Vedic Period Flashcards
- Early Vedic Period ?
- Later Vedic Period ?
1500BC -1000BC
1000 BC - 600 BC
What are the 4 vedas ?
Rigveda
Samved
Yajurved
Atharva ved
Rigved -
How many hyms ?
Rigved contains information about ?
Rigvedic information about society?
Its chapters ?
Purush sukti?
Rigved contains earliest collection of 108 hyms/psalms
It has praise of various gods seeking the well-being of society.
Beautiful description of nature–> Mountains, rivers, plants.
- Himalaya is described as Himvant/ Jamuvant
Rigved also contains information about society, economy and polity
Rigveda contains 10 chapters :
2-7 : early vedic period
1,8,9,10 : later vedic period
–> 10th chapter - 1st time mentioned the varna system based on birth
–> Purushukti chapter mentions the reason for varna system
Brahman - emerged from the mouth of Adi brahma
Kshatriya - emerged from the chest and shoulder of Adi brahma
Vaishya - emerged from the thigs of Adi brahma
Shudra - emerged from the feet of Adi brahma
Expert of
Rigved
Samved
Yajurved
Atharva ved
Rigved - Hotra
Samved - Adhvaryu
Yajurved - Udgatri
Atharva ved - Brahma
Which rivers are mentioned in rigveda ?
Saptasindhu rivers of India
1. Indus - Sindhu
2. Jhelum - Vitasta
3. Chenab - Ashkini
4. Ravi - Parushani
5. Beas - Vipasa
6. Sutlej - Shutudri
7. Saraswati - Naditarana
Yajurved
Rules to perform yagna (rituals and sacrifices)
most popular
Expert - Adhvaryu
Samveda
- Origin on indian music (16000 raag and raginis)
- Book of chants
- Last part of samveda (Rulebook of music): Gandharvaved
- expert - udgatar
Atharva veda -
- Cure of 99 diseases
- Book of spell and magic
- Most elaborate ved
- Chapters on astronomy, astrology, mathematics etc.
- Created by
Atharva rishi
Angira rishi
- Which book deals with the philosophy of ved
- Which book deals with spirits and magic
- Which book is called forest book and deals with mysticism/ mystery of veda?
Upanishad
Atharva veda
Aranyak
Brahman
- Explains the tenets or principles of ved
- Ideals of ved
- 1st explanatory book of ved
- Consists of prayers, sacrificial ceremonies.
Aranyak
- Forest book
- Deals with mysticism , rites, sacrificials, rituals etc.
- Disseminated to people in vanprastha stage of life
- Deals with mystery of veda and talks abt magic
Upanishad
-Upanishad means sitting near a guru to gain knowledge
- Deals with philosphy of ved
- Topics :
absolute
soul
origin of world and universe
spiritualism
Brahmasutra
- 108 upanishads considered important
modern quotes from upanishad
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Brahmasutra (From Upanishad)
Brahmasutra (From upanishad)
Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -
Brahmasutra (From upanishad)
Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -
Brahmasutra (From upanishad)
Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -
1. Absolute reality
2. Addresses objections raised by contemporary schools
3. epistemology
4. why such knowledge is important
Which upanishad ?
1. satyameva jayate
2. Kota upanishad
3. Bruhad upanishad
4. Vasudaiva kutumbakam - G20 theme
Mundak upanishad
atithi deva bhvo
asto ma sadgamaye tamaso ma jyotirgamaye
Maha upanishad
In how many texts are rituals mentioned
Brahman
Aranyak
Yajurveda
Atharva veda
Epics during vedic period
Mahabharata (also known - Jaysamhita)
Ramayana
Which text tried to establish the ideals of Hinduism thru mythological stories
Puran
- 4 categories
1. Sarga - deals with creation of universe
2. Pratisarga - deals with destruction of universe
3. Manavantar - Story of 1st humans (manu and ela)
4. Vamsanucharit - History of ruling Indian dynasties
Describe the social condition during early Vedic period w.r.t
1. Type of family
2. Women ? Condition ? peots (4)
3. Past time
4. Social division
- Patriarchal family
Basic unit of family :: Headed by
Graham :: Grahapati (eldest male member) - Women -
Monogamy prevalent
Polygamy - among nobles and royals
Women were treated equally like men . Respectable position
–> could attend assembly or sabha
–> opportunities for ritual and intellectual devt
–> both had upper and lowe garments
Female poets :
1. Lopamudra
2. Ghosha
3. Apala
4. Vishwara
No child marraige
No sati practice
Women slaves
Priviledges -
Had political rights–> Could attend sabha samiti
Educational discourses –> participated in debates and discussions
Gandharva vivah allowed- Both male and female were allowed to choose spouses
Niyog vivah - Widow can remarrry younger brother of deceased husband.
- Past time :
Racing - Chariot, Horse
Music
Dance
Dicing - Social Divison
Not rigid
3 professions
Priestly class
Warrior class
Peasants and artisans
Describe the social condition during early Vedic period w.r.t
1. Slavery
2. Food
Slavery :
Defeated people were made slaves
Das (Aryans) - better treatment
Dasyu (non aryans) - Heav discrimination
Dasyu hatya - mass killing mentioned in rigveda
Cattle and women slaves were given in the form of gifts
High rank of individual but not high social class.
FOOD :
Wheat, barley, curd, ghee
vegetables, fruits
Describe the religious practices followed during the early vedic period
1. Gods
2. Female gods
3. Offerings
4. Temple/idol worship
5. Mode and objective of worship
- Nature was personifies in the form of gods
- Indra –> God of rain and storm
Most important
Also known - Breaker of forts : Purandhar
Mentioned more than 250 times in rigveda - Agni –>
Intermediary god (god-people)
Mentioned more than 200 times in rigveda - Varun –> God of water
Upholder of natural order
Maintain cosmic balance - Prithvi
- Vayu
- Mitra –> God of air [later known as marut]
- Surya
- Indra –> God of rain and storm
- Female gods :
Aditi - Daughter of daytime
Usha
Savitri - Gayatri mantra is dedicated to her
Vela - NO temple or idol worship
- Mode of worship - prayers, chanting mantras
objective - material gain . for brave son (suvihara)
NO concept of spiritualism
Describe the economic life during early vedic period w.r.t?
1. Agriculture
2. Iron
3. Carpentry
4. Goldsmith
5. Trade
6. Taxation
Agriculture :
Imp crops - Wheat (yava)
Barley (Godhuli)
Iron
Used to clear forests
Bring more land under cultivation
Carpentry:
Chariots
Ploughs
Goldsmith :
Ornaments
Trade:
Barter system
River used for means of transport
Gold coins - for exchange (Nishka)
No formal system of taxation
People voluntarily contributed in the form of barley and bhag to chieftain of community
3 imp bodies during early vedic period ?
Sabha
Council of elders
Include women
Exclusive + most Decisive assembly
Samiti
Assembly of entire people
Did NOT include women
Vidhata
Men + women included
Religious and agriculture related decisions
Describe the polity during early vedic period?
- Monarchial and hereditary
- kind was assisted by
purohit and senani - imp bodies
sabha (most decisive) - men + women , council of elders
samiti - women not included , all age assembly
vidhata - men + women - Constitution
Unit :: Headed by
Tribal kingdoms :: Rajan
(highest political kingdom)
|
Visu (Group of villages ) :: Vishayapati
|
Village :: Gramin
|
Family :: Kulpati /Grahapati - Dasrajan war
Describe Dasrajan war
Bharat territory was ruled by Sudas
It was one of the strongest territories
Coveted position of head priest was given to
Vasishtha instead of Vishwamitra
Vishwamitra got humiliated and persuaded 5 aryans + 5 non aryan tribes called DARAJAN for war against sudas
Battle took places at Parushani b/w Dasrajan and Sudas
Sudas emerged victorius and all his ruled terriroty came to be known as BHARATVARSHA
WAR:: SUDAS ==== DARAJAN + VASHISTHA
{WON}
