6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA

6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA

• The first pahase of Urbanisation of India came with Indus Civilisation.
• A new era, called Vedic Age began with the arrival of Aryans.

What is Vedic period

• Period started with arrival of Aryans = Vedic period.
• The Vedic period is the period between 1500 – 600 BC.
• The word “Vedic” is derived from the word “Vedas”.

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Who are Aryans

• Language spoken by Aryans = Indo-Aryan language.
• Primary occupation of Aryans = Cattle rearing.
• Where did the Aryans come from = From Central Asia, they came to India through the “Khyber Pass” of the Hindu Kush.
• Agriculture method followed by Aryans = Slash and burn agriculture method.

What is slash and burn agriculture

• The method of cutting and burning the trees, plants on the land and cultivating the land.
• After completion of agriculture, the land is abandoned and cultivated in another land.

Vedic Period, Scope, Evidence

• Geographical area of Vedic period = North India
• Vedic Period = Iron Age
• Duration of Vedic Period = 1500 – 600 BC
• Vedic sources = Vedic literature
• Nature of Vedic Civilization = Rural Civilization.

Vedic culture in North India

• The Vedic period is divided into two periods.

1. 1. Early Vedic Period or Rig Vedic Period = 1500 – 1000 BCE
   2. Later-Vedic Period = 1000 – 600 BC

Aryans and their habitats in India

• Rigvedic Aryans = Nomads.
• Main property of Rigvedic Aryans = Cattle.
• Habitation of Rigvedic Aryans = Punjab (“Sapta Sindhu” meaning land of seven rivers).
• Around 1000 BC, the Aryans migrated to the Indo Gangetic plains.
• They used iron axe, iron ploughs.

Vedic literature

• Vedic literature is divided into two categories. They are,

1. Shruti = Four Vedas + Brahmanas + Aranyakas + Upanishads.
2. Smritis = Epics (Ithihasas) + Puranas + Agamas + Tantras + Sutras.

What are Shrutis

• Shruti = sacred, eternal, unquestionable truths.
• What are the Sruthis = Four Vedas + Brahmanas + Aranyas + Upanishads
• Meaning of Shruti = listening (or unwritten).
• Orally transmitted to next generation = Shrutis.

What are Smritis

• Smritis are not eternal. It’s about getting constant change.
• Smritis = Epics + Puranas + Agamas + Tantras + Sutras.
• Book containing religious teachings = Smriti.
• Smriti means = definite, written literature.

Satyameva Jayate

• From where the term “Satyameva Jayate” is taken = Mundaka Upanishad.
• The meaning of the word “Satyameva Jayate” = Truth alone Triumphs.

Rigvedic politics

• Basis of Rigvedic Politics = kinship based.
• The basic unit of Rigvedic politics = Kula (clan).
• Head of Rigvedic “Kula” = Kulapati.
• Head of Village (Grama) = Gramini.
• Group of several villages = Vis (clan)
• Head of Vis = Vishayapati.
• Leader of ethnic group called “Jana” (tribe) = Rajan.
• Rajan, the leader of the ethnic group, is known as “Janasyagopa” (protector of the people).
• During the Rig Vedic period there were various kingdoms (Rashtras) like Bharatas, Matsyas, Puras.

Vedic Sabha Samiti

• Organizations that control the power of the king = Vidatha, Sabha, Samiti, Gana.
• Which is the general group of oldest ethnic group in Rigvedic period = Vidatha.
• Vidatha = the common body of the ethnic group
• Sabha = council of elders.
• Samiti = General assembly of all people.

Kings of the Rigvedic period

• Assistant to the king = Purohithar (Chief Guru)
• One who helps the king in political, economic, military etc. = Senani (Army Chief).
• Kings performed many “rituals and sacrifices” to strengthen their position.
• Various Janas (or) ethnic groups came together = Janapadas (Rashtras / States).
• Period when Sabha and Samiti lost their importance = Post Vedic period.
• Forum which disappeared in the later Vedic period = Vidatha.

