical Indian music and dance tradition considers the chants and melodies in Gandharvaved Upved of Samveda as one of its roots. G. Upved = Natya Shastra According to R. T. H. Griffith there are 3 recensions (revised editions) of Samveda Kauthuma - in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa Rāṇāyanīya - Maharashtra, Karnataka Jaiminiya - Carnatic, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Vedas - Yajur Veda Collection of sacrificial formulae
Composed between BC It had verses and prose Were recited by Adharvayus - was in charge of the physical details of the sacrifice Was divided into 2 parts World’s oldest prose is contained here Krishna-Yajur Veda Shukla Yajur Veda Instructions about rituals were mixed with verses from Rig Veda Explanatory matter to be recited were separated from verses of Rig Veda Taught by Taittiriyans Taught by Vajasaneyins

Vedas - Atharvaveda A collection of spells and charms
Last of the 4 vedas, was not included in vedas for a long time 730 hymns Old name was Atharvangirasah because it was composed by two scholars Atharvan and Angiras It has 2 revised editions or recensions Saunakiya Paippalada It had spells to cast away diseases and evils Satyameva jayate comes from Mundaka Upanishad of Atharveda

Brahmanas Prose texts which contain details about
Meaning of Vedic hymns, Applications of Vedic hymns, Stories of Vedic Hymn origins Forms a part of the Sruti literature and are attached to each Veda Few Brahmanas and their Vedas are Rig Sam Yajur Atharva Aitareya or Ashvalayana Panchavisha Kathaka Gopatha Kaushitaki or Sankhyan Shadvisha Krishna Jaiminiya Taittriya Chandogya Shatapatha

Aranyakas Written in forests for the hermits and students living there
Emphasised less on rituals but more on philsophy and mysticism. Concluding part of Brahamana Formed a bridge between Karma Marga ( Brahmana vision) and Gyan Marga (Upanishad vision) 14th book of Satapatha Brahmana has the name of Arnayaka - Brihadaranyaka

Upanishad It is a form of shruti describing the character of and path to human salvation. Also called Vedanta because they denote the last phase of Vedas It is in Q-A format Oldest – Brihadaranyaka, Chandogaya Latest – Muktika recorded by Dara Sikoh Important Upanishads are Atreya Up – Brihadaranyaka Up – Contains Asato Ma Sadgamaya Kathopnishad – Translated by M. Muller in 1879

Smriti Literature - Vedanga
They are six supportive disciplines which helped to study and understand vedas. These emerged because the language of the Vedic texts composed centuries earlier grew too archaic(old) to the people of that time. 1. Siksha Vedanga - Deals with phonetics, the pronunciation and accent. There are two variations to plain pronunciation, called Udatta and Anudatta Pratisakhya is the oldest text on phonetics. 2. Kalpa Vedanga – Deals with the ritual portion, how and when sacrifice is to be conducted.

2. Kalpa Vedanga - Kalpa V Srautasutra Based on Smriti Dharmasutra 1st Dharmasastra Smratasutra/ Sulvasutra Based on Shruti Grihyasutra

3. Vyakarana Vedanga – Deals with Grammar. Panini's Astadhyayi is the authority on Sanskrit Grammar. It was not written in Sanskrit but in Upadesa to define the grammar of Sanskrit in about sutras/rules. Panini's Astadhyayi Sivasutra Phonology Astadhyai Morphology Dhatupatha List of Roots Ganapatha List of Primitive Nominal Stems

4. Nirukta Vedanga – It exlains the difficult words used in Vedas. - World’s Oldest Dictionary 5. Chhanda Vedanga – It divides the Vedic mantras into sets or padas. - The chandas of a mantra determines its usage, such as its purpose and context. - It acts more as an error-correcting mechanism. Since the Veda is an oral tradition, any aberration in the chandas because of error in text or the swara, can be easily identified and corrected. 6. Jyotisha Vedanga - Jyotisha is the science of celestial objects - astronomy.

