ARYANS:
INTRODUCTION:
- Aryans arrived in India around 1500 BC and their settled region is called sapta Sindhu(Bramhavarta).
- Their original home was STEPPES. Due to ecologic and economic changes, a group of Aryans were settled in Europe and others in India.
EARLY VEDIC PERIOD:
TRIBAL-POLITICAL UNITS:
- Grama(village) was headed by Gramani.
- Group of gramas(vis) were headed by Vishyapati.
- Group of vis(Gana/Jana tribe) was headed by Ganapati.
- Family was the smallest social unit, several families made villages formed and villages made vis.A number of villages(tribe/Jana) was ruled by Rajan.
ECONOMY:
- Mainly pastoral, agriculture was secondary.
- Metal(copper or bronze)working was done, horse played a significant role.
- Trade was scarce mostly through barter
- Pottery works were associated-painted grey ware
RIG VEDA
- Consists of 10 mandals and 1028 suktas.
- The third Mandal consists of Gayatri mantra composed by Vishwamitra dedicated to the sun god.
- Collection of prayers offered to Indra, Agni, Mitra, and Varuna.
- 2-9 mandala- Early Vedic period
- 1 and 10 mandalas were compiled during the later Vedic period and added to rig Veda.
TRANSITION FROM RIG VEDA TO LATER VEDIC PERIOD:
- Sabha and Samiti continued to hold ground but their character changed.
- Women are not permitted to sit in sabhas.
- Female goddesses such as Usha, Aditi, Surya, Laxmi were mentioned.
- Rise of four hold varna classification: Brahmanas, Khastrias, Vaishyas, Sudras.
- Four types of marriage:
->Bramoh marriage: arranged by elders according to Vedic rituals.
->Prajapta: arranged by elders but not according to Vedic rituals.
->Anuloma: marriage between an upper-caste man & lower caste woman
->Pratiloma: marriage between an upper-caste woman & lower caste man.
ASHARMA SYSTEM(a division of lifespan into 4 district stages):
- Brahmacharya (Periods of celibacy, education, and disciplined life in guru’s ashram)
- Grihastha (period of family life)
- Vanaprastha (stage of gradual detachment)
- Sanyasa (life dedicated to spiritual pursuit away from worldly life.)
These stages did not apply to women and lower varnas.
ECONOMY:
- Sedentary life, domesticated animals and cultivated more than before.
- Agriculture was primary and rice and wheat were chief crops.
- Trade was boosted.
SAMA VEDA:
1.Extension to rig Veda with 75 new suktas
2.Oldest text on Indian music and has hymns dedicated to the sun.
3.Talks about the appearance and disappearance of the saraswati river.
YAJUR VEDA:
1.Contains yagya/rituals related suktas.
2.Rice is mentioned as Vrihi.
3.Talks about shunya.
ATHARVA VEDA: (BHAHMAVEDA)
- Composed entirely by non-Aryans, Brahma is the highest of the 4 Vedic priests
- Mentions the Vedic assemblies of sabha and smiti.
- Consists of charms and spells to ward off diseases.
- Its themes include witchcraft, sorcery, and invoking evil spirits.
SIX VEDAGAS:
- Nirukta-etymology
- Shiksha-phonetics
- Chehendus-metre
- Vyakarna-grammar
- Kalpa-rituals(basics of Indian law)
- Jyotish-astronomy
SIX SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS:
- Sankyashastra by Kapila
- Yoga by Ptanjali
- Nayaya by Gautama
- Vysheshiksa by kanada
- Poorvavamimansa by jamini
- Uttaramimansa by vyasadeva badrayan.
CREDITS:Leo Rajalakshmi
