Vedic Civilization: Theory Notes (Revised and Expanded - Version 2)

 Vedic Civilization: Theory Notes (Revised and Expanded - Version 2)

**Introduction to Vedic Civilization**

*   **Time Period:** 1500 BC to 500 BC (Vedic time period in India lasted from 1500 to 500 BC).
    *   Represents the next major civilization after the Indus Valley Civilization (which lasted till 1400 BC).
*   **Literary Source:** The Vedas are the primary literary source for understanding the Vedic Civilization (Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization).
    *   Compiled by Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana (also known as Ved Vyas).
    *   Provide detailed accounts of Vedic religion and society.
*   **Indo-Aryan Civilization:**  The Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of the Indo-Aryan civilization, compiled by Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana.

**The Four Vedas: Pillars of Vedic Knowledge**

1.  **Rigveda:**
    *   **Significance:** Regarded as the oldest and most important Veda, and one of the most sacred texts of Hinduism.
    *   **Structure:** Divided into 10 Mandalas (books), containing 1,028 hymns and approximately 10,600 verses – the most verses among the four Vedas. Organized into ten books known as 'Mandalas'.
    *   **Content:**
        *   Collection of hymns dedicated to various Vedic deities (Rig veda is a collection of hymns dedicated to various deities).
        *   Includes the unproven Valkhilya hymns (1028 Mantras in Rigveda include Valkhilya hymns).
        *   The Aitareya Upanishad is associated with the Rigveda.
            *   Specifically, it belongs to the fourth, fifth, and sixth chapters of the second book of Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rigveda (Tha Aitareya Upanishad belongs to fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the second book of Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rigveda).
        *   Rigveda is part of the Vedatrayi (the trio of Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda).
    *   **Language:** Oldest text in any Indo-European language, Sanskrit.
    *   **Largest and Biggest:** Oldest and biggest among all four Vedas.

2.  **Samaveda:**
    *   **Significance:** Known as the "Veda of Chants" or "Book of Songs" or "Yoga of Song".
    *   **Content:**
        *   Focuses on melodies and chants (Sam Veda deals with melodies and chants).
        *   Musical knowledge is stored in Samaveda (Samaveda mentions about music. It is also called the book of melodies).
        *   Also called the book of melodies.
        *   Upveda is Gandharveda, dealing with music, dance, poetry, etc (Upveda named Gandharveda deals with music, dance, poetry etc and is associated with Samaveda).

3.  **Yajurveda:**
    *   **Significance:** Known as the "Veda of Rituals" or "Veda of Sacrificial Formulas".
    *   **Content:**
        *   Contains mantras and prose formulas for performing Yagna rituals (Yajur Veda contains the rituals of yagna's; Yajurveda is known as 'Veda of Sacrificial formulas' and contains prose formulas applicable to various rites, along with verses intended for a similar purpose).
        *   Known as 'Book of rituals'.
        *   Upveda is Dhanurveda, dealing with archery and warfare (Dhanurveda is the upveda of the Yajurveda and deals with archery/art of warfare; Upveda of the Yajur Veda is the 'Dhanur Veda').
        *   Deals with the rituals of the Yagna.
        *   Dhanurveda is a Sanskrit treatise on warfare and archery, traditionally regarded as an upveda attached to Yajurveda (1100-800 BCE) and attributed either to Bhrigu or Vishvamitra or Bharadwaja.
        *   Written in both prose and poetry form (Yajurveda is written in both prose and poetry form).
        *   'Yajur' means worship, sacrifice, religious reverence (Yajur here means worship, sacrifice, religious reverence etc).

4.  **Atharvaveda:**
    *   **Significance:** Also called Brahma Veda.
    *   **Content:**
        *   Named after Atharva Rishi (This veda is named after the name of Atharva Rishi).
        *   Has 20 chapters 731 suktas and 6000 mantras (It has 20 chapters 731 suktas and 6000 mantras).
        *   Describes mantras related to vashikaran, magical charms, ghosts and medicines (describes mantras related to vashikaran, magical charms, ghosts and medicines).
        *   Earliest mention of Kashi (Varanasi) is found in the Atharvaveda (The earliest mention of Kashi is found in the Atharvaveda).
        *   Describes the treatment of diseases (The Atharvaveda describes the treatment of diseases. It was composed by the sage Atharva).
        *   Contains magic spells (The Atharva Veda contains magic spells).
        *   Mundaka Upanishad belongs to the Atharva Veda (Mundaka Upanishad belongs to the Atharva Veda).