Smriti Literature – Shat-Darshan
School Author Beginning Text Deals With Nyaya Akshapada Gautama 6th Century BC Nyayasutra Acquiring Knowledge Vaisheshika Uluka Kanaad 6th century BC Vaisheshik Sutra Atom or Matter Sankya Kapil Sankya Sutra Consciousness and matter Yoga Maharishi Patanjali 2nd century BC Yog Sutra Sankya and Divinity Poorva Mimansa Jaimini 4th Century BC Poorva Mimansa Sutra Dharma as the duty Uttar Mimansa or Vedanta Badrayan 4th century BC Uttar Mimansa Sutra Goal of Vedas Smriti Literature – Shat-Darshan

Smriti Literature - Epic
Ramayana Mahabharata By Maharshi Valmiki By Maharishi Ved Vyas 24000 Verses 1 lakh Verses Oldest Longest 7 Kandas or Books 18 Chapters or Parvanas Bhagvad Gita extraceted from Bhisma Parvan Shanti Parvan – Largest chapter

Smriti Literature - Puranas
Deals with 5 subjects – the primary creation of the universe, secondary creation after periodic destruction, the genealogy of gods and patriarchs, the reigns of the Manusya (the first humans) the history of the solar and lunar dynasties. Written in almost entirely in narrative couplets 18 - Brahmanda, Devi, Kurma, Markandeya, Matsya, Vamana, Varaha, Vayu, Vishnu, Agni, Bhagavata, Bhavishya, Brahma, Brahmavaivarta, Devibhagavata, Garuda, Linga, Padma, Shiva, Skanda, Kalika, Kalki, Mahabhagavata, Naradiya, and Saura. They are strongly sectarian

Smriti Literature - Upvedas
They are technical in nature and means applied knowledge Upvedas Deals with Associated with Ayurveda Medicine Rig Gandharvaveds Music Sama Dhanurveda Archery/Military Yajur Shilpaveda Crafts Atharva Arthaveda Wealth

Early Vedic Age - Geography
Source – Rig Veda Rig Vedic people or Aryans (Later) called their homeland Sapta Sindhu or Aryavarta Aryavarta Turkistan or Pakistan Tip Yamuna Aravallis Afganisthan

Early Vedic Age - Geography
RigVeda mentions the Himalayas and Mujavant mountains. The Nadisukta hymn of the RigVeda mentions 21 rivers which include Ganga in the east and Kubha (Kabul) inwest Present-day western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, whole of Pakistan and south Afghanistan. RigVedicName Modern Name Sindhu Indus Vitasta Jhelum Asikani Chenab Vipas Beas Parushni Ravi Sutudri Sutlej RigVedicName Modern Name Drishadvati Ghaggar Kubha Kabul (AFG) Suvastu Swat (AFG) Krumu Kurram (AFG) Gomati Gomal (AFG) Saraswati Gone

Early Vedic Age – States/Region
Source - Battle of ten kings or Dasrajan war – fought between 10 kings and Sudas who was Bharata king of Tritsus family. Fought on the bank of Parushani river Ten kings were of the states of Purus, Anus, Yadus, Turvasas, Druhyus (Aryan) Alinas, Pakhtas, Sibis, Bhalanas, Vishanins (Local) Sudas emerged victorious In another battle of Sudas, Rig Veda mentions - Ajias, Sigrus, Yakshus Bharatas - between the Saraswati and Yamuna.

Early Vedic Age –Polity and Admin
Ascending political structure (i) The Family (kula) (ii) The Village (grama) (iii) The Clan (vis) (iv) The People Uana) (v) The Country (rashtra) Kula - Smallest unit. It included all the people living under the same roof (griha). Grama - An aggregate of several families made up the grama. Headman was called gramini/vajrapati Vis - An aggregate of several grama made up the Vis. Headman was called vispati

Jana – Tribe was known as jana. - Chief was Rajan who led the tribe during war and was also the protector of the tribe. - Since Rajan was the leader of the tribe, not of any territory, he is also known as Gopati Janasya Rashtrya - Above the jana was rashtra,i.e . the country. Government - Hereditary monarchy and Elected

Rajan Ruled kingdoms or rashtrya (small states were called at that time) Some rajan were elevated to Samrat if they rule bigger or more kingdoms. Administered justice with the help of officials like - purohita (chief priest and minister), senani (army chief), gramini (head of village), dutas (envoys) and spies (spas). Upholder of the established order and moral rules. Bali - For his services the king was paid bali (voluntary gift or tribute). The bali came to the king from his own people and also from defeated people. Changed its meaning later on.

