THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD

THE LATER VEDIC AGE

Time period : from 1,000 BCE to 600 BCE

time when later Vedas, Upanishads were

composed

Place of settlement: Gangetic valley – renamed as ‘Aryavarta’ –

‘Land of the Aryans’

Another name: Epic Age

Ramayana, Mahabharata were written during

this period.

THE LATER VEDIC AGE - SOURCES

three later Vedas – Atharva Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda the epics – Ramayana, Mahabharata archaeological evidences – Hastinapur, upper Gangetic plains – use of iron indicated

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

Small tribal organisations Large kingdoms

Kingdoms established:

Kuru (near modern Delhi)

Kosala (Awadh)

Magadha (Patna, Gaya)

Kashi (Varanasi)

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONTHE KING

kings – all powerful

kingship – hereditary

sabha and samiti lost importance

size of the kingdom increased – more officials in charge – more departments

KING’S BELIEFS

Rajasuya yagna

Confer supreme power on the King

God’s representative on Earth

Ashwamedha yagna

horse sacrifice

Establish undisputed authority over which the horse moved unchallenged.

Social life

Classification of society Four varnas More rigid – hereditary Caste decided by birth Inter – caste marriages not allowed Caste system became deep rooted Ruling class – brahmanas, kshatriyas

Social lifeFamily

Joint family system – importance increased

Birth of sons Women inferior to men – stopped from

going to assemblies – only serve husbands, take care of family – allowed in religious ceremonies

The Four Ashramas4 stages of an Aryans life …….Brahmacharya – gurukul with guru – education

Grihastha – married – family life as a householder

Vanaprastha – give up worldly life – to forest to meditate

Sanyasa – renounce all worldly ties – ascetic – spreading the message of his religion and truth.

Gurukul system of educationentrance in gurukul at the age of 7

receive education till 25 years

gurukuls – deep in the forest

students like guru’s children

guru – spiritual father

simple, disciplined lives

students cleaned house, drew water, gathered wood, worked in the fields

oral method of teaching, learning

guru dakshina according to means

women not allowed to receive education

ReligionNew Gods – Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva

(destroyer)

Complex mode of worship

Elaborate rituals, sacrifices

Rise in the brahmana’s status – only capable person to perform religious rituals

Hinduism – way of life

Indus Sindhu (Sanskrit) Hindu

roots – Indus valley culture

not founded by a spiritual leader – philosophy, a way of life

social, religious beliefs of Indus valley, Aryans

Shakti – omnipresent – single force/energy – created world = God – different forms

Hindu philosophy

Dharma – moral duty –do the right – pious life

Karma – as you sow, so shall you reap, present and future ruled by actions or karma

Transmigration of soul – immortal soul – only body dies – souls live on and migrate into new bodies and are reborn

Original source of Hindu philosophy - Upanishads

Economic lifesettled life – main occupation – agriculture

revolution in farming – iron – better farming implements – more prosperity

painted grey vessels – made used – found in sites of Northern India

growth of towns, cities – trade – barter system

Impact of Aryan culture

cradle of Indian culture

Hinduism of today – roots – Vedas, Upanishads

Sanskrit language + Vedic literature = unity of most Indians