VEDIC CULTURE(1500-600 BC)

EARLY VEDIC PERIOD(1500-600 BC)

1. Geographical Area

   Rig veda is the only source of knowledge for this period.NADISUKTA rhymn of Rig veda mentions 21 rivers including GANGES in east & KUBHA i.e KABUL in the west.
   
   
   Rig vedic people who called themselves Aryans where confined in the area which they called Sapta Sindhu. i.e Sindhu & its tributaries.
   
   
   Rivers with there modern name & ares are as follows:

VEDIC CULTURE(1500-600 BC)

1. EARLY VEDIC PERIOD(1500-1000 BC)

Origin of ARYANS.

The location of origin home of aryans is a major point of debate till now in the historical circle.Some believe that they were the aborigines of INDIA but some believed that they migrated from CENTRAL ASIA.

But BOGHAZKAI, INSCRIPTION (obtained from Aentral Asia/Turkey) which mention 4 vedic gods INDRA,VARUN,MITRA & NASATYAS somewahat proves the Central Asian origin of ARYANS.

The group that first came in India settled in the present Frontier Province & Punjab- then called SAPTA SINDHU.Later they pushed into interior & settled into the interior valleys of Ganga & Yamuna.

 

  

Vedic literature.

It comprises of four literary works

• THE SAMHITAS or VEDAS
• THE BRAHMANAS
• THE ARANAYAKS
• THE UPANISHADS

1. THE VEDAS

There are four VEDAS.They are called APAURASHEYA i.e not created by man & NITYA i.e existing in all eternity.they are namely,

• RIG VEDA(collection of lyrics):

      It is the oldest text of world & therefore is called FIRST TESTAMENT OF MANKIND.It contains             1028 hymns divided into 10 chapters i.e MANDALAS.Six MANDALS (from 2nd to 7th) are called           gotra/vamsha MANDALA(KULA GRANTH).1st & 10th MANDALAS are added later.The 10th             MANDALA contain the famous Purushasukta explaining the then existing caste system i.e 4 varnas-             BRAHMANA,KSHATRIYA,VAISHYA & SHUDRA.Those who studied RIG VEDA were called           HOTRI. 

• SAM VEDA(book of chants).

      It contains 1549 hymns.All hymns( except 75 ) are taken from RIG VEDA.It is a very important veda for Indian music.Those who studied SAM VEDA were called UDGATRI.

• YAJUR VEDA(book of sacrificial prayers)

      It is a ritual veda.It is divided into two parts-KRISHNA YAJURA VEDA & SHUKLA YAJURA VEDA.Those who studied YAJURA VEDA were called ADHVARYUS.It is written both in verse & prose.

• ATHARVA VEDA(book of magical formulae).

      It contains charms & spell to ward off evil & diseases.For a very long time it wasn"t even consdired a VEDA.

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION(2500-1750 BC)

Indus valley civilization belong to proto-historic age(chalcolothic age/bronze age).It was spread over present day Sindh,Baluchistan,Punjab,Haryana,Rajasthan,Gujrat,Western U.P,Northern Maharashtra.

1.   Important sites of Indus valley civilization.

• HARAPPA
• MOHENJODARO(Nakhlistan i.e oasis of sindh)
• CHANHUDARO
• LOTHAL
• KALIBANGA
• BANWALI &
• DHOLAVIRA.

HARAPPA.

It was situated on the bank of river Ravi,in punjab,Pakistan.It was discovered by Daya Ram Sahni(1921),Madho Swaroop Vatsa(1926),Wheeler(1946).Most important structure here found was 6 grainaries in a row.

MOHENJODARO.

It was situated on the bank of river Indus,in sindh,Pakistan.It was discovered by Rakhal Das Bannerji(1922),Mackay(1927),Wheeler(1930).Important structure found here were Great Bath,Great Granery(largest structure of civilization).

CHANHUDARO.
It was also situated on the bank of river Indus in Sindh Pakistan.It was discovered by Mackay (1925).N.G Mazumdar(1931).It is the only city without a citadel.

LOTHAL.
It was situated on the bank of river Bhogva in modern day Gujrat, India.It was discovered by S.R Rao(1954).No major structure were excavated here except some terracotta figurines and some double burial sites.

KALIBANGA.(bangles of black color)
It was situated on the bank of river Ghaggar in modern dayRajasthan, India.It was discovered by Amalananda Ghosh(1951),B.B Lal & B.K Thapar(1961).No major structures were unearthed here,but some prominent discoveries were Ploughed field surface,7 fire altars & some mesopotamian cylindrical seals.

BANWALI.
It was situated on the bank of river Ghaggar near Haryana, India.It was discovered by R.S Bist(1973).the main discoveries made here were Lack of Drainage System & Systematic Town Planning

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DHOLAVIRA.
It was situated on the bank of river Luni near Gujarat, India.Discovered by J.P Joshi(1967-68).Its main features were unique water harnessing system & storm water drainage system.Largest Harappan inscription used for civic purpose.