The Vedic Age is an important part of ancient Indian history. The Vedas were composed in this period and this gives this age the name.

• It was from 1500BC – 600 BC
• It is divided into 2 parts
• Rigvedic Age (1500 – 100BC)
• Post Vedic Age (1000 – 600BC)

Theories related to Aryans

• According to BalGangadhar Tilak “Aryans came from Arctic region”
• According to Max Muller “Aryans came from Central Asia region”
• According to Boghazkoi inscription “Aryans came from Central Asia region”

NOTE – The Boghazkoi inscription is in Asia Minar, Turkey

NOTE – From the inscription we get details of Vedic gods which were “Indra, Mtra, Natsya, Varuna” etc.

NOTE – The initial residence of Aryan was “Sapt – Saindhav Pradesh”

Vedas

• There are total 4 Vedas
• Vedas are compiled by “Veda Vyas”

Rig Veda –

• It is recited by “Hotra/Hotri”
• It has total 10 Mandals
• There are total 1028 Hymns in it
• It is world’s oldest religious book
• It is written in vedic Sanskrit

10 Mandals –

• 2 – 7 Mandals are the oldest Mandals, also called “Family/ VanshMandal”
• 8 – 9 are mixed Mandal
• 1 & 10 are new Mandals

NOTE –3^rd Mandal is related to the “Gayatri Mantra”

NOTE – Gayatri Mantra is about “Lord Sun”

Varna System –

• It is mentioned in the “Purush Sukta” of 10^th Mandal
• There were 4 Varnas
• Brahaman
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra

Social life of Rig Vedic age –

• Male based society
• Female condition was very good
• There was no Sati pratha
• Widow remarriage was allowed
• Child marriage was not allowed
• Niyog system was allowed
• Slave system was there

Yajur Veda –

• Yajur means “Sacrifice formula/Prayer”
• It is recited by “Adharvpush”
• It is related to “Sacrifice formula”
• It is divided into 2 parts
• Krishna Yajur Ved
• Shukla Yajur Ved

NOTE – Krishna Yajur Ved is in “Prose” and Shukla Yajur Ved is in “Poetry”

Sama Veda –

• It is recited by “Udgata/Udgatri”
• It is related to “Music”
• It is also known as “Mother of Indian Classical Music”
• It is 1^st book of music

NOTE – The 1^st written evidence of earthquake & famine is found in Sama Veda

NOTE – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda are collectively known as “Trived”

Atharv Veda –

• It is recited by “Arthavanga/Brahma”
• It is related to “black magic/superstition”

NOTE – The 1^st written evidence of “Swyamvar sabha” is found in Athrv Veda

Brahamana

• They explain the hymns of Vedas
• Written in prose

Veda	Brahamana
Rig Veda	Aitrey & Kaushitaki
Yajur Veda	Shatpatha & Taitriya
Sama Veda	Panchvisha, Chandogaya & Jaimniya
Atharv Veda	Gopatha

Aranyakas

• They were written in forests (Aranya)
• They were written by Sagas
• They are related to mysticism
• There are total 7 Aranyakas

Veda	Aranyaka
Rig Veda	Aitrey & Kaushitaki
Yajur Veda	Shatpatha & Taitriya
Sama Veda	Panchvisha, Chandogaya & Jaimniya

NOTE – Atharv Veda doesn’t have any Aranyak

Upnishads

• it means “coming near to teacher for knowledge”
• it is also known as “Vedanta”
• it is related to philosophy

NOTE – “Satyamev Jayate” is mentioned in the “Mundakoupnishadh”

Vedic Age Notes

Political life of Vedic Age

Administrative unit	Head
Kula	Kulapa
Gram	Gramini
Vis	Vispati
Jana	Rajan

Vedic Assembly

It included

• Sabha
• Samiti
• Vidatha
• Gana

Important Vedic officers

• Purohit
• Mahishi
• Senani

Upvedas

Veda	Upveda
Rig Veda	Ayurveda/ Medicine
Yajur Veda	Dhanurveda/ Archery
Sama Veda	Gandharveda/ Music
Athrva Veda	Shil[veda

Vedic Rivers

Vedic name of river	Modern name of river
Vitasta	Jhelum
Parushni	Ravi
Askani	Chenab
Shatudri	Sutlej
Vipasa	Beas

NOTE – There were total 40 rivers in the Vedic age

NOTE – In the Nadi Shutak of Rigveda there are 21 rivers

Main gods of Rig Vedic Age

Indra –

1. God of rain
2. Fort destroyer
3. Mentioned 250 times in Rig Veda

Agni –

1. God of fire
2. Mentioned 200 times in Rig Veda

Main gods of Post Vedic Age

1. Brahma
2. Vishnu
3. Mahesh

NOTE – Cow was the holy animal of Vedic age

Ashram System

• It is mentioned in “JabaloUpnishadh”
• There were total 4 Ashrams
• Brahmcharya
• Grihstha
• Vanaprastha
• Sanyasi

Epics

There are 2 most famous epics of Vedic age –

1. Ramayana (composed by Valmiki)
2. Mahabharat (Ved Vyas)

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Read – Vedic Age Notes In Hindi

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History Notes for UPSC & Govt. Exams – reetPrep