THE EARLY VEDIC PERIOD

VEDIC LITERATURE

Veda = knowledge - are a ‘treasure house of knowledge’ and collective wisdom of Aryans

Chief historical source of early Aryans – their religious literature – ‘the Vedas’

Four Vedas – Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda – composed verbally for 100 years – orally handed down generations – after several centuries – recorded in books.

Rig Vedic period

VEDIC LITERATURE

Other religious books – The Brahamanas (explain Vedic texts, rituals), the Upanishads (mysteries of creation, essence of life), the Puranas (simplify the Vedas), epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata

Collectively – Vedic literature – information about social, religious, economic and political life

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONPOLITICAL ORGANIZATION

Many tribes (Many tribes (janasjanas) – ) – leaded by leaded by rajansrajans

Each jana = many Each jana = many villages (villages (gramasgramas))

Each grama = many Each grama = many families – leader of families – leader of each grama was each grama was gramani (village gramani (village headman)headman)

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONPOLITICAL ORGANIZATION Rajan Rajan – ablest and strongest – elected by – ablest and strongest – elected by

people – kept enemies away – spiritual leader – people – kept enemies away – spiritual leader – ruled according to the wishes of the tribe – ruled according to the wishes of the tribe – assisted by many officials like assisted by many officials like purohitapurohita (performed religious ceremonies, advisor) and (performed religious ceremonies, advisor) and senani senani (commander – in – chief – leaded forces (commander – in – chief – leaded forces during war)during war)

rajan – no absolute power – people had a sayrajan – no absolute power – people had a say sabhasabha – small assembly – important members – small assembly – important members

of tribe – advised and guided the Kingof tribe – advised and guided the King samitisamiti – large assembly – opinion on important – large assembly – opinion on important

matters given by any membermatters given by any member Women – took partWomen – took part

SOCIAL LIFESOCIAL LIFE

each village = many joint familieseach village = many joint families Head of the family – Head of the family – grihapatigrihapati (eldest living male member) (eldest living male member)

– decision final– decision final women – important in societywomen – important in society monogamy – only one wifemonogamy – only one wife women given educationwomen given education women scholars (Gargi, Maitreyi) composed Rig Vedic women scholars (Gargi, Maitreyi) composed Rig Vedic

hymnshymns wife important in religious ceremonieswife important in religious ceremonies women chose husbands – women chose husbands – swayamwaraswayamwara no child marriageno child marriage widows allowed to remarrywidows allowed to remarry

SOCIAL LIFESOCIAL LIFE

simple, nutritious foodsimple, nutritious food wheat, barley, maize, vegetables, fruits, milk, wheat, barley, maize, vegetables, fruits, milk,

milk productsmilk products fond of fond of honeyhoney and intoxicating drinks – and intoxicating drinks – soma soma

and suraand sura meat eaten occasionallymeat eaten occasionally dressed in two garments – dressed in two garments – unstitched piece unstitched piece

of clothof cloth (like a dhoti – lower garment) tied (like a dhoti – lower garment) tied around the waist + around the waist + light shawllight shawl (upper (upper garment) + garment) + turban – like headgearturban – like headgear + + ornaments of ornaments of gold, silver, precious stonesgold, silver, precious stones

RecreationRecreation Outdoor activities – Outdoor activities – chariot racing, huntingchariot racing, hunting Enjoyed Enjoyed music and dancemusic and dance Indoor activities – Indoor activities – dice, gamblingdice, gambling

ReligionReligion

ONE SUPREME POWER = GODONE SUPREME POWER = GODForces of nature – yagnas Forces of nature – yagnas No temples, idolsNo temples, idols

Indra (rain) Soma (plants)Indra (rain) Soma (plants)Agni (fire) Prithvi (Earth)Agni (fire) Prithvi (Earth)Surya (sun) Usha (dawn)Surya (sun) Usha (dawn)Varuna (water) Yama (death)Varuna (water) Yama (death)Vayu (wind)Vayu (wind)

Class / Varna Class / Varna SystemSystem

BRAHMANASeducation,

religion

KSHATRIYASprotect tribe

VAISHYASprovide goods and food

SHUDRASmenial work

serve other classes

Class conversion allowed

Economic LifeEconomic Life

pastoralpastoral life life cow cow – mark of – mark of wealthwealth agriculture – farmers had knowledge of agriculture – farmers had knowledge of

seasonsseasons artisans, craftspeople, chariot makers, artisans, craftspeople, chariot makers,

weavers, leather – workers, potters, metal weavers, leather – workers, potters, metal workersworkers

self sufficient tribeself sufficient tribe