Sabha n Samiti Through these two assemblies people expresses their opinions on important matters of the rashtra. Both were known as – Twin Daughters of Prajapati Samiti Sabha Dealt with policy decisions and political business, included common people The members of the samiti points out the grievance of the people to the king. No such mention. (Later Vedic) Less political in character, was a more select body of the Elders or Nobles. In a sabha ,the members are all friently and belong to the king's side. Mentioned by Aitareya Brahmana. Women who attended were called Sabhavati (Stopped in Later)

Early Vedic Age –Society
Unit of society was family – monogamous(1 partner at a time) and patriachical. Status of Women A widow could marry the younger brother of her deceased husband. A wife was husband's partner in all religious and social ceremonies . The daughter could inherit father’s prperty only if she was the only child of her parents. Could attend assemblies and offer sacrifices Child marriage was not common

3 phases 1st – Aryans and Slaves or Dasis 2nd – Warrior, Priests and Common people 3rd – 4 varnas People could choose any varna according to their ability and liking. Brahmana - teacher and priests Kshatriya - rulers and administrators Vaisya - farmers, merchants and bankers Sudra - artisan and labourers

Education Teachers lived and taught in school Pupils were taught orally like reciting first by the teacher and later by students. Shruti form of teaching Women teachers were present – Maitreyi and Gargi names mentioned in Rig veda Every Rishi was a teacher Believed that it was a duty of teacher to understand the ability of a student and then help him/her to understand the varna

Food Habits Presence of both Veg and Non-Veg Eatables that were mentioned – Milk products, Bread or Chapati of wheat and barley or Yava, Animals like fish-bird-boar-antelopes- buffalo Rice not known Dishes that were mentioned – Kheer – pakamodanam, Cakes – pakti, purodasa, apupa and karambha On ceremonial occasions the meat of animals which were sacrificed, such as sheep, goat and buffalo etc. was also eaten. Cow – Could not be killed or Aghnya. Vedas prescribed death or expulsion from the kingdom if killed or injured cow. (Read current Cow/ Buffalo Slaughter Ban rules)

Food Habits Alcoholic drinks, sura and soma were consumed, and also condemned (Just like nowadays) Sura - made from corn and barley Soma – from Soma plant, juice was filtered through sheep's wool and then mixed with water and milk. (Don’t try this at home) Music Vedic Aryans played Veena and Vana (flute) Dhrupad Rag originated Dress 2 pieces – Uttaryia (upper garment) and antariya(lower garment)

Early Vedic Age –Economy
Agriculture, Cattle rearing, Craft, Trade/Commerce Economic exchanges - gift giving, particularly to kings (bali) and priests (dana), and barter using cattle as a unit of currency. Agriculture People knew irrigation Plough was drawn by oxen Ploughed land was known as Urvara/Kshetra Grains were harvested with sickles (?shape). Manure was used Grains are collectively called Yava and dhanya. Surplus production helped to support the centralised kingdoms

Cattle Rearing Cattle = Wealth, Gomat – wealthy person Cattle was so important that many terms were coined based on them Godhuli – measure of time Gopa/Gopati – another name of rajana Duhitri – Daughter Gojata – A kind of God Buffalo was called as Gavala

Craft Occupations like - pottery-making, weaving, carpentry, metal working, leather-working Blacksmits worked with only Copper called ayas Later period when iron came into use, Copper - lohit ayas and Iron - syam ayas In some Rig vedic hymns we find gold which was called - Hiranya

Trade/Commerce Barter System Physical form of money was present called Nishkas Money Lending was practised Trade and commerce was regulated and managed by a group of people called Pani or Vanik (traders)

Early Vedic Age –Religion
Gods worshipped were powers of nature. Vedic Gods Prithivisthana (Terrestrial) Prithvi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati, Rivers Aantarikshasthana (Aerial) Indra, Apam-napat, Rudra, Vayu-Vata, Prujanya, Apah (water) Dyusthana (Celestial) Dyaus, Varuna, Mitra, Surya, Pushan, Vishnu

Early Vedic Age –Religion
Indra and Varuna are above all Agni was revered as the messenger between the earth and the heaven. Gods are described as born, yet they are immortal. Food of Gods - milk, grain, flesh Both benevolent (good) and malevolent( bad) Aryans worshipped Dyaus ( Zeus in Greek)

