Vedic Age.pptx Vedic age india ancient history

Vedic age texts ancient India history

1. DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES (UILS) BALLB-3 rd Sem - 5 years Programme Subject Name: HISTORY - I Subject Code-23LAT-132 TOPIC – Vedic Age Dr. Rajwinder Kaur Batth , Assistant Professor of History, UILS

2. Vedic Period

3. Sources of Vedic period Literary Sources The four Vedas i.e.  Rigveda , Yajurveda , Samaveda and Atharvaveda . Other Vedic literature- Upveda , Brahman, Aranyak , Upnishad Post-Vedic literature- Ved ā ng , Smritis , Purānas , Dharm ṡā s tra etc. Epics- The Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata 3

4. Society during Vedic Period Vedic Society Jana  which was owned by the people to whom they offer loyalty to their tribe. Family institution followed the  patriarchal  and  birth of son  was desirable. Family was a large a unit indicated by a common word for son, grandson, nephew and one word for paternal and maternal grandfather. Vedic   Social Divisions The term  ‘Varna’  was used first in Indian region after advent of Aryan as per Rig Veda that refer to the only the Aryan or Dasa having respectively, fair or dark complexion but never denotes to the  Brahaman or Rajanya (Kshatriya ). The term ‘ Shudra ’ was mentioned first time in the  Tenth Mandala of Rig Veda. The Quadruple division of the society was made after the coding of the  ‘ Purushasukta Hymn’ 4

5. Salient Features of Vedic Society The family was the smallest unit of a society. It was primarily monogamous and Patriarchal. Child marriage was not in fashion. There was freedom of choice in marriage. A widow could marry the younger brother of her deceased husband. The wife was a partner of the husband in all religious and social ceremonies. The father's property was inherited by son. The daughter could inherit it only if she was the only child of her parents. Right to property was known in moveable things like cattle, horse, gold, and ornament and so also in immoveable property like land and house. Occupation of individuals was the basis of classification of a society in the Rig Vedic period. It was divided into four  varnas , namely Brahmanas  (teacher and priests); Kshatriya  (rulers and administrators); Vaisya  (farmers, merchants, and bankers); and Sudra  (artisan and laborers). There was complete freedom and mobility for the adoption of a profession. Trades and occupations did not assume a hereditary character in the society (till now). 5

6. Continued… Position of Women during Vedic Age Women are free to join men at the Sabha and Vidatha . Women had respectable position in the society. The marriageable age for the girls was 16 to 17 years. There were evident of  widow remarriage and practice of Niyogi  (levirate) in which childless widow would  co-habit with her brother-in-law until the birth of a son. There was evident of  polygamy and monogamy . Education There was gurukul system The teacher was given great respect. The school was in the home of the teacher where he taught the particular sacred texts. The texts were in the first instance learnt by pupils repeating the words taught by their teacher. A great importance was attached to enunciation and pronunciation. Oral learning was the method of training. Students were given intense training and learning to memorize and preserve the huge mass of Vedic literature. 6

7. Continued… Food and Drinks The important part of the diet was milk and its products like curd, butter, and  ghee . Grains were cooked with milk ( kshira-pakamodanam ). Chappati  (bread) of wheat and barley was eaten mixed with  ghee . People used to eat the meat of birds, wild animals (like boar, antelopes, and buffalo), and fish. The meat of animals such as sheep, goat, and buffalo etc., which were sacrificed on ceremonial occasions, was also eaten. The cow was mentioned as  aghnya  i.e. not to be killed. The Vedas prescribe a penalty of death or expulsion from the kingdom to those who kill or injure cows. Sura  and  Soma  i.e. alcoholic drinks were also consumed, though their consumption had been condemned. 7

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9. Features Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Period Division Division based on Clan and not Caste lines Even the  Rajans and the Purohits  were part of the clan network The occupation was not based on Birth Four-fold Division of Society  based on Caste (see image) Caste exogamy  and  rigid social hierarchy  developed Increasing  cult of scarifies  added to the power of the Brahmanas Varna System Varna ( colour )  was the basis of differentiation between  Vedic and non-Vedic people  (called  ‘ dasyus ’ or ‘ dasas ’ ) Rig Vedic society  cannot  be therefore called  totally egalitarian society  as social stratification was based on the  division of labor and gender Rig Vedic people familiar with  slavery The Varna system of social distinction became  more distinct . Varna system  became based on birth and  less on occupation Varna- ashrama -dharma society:  Showed  four stages of life  (see image) Social mobility People could  change their profession  and  absence  of strict  social hierarchy Restricted  social mobility Position of Women Despite patriarchal society , women had  important positions,  were  educated and had access to the assembly They had the  choice to choose  their  husband. No incidence of Sati, or Purdah Their position in society In the family, women were confined to household  chores and subordinate position Women were  not permitted  to attend public assemblies like Sabhas and Samitis . Instances of  Sati and Purdah Despite these, there are a great examples of  women scholars  in this period such as   Gargi , Maitreyi , and Katyayani Marriage Early Vedic people practised usually Monogamous marriage but Polygyny and Polyandry also existed Levirate  (marrying the husband’s younger brother on the death of husband) also existed Niyoga marriage existed  ( it was a variant of  widow remarriage  in which childless widow was temporarily married to the husband’s brother to produce children ) Child marriages  became common. Gotras  were institutionalized.  Marriage  between persons of the  same gotra  was  forbidden Mention of  Chandrayana Penance  for men marrying women of the same gotra 9

10. Important Links http:// epgp.inflibnet.ac.in/epgpdata/uploads/epgp_content/S000829IC/P001497/M015108/ET/14600121395ET.pdf https://www.insightsonindia.com/ancient-indian-history/vedic-age/society-of-vedic-period / http:// ignited.in/p/56115 https:// nios.ac.in/media/documents/SrSec315NEW/315_History_Eng/315_History_Eng_Lesson4.pdf https:// ncert.nic.in/pdf/publication/otherpublications/tioi101.pdf

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