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