Early Vedic Age –Philosophy
The multiplicity of gods was openly questioned One God to whom different designations applied. Life came out of water after a sacrifice made by Viratpurusha ( form of Vishnu) Hiranyagarbha or golden egg or primordial germ arose from the great waters from which developed Visvakarman , the first born in the universe

Rig Veda Civilization Harappa Civilization
Geography – from Afghanistan in the north to Gujarat in the south, Ganga in the east to Kubha (Kabul) Pakistan in the west. Geography - Same/Similar Saraswati is considered to be the most importa nt and sacred and the areas around the Saraswati and its tributaries were the core culture areas. In Saraswati valley more than 80% of the Harappan settlements were located. Horse was an important animal in the vedic period. Horse bones and terracotta figurines have been found at some Harappan sites. RigVeda knows ornaments of gold (hiranya). Similar use is found The Rig Veda refers to the weaver and to his loom, the shuttle, the warp and the woof for weaving a cloth. Remains of cloth have been found in certain Harappan sites and some figures are shown as wearing a cloth. The Rig Veda refers to hundreds of cities, towns and forts, which are broad and wide. We know about the architecture of Harappan and they are quite similar.

Aryans Filippo Sassetti – Pointed out the similarities between Sanskrit and European languages like Latin and Greek Sir William Jones in 1786 addressing the Asiatic Society of Bengal elaborated the similarity. Scholars called this language Indo-European language, and their common homeland as the Indo-European homeland. Indo-European linguistic group is generally called Aryans Sanskrit was a form of Indo-European language which we can say that Aryans spoke and brought it with to India. OR vice versa Sanskrit was made classical language in 2005(Tamil was 1st in 2004)

Later Vedic Age - Geography
Source – Later Samhitas of 3 vedas (Except Rig) and Brahamanas, Upanishads and Aranyakas Settlements covered whole of northern India. The centre of civilization shifted from Saraswati to Ganga Mentions Vindhyan Mts

Later Vedic Age – New States
Janas merged to form bigger states (can be called Janapada) Like - Puru + Bharata = Kuru, Turvasha + Krivis = Panchala In this process older names vanished and new state names developed Cities gone - Anus, Druhyus, Turvasas, Krivis New states came up in UP and Bihar region like - Kasi, Kosala, Videha, Magadha and Anga South Indian states was still not mentioned Struggle for supremacy was more>>>more wars Satapatha Brahmana Records the migration of people towards east Mentions Videgh Madhav crossing Saraswati region, then Sadanira (modern Gandak river) and then reached Videha (modern Tirhut) Mentions 3 kingdoms - Kosala, Kasi and Videha.

Upanishads Mentions Kuru-Panchala region as the seat of culture and prosperity in LV Age which is modern western and central Uttar Pradesh. King - Pravahana Jaivali Atharvaveda Mentions Magadha, Anga, Matsya, Vidarbha, Madra ( in Punjab), Bahlikas, Kesins, Kekayas and Kamboja.

Later Vedic Age – Pol/Admin
Kingship Normal form of government Taittariya Brahmana - Status of divine origin Expressions like adhiraj, rajadhiraja, samrat and ekrat were used to denote kings Atharvaveda defines ekrat to be supreme Special ceremonies/yajna like Vajpeya, Rajsuya and Ashvamedha were done for the good of kingdom King’s power was not absolute because of democratic aspects like (i)The people's right in choosing their king; (ii) the conditions imposed on king's rights and duties; (iii) the kings dependence on the council of his ministers, on people’s assemblies like Sabha/Samiti

Later Vedic Age – Pol/Admin
Sabha Functioned as a parliament - debate and discussion. Chief – sabhapati, Keepers – sabhapala, Members - sabheya, sabhasad or sabhasina. There were rules of debate Vajsaneyi Samhita mentions that members not following the rukes should be criticized. Also functioned as a court of justice Samiti Larger assembly of the people. New Officials Similar to Early Vedic Age samiti Suta Charioteer Sangrahitri Treasurer Bhagadugha Collector of taxes Gramini Head of village Sthapati Chief judge Takshan Carpenter Kshatri Chamberlain

