Vedic Civilization Notes
Vedic Civilization: Theory Notes (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.
- 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.
- Antarikshasthana (Atmospheric): Indra, Rudra, Vayu, Vata, Prujanaya.
- Dyusthana (Celestial): Surya, Pushan, Vishnu, Mitra, Adityas, Ushas and Asvins.
- Vishnu: People of Harappa did not worship Lord Vishnu.
- Pashupati: People of Indus Valley Civilization worshipped Pashupati (three-faced deity).
Upanishads: Philosophical Foundation
- Meaning of 'Upanishad': Derived from root 'sad' (to sit) with prefixes 'Upa' (nearness) and 'Ni' (totality). Means 'sitting nearby devotedly'.
- Nature of Upanishads: Basic source of all Indian Philosophy. Also called Vedanta.
- Number of Upanishads: 108 Upanishads are mentioned in Muktika Upanishad, but only 11 are considered authentic.
- Oldest Upanishad: Chandogya Upanishad is the oldest.
- Largest Upanishad: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the largest.
- Smallest Upanishad: Mundakopanishad is the smallest (12 verses).
- Mundaka Upanishad: Belongs to Atharva Veda. National motto of India "Satyameva Jayate" is taken from Mundaka Upanishad.
- Katha Upanishad: Records a conversation between Nachiketa and the deity Yama. Upanishad of Krishna Yajurveda branch. Author is Acharya named 'Katha'.
- Maha Upanishad: Word Vasudhaivakutumbakam mentioned in Maha Upanishad. Means 'The world is a family'.
- Aitareya Upanishad: Belongs to Rigveda and is part of Vedtrayi.
- Examples of Upanishads: Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are some examples of Upanishads religious texts.
Vedic Literature and Language
- Vedic Time Period: 1500 to 500 BC in India.
- Language of Vedas: Sanskrit.
- Vedangas: Limbs of Vedas, 6 in number - Shiksha, Chhanda, Vyakarna, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa.
- Nirukta: Known for explanation and meaning of complex words. Composed by Yaska. Recognized as complementary of Vyakarna.
- Oldest 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).
- Panchabhoota (Five Elements): Real Indian philosopher believes each object is made up of five basic elements: sky, air, fire water and earth (Panchabhoota/Panchatatva/Panch Mahabhoota).
- Hinduism's Major Philosophical School: Vaisheshika is one of the six major philosophical schools of Hinduism. The six schools 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.
Other Important Points
- Vedic Civilization Time: Between 1500 BC and 500 BC. Next major civilization after 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.
- Rigveda Hymns: Rigveda is largest and most important, with 1,028 hymns divided into 10 books (Mandalas).
- Vedic Gods Classification: Terrestrial (Prithvisthana), atmospheric (Antarikshasthana), and Celestial (Dyusthana).
- Yajurveda - Book of Rituals: Yajurveda is known as Book of Rituals.
- Upanishads - Religious Texts: Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka and Taittiriya are examples of Upanishads.
- Upanishad - 'Upa' meaning: 'Upa' in Upanishad denotes 'Nearness'.
- Vedas - Literary record: Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization. Compiled by Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana.
- Vedas - Information: They give information about the vedic religion and provide a detailed account of the people of that time.
- Gayatri Mantra: Gayatri Mantra is related to Rigveda.
No comments:
Post a Comment