VEDIC AGE 1500-500 BCE - jugaadin.com · Indian Aryan Home •Aryans settled the land of the seven...
Transcript of VEDIC AGE 1500-500 BCE - jugaadin.com · Indian Aryan Home •Aryans settled the land of the seven...
VEDIC AGE 1500-500 BCE
(Iron Age)
What is an Aryan?
• Aryan is a linguistic community who spoke Indo European language (Proto Indo European language)
• These would include present day Sanskrit, Persian, Latin, Greek, English, and German.English, and German.
• Their decedents in present day belong to the racial group of Caucasian
• Sanskrit=Persian similarities from Rig veda and Zendavista
1. Gantum and Godhum
2. Haptahindu and Saptasindhu
Aryan Expansion
• Aryan names have emerged in many
inscription throughout the world
1. Hittie inscription of Anatolia
2. Kassite Inscription of Iraq2. Kassite Inscription of Iraq
3. Mitanni inscription of Syria
4. Bogarkoi Inscription of Asia minor : it refers
to aryan gods namely Indra, Mitra, Varuna
and Nasistya
Important rivers of Vedic age
• Kabhu: Kabul
• Suvastu: Swat
• Gomati: Gomal
• Krumu: Kuram
• Vitasta: Jhelum
• Asikani: Chenab
• Parusani: Ravi
• Bipasa: Beas• Krumu: Kuram
• Bipasa: Beas
• Satudri: Satluj
• Saraswati: Ghaggar
• Revotarna: Narmada
• Sadarina: Gandak
Indian Aryan Home
• Aryans settled the land of the seven rivers, wicwas called Brahmavarta.
• Ghaggar/Saraswati is called Naditarna, meaning best of all.
• Himvant in text means Himalayas which were • Himvant in text means Himalayas which were source of Mujavant (Som grass)
• Purva Payodhi meant Bay of Bengal and PaschimPiyodhi was Arabian Sea.
• Slowly they moved into central India called aryavarta or Madhyadesha
Bases of society
Dam
Kula / Kutumb
Grama
Vis
Jana
Janapada
Mahajanapada
Major Janapada• Various janapada were formed during vedic period
Kuru: Hastenapur & Indraprastha
Panchla: Ahichatro & Kampilya
Vatsa: Kaushambi (at Prayga)
Kashi: Kashi
Videha: Mithila
Maghda: Grivarija (Later Rajgraha)
Sursen: Mathura
Matsya: Virat
Gandhar
Kakai
Prominent Janapada
MAJOR JANAPADA
Early Vedic Society• Primarily Pastoralist by occupation
• Gomat means wealth and prosperity of cattle wealth
• Gavisthi is search for cattle and synonymous with
war
• Gopa or Gopajanasya is protector of cow or people
• Gostha was the cattle grazing ground• Gostha was the cattle grazing ground
• Aksha or game of dice which was played to allot
gostha
• Duhita is a word for daughter or one who milks the
cow
• Gohana is one for whom a cattle can be killedContd…
• Agriculture was the secondary occupation
• In rig vedic time all grains were called Yava
• Aligram in swat valley bares evidence of ploughed
fields in 1100BC
• Kristi means agriculture
• Sita is the act of furrowing of land
• Ashmachakra is stone pulley used to pull drinking • Ashmachakra is stone pulley used to pull drinking
water
• Kshetra means land under cultivation
• Langla or Sir stands for plough
• Phala means Plough Sheer
Contd…
• Ayas was term used for metal
• Aryans introduced Spooked wheel
• They had knowledge of gold or Swarna
• Failed to develop cotton weaving, rather used wool
• Niskha means piece of gold
• Nishkagrva means ornament of gold
Bali was voluntary offering of people to chief• Bali was voluntary offering of people to chief
• Ribhu were minor gods but were great metal
craftsmen
• Pani were non Aryan gods who possessed gomat
• Niyoga or ghost marriage prevalent for widow
remarriageContd…
Jana or Tribes
• Jana meant tribe and occurs 275 times in Rig veda
while Janapada comes only once
• Panchajana/ Panchakrishtya meant group of 5 janas
• Dasa / Dasayus were non Aryan janas
• Tribal chiefs in time became centre of power and • Tribal chiefs in time became centre of power and
were called Raajan
• With time kings post became hereditary with limited
powers
• Sabha, Samiti, Vidhata & Gana were assemblies with
real power in early Vedic times
• Various jana fought with each other for gostha
Dasaraja Yudha• The battle was fought at banks of parushini
Sudasa won the battle and established Bharata supremacy
Later Bharata + Puru = Kuru
Kuru and Panchal combined formed the domination of Madhyadesha
Assembles• Sabha :
Place of Justice and represented by Elites
It had female members called Sabhavati
Elite members were called Sabhey Vipra
Aksha was played here (Pasa)
Varuna was the caretaker of Morals (Rita) and overlooked the game to punish cheaters
• Samiti : • Samiti : Larger and for general public assembly
It carries traces of election of Rajan
• Vidhata :Most powerful but later overshadowed
• Gana or Sardha : Temporary in nature
Orginated during times of war
Functioned at the level of Kula
Important Offices
1. Purohita
He was the royal Priests
2. Senani
He was the master of weaponsHe was the master of weapons
3. Vrajapati
Officer of pastoral land
4. Gramini
Head of Village
Difference between Arya and Dasa
• Dark SkinKrishnakaya
• Different LanguageMrighvachi
• Non believer in Brahmanical religionAbrahmana • Non believer in Brahmanical religionAbrahmana
• Non believer in Vedic GodsAdevayu
• Non believer in Vedic SacrificesAyajvan
• Flat NoseAynash