Textbook Solutions: The Vedic Age | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Tick (✔) the correct option. 

1.
Ans: (b)
"The Rig Veda is the oldest Vedas and is supposed to have been composed about 3,500 years ago (1,500-1,000 bce)."

2.
Ans: (b)
"The Rig Veda has been included by the UNESCO in the list of literature signifying world human heritage in 2007 (Memory of the World Register)."

3.
Ans: (c)
"The Atharva Veda is a collection of songs, spells and magical charms to ward off evil spirits."

4.
Ans: (c)
"The Sama Veda contains hymns sung by a special class of priests during important religious ceremonies and sacrifices."

5.
Ans: (c)
"In the Rig Veda, the most important gods are Indra, Agni and Varuna."

6.
Ans: (i)
"Rig Vedic rajans did not collect taxes. They managed with voluntary contributions (bali) made by members of the tribe. The rajan took decisions in consultation with the sabha and samiti, which were tribal assemblies."

7.
Ans: (c)
The Early Vedic Period had characteristics mentioned in both statements (a) and (b). (a) talks about the caste system which is true for the later Vedic period. (b) talks about monogamy which was practiced during the Early Vedic Period.

8.
Ans: (b)
"Many changes took place from the Early to the Later Vedic Period. It was during this age that the Upanishads, Aranyakas, Brahmanas and the two epics—the Ramayana and the Mahabharata—were produced."

9.
Ans: (c)
"During the Later Vedic Period, the main occupation of people was agriculture."

10.
Ans: (a)
These are some important megalithic sites in the Deccan and South India.

II. State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the statements to correct them. 

1.
Ans: True
This statement is true. In the Early Vedic Period, people worshipped their gods through recitation of prayers and hymns, and the performance of sacrifices or yajna, which were meant to please the gods, including forces of nature.

2.
Ans: False.
The Painted Grey Ware pottery is associated with the Later Vedic period, not the Early Vedic period.

3.
Ans: True.
This statement is true. The early Indo-Aryans practiced agriculture along with cattle rearing.

4.
Ans: False.
This statement is false. In the Later Vedic Period, the position of the king became more powerful, and it became hereditary.

5.
Ans: False.
This statement is false. Megaliths are large stone structures or groups of standing stones believed to have some religious significance.

III. Answer the following questions in brief. 

1.
Ans: The Indo-Aryans were a group of people who migrated to North-west India around 1500 BCE. They originally lived in the Steppes, a region stretching from southern Russia to Central Asia.

2.
Ans: The four ashramas represent different stages of life in ancient Indian society.

• Brahmacharya: The student stage, focused on education and self-discipline.
• Grihastha: The householder stage, involving marriage, family life, and societal responsibilities.
• Vanaprastha: The hermit or forest-dweller stage, where individuals gradually withdrew from worldly affairs.
• Sanyasa: The renunciant stage, where individuals completely detached from worldly attachments and dedicated themselves to spiritual pursuits.

3.
Ans: The life of a rajan (tribal ruler) and a dasa (slave or servant) differed significantly.

• A rajan held a position of leadership and authority within the tribe, often elected based on bravery and leadership skills, while a dasa had a subordinate status, often performing labor or service for others.
• A rajan enjoyed privileges and had decision-making power in the tribe, whereas a dasa had limited rights and could be considered the property of another.

4.
Ans: In the Early Vedic Period, society consisted of various tribes known as janas. Each tribe had its own elected ruler called a rajan, chosen for their bravery and leadership abilities. The rajans did not collect taxes, but relied on voluntary contributions from the tribe members. They made decisions in consultation with tribal assemblies like the sabha and samiti. Additionally, priests (purohitas) and military advisors (senani) played crucial roles in supporting the rajan in religious matters and military campaigns, respectively.

5.
Ans: In the Later Vedic Period, religious practices evolved. New deities like Prajapati, Vishnu, and Rudra gained importance. People worshipped gods through prayers, hymns, and sacrifices known as yajnas, performed to seek blessings and favors. Unlike temples or idols, forces of nature were revered, such as Agni (fire god), Indra (god of rain and thunder), Varuna (god of wind), and others. The Later Vedic Period saw changes in religious beliefs and practices compared to the Early Vedic Period.

IV. Answer the following questions in detail. 

1.
Ans: The Vedas are ancient collections of hymns, poems, and compositions considered sacred in ancient Indian literature. There are four Vedas: the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda, the oldest, dates back around 3,500 years ago. It contains hymns praising various Vedic deities. The Sama Veda consists of hymns meant to be sung during religious ceremonies. The Yajur Veda provides rules for religious ceremonies and rituals. The Atharva Veda comprises songs, spells, and charms used to ward off evil spirits. The Vedas were initially composed orally and later written down in manuscripts.

2.
Ans:  Early Vedic Period:

• Society organized into tribes (janas), with elected tribal rulers (rajans).
• No taxes, reliance on voluntary contributions (bali).
• Kinship and tribal loyalty were essential.
• Occupation not strictly tied to caste; family members pursued different occupations.
• Emphasis on hymns praising deities like Indra, Agni, and Varuna.
• Simple religious practices with prayers, hymns, and sacrifices.

Later Vedic Period:

• Kingship became hereditary, centralizing power.
• Forced collection of contributions (vish).
• Emergence of rigid caste system (brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras).
• Fixed occupations based on caste.
• New deities like Prajapati, Vishnu, and Rudra gained prominence.
• More elaborate religious rituals and sacrifices.

3. 
Ans: Megalithic cultures were ancient societies characterized by the construction of large stone structures (megaliths) with presumed religious significance. These cultures existed in regions like Rajasthan, Deccan, Kashmir, and South India around 1000 BCE to 3rd century CE. The Megalithic people used iron implements, practiced agriculture, and had well-developed craft traditions. They buried their dead ceremonially, sometimes within homes, and used stones to mark burial sites. Artefacts like pottery, beads, and metal objects have been discovered in these sites, indicating a complex society. Sites like Takalghat, Chandravalli, and Adichanallur are significant examples of Megalithic cultures in India.