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Vedic culture Flashcards

1
Q

From when did harappan culture begin to decline and vedic culture began

A

1500 BC

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2
Q

What language did vedic people speak

A

Indo Aryan, sanskrit

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3
Q

From where did Vedic ppl enter the indian subcontinent

A

north western mountains

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4
Q

Main occupation of Rigvedic ppl

A

cattle rearing

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5
Q

What is rigvedic period also called

A

early vedic period

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6
Q

Area occupied rig vedic ppl

A

whole of north india, referred as aryavarta

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7
Q

Vedic period was from when to when

A

1500-600 BC

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8
Q

Vedic period can be divided into

A

early vedic/ rig vedic- 1500-1000 BC
Later vedic period- 1000-600 BC

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9
Q

Original home of aryans

A

disputed
Bal gangadhar tilak- arctic region
Some say germany
central asia
southern russia

however, the theory of southern Russia

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10
Q

What does ‘veda’ signify

A

superior knowledge

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11
Q

what does the vedic literature consists of

A

4 vedas

  1. Rig
  2. Yajur
  3. Sama
  4. Atharva

SAY R

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12
Q

which is the earliest of vedas

A

rig veda

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13
Q

what is rigveda

A

has hymns sung in praise of various gods

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14
Q

what is yajur veda

A

details of rules to be observed at time of sacrifice

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15
Q

what is sama veda

A

purpose of chanting during sacrifice
it is called the book of chants and the origins of indian music can be traced

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16
Q

what is atharva veda

A

contains details of rituals

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17
Q

Apart from Vedas what other sacred texts were written during the vedic period

A

Brahamanas, Upanishads, Aranyakas, Ramayana and Mahabharata

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18
Q

What are brahamanas

A

treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony

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19
Q

What are upanishads

A

philosophical texts dealing with topic like soul, the absolute, the origin of the world and mysteries of nature

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20
Q

what are aranyakas

A

forest books, they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices

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21
Q

who authored ramayana and mahabharata

A

valmiki and vedavyas respectively

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22
Q

where were the aryans confined to during the rig vedic period

A

Indus region
Rig veda refers to it as Saptasindhu or the land of 7 rivers
5 rivers of punjab+ Indus and saraswathi

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23
Q

What was the basic unit of political organisation during rig vedic age

A

Kula- a family
Grama- several families joined together to form a village. Leader of grama was called gramani
Visu- a group of villages, headed by a vishyapati
Jana- a tribe which is the highest political unit, headed by rajan/king [monarchical, hereditary].

Sabha- council of elders
Samiti- general assembly of the entire people

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24
Q

Name the tribals kingdoms during rig vedic age

A

Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus, Purus

25
who all was the king assisted by in the rig vedic age
Purohit- priest Senani- commander
26
what was the basic unit of society during rig vedic age
graham [grah in hindi]- family head of the family known as grahapati
27
Marriage during rig vedic
monogamy generally but polygamy among royala and noble families
28
state of women in rig vedic
women looked at household but were also given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development. Women could even attend popular assemblies. Child marriage and sati absent
29
name some women poets during rig vedic period
Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara, Ghosa
30
was cows meat allowed in rig vedic period
no, since cow was considered sacred. however dairy products like ghee, curd, milk etc were used
31
social divisions during rig vedic
not rigid
32
wealth was assesed with what during rig vedic period
number of cattle owned
33
did rig vedic ppl practice agriculture
yes, but cattle rearing was the primary occupation agri was the pri occupation in later vedic age
34
other occupations of rig vedic
cattle rearing, agri, carpenter to make chariots and ploughs, spinning, goldsmiths, potters
35
did rig vedic people use iron
yes, unlike harappans that were chalcolithic
36
how did trade happen in rig vedic age
barter initially, but used gold coins later called nishka for large transactions
37
religion of rig vedic ppl
worshipped natural forces, personifies into gods prithvi- earth agni- fire vayu- winf varuna- rain indra- thunder
38
most popular god of rig vedic period
Indra and agni thought to be intermediary between gods and people
39
which god wass the upholder of natural order
varuna
40
female rig vedic gods
aditi and usha
41
did rig vedic ppl have temples and idol worship
no, though they did offer prayer in expectation of rewards. Ghee, milk and grain were given as offerings
42
were elaborate rituals followed during rig vedic age
yes
43
where did aryans expand to in the later vedic age
eastwards
44
satapatha brahmana refers to what
expansion of aryans
45
change in polity from rig vedic to LV
Large kingdoms, Kuru and Panchala initially after their fall, Kosala, Kasi and Videha came to prominence Magadha, anga and vanga in east
46
famous ruler of 1. kuru 2. panchala 3. kasi 4. videha
1. parikshat and janamejaya 2. pravahana and jaivali 3. ajatashatru 4. Janaka, capital was mithila
47
scholar in videha kingdom
Yajnavalkya
48
3 divisions of india acc to later vedic texts
Aryavarta, North india Madhyadesa, central india dakshinapatha, southern india
49
what ar janapadas and rashtras witnessed in LV
amalgamation of tribes made janapadas or rashtas
50
why did the kings perform rituals and sacrifices
to strengthen their positions
51
rituals/ sacrifices by king
Rajyasuya- consecration ceremony-declaration of something holy Asvamedha- horse sacrifice Vajpeya- chariot race
52
new officials in LV
Apart from purohit, senani and gramani treasury officer, tax collector, royal messenger importance of sabhas and samitis diminished
53
professions of people in LV
agriculture, industrial activity, metal work, leather, carpentry, pottery.
54
whom all did LV ppl trade externally with
babylon
55
what are ganas
class of hereditary merchants came into existence Vaishyas also carried out trade and organised themselves into guilds called ganas
56
currency in LV
Apart from nishka, they used gold and silver coins like satamana and krishnala
57
social life in LV
Varna system became rigid brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra various subcastes also merged increased patriarchy women considered inferior and subordinate to men wmn lost political right of attending assemblies child marriages
58
what does aitreya brahmana say
daughter is the source of misery
59
religion of LV
Indra and agni lost their importance prajapati- the creator vishnu- the protector rudra- the destroyer became prominent sacrifices were still important but rituals became more elaborate importance of prayers decreased and sacrifices increased priesthood became a hereditary profession, led to strong rxn against priestly domination and unnecessary sacrifices and rituals all this led to rise of buddhism and jainism as even the upanishads which focused on true knowledge or gnana for peace and salvation were too philosophical for common people to understand.

Ancient History (8 decks)

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