What is Bali

• The people voluntarily give the tribute to the king = bali (bali).
• In the later Vedic period “Pali” was converted into a tax and collected formally.
• It is a Tax. To pay 1/6th of his agricultural produce or livestock as tax.

Vedic social structure

• Rigvedic social system = patriarchal social system.
• The white-skinned Aryans called the black-skinned non-Aryans as “Dasyus, Dasas”.
• Social organization in early Vedic period = three divisions (Treyi). They are,
  1. 1. 1. General Public known as Vis
        2. Kshatriyas (Warriors)
        3. Brahmanas (Priests)
• Social systems in post-Vedic period = four divisions (Varna System). They are,

1. 1. 1. 1. Brahmanas
         2. Kshatriya warriors
         3. Vaisyas (Landholders)
         4. Sudras (Workers)

Status of Women in Rig Vedic Period

• Women had freedom.
• No child marriage, Sati.
• No restrictions on remarriage of Widows.
• But no right is given in parental property.

Status of Women in Post-Vedic Period

• The status of women both in society and family has declined.
• Polygamy became common.
• Widow remarriage was not encouraged.
• Denied education to womens.
• Inter caste marriage was not supported.

Rig Vedic Economy

• Sustained by a combination of pastoralism and agriculture.
• Cattle Rearing is the main occupation.
• To what period do “Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)” belong? = belonging to the Rig Veda period.
• After settling in riverine areas they did agriculture.
• Main crop in Rig Vedic period = Yava (barley).
• There is no mention of wheat or cotton in the Rig-Veda, though both were cultivated by the Indus people.
• Two crops a year were raised.

Economy in the Post-Vedic Period

• Started taming elephants.
• “Painted Grey Pottery Culture” belongs to? = Post-Vedic period.
• Crops cultivated in post-Vedic period = Paddy, Wheat, Barley.
• Barter system was prevalent.
• Gold coins used in Post-Vedic period = Nishka, Satmana.
• Silver coin used in Post-Vedic period = Krishnala.

Metals Known to Rig Vedic People

• Gold (Hiranya)
• Iron (Shyama)
• Copper/ Bronze (Ayas)

Rig Vedic gods

• They worshiped the gods of land and sky.
• Rig Vedic Earth God = Prithvi.
• Rig Vedic Fire God = Agni.
• Rig Vedic wind god = Vayu.
• Rig Vedic Rain God = Varuna.
• Rig Vedic thunder god = Indra.
• Rig Vedic religion = focused on rituals.
• People prayed for the welfare of Praja (children) Pasu (cattle) and Dhana (wealth).
• Rig Vedic Sacred Animal = Cow.
• There were no temples or idol worship in the Rig Vedic period.

Rig Veda Goddesses

• Aditi = Goddess of Eternity.
• Usha = Appearance of Dawn.

Post-vedic religion

• Indra and Agni lost their importance.
• Major gods of post-Vedic period,

1. 1. 1. 1. Prajapathi = Creator.
         2. Vishnu = Protector.
         3. Rudran = Destroyer.

• Prayers and rituals became more important.

Gurukula system of education

• Ancient learning method = Gurukula learning method.
• Gurukula is derived from two Sanskrit words Guru and Kula.

1. 1. 1. Guru = teacher or master.
      2. Kula = family or home.

• Oral learning method and memorization method.
• Subjects taught = Vedas, Epics, Puranas, Grammar, Astrology, Mathematics, Military tactics.
• Only “Dvijas” = were allowed to study.
• No women could have formal education.

Four Ashrams (Age Based)

• The period in which the theory of four ashrams originated = post-Vedic period.

1. 1. 1. Brahmacharya = student life.
      2. Grihastha = married life.
      3. Vanaprasta = going to the forests to meditate.
      4. Sanyasa = Leading a life of an ascetic so as to attain Swarga.

 

 

• What is History
• Human Evolution
• Indus Civilisation
• ANCIENT CITIES OF TAMILAGAM
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• 6TH HISTORY VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA