Vedic Age (1500 BC-1000 BC)

Vedic Age (1500 BC-1000 BC)

It is generally agreed that Aryans originally lived somewhere in Steppes stretching from southern Russia to central Russia. The consensus of opinion is that originally they lived somewhere in the East of Alps. On their way to India, Aryans first appeared in Iran and a little later than 1500 BC they appeared in India. Kassite Inscription of about 1600 BC and Mittani Inscription of 1400 BC found in Iraq bear some Aryan  names, which suggest that from Iran a branch of Aryans moved towards west. The Rig Veda has many things in common with the Avesta - the oldest text in Iranian language. Rig Veda is the earliest specimen of any Indo-European language.According to Rig Veda, early Aryans first settled in the region called ‘Sapta-Sindhava’ or the land of seven rivers encompassing the present East Afghanistan, Punjab and Western UP Early Aryans were semi-nomadic and kept large herds of cattle. As they settled down in villages, they also became cultivators. using ox to draw their ploughs. They were ruled by warriors, who depended upon priests to perform the rituals to protect their crops and cattle, and insure victory in war. The Indian sub-continent got its name Bharat Varsha after the Bharata tribe, which was the strongest one. During the later Vedic phase, the Aryans moved away from their native land.

The Sun Gods Surya Similar to that of the Greek God Helios.

Savitri The famous Gayatri mantra is addressed to Savitri.

Pusan His main function was that of guarding of roads, herdsmen and cattle.

Vishnu A relatively minor God at that time.

Original Home of Aryans

Central Asia        Max Muller

Tibet                      Dayanand Saraswati

German plain     Prof. Penka

Pamirs                  Mayor

Turkistan             Hurz Feld

Bactria                  J. C. Rod

Steppes                               Brandstein

Arctic Region      B.G. Tilak

Central India      Rajbali Pandey

Kashmir                L. D. Kala

Sapta Sindhu      A. C. Das

Rivers Mentioned in Rig Veda

Old Name            New Name

Gomati                                 Gomal

Krumu                  Kurram

Kubha                   Kabul

Suvastu                Swat

Sindhu                  Indus

Drishadvati         Ghaghar/Chitang

Satudri                  Satluj

Vipas                     Beas

Parushni              Ravi

Asikni                    Chenab

Vitasta                  Jhelam

Rig Vedic Polity

. The chief was the protector of the tribe or Jana.

. However, he did not possess unlimited powers for he had to reckon with the tribal

Assemblies.

. Sabha, Samiti, Vidhata and Gana were the tribal Assemblies. Of these, Vidhata was

the oldest. These assemblies exercised deliberative, military and religious functions.

. The two most important Assemblies were the Sabha and Samiti. Samiti was

general in nature and less exclusive than Sabha.

. Women attended Sabha and Vidhata in Rigvedic times.

. There were a few non-monarchical states {ganas), which are described whose head was Ganapati or Jyestha.

Words Mentioned in Rig Veda

Word Times mentioned

Om                         1028

Ashva                    315

Jana                       275

Gau                        176

Vis                          171

Brahmana           14

Kshatriya             9

Yamuna                3

Sudra                    I

Vaishya                I

Rajya                     1

Kulpa                     I

Ganga                   I

Samudra              I

Metals Known

Gold                      Hiranya

Iron                        Shyama (Krishna Ayas)

Copper                 Ayas

A Celebration of Life

The Aryans were a wild, turbulent people and had few of the taboos prevalent in later India. They were much addicted to inebriating drinks, of which they had at least two, soma and sura. Soma was drunk at sacrifices and its use was sanctified by religion. Sura was purely secular and more potent, and was dis- approved by the priestly poets. The Aryans loved music, and played the flute. lute and harp, to the accompaniment of cymbal and drums. People also de- lighted in gambling. They enjoyed

chariot races.

Rigvedic Gods

The early Vedic religion was naturalistic. Evidently, there were neither temples nor idols. The mode of prayer was recitation of mantras. Sacrifice was offered for Praja (children). Pasu (cattle) and Dhana (wealth) and not for spiritual upliftment or misery.

Indra

. 250 hymns are attributed to India.

. He was the Aryan warlord and also controlled the weather.

. Has been called Purandhar or destroyer of forts.

. He was the proverbial Rain God (prajanya),responsible for causing rainfall.

. He was associated with thunder and storm and bore the thunderbolt (Vajra),

with which he destroyed his He has been addressed by various names -

Ratheshtha, Jitendra, Somapa, Purandra, Vritrahan and Maghayan.

Varuna

. He was the upholder of Rta or cosmic order and whatever happened in the

world was thought to be reflection of his desire.

. As an administrator of the cosmic law (Rta), he regulated all activities in the

world. It is he who has spread out the earth and set the sun in motion.

. He is therefore called the world sovereign and is also regarded at the of

human morality.

. His worship gives the earliest signs of Bhakti.

. In every hymn for Varuna. there is an appeal for forgiveness.

Agni

 . About 200 hymns on the Rig Veda are attributed to Agni.

. He was the intermediary between Gods and men. He consumed the

sacrificial offerings and carried them to Gods.

. He dwelt in heaven in the form of lightning. On earth he existed in many

forms.

. He dwelt in the domestic hearth.

Yama

 . A sort of Adam - The first man to die, who became the guardian of

the world of dead.

