Vedic Culture in Ancient India

Vedic Culture in Ancient India is another great civilization and culture and emerged as the successor of Indus Valley Civilization. Vedic texts are the source of all information of Vedic age.Let’s learn.

• Early Vedic Civilization (1500 -1000 BCE)
• Later Vedic Civilization (1000-500 BCE)

• It is  believed that Indo -Aryans established the Vedic age and they are the composer of Vedic texts.
• The term ‘Indo-Aryans‘ is basically a linguistic term and refers to speakers of a sub group of the Indo-European family of languages.
• There is still no consensus on the origin of Aryans and different scholar come up with different theories. Some theories are as follows:

Four Vedas are the most important part in Vedic literature. These are Rig,Sama,Yayur and Atharva Veda. Vedas were written in Sanskrit language.

RIG VEDA

• The Rig Veda is a collection of 1,028 hymns.
• It is divided into 10 Mandals (books). Third Mandal contains Gayatri Mantra.
• The Rig Veda is the earliest composition.
• The Rig Veda has been included by the UNESCO in the list of literature signifying World Human Heritage.
• Saraswati is the deity river of the Rig Veda.
• Tenth Mandal contains Purushasukta hymn that tells about caste system.
• The theme of Sapta Sindhu or the seven rivers plays a major part in the hymns of the Rigveda.The Rigveda mentions rivers Kabul, Swat, Kurram, Gumal, Indus,Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, etc

SAMA VEDA

• The Sama Veda is the collection of verses or the book of chants.
• It is a collection of 1,810 melodies.
• It contains the famous Dhrupada raga, which was sung by Tansen.

YAJUR VEDA

• The Yajur Veda contains the procedure for the performance of sacrifices.
• The two type of texts are found  Shukla Yajur Veda or White Yajur Veda and Krishna Yajur Veda or Black Yajur Veda 

ATHARVA VEDA

• The Atharva Veda is a collection of magic spells and charms to ward off the evil spirits and diseases.
• It divided into 20 kandas (books) which includes 711 hymns.

UPAVEDAS

There are four Upavedas:

• Ayurveda (Upaveda of the Atharvaveda)
• Dhanurveda (Upaveda of the Rigveda)
• Gandharvaveda (Upaveda of the Samaveda)
• Sthapatyaveda (Upaveda of the Yajurveda)

BRAHMANAS

• The Brahmanas describe the rules for the performance of sacrificial ceremonies.
• These are prose commentaries.
• The Shatapatha Brahmanas is attached to the Yajur Veda.

ARANYAKAS

• Aranyakas are the forest books.
• Written by hermits living in the jungles for their pupils.
• Reflects the philosophical way.

UPANISHADS

• The literal meaning of “Upanishad’ is ‘to sit near someone‘
• There are 108 Upanishads, of which 13 are the most prominent.
• The Upanishads focus a lot on the philosophy about life, universe, self, body, sacrifice, etc.
• The oldest Upanishad-Vrihadarnayaka.

VEDANTA

• Vedanta literally signifies ‘the end of the Vedas’.
• It is the ultimate aim of Vedas.

VEDANGA

the word ‘Vedanga‘ means ‘the limbs of the Vedas‘. These are treaties of Science and Arts.

Thére are six Vedangs:

• Shiksha (Phonetics)
• Kalpa Sutras (Rituals)
• Vyakarana (Grammar)
• Nirukta (Etymology)
• Chhanda (Metrics)
• Jyotisha (Astronomy)

PURANAS

• There are 18 Puranas.
• Some Puranas like the Brahma, Matsya, Harivamsha, Vishnu, Brahmanda, and Vayu provide useful information on historical dynasties (of Haryankas, Shishunagas, Nandas, Mauryas, Shungas,Guptas).
• Puranas also contain detailed accounts of historical geography such as mountains, rivers, etc.
• Matsya Purana is the oldest Puranic text.

DHARMASHASTRA

• Dharamshastra They are the Sanskrit texts that deals with Dharma or the code of conduct that envisage a righteous moral law which is in consonance with the universal natural law.

EPICS

There are mainly two Mahakavyas or Epics in Vedic age

• The Ramayana written by Valmiki.It is known as Adi Kavya or the oldest epic in the world.The Ramayana contains seven Kandas and 24000 verses
• The Mahabharata written by Ved Vyasa

• The Vedic society comprised four varnas, namely Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.This division of the society was based on the professions or occupations of the people. Caste system became more strict and widely practiced in later Vedic age.
• Rare instances of Child marriage and Sati in later Vedic age were referred in varuois texts.
• A widow could marry the younger brother of her deceased husband (Niyoga).
• The father’s property was inherited by son.
• The staple diet was milk,ghee,vegetables. Fishes were also consumed.
• The cow was deemed Aghanya, i.e. not to be killed. Rigveda described a penalty of death or expulsion from the kingdom to those who kill or injure cows.
• Existence of Sabha and Samiti was referred in later Vedic age.
• Judiciary system existed.

• Mixed economy was followed. Mixed economy in Vedic age is system where agriculture and Pastoralism or animal husbandry both were practiced.
• Cow was the standard unit of exchange.
• Animals like Cat,Camel,Tiger were unknown to them where as Lion,Elephant were known animals.
• Niksha was the standard unit of value.

• Idol and temple worship was not practiced.
• They venerated natural sources like wind,rain,water, thunder etc.

• Indra,Agni,Varuna were most popular Gods in Vedic age.

Rig-Vedic Gods

• Which scholar declared that ‘Sapt Saidhava’ region was the originof Aryans?-Dr Sampurnanand , A C Das
• What was the basic unit of Vedic Society?-Parivar
• Which was the name of voluntary contribution/tax made by an Individual?-Bali
• Who is the writer of the Book “Return of the Aryans”?-Bhagwan S Gidwani
• What was the name of an Aryan leader?-Rajan

Also Read

Indus Valley Civilization in Ancient India