Vedic Age (Indian History- 04)

• Vedic Age is the period of Aryans in India from 1500 - 500 BC.
• Most Probable Home of the Aryans is Central Asia. This theory is of Max Muller.
• The word Aryan literally means high born, but it generally refers to language.
• The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the word ‘vid’ which means knowledge.
• Vedas are the oldest literary works of mankind. Vedas are four in number, they are Rig Veda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharva Veda. Rig veda is the oldest veda.
• Vedas are collectively known as Sruti.
• Vedangas are collectively known as Smriti.
• Vedangas are six in number. They are,
• Siksha - Phonetic
• Kalpa - Ritual
• Vyakarana - Grammar
• Nirukta - Etymology
• Chhanda - Metrics and
• Jyotisha - Astronomy
• There are 1028 hymns in Rigveda. It is divided into ten Mandalas (Chapters).
• Rig Vedic Hymns sung by priests were called Hotris.
• ‘Sruti’ literature belonged to the Sathyayuga, Smriti belonged to Treatayuga, Puranas belonged to Dwaparayuga and Thanthra literature belonged to Kaliyuga.
• Rigveda starts with the line ‘Agnimele Purohitam’
• Famous Gayatri Mantra is contained in the Rigveda (It is believed to have composed by Vishwamitra)
• Yajurveda deals with sacrifices and rituals.
• Yajurvedic hymns are meant to be sung by priests called ‘Adhavaryu’.
• Yajurveda is derived into two: SuklaYajurveda (White Yajurveda) and Krishna Yajur Veda (Black Yajurveda)
• Sama Veda deals with Music.
• Sama Vedic hymns are meant to be sung by priests called Udgatri.
• Atharva veda is a collection of spells and incantations. Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda, which deals with medicine.
• The saying, ‘‘War begins in the minds of men’’ is from Atharva Veda.
• The 10th Mandala of Rigveda contain the Purusha Sukta hymn which tells about the origin of caste system .
• Upanishads are 108 in number. Upanishads are philosophical works.
• Upanishads are known as the Jnanakantas of Vedas. 
• The words ‘Sathyameva Jayate’ have been taken from ‘Mundaka Upanishad’.
• Brahdaranya Upanishad was the first to give the doctrine of Transmigration of Soul and Karma.
• Puranas are the part of Smriti literature. They are 18 in number 6 vishnupuranas, 6 sivapuranas and 6 Brahmapuranas.
• Bhagvata purana is divided into 18 skandas The 10th skanda mentions about the childhood of Sri Krishna.
• Skanda purana is considered as the largest purana.
• Brahmapurana is also known as Adipurana.
• Adhyatma Ramayana is included in the Brahmantapurana.
• Cattle was the chief measure of wealth of the vedic period.
• Rigvedic tribe was referred to as Jana .
• Many clans (vis) formed a tribe.
• The basic unit of society was kula or the family and Kulapa was the head of the family.
• ‘Visah’ was a cluster of gramas.
• Important tribal assemblies of the Rig Vedic period were Sabha, Samiti, Vidhata and Gana.
• The Aghanya mentioned in many passages of Rigveda applies to cows.
• The Rigvedic religion was primitive animism.
• Indra was the greatest God of Aryans and Agni occupied second position.
• Varuna was God of water and Yama was the Lord of dead.
• Savitri was a solar diety to whom the famous Gayatri Mantra is attributed to.
• Prithvi was Earth Godess.
• The battle of ten kings mentioned in the Rig Veda was fought on the division of water of river Ravi. It was fought on the banks of River Ravi (Purushni).
• Indra was known as Purandara.
• The people called Panis, during the Vedic period were cattle breeders.
• The Vedic God in charge of truth and moral order was Varuna.
• Indra Played the role of the Warlord. He is also considered as the rain god.
• The two priests who played a major part during the Rig Vedic period were Vasishta and Visvamitra.

Subscribe to PSC HELPER G.K by Email