Vedic culture Flashcards
From when did harappan culture begin to decline and vedic culture began
1500 BC
What language did vedic people speak
Indo Aryan, sanskrit
From where did Vedic ppl enter the indian subcontinent
north western mountains
Main occupation of Rigvedic ppl
cattle rearing
What is rigvedic period also called
early vedic period
Area occupied rig vedic ppl
whole of north india, referred as aryavarta
Vedic period was from when to when
1500-600 BC
Vedic period can be divided into
early vedic/ rig vedic- 1500-1000 BC
Later vedic period- 1000-600 BC
Original home of aryans
disputed
Bal gangadhar tilak- arctic region
Some say germany
central asia
southern russia
however, the theory of southern Russia
What does ‘veda’ signify
superior knowledge
what does the vedic literature consists of
4 vedas
- Rig
- Yajur
- Sama
- Atharva
SAY R
which is the earliest of vedas
rig veda
what is rigveda
has hymns sung in praise of various gods
what is yajur veda
details of rules to be observed at time of sacrifice
what is sama veda
purpose of chanting during sacrifice
it is called the book of chants and the origins of indian music can be traced
what is atharva veda
contains details of rituals
Apart from Vedas what other sacred texts were written during the vedic period
Brahamanas, Upanishads, Aranyakas, Ramayana and Mahabharata
What are brahamanas
treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony
What are upanishads
philosophical texts dealing with topic like soul, the absolute, the origin of the world and mysteries of nature
what are aranyakas
forest books, they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices
who authored ramayana and mahabharata
valmiki and vedavyas respectively
where were the aryans confined to during the rig vedic period
Indus region
Rig veda refers to it as Saptasindhu or the land of 7 rivers
5 rivers of punjab+ Indus and saraswathi
What was the basic unit of political organisation during rig vedic age
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
Name the tribals kingdoms during rig vedic age
Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus, Purus
who all was the king assisted by in the rig vedic age
Purohit- priest
Senani- commander
what was the basic unit of society during rig vedic age
graham [grah in hindi]- family
head of the family known as grahapati
Marriage during rig vedic
monogamy generally but polygamy among royala and noble families
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
name some women poets during rig vedic period
Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara, Ghosa
was cows meat allowed in rig vedic period
no, since cow was considered sacred.
however dairy products like ghee, curd, milk etc were used
social divisions during rig vedic
not rigid
wealth was assesed with what during rig vedic period
number of cattle owned
did rig vedic ppl practice agriculture
yes, but cattle rearing was the primary occupation
agri was the pri occupation in later vedic age
other occupations of rig vedic
cattle rearing, agri, carpenter to make chariots and ploughs, spinning, goldsmiths, potters
did rig vedic people use iron
yes, unlike harappans that were chalcolithic
how did trade happen in rig vedic age
barter initially, but used gold coins later called nishka for large transactions
religion of rig vedic ppl
worshipped natural forces, personifies into gods
prithvi- earth
agni- fire
vayu- winf
varuna- rain
indra- thunder
most popular god of rig vedic period
Indra and agni thought to be intermediary between gods and people
which god wass the upholder of natural order
varuna
female rig vedic gods
aditi and usha
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
were elaborate rituals followed during rig vedic age
yes
where did aryans expand to in the later vedic age
eastwards
satapatha brahmana refers to what
expansion of aryans
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
famous ruler of
1. kuru
2. panchala
3. kasi
4. videha
- parikshat and janamejaya
- pravahana and jaivali
- ajatashatru
- Janaka, capital was mithila
scholar in videha kingdom
Yajnavalkya
3 divisions of india acc to later vedic texts
Aryavarta, North india
Madhyadesa, central india
dakshinapatha, southern india
what ar janapadas and rashtras witnessed in LV
amalgamation of tribes made janapadas or rashtas
why did the kings perform rituals and sacrifices
to strengthen their positions
rituals/ sacrifices by king
Rajyasuya- consecration ceremony-declaration of something holy
Asvamedha- horse sacrifice
Vajpeya- chariot race
new officials in LV
Apart from purohit, senani and gramani
treasury officer, tax collector, royal messenger
importance of sabhas and samitis diminished
professions of people in LV
agriculture, industrial activity, metal work, leather, carpentry, pottery.
whom all did LV ppl trade externally with
babylon
what are ganas
class of hereditary merchants came into existence
Vaishyas also carried out trade and organised themselves into guilds called ganas
currency in LV
Apart from nishka, they used gold and silver coins like satamana and krishnala
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
what does aitreya brahmana say
daughter is the source of misery
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.
