VEDA
Veda has been derived from the original Sanskrit word
“vid” meaning knowledge. Everingthing can be known from Veda.
Veda is the repository of knowledge and wisdom the Vedic
expression are called mantras.
The other name for Veda is “smruti” because it is
remembered through listening.
Veda has been divided into four parts. Again each of the
four Veda constitutes four sub-part know as Mandela, adhyaya, sukti and mantra.
RIG
VEDA:- it consists of 10 mandal , 64
adhyayas, 1028 skits and 10552 mantras.
YAJUR
VEDA:-it is divided of two parts:-Krishna
and sukla, yayur Veda with 40 adhyas 303 anubk and 1975 mantras.
SAM
VEDA:-through in include 1875 mantra
all are repetitions except 75 mantras hymns of rig Veda are rhymed into musical
from in Sam Veda.
ATHRVA
VEDA:-this Veda is otherwise known
as Brahmas Veda having 20 kanda, 731 suktis with 5977 mantras.
Each Veda consists of four sub-division:-
1:-samhita (mantras and prayers written in poetic)
2:-Brahmans (prosaic presentation of the mode of worship)
3:-aranyak (philosophical genesis of Veda)
4:-Upanishad :-( higher spiritual philosophy and brahamattva)
The fundamental source of information regarding the
establishment of Aryan settlement in India and Vedic culture are Vedas and Vedic
literature. They furnish us with sufficient fact related to social, political,
economic, and religious life of the Aryans.
The Vedic age covers a period from 1800 B.C to 600 B.C being divided into two phases.
1:-early Vedic age or rig Vedic age
2:-later Vedic age
Among the four Vedas. Rig Veda
is the most ancient scripture of the Aryans. In the word of sir aurobinda:-“the
rig Veda is one considers document that remain to us from the early period of
human thought”
Rig Vedic civilization
As per the description in the
rig Veda, the Aryans began their early settlement in the spate sindhu region
which roughly corresponds to the present
Punjab ,Kashmir ,sindhu ,Kabul and kandhur –the area was known as
brahmavarta which lay between the two the rivers of Sutlej and Yamuna.
Gradually they occupied the
whole of northern India from himalays to vindhayas and from the western sea to
the east later on, this part of the land came to be known as aryavarta.
Throw light on the life of the
Aryans. Although the texts mainly deal with devotional spiritual and and
metaphysical concept, they throw ample light on social and economic life.
Political organization and religious belief of the Vedic Aryans.
Social life
Rig Vedic society rested on
village life. Vedic age therefore centre around rural people with an
agriculture cal economy within the bound of an organized society “simple living
and high thinking” the Aryan preferred to lead a simple life determined by intellection
higher and noble thoughts.
Therefore, their social life was
higher ethical and moralistic which had its corresponding reflection on social
institution, and tradition.
Family
Family was the backbone of the
Aryans society. The Vedic Aryan had developed a healthy family chain.kula was
the smallest unit, which include all the member living under one single
roof(other wise called griha) the family of Vedic age based on patriarchal
system. Father dominated the family. He was as kulap, kulapati or grihapati.
Father had the final say in all family matters. He used to pass on his
authority to the eldest son. So, the birth of a family was considered to be an
absolute necessary and social propriety.
Joint family system was an
important feature of the Vedic society. Besides the husband and wife, the
family consisted of their parents. Brother, sister, sons, daughters etc.
Food and drink
The Vedic Aryan was very simple
in their eating habit. Their diets were both vegetarian and non-vegetarian
dishes. Wheat, barley, rice, fruits and vegetables comprised of their main
diets. Milk and milk product like curd, chase, butter and ghee were quite favorite,
on the festival occasions and social gatherings they preferred non-vegetarian
dishes of mutton, fish and birds. The drinking water of the Aryan used to be
drawn from river, strem, and wells. Veda give some reference to some
intouicating drinks like somarasa was type
of liquor entracted from soma plant and other wines were prepared from
different type of plant and corns.
Dress and ornament
In any caviled society, the use
of dress and ornament are given equal important along with food and drinking
habits. The Aryans generally used cotton clothes. The apparel had their
divisions.
Nivi or nivibasa:-used
for the lower parts of the body.
Vase or paridhana:-for
the upper portion of the body.
Adhivasa:-the head
dress.
However, the rich people were
more attractive embroider and colorful silken clothes then the common people
who were wore course cotton garments. Equally interesting was the Aryan habits
of warring ornaments. Both men and women were found of ormentnt which were made
of gold, coral, and semi-precious stones. Ornaments were worn on various parts
of the body like ear, nose, wrist, neck etc.
Education
For the noble minded of Aryan,
education was vary sectional parts of human life. Their education centered
round gurukula. Where a pupil was sent to stay and received of guru. The
primary aim of Vedic education was building of character. Education of
different branches of knowledge like ethic, grammar, philosophy, religion and
warfare etc.
Recreation and amusement
The Vedic Aryan was very sport
of entertain living people. Since they lived in village, they were found of
various type of games like indoor and outdoor game. They like dancing and
singing a song. Another, they played different musical instrument like flute,
lute and drums
Knowledge of medicine
The Aryans had sufficient
knowledge about plants and herbs having medicinal qualities.
Cast system
In the beginning of the Vedic
age cast system, as formulated on the basic of a person birth, was very much
absents member of one family took-different profession they used to perform
their own duties and preferred to lead a happy and contented life. In later Vedic age, with the increase in
number of profession, the society was dived into 4 distinct varans. A hymen
from 10th Mandela of rig Veda. During this period he four vans such
as Brahman, khayatriya, Sutra, Vaisya.
Marriage system
Family which formed the basic
unit of Aryan society was patriarchal. There was considerable freedom the
section of wife and husband, children marriage was unknown. Through the
remarriage of a widow was unusual. There is a reference to the widow marriage
to the brother of her husband who died without issue. Dowry at marriage was
usual. The wife enjoyed an honored place in the family and paticipatence in the
sacrificial offering .it is a good system of rig Vedic socity.the marriage
system of rig Vedic culture has been divide 3 type:-1:-Aanuloma marriage system
:-here the boy belonged to high family and girl belonged to a smallest family.
2:-Pritiloma marriage:-here the girl belonged to the high family and the boy belonged to a
smallest family.
3:-Ghadharabha bibaha:-is also knows as love marriage. It system girl or boy chosen her life
pattern.
Political system
The family was he unit of uncial
organization. It was under a head called gripati. Many families combined
together to form a gram or village which was under the gramani.
Above the gram was the vis. above
the Vis was a Jana. The king is referred to as the protector of the Jana or
people.
Kingship:-
As a general rule, monarchy was
the system of government prevailing in the rigvedic age. The term rajan or king
is frequently used in the rig Veda. A king was ladder of the people in a war of
aggression and also of defense. He is called as Procter of people. It is her
duty.
The word bail occurs several
times in the Rig-Veda in the since of tribute or offering to a god. The
tributes were probably received in kind from the subjects. They were both
compulsory and voluntary. The king was not owner of land. The king performed
the duties of judge. Probably as a court of final appeal in civil cases in
criminal cases, he exercised a widen jurisdiction.
Minister
The king had a minister and the
foremost among them was the prohita. His office was called purohit and purodha.
He was the sole of associate of the king as his protector, guide, philosopher
and friend, the chief function of the purohita was that of the domestic priest
of the king.
He accompanied the king to the
battle field and strengthened him by his prayers for his Sabah and victory.
Assemblies
The king autocracy was somewhat
limited by the popular bodies called the sabha and samiti
