Vedic Culture Flashcards
from where and when did aryans come to India
north west 2000bce
Where is it generally believed that aryans are from
Caspian sea region of central asia
who were the natives that the aryans met when they came to the indian subcontinent
Daysus
Where did the Aryans settle
on the banks of river sindhu in the saptu sindhu region
Sapta sindhu means and name the seven rivers
region of 7 rivers
Jhelum
Chenab
Bias
Ravi
Sutlej
Saraswati
Drishadwati
What is the meaning of Aryan
Noble/Master/a person dependent on agriculture
what is the sacred book of aryans
Vedas
Derivation of veda
Sanskrit word vid
means knowledge
4 Vedas
Rigveda
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Atharvaveda
1st veda
Rigveda
What is the period of the 1st veda called
Early vedic age/ rigvedic age
What is the period of the other three ages called
Later vedic age/epic age
What were the aryan tribes called
Janas
What was the head of the tribe called
Rajan
What was the smallest unit of administration
Grama
what is the generally accepted time period of the early vedic age
1800-1000bce
What is the generally accepted time period of the later vedic age
1000-500bce
what are the two vedic ages
rigvedic/early vedic
epic/later vedic
2 great epics
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Who wrote Ramayana
Valmiki
Who wrote Mahabharata
Ved Vyasa
Manusmriti is_____
Code of Conduct of hindus
name the dharma shastras(smriti)(3)
Manusmriti
Naradasmriti
Vishnusmriti
what are the 4 ashrams of Manusmriti(4)
Bramhacharya
Grihastha
Vanaprastha
Sanyas
grihastha means
Married man
Vanaprastha means
Retired life in the forest after abandoning home
Sanyas means
Life of Complete renunciation
in the later vedic age kingdoms were divided into(3)
Gopas, Vishayas, Gramas
Sabha means
Group of Elders
Samithi means
Group of Experts
political life in early vedic age(5)
1hereditary monarchy
2King was head of tribe, called rajan
3assisted by purohita, sangraharti,senapati,vispathis(in charge of group of villages),gramanis(head of villages), etc
4Two assemblies-Samithi and Sabha
5King was last resort to Justice
Political life in later vedic age(8)
1Heriditary monarchy
2Council of ministers supported king in administration
3brahamas became powerful
4Military was organized -cavalry, infantry, etc.
5Navy became important
6weapons improvised
7Winning became more important objective
8 important kingdoms-kuru, panchala, kashi, videha, vidharbha
Who was the head of the family
Eldest male member
What was the head of the family called
Grihapathi/Kulapathi
Women scholars in early vedic age(3) who composed hyms
Vishwavara
Ghosha
Apala
WHat was social division called
Chaturvarnas
What were the Chaturvarnas
Brahamanas
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Brahmacharya means
Student life
What were the intoxicating drinks used during religious and festive occasions(2)
Soma and Sutra
What did the clothes of Aryans in later vedic age consist(3)
Vastra
Adivastra
Nivi
What were the important musical instruments in later vedic age(4)
Nagari
Dundhubhi
veena
flute
What was cultivated land called in rigvedic age
Kshetra
What was nishka
A piece of gold
what is vedic religion also known as
Sanatana Dharma
hinduism
brahmanical religion
[one of the oldest religions still practised]
list the Purusharthas(4)
Dharma
Artha
Kama
Moksha
Moksha means
Salvation
List the paths in later vedic ages(4)
Bhakti
Jnana
Karma
Yoga
Sacred books of Hindus(4)
Vedas
upanishads
Puranas
Smrithis
Where was education imparted(4)
Gurukulas
Pathashalas
Agraharas
Ghatikas
Education commenced with a cermony called
Upanayanam
Important women scholars(4)
Gargi
Maitreyi
Shashwati
Lopamudra
Which calender was followed
Lunar
Social life in early vedic age(12)
Joint family
Monogamy(polygamy in royals)
Patriarchal society
Women respected
Educated women-Apala, ghosha, Vishwavara composed hymn
Administrated province
Associated men with sacrifice
no idea of child marriage
no idea of sati
widow remmariage allowed
people identified based on occupation-brahmanas, kshatriyas,vaishyas,
Shudras
varnas flexible
Brahmanas means
Priests
Kshatriyas means
Nobility, warriers
Vaishya means
Farmers, traders, artisans
Shudras means
Tenant famers, Servants or menial works
panchanamas means
Untouchables
Social life in later vedic age(7)
Patriarchal society
polygamy and polyandry
life divided into ashramas
Women lost place in society
child marriage
sati
widow remarriage discouraged
people discriminated on the basis of occupation
varnas hereditary
Religious life in later vedic age(6)
Worshipped gods
Rituals became complex
Rama, krishna, vishnu, etc
Image worship came into existance
believed in rebirth, transmigration
brahmas dominated society
cows sacred
evil worship, black magic
Early vedic age religious life(11)
Nature worshippers
Conducted sacrifices-soma and sutra[intoxicating drinks]
Rituals and ceremonies not costly
hymns composed
Idol worship unknown
polytheists
animals like buffaloes, rams, bulls and even cows sometimes sacrificed
offered milk, ghee,grains, wine, fruits, etc
prayed to terrestrial gods like prithvi, agni,brihaspathi(prayer)
prayed to atmospheric gods like Indra,vayu, rudra
Prayed to Celestial gods(sky or outer space) gods like Varuna(vault of heaven), Dyaus(the sky),m surya, etc
important kingdoms in later vedic age(5)
kuru, panchala, kashi, videha, vidharbha
Heirarchy of kings(7) in later vedic age
Raja
Maharaja
Rajadhiraja
Ekrat
Virat
Samrat
Chakravarthi
3 yagas in later vedic age
Rajasuya
Ashwamedha
Vajapeya
Early vedic age economic conditions(6)
aryans in villages
agriculture chief occupation
cattle rearing, carpentry, pottery, weaving
trade limited
cattle=wealth
barter system
Later vedic economic conditions(7)
villages to cities
eg-hastinapur, indraprastha, kousambi
agriculture chief occupation
trade and commerce gained importance
inland and maritime trade
cotton silk traded
barter system and nishka used
integral part of vedic religion
varnas, ashramas, purusharthas
