Wednesday, April 2, 2025

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.

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