    *   **Verses Comparison:** Rigveda has the maximum number of verses compared to other Vedas.
    *   **Oldest Veda:** Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas.

**Vedic Gods and Worship**

    *   **Gods Classification:** Vedic Gods were classified under terrestrial (Prithvisthana), atmospheric (Antarikshasthana), and Celestial (Dyusthana).
        *   Prithvisthana (Terrestrial God): Prithvi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and rivers (Prithvi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and rivers belongs to Prithvisthana).
        *   Antarikshasthana (Atmospheric): Indra, Rudra, Vayu, Vata, Prujanaya (Indra, Rudra, Vayu, Vata, Prujanaya belongs to Antarikshasthana).
        *   Dyusthana (Celestial): Surya, Pushan, Vishnu, Mitra, Adityas, Ushas and Asvins (Surya, Pushan, Vishnu, Mitra, Adityas, Ushas and Asvins belongs to dyusthana (Celestial)).
    *   **Vishnu:** People of Harappa did not worship Lord Vishnu (The People of Harappa did not worship Vishnu).
    *   **Pashupati:** People of Indus Valley Civilization worshipped Pashupati (three-faced deity) (The people of Indus Valley Civilization worshiped Pashupati).

**Upanishads: Philosophical Foundation**

    *   **Meaning of 'Upanishad':** Derived from root 'sad' (to sit) with prefixes 'Upa' (nearness) and 'Ni' (totality). Means 'sitting nearby devotedly' (The word 'Upanishad' has been derived from the root sad (word) (to sit), to which are added two prefixes: Upa and Ni. The prefix upa denotes nearness and 'Ni' totality. Thus, this world means 'sitting nearby devotedly').
    *   **Nature of Upanishads:** Basic source of all Indian Philosophy. Also called Vedanta (The Upanishads are the basic source of all Indian Philosophy. They are also called as Vedanta).
    *   **Number of Upanishads:** 108 Upanishads are mentioned in Muktika Upanishad, but only 11 are considered authentic (108 Upanishads are mentioned in Muktika Upanishad in Indian history but only 11 Upanishads are considered authentic).
    *   **Oldest Upanishad:** Chandogya Upanishad is the oldest (Chandogya Upanishad is the oldest Upanishads).
    *   **Largest Upanishad:** Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the largest (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the largest).
    *   **Smallest Upanishad:** Mundakopanishad is the smallest (12 verse) (Mundakopanishad is the smallest (12 verse)).
    *   **Mundaka Upanishad:** Mundaka Upanishad belongs to Atharva Veda. National motto of India "Satyameva Jayate" is taken from Mundaka Upanishad (Mundaka Upanishad belongs to the Atharva Veda. National motto of India "Satyamev Jayate" has been taken from it).
    *   **Katha Upanishad:** Kathopanishad records a conversation between Nachiketa and the deity Yama. Upanishad of Krishna Yajurveda branch. Author is Acharya named 'Katha' (In Kathopanishad, there is conversation between Nachiketa and the deity Yama. It is a Upanishad of the Krishna Yajurveda branch. The author of the this Upanishad is Acharya named 'Katha').
    *   **Maha Upanishad:** Word Vasudhaivakutumbakam mentioned in Maha Upanishad. Means 'The world is a family' (The word Vasudhaivakutmbakam is mentioned in the Maha Upanishad. It means 'The world is a family').
    *   **Aitareya Upanishad:** Aitareya Upanishad belongs to Rigveda and is part of Vedtrayi (Tha Aitareya Upanishad belongs to fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the second book of Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rigveda. Rigveda is also a part of Vedtrayi i.e. a group of Rigveda, Samveda and Yajurveda).
    *   **Examples of Upanishads:** Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are some examples of Upanishads religious texts (Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are some examples of Upanishads religious texts).

**Vedic Literature and Language**

    *   **Vedic Time Period:** 1500 to 500 BC in India (The Vedic time period in India lasted from 1500 to 500 BC).
    *   **Language of Vedas:** Sanskrit.
    *   **Vedangas:** Limbs of Vedas, 6 in number - Shiksha, Chhanda, Vyakarna, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa (Vedangas are the organ/part of veda. These are 6 in numbers Shiksha, Chhanda, Vyakarna, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa).
        *   Nirukta: Known for explanation and meaning of complex words. Composed by Yaska. Recognized as complementary of Vyakarna (Nirukta is much famous for its description of complex words. It was composed by Yaska who recognized it as the complementary of Vyakarna).
    *   **Oldest Language:** Rigveda is the oldest text in any Indo-European language (Rigveda is the oldest text in any Indo-European language).

**Vedic Society and Philosophy**

    *   **Stages of Life (Ashramas):** Early Hindu philosophy determined four stages of life: Brahmacharya (Student stage), Grihastha (Householder), Vanaprastha (recluse stage), and Sanyas (wandering Ascetic stage) (How many stages of life did early Hindu philosophy determine? four).
    *   **Panchabhoota (Five Elements):** Real Indian philosopher believes each object is made up of five basic elements: sky, air, fire water and earth (Panchabhoota (Panchatatva or Panch Mahabhoota) is considered as the origin of all substances in Indian Philosophy).
    *   **Hinduism's Major Philosophical School:** Vaisheshika is one of the six major philosophical schools of Hinduism (Which of the following is Hinduism's major philosophical school? Vaisheshika). The six major philosophical schools of Hinduism are Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa and Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta Philosophy).
    *   **Tulabhara:** Ancient Hindu practice where person is weighed against a commodity and equivalent weight is donated (In ancient times, a person was weighed against a commodity and the equivalent weight of that commodity was offered as donation. What was this practice called? Tulabhara).

**Other Important Points**

    *   **Vedic Civilization Time:** Between 1500 BC and 500 BC. Next major civilization after Indus Valley Civilization till 1400 BC (The Vedic time period in India lasted from? 1500 to 500 BC. This is the next major Civilization after the Indus Valley Civilization till 1400 BC).
    *   **'Satyameva Jayate':** National motto of India, taken from Mundaka Upanishad. Means "Truth alone triumphs". Written in Devanagari script and taken from Ashokan pillar (Sarnath) built by Emperor Ashoka (From where have the words 'Satyameva Jayate' which are inscribed below the National Emblem of India, been taken? Mundaka Upanishads; The national motto of India is Satymeva Jayate (meaning Truth always Triumphs). Which ancient Indian Scripture is a mantra emanating from? Mundakopanishad; The national motto of India, 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from Mundaka Upanishad. The motto means "Truth alone triumphs". It is written in Devanagari script. It is taken from Ashokan pillar (Sarnath) built by Emperor Ashoka).
    *   **Rigveda Hymns:** Rigveda is largest and most important, with 1,028 hymns divided into 10 books (Mandalas) (Which Veda is the largest and considered the most important of the collection, containing 1,028 hymns divided into 10 books called mandalas? Rig Veda).
    *   **Vedic Gods Classification:** Terrestrial (Prithvisthana), atmospheric (Antarikshasthana), and Celestial (Dyusthana) (Which Vedic God falls under the category of 'Prithvisthana' (Terrestrial God)? Brihaspati; The Vedic Gods were classified under terrestrial (Prithvisthana), atmospheric (Antarikshasthana), and Celestial (Dyusthana)).
    *   **Yajurveda - Book of Rituals:** Yajurveda is known as Book of Rituals (Which of the following Vedas is a 'Book of rituals?' The Yajurveda; The Yajurveda is known as 'Book of rituals').
    *   **Upanishads - Religious Texts:** Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are some examples of Upanishads religious texts (Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are some examples of which of the following categories of religious texts ? Upanishads).
    *   **Upanishad - 'Upa' meaning:** 'Upa' in Upanishad denotes 'Nearness' (What does the term 'Upa' in the term Upanishad denote? Nearness).
    *   **Vedas - Literary record:** Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization. Compiled by Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana (The Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization. There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and the fourth one is Atharvaveda).
    *   **Vedas - Information:** They give information about the vedic religion and provide a detail account of the people of that time (They give information about the vedic religion and provide a detail account of the people of that time).
    *   **Gayatri Mantra:** Gayatri Mantra is related to Rigveda (Yajur Veda deals with… the Gaytri Mantra - No - Wrong association, Gayatri Mantra is in Rigveda).