Soma

 . The God of plants. An intoxicant drink was also named Soma. The

Soma sacrifice was an important Vedic rituals.

. He is the special God of Brahamans, who referred to him as their patron deity.

Later Vedic Gods

. India and Varuna lost their previous importance and Prajapati attained the

Supreme position.

. Rudra and Vishnu became more important than before.

. Pushan became the God of Shudras.

. Brahmin monopoly over divine knowledge was established.

. An elaborate system of Yajnas developed. Among the important

ones were— Rajasuya, Ashvamedha and Vajapeya.

Rig Vedic Society

. Based on kinship, the early Aryan society was essentially tribal and

egalitarian.

. People owed their primary loyalty to their tribe, which was called Jana.

. The family was essentially patriarchal and birth of son was desired.

. The family was a large unit, indicated by a common word for son, grandson,

nephew and one word for paternal and maternal grandfather.

. Rashtra (kingdom) had not come into existence

Other Gods

Vayu                      Wind God

Dyaus                    Father of Heaven

Aditi                       Mother of Surya

Morals                  Storm spirits

Gandharvas        Divine musicians

Ashvins                                Healers of diseases and experts in surgical art

Ribhus                  Gnomes

Apsoras                Mistresses of Gods.

Rudra                    An archer God, whose arose brought disease

The Cow

. The cow seems to be the most important form of wealth.

. Most wars were fought for cows.

. The term for war in Rig Veda is Gavishthi or search for cows.

. Duhitri is a word for daughter, which literally means one who milks cows.

The term Aghanya, or not to be killed has been used for cow. This indicated cow’s

economic importance.

 . Primarily a military leader, the King fought for cows and not for territories

. Guests were called Goghana, which indicates that beef was offered to them.

. The gift made to priests usually consisted of cows and women slaves and never of land.

Position of Women

. Women held respectable position in society. They could attend tribal assemblies. They took part in sacrifices alongwith their husbands. There are no examples of child marriage and the marriageable age for girls was 16 to 17 years.

. We also get evidence of widow remarriage and practice of Niyoga (levirate) in which a childless widow would co-habit with her brother-in-law until the birth of a son.

. Monogamy was the established practice. However, polygamy and polyandry  were also known.

 Female Deities

Usha                      Goddess of dawn.

Aditi                       Mother of Gods.

Prithivi                  Earth Goddess.

Aryani                   Forest Goddess

Saraswati             The River deity.

Important Rituals

. Rajasuya: The King’s influence was strengthened by rituals. He performed this sacrifice, which was supposed to confer supreme power on him.

. Asvamedha: A King performed the Asvamedha, which meant unquestioned  control over the area in which the royal horse ran uninterrupted. The ceremony lasted for 3 days at the end of which horse sacrifice was performed.

. Vajapeya: A King performed the Vajpeya or the chariot race, in which the royal chariot was made to win the race against his kinsmen (a case of match-fixing!). The ritual lasted for 17 days and was believed not only to restore the strength of the middle-aged king but also to elevate him from the position of Raja to that of Samrat.

Chief Priests

The chief priests who were engaged in performing the sacrifices were –

a. Hotri - the Invoker, he recited hymns from Rigveda.

b. Adhvaryu - the executor, he rected hymns from Yajurvada.

c. Udgatri - the singer, he recited hymns from Samveda.

Social Divisions

 . When the Aryans first came to India, there was no consciousness of caste, nor were the professions hereditary. The word ‘Varna’ is used in the Rig Veda with reference to only the Aryan or Dasa having respectively, fair or dark complexion, but never with reference to the Brahmana or Rajanya (Kshatriya).

. Quadruple division of society made its formal appearance only at one place in the Tenth Mandala of Rig Veda (Purushsukta hymn). The term Shudra is mentioned for the first time in the Tenth Mandala of Rig Veda.

. The Ashrama system had not developed fully till the Later Vedic Period.

Types of Marriage

i) Brahma: Marriage of a duly dowered girl to a man of the same class.

ii) Daiva: The father gives a daughter to a sacrificial priest as a part of his fee.

iii) Arsa: A token bride-price of a cow and a bull is given in place of the dowry.

iv) Prajapatya: The father gives the girl without dowry and without demanding the bride-price.

v) Gandharva: Marriage by the consent of the two parties (love marriage).

vi) Asura: Marriage in which the bride was bought from her father. It was looked down upon with disfavour by all sacred texts, though Arthashastra allows it without criticism.

vii) Rakshasa: Marriage by capture, was practised especially by warriors.

viii) Paishacha: Marriage by seduction.

 Of these eight forms the first four were generally approved and were permissible to Brahmans. Daiva marriage wasconsidered ‘the ideal’. The other forms were looked down upon with varying degrees of disfavour. Gandharva marriage.which often might amount to no more than a liaison, was surprisingly respected.

A special form of the Gandharva marriage was the Swayamvara

 Administrative Officers

Purohita                               Chief priest

Senani                                 The leader of the army.

Vrajapati Officer               who enjoyed authority over pasture ground.

Kulapas                                Heads of families led by Vrajapati.

Gramini                                Head of fitting hordes under Vrajapati.

. There was no officer for tax collection, nor we do hear of any officer for administering justice.

. Spies (Spasa) were employed to watch over anti-social activities like theft and burglary.

. The chief received from people voluntary offering called Bali.