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#4) VEDIC LITERATURE AND CIVILISATION-

Vedas derived from Sanskrit word 'Vid ' , means to know.

As I mentioned in the last last article that Aryans came after IVC , so Aryan were fair complexioned people who were engaged in agriculture. Now where did they come from?There are different stories on the arrival of Aryans , i.e, They came from Europe/ Germany/ Tibet etc. But the most accepted  theory is by Max Muller who stated that they came from Central Asia( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan , Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan ).

So, Vedic Age , is categorized into 2-

EARLY/ RIGVEDIC PERIOD - when Rigveda was written ( 1500-1000 BC)

Early Aryans were seminomadic ( banjaare) . 

They used to domesticate animals . They had a tribe with a chief as a protector of the tribe. Tribe's identity was based on their tribe only, not related to any place they live in.

Chief received a tax from people- BALI/BHAGA (1/6th of what was produced.)

Chief priest - Hotri

They worshipped NATURE

(BHAGVAAN - BHOODEV, GAGAN , VAAYU, AGNI, NEER  or in other words we can say  Earth, Atmosphere, Air, Fire, Water)

They used to have 2 drinks 

* Soma - intoxicant drink , drunk at sacrifices . ( religious)

*Sura - purely secular and more potent , non religious

Family- Patriarchal ( desire to have son)

Types of marriages-

*Anulome( girl lower caste, boy upper)+ Pratilome (girl upper caste, boy lower )= Chandal was the name given to their Children.

*Brahma ( girl and boy both from same class ).

Cow was considered as a sign of wealth, given as gifts and was worshipped.

Womem were respectable, widow remarriage was allowed.

concept of 1 God was followed ( monotheism).

LATER VEDIC AGE- other 3 vedas were written - Yajur Veda , Sam Veda, Atharv Veda  (1000-600BC).

Agriculture production was increased.

Iron was discovered. Education was called as UPANAYAN

Royal power of kings was increased.

Society was divided into 4 castes-

#BRAHMANS- best of all. they used to study and teach vedas.

#KSHATRIYAS-rajas. used to fight battles and protect people.

#VAISHYAS- used to deal in agriculture and trade. could perform sacrifices.

#SHUDRAS- used to serve the other 3 groups . couldn't be educated.couldn't perform any rituals.

Later vedas had Varna System- an ideal order of life..with a human life span of 100 years...

#BRAHMACHARYA - 25 YEARS

#GRIHASTA- 25 YEARS

#VANAPRASTHA- 25 YEARS

#SANYASA- 25 YEARS

society was Patriarchal ( eldest son is head), patrilineal( after death son will take over), Patrilocal (girl will leave house after wedding).

Daughter's birth was curse.

agriculture was developed.

Cow - worshipped.

Trade developed- Cotton industry.

Barter system - ( trade by exchange of commodities rather than exchange of money.)

Gods were divided.

Rin (Debt)- Pitrarin ( father), Rishi rin( guru), Dev rin ( God).

theory of Karma was followed..

VEDIC LITERATURE

Divided into 2-

SRUTI LIERATURE- audit by God - vedas , brahmanas , upanishads , arankyas (based on hearing)

SMRITI LITERATURE- Teacher disciple relation (based on memory /retention)

* RIG VEDA- oldest

priest - hotri 

1028 hymns

9th - dedicated to soma

10th- contains famous Purushukta hymn ( explains the origin of 4 varnas- vertical caste system)

contains Gayatri Mantra - addressed to Goddess Savitri.

*YAJUR VEDA- priest- adhvaryu

all sacrificial prayers.

*SAMA VEDA- priest - uggaitar( collection of melodies).

1st evidence of study of music in India.

*ATHARVA VEDA- book of magical formulas(non aryan practice).

*BRAHMANAS-commentaries on Vedas. eg, Rigveda- Aitrya brahmana( soma sacrifice)

*UPANISHADS- mostly in dialogue form( guru shishya)

eg - Kathopanishad- dialogue between a student Nachiketa and lord Yama ( God of death).

Mundak Upanishad- Satyamev Jayate word , part of national emblem

*EPICS-

RAMAYANA - older, by Balmiki , contains 24000 shlokas in Sanskrit.

MAHABHARTA -oldest, largest by Ved Vyas

Earlier called as Jaya Samhita , Akbar got it translated into Persion called as Razamnamah.

1st book Bharata , then came Mahabharta.

DECLINE REASONS-

very complex religion.

Brahmans supremacy.

desire of Vaishyas to improve their social position.

During Vedic period, the language used was Pali, but Brahmans gave importance to Sanskrit.