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 2 VEDIC AND POST VEDIC ERA

verses drawn from the Rig Veda book of magical formulas

except 75, total- 1549 last among the Vedas to be composed.
contains the famous Dhrupad Raga Upveda - Shilpveda/Arthaveda
latest sung by Tansen. Brahman - Gopatha
Upveda - Gandharva Veda i.e Music
Brahman - Sadavimsha.
Recited by - Udgatri oldest Veda
Its text consists of 1028 hymns
divided into 10 mandalas.
procedure for the performance of the Mandalas 2-7 form the oldest part
sacrifices. Mandala 3 - Gayatri Mantra
subdivided into = Mandala 8- hymns dedicated to gods
Shukla Yajurveda: mantras Mandala 10 - Purushaskuta
Krishna Yajurveda: mantra + prose The upveda of Rig Veda is Ayurveda
Upveda - Dhanur Veda.
Brahmana -Aiteraya.
Brahmana - Shatapatha
Recited by - Hotri

Each Veda has four parts: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.

- The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas.

Samhitas
- It contains mantras, prayers, litanies and hymns to God

- The Brahmanas are prose interpretations of the Samhita chapters.

Brahmanas
- It gives details and explanations of sacrificial rituals and outcome.

- The Aranyakas are texts on forest life.

Aranyakas
- It interprets sacrificial rituals in a symbolic and philosophical way.

There are 108 Upanishads, 13 of which are considered the most

significant. They contain a great variety of philosophical ideas
Upanishads
about sacrifice, the body, and the universe.They are most closely
associated with the concepts of Atman and Brahman
 The early Vedic Aryans lived in the area known as sapta-sindhu
meaning an area of seven rivers.
This corresponds to the entire Punjab and its neighbouring Haryana regions, but Rigvedic
geography also included the Gomal plains, southern Afghanistan, and southern Jammu
and Kashmir.

The seven rivers included:

1. Sindhu (Indus)
2. Vitasta (Jhelum),
3. Asikni (Chenab),
4. Parushni (Ravi),
5. Vipash (Beas),
6. Shutudri (Sutlej),
7. Sarasvati.

RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD

Religious Life of Religious Life of

Features
Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Period

Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra, Dyaus,

Pushana, Yama, Soma, etc are all
- Vishnu and Rudra, who were
male gods. Many goddesses, such
minor deities in the Rigveda, rose
Rigvedic as Ushas, Sarasvati, and Prithvi,
to prominence
Gods hold secondary positions in the
.- Pushan, who used to protect
pantheon. The most frequently
cattle, became the Shudra god.
mentioned god in the Rigveda is
Indra.

- Important yajnas included

- In sacrifices, hymns and prayers ashvamedha, vajapeya, and
were recited, and these yajnas rajasuya.
were typically performed by priests. - Toward the end of this period, a
Yajnas - The sacrificial ritual also resulted strong reaction against priestly
in the expansion and development dominance over the complexities
of knowledge of mathematics and of the yajnas led to the formulation
animal anatomy. of a philosophical doctrine that is
laid out in the Upanishads.
 POLITICAL LIFE
OF THE VEDIC PERIOD

Political Life of the Political Life of

Features
Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Period

The concept of janapada emerged.

The Aryans' chief social unit was known In the Later Vedic texts, the
Social Unit
as Jana. word Rashtra was also used for the
first time.

Jana was headed by Rajan, whose main The Rajan, or chief, now assumed
Chief/King function was to protect the Jana and the role of protector of the territory
cattle from the enemies. where his tribesmen had settled.

Hereditary and elaborate coronation

Not Hereditary and tribal assemblies
rituals, such as vajapeya and
Post of Chief were involved in the selection of the raja
rajasuya, established the chief
from amongst the clansmen.
authority.

Rajan was helped in his task by the tribal

assemblies called sabha, samiti, vidatha,
gana and parishad, which are mentioned During this time, the sabha overtook
Administration
in the Rigveda.Sabha: council of select the samiti in relevance.
clan members Samiti comprised the
whole clan.

The people gave the chief what is known

Bali, Bhaga and Shulka gradually
as Bali. It was simply a voluntary
Taxes assumed the form of regular tributes
contribution made on special occasions
and taxes.
by ordinary tribesmen.

The Sena, or army, was a temporary

A rudimentary army emerged, and
fighting force made up of able-bodied
Army all these lived on the taxes offered
tribesmen who were mobilised during
by the people.
wartime.

The clans held large yajnas or sacrifices, As Rajanya's importance grew, so

which were performed by Purohita.- They did the Brahmanas. - The status of
Status of received a large portion of the rajas' gifts the officiating priests became at par
Brahmins and assumed a superior position in with the gods in the later period.-
comparison to the other members of the The officiating brahmana had to be
clan. satisfied with Dana.
 ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD
Economic Life of the Economic Life of
Features
Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Period

Occupational The dominant occupational activity in Transformation from a pastoral to a

Activity pastoral society was cattle rearing. sedentary agrarian society.

- Rice was the staple diet of the

people. Rice is mentioned in the Vedic
texts as Vrihi, Tandula, and Sali.
-There are no other grains mentioned
- It appears that during this period,
Agriculture along with 'Yava' or barley.
double cropping was also practised.
- Shifting agriculture was practised.
- Aside from barley, people started
growing wheat, rice, pulses, lentils,
millet, sugarcane, and other crops.

- The buffalo had been domesticated

Domestication - Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses for agricultural purposes.
of animals were raised for milk, meat, and hides. - During this time, the God Indra was
given the title "Lord of the Plough."

- The people gave the chief what was

known as Bali, which was simply a - Bali, Bhaga and Shulka gradually
voluntary contribution made by assumed the form of regular tributes
Taxes
ordinary tribesmen on special and taxes.
occasions.There was no officer - Bhagalugha: Tax collecting officer.
mentioned for tax collection.

- They did not use iron - Socketed axes made of iron and
Iron Technology technology and were familiar iron-tipped ploughshares and hoes
with copper. increased the efficiency of agriculture.

- Cows were the most popular means

of exchange.
Medium of - In the later times, gold coins called
- Priests were compensated with
Exchange Niskha were used in transactions.
cows, horses, and gold ornaments for
performing sacrifices.

Write a Short Note on the Social Life during Vedic and Later Vedic Period.