Later Vedic Age – Society
Varnas came to be birth-based rather than profession-based. Jatis came into being which was based on occupation Sudras – Condition became miserable because they couldn’t performed sacrifices, learn sacred texts and couldn’t even hold landed property. Untouchability was absent Vedic costume - 3 parts - undergarment (nivi), garment(vasa,paridhana) & mantle(adhivasa/drapi) Institution of Gotra appeared Position of Women Status declined Education – not denied Deprived of upanayana, religious ceremonies and from attending assemblies Aitareya Brahmana tells that daughter is source of misery Maitrayani Samhitha mentions 3 evils – liquor, dice and women Brihadarnyaka Upanishad – Yajnavalkya > Gargi dialogue proves some women got higher education

Later Vedic Age – Society
Marriage Type Description Brahma Vivah Marriage of a girl with the boy of same Varna with Vedic rites and rituals Daiva Vivah When father donated his daughter to a priest as a part of Dakshina Arsa Vivah A token bride-price of a Cow and a Bull was given Prajapati Vivah Marriage without dowry Gandharva Vivah It was a kind of love marriage or swyamavara type Asura Vivah Marriage by Purchase Paisach Vivah Seduction of a girl while sleeping or mentally unstable due to a drink Rakshasha Vivah Marriage by abduction

Later Vedic Age – Economy
Agriculture, Trade, Crafts Atharvaveda - Prayers indicating growth of economic prosperity Agriculture The plough was known as sira and the furrow sita. Cow dung was used as manure. Food-grains Rice, barley, beans and sesame. Satapatha Brahmana – mentions ploughing, sowing, reaping and threshing. Trade/Commerce Moneylending was in vogue Niska and satamana were the units of currency. Bali, which was earlier only a voluntary gift to chief, had now become a regular tax Merchants, long distance caravans and sea trade Sreshthi, head of guild, finds mention Crafts Iron, gold, lead and tin are referred Iron was used for making weapons, hammers, clamps, ploughshares etc. Copper was used for making vessels. Silver (rajat) and Gold were used for making ornaments, dishes etc.

Later Vedic Age – Education
Education began with the Upanayana after which the child was known as dvija 3 modes of education Pupils studied at the homes of their teachers where they lived as family members 2. Small schools of learning run by an individual teacher who would choose his own pupils 3. Men could carry on their quest of knowledge by mutual discussions and regularly visiting the sages, scholars Brihadaranyaka Upanishad – mentions the conference of the learned organised by king Janak of Videha. There Yajnavalkya defeated all the participants and was declared as the most learned and wise. Not only brahmans but also Kshatriyas were educated like - Janaka, (Videha), Pravahana Jaivali (Panchala), Asvapati (Kasi)

Later Vedic Age – Education
Chhandogya Upanishad mentions such subjects as the study of Vedas, Mathematics, Mineralogy, Logic, Ethics, Military Science, Astronomy, Science, Fine Arts and Crafts, Music, and Medical Sciences. Mundaka Upanishad classifies education into 2 Aparavidya – Above subjects 2. Paravidya - knowledge of atman, which involves knowledge of life, death, God

Later Vedic Age – Religion
Growth of ritualism and ceremonial religion Intellectual pursuit and rituals went side by side. Prajapati, Rudra and Vishnu came into limelight where Prajapati became supreme Pushana – God of Shudras Yajnas LaghuY MahaY Rajasuya Vajapeya Asvamedha Agnishtoma

Later Vedic Age – Religion
Rajasooya yajna: It was an integral part of the political and administrative system. It was performed at different stages of rule, such as in times of peace or whenever the need to evaluate administrative abilities. During the yajna, the state policies and activities of royal officers were evaluated, complaints attended to and measures to rectify past errors decided upon. Rajasooya yajnas provided a platform for a close interaction between the ruler and the ruled. Vajapeya yajna: This yajna was performed for maintaining harmony within the state. It was essentially an assemblage of learned scholars, enlightened sages and spiritual mendicants from different parts of the land. There was an exchange of views on various issues of contemporary lifestyle, leading to formulation of policies as well as the means to implement them.

Later Vedic Age – Sci and Tech
Maths Knew the methods of making squares Zero was known Cubes, cuberoots, squareroots and underroots were also known and used. Astronomy Was well developed. Knew the movement of heavenly bodies and calculated about their positions at different times. Calendars and predicting the time of solar and lunar eclipses Rotation and revolution of earth

Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Vedic Age The Vedic Age can be divided into 2 stages"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback