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Important Details on Vedic Society

• Valuable Information : Vedic Period

  • Vedic Transmission: The Vedas were passed on verbally and are known as Shruti (meaning "that which has been heard"). Shruti is considered eternal, comprising the central canon of Hinduism: Vedas, Brahmans, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.
  • Upavedas: The auxiliary Vedas associated with the main Vedas:
    • Ayurveda (medicine) – Rigveda
    • Gandharveda (music) – Samaveda
    • Dhanurveda (archery) – Yajurveda
    • Shilpveda (craft) – Atharvaveda
  • Important Upanishads:
    • Aitareya, Kausitaki (belong to Rigveda);
    • Chhandogya, Kena (belong to Samaveda);
    • Katha, Svetasvatara, Brihadaranyaka, Isa (belong to Yajurveda);
    • Mundaka, Prasna, Mandukya (belong to Atharvaveda).
    Rigveda and Kausitaki, Yajurveda and Katha, Samaveda and Chhandogya, Atharvaveda and Mundaka.
  • Divine Powers of Rigveda:
    • Indra: Lord of war, most important deity in Rigveda, with 250 hymns dedicated to him.
    • Agni: God of fire, intermediary between gods and men, with 200 hymns dedicated to him.
    • Varuna: God of the sky, water, and celestial ocean, with 46 hymns dedicated to him.
    • Soma: God of plants, with 123 hymns dedicated to him.
    • Visvedevas: A group of Vedic gods led by Indra, with 70 hymns dedicated to them.
    • Yama: Guardian of the world of the dead, considered the first mortal to die, with Yami as his twin sister.
    • Surya: Sun god, with 8 hymns dedicated to him.
    • Other Rigvedic Gods: Savitri (Gayatri Mantra dedicated), Pusan (guardian of jungle paths), Vishnu (comparatively minor deity).
  • Social Structure: The Rigvedic society was free, with males and females enjoying equal freedom in education and selecting mates. Women were treated as Ardhanginis (equal partners in the family).
  • Geographical Names (Rivers): Rigvedic rivers name and their modern counterparts:
    • Sindhu – Indus
    • Vitase – Jhelum
    • Askini – Chenab
    • Purushni – Ravi
    • Vipas – Beas
    • Sutudari – Satluj
    • Gumal – Gomati
    • Krumu – Kurram
    • Drishdvati – Ghagghar
    • Suvastu – Swat
  • Concept of Rita: The concept of Rita was central to the Rigvedic worldview, denoting cosmic order or law prevailing in nature, maintained by Varuna.
  • Fauna of the Rigveda: The fauna is clearly Indian, including peacocks (Mayur), swans (Hamsa), water buffalos (Mahish), gaura (Indian bison), camels (Ushtra), and elephants (Hasti). Horse and cow were the most important animals during this period.

  Religious Movements

  • • Vedang are the auxiliary to the four Vedas
    • Siksha - Related to sound, pronunciation, teaching, and learning of basic elements.
    • Kalpa - Involves the system of prescribed acts and rituals.
    • Vyaakaran / Grammar - A principal part of the six Vedangas.
    • Nirukta - A commentary on difficult words of the Veda.
    • Chhandas - The poetic meter in Vedic composition.
    • Jyotisa - Astronomy and astrology.
    • Major Darshans
    • Nyaaya Shashtra - Author: Rishi Gautama ji (Knowledge leading to Moksha)
    • Vaisheshika Shashtra - Author: Rishi Kanaad ji (True form of Dharma)
    • Sankhya Shashtra - Author: Rishi Kapil ji (About Prakriti, its products, and Purusha)
    • Yoga Shashtra - Author: Maharishi Patanjali ji (Saadhana, Dhyan, Samaadhi)
    • Purva Mimaansa - Author: Rishi Jaimini ji (Science of morals, Dharma)
    • Uttar Mimaansa / Vedaant Shashtra - Author: Rishi Vyaasa ji (Brahmaa, Moksha)
    • Ancient Brahmanas
    • Aitareya Brahman - Based on Rig Veda, authored by Rishi Aitareya Mahidaas
    • Shankhyayan Brahman - Based on Rig Veda
    • Kaushtiki Brahman - Based on Rig Veda
    • Shatapath Brahman - Based on Yajurveda
    • Maha-Tandya Brahman - Based on Sam Veda
    • Gopath Brahman - Based on Atharva Veda
    • Vedic yajnas are performed by four Vedic priests
    • Hota - Priest who recites invocations from Rigveda
    • Adhvaryu - Priest who handles the physical details of the ritual
    • Udgata - Chanters of hymns set to melodies from Samaveda
    • Brahman - Superintendent of the entire performance

  Emergence of Settlements (Class 6, Chapter 2)

  • Time Frame: Transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled agriculture began around 7000 BCE.
  • Geographical Spread: Early settlements emerged in regions like the fertile crescent (Mesopotamia), Nile valley, and the Indus Valley.
  • Agriculture and Domestication: Domestication of wheat, barley, rice, and millets for cultivation. Domestication of animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs for food, milk, and labor.
  • Impact on Society: Emergence of settled communities led to the development of social hierarchies and division of labor. Economic Systems: Shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture-based economies with the establishment of trade networks.

Early Vedic Period (Class 6, Chapter 2)

• Chronology: Vedic Period is divided into Early Vedic (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE) and Later Vedic (1000 BCE to 600 BCE) phases.
• Literature: Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, composed during this period.
• Rigveda: Composition comprised of hymns (suktas) dedicated to various gods and goddesses. Language: Written in early Sanskrit, a predecessor of classical Sanskrit.
• Society: Reflects the pastoral lifestyle of early Vedic people, with hymns praising gods associated with nature and natural phenomena.

Early Vedic Society (Class 7, Chapter 1)

• Social Structure: Divided into four varnas - Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders and farmers), and Shudras (laborers).
• Economic Life: Agrarian economy supplemented by pastoralism, with cattle being a symbol of wealth and status.
• Religious Practices: Polytheistic worship of natural forces and deities through rituals and sacrifices.

Vedic Society and Economy (Class 12, Chapter 2)

• Early Vedic Polity: Decentralized political structure with tribal assemblies (sabhas and samitis) and rajas (chieftains) exercising authority.
• Economic Structure: Agrarian economy based on subsistence farming and pastoralism, supplemented by trade and barter.

Religious and Cultural Developments (Class 12, Chapter 2)

• Vedic Religion: Worship of nature gods like Indra (god of thunder), Agni (god of fire), and Varuna (god of order and cosmic law) through sacrificial rituals.
• Cultural Practices: Importance of rituals and ceremonies (samskaras), oral transmission of knowledge through the guru-shishya tradition.

Literary and Intellectual Contributions (Class 12, Chapter 2)

• Vedic Literature: Compilation of four Vedas - Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, containing hymns, rituals, and philosophical speculations.
• Upanishads: Philosophical texts exploring concepts of self (atman), ultimate reality (Brahman), and the nature of existence (samsara).

UPSC Pre Questions

• What archaeological evidence supports the transition from hunting-gathering to settled agriculture during the Vedic Period?
• Discuss the social hierarchy and economic structure of Vedic society, focusing on the roles of different varnas.
• Explain the significance of cattle in the early Vedic economy and its role as a symbol of wealth and status.
• How did the composition of the Rigveda reflect the pastoral lifestyle and religious beliefs of the early Vedic people?
• Discuss the political organization of early Vedic society, highlighting the roles of tribal assemblies and chieftains.
• Describe the religious practices and beliefs of the Vedic people.
• What were the major cultural developments during the Vedic period, and how did they shape later Indian society?
• Examine the impact of the Vedic period on subsequent Indian civilizations.
• Discuss the emergence of social institutions and their role in early Vedic society.
• What literary and intellectual contributions did the Vedic period make to Indian civilization, as evidenced by the Vedas and Upanishads?

UPSC Mains Questions

• What were the major social and economic characteristics of Vedic society?
• Discuss the literary and intellectual contributions of the Vedic period to Indian civilization.
• Examine the economic activities and trade networks of Vedic society, including the role of agriculture, pastoralism, and barter.
• Discuss the philosophical themes explored in the Upanishads and their influence on later Indian thought and spirituality.
• Explain the transition from pastoralism to settled agriculture during the Vedic period and its implications for society.
• How did the economy of early Vedic society differ from that of later periods?
• Discuss the role of kings and tribal assemblies in early Vedic polity.
• Examine the literary and intellectual contributions of the Vedic period, focusing on the Vedas and Upanishads.
• What were the major cultural developments during the Vedic period, and how did they influence subsequent Indian society?
• Discuss the evolution of Vedic religion and its impact on Indian society.