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 Large kingdoms Small tribal organisations Kingdoms established: Kuru (near modern Delhi) Kosala (Awadh) Magadha (Patna, Gaya) Kashi (Varanasi)

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION THE 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 Ashwamedha 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 life Family 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 Ashramas 4 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 education entrance 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

Religion New 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 life settled 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