Vedic Literature and Vedic Society
- The Vedic period in Indian history is a crucial time that is often divided into two main phases: the Early Vedic period (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic period (1000 BCE to 600 BCE).
Vedic Literature
Vedic texts are broadly categorized into two parts, namely, ‘shruti’ and ‘smriti’.
- The books “that are heard” or the result of “Godly revelation” given to the great sages (rishis) during their “dhyana” (concentration) are known as shrutis.
- The “shrutis” comprise the four Vedas and the Samhitas.
- Conversely, “smritis” are those that average people remember.
- The Smritis comprises six Vedangas, four Upavedas, and extensive commentary and explanations on the Vedas (Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads).
The Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda are the four Vedas, and together they make up the earliest sacred scriptures in Hinduism, written during the Vedic period.
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Rigveda
- Oldest Veda
- Hymns are dedicated to several deities, mostly to Indra.
- Divided into ten books (known as mandalas)
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Samaveda
- Shortest of all the four Vedas.
- The Samaveda is a compilation of Rigvedic verses organized in poetry to facilitate singing.
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Yajurveda
- It is principally in prose form.
- Sacrifices and rituals, composed both in prose and poetry.
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Atharvaveda
- The latest among the Vedas and contains hymns.
- It is a compilation of magical spells and charms that are used to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
Vedic Society
Early Vedic Society
- Communities comprised populations called ‘Jana’.
- Egalitarian Society with no sharp division among them.
- Only Aryans and Dasa (non-Aryans) with fair or dark complexions are referred to by the name Varna in the Rig Veda.
- The society was composed of four varnas: Brahmans, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra.
- Patrilineal Society but women were treated with dignity and honour.
- Child marriage and Sati were not practiced, and a type of widow-remarriage known as ‘Niyoga’ (levirate) was common.
- Worshipped forces of nature and personified them as gods and goddesses.
- Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Marut were some of their gods while Ushas, Aditi, and Prithvi were some of their goddesses.
Later Vedic
- The visible 4-fold varna system and the appearance of several ‘jaatis’ or castes made the social system complex.
- The rise in various crafts, the influx of new people, inter-caste marriages (between Anuloma and Pratiloma), and the incorporation of several tribes into the caste system all contributed to the increase in the number of castes.
- Royal power increased.
- The Rigvedic gods, Indra and Agni, lost prominence in the later Vedic period, and their place was taken by a new trinity of Gods, with Brahma as highest, Vishnu as preserver, and Shiva completing the triad. Religion evolved into a highly ceremonial practice.
- The position of women deteriorates. Purdah and Sati were not prevalent.
- 4-fold ‘ashram’ (stages) for 4 ‘Purusharthas’ (goals):
- Brahmacharya for knowledge i.e. Dharma.
- Grihastha for wealth and progeny i.e. ‘artha’ and ‘kama’.
- Vanaprastha for spiritual wisdom.
- Sanyasa for liberation.