Vedic culture Flashcards

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1
Q

From when did harappan culture begin to decline and vedic culture began

A

1500 BC

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2
Q

What language did vedic people speak

A

Indo Aryan, sanskrit

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3
Q

From where did Vedic ppl enter the indian subcontinent

A

north western mountains

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4
Q

Main occupation of Rigvedic ppl

A

cattle rearing

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5
Q

What is rigvedic period also called

A

early vedic period

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6
Q

Area occupied rig vedic ppl

A

whole of north india, referred as aryavarta

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7
Q

Vedic period was from when to when

A

1500-600 BC

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8
Q

Vedic period can be divided into

A

early vedic/ rig vedic- 1500-1000 BC
Later vedic period- 1000-600 BC

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9
Q

Original home of aryans

A

disputed
Bal gangadhar tilak- arctic region
Some say germany
central asia
southern russia

however, the theory of southern Russia

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10
Q

What does ‘veda’ signify

A

superior knowledge

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11
Q

what does the vedic literature consists of

A

4 vedas

  1. Rig
  2. Yajur
  3. Sama
  4. Atharva

SAY R

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12
Q

which is the earliest of vedas

A

rig veda

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13
Q

what is rigveda

A

has hymns sung in praise of various gods

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14
Q

what is yajur veda

A

details of rules to be observed at time of sacrifice

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15
Q

what is sama veda

A

purpose of chanting during sacrifice
it is called the book of chants and the origins of indian music can be traced

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16
Q

what is atharva veda

A

contains details of rituals

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17
Q

Apart from Vedas what other sacred texts were written during the vedic period

A

Brahamanas, Upanishads, Aranyakas, Ramayana and Mahabharata

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18
Q

What are brahamanas

A

treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony

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19
Q

What are upanishads

A

philosophical texts dealing with topic like soul, the absolute, the origin of the world and mysteries of nature

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20
Q

what are aranyakas

A

forest books, they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices

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21
Q

who authored ramayana and mahabharata

A

valmiki and vedavyas respectively

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22
Q

where were the aryans confined to during the rig vedic period

A

Indus region
Rig veda refers to it as Saptasindhu or the land of 7 rivers
5 rivers of punjab+ Indus and saraswathi

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23
Q

What was the basic unit of political organisation during rig vedic age

A

Kula- a family
Grama- several families joined together to form a village. Leader of grama was called gramani
Visu- a group of villages, headed by a vishyapati
Jana- a tribe which is the highest political unit, headed by rajan/king [monarchical, hereditary].

Sabha- council of elders
Samiti- general assembly of the entire people

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24
Q

Name the tribals kingdoms during rig vedic age

A

Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus, Purus

25
Q

who all was the king assisted by in the rig vedic age

A

Purohit- priest
Senani- commander

26
Q

what was the basic unit of society during rig vedic age

A

graham [grah in hindi]- family
head of the family known as grahapati

27
Q

Marriage during rig vedic

A

monogamy generally but polygamy among royala and noble families

28
Q

state of women in rig vedic

A

women looked at household but were also given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
Women could even attend popular assemblies.
Child marriage and sati absent

29
Q

name some women poets during rig vedic period

A

Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara, Ghosa

30
Q

was cows meat allowed in rig vedic period

A

no, since cow was considered sacred.
however dairy products like ghee, curd, milk etc were used

31
Q

social divisions during rig vedic

A

not rigid

32
Q

wealth was assesed with what during rig vedic period

A

number of cattle owned

33
Q

did rig vedic ppl practice agriculture

A

yes, but cattle rearing was the primary occupation

agri was the pri occupation in later vedic age

34
Q

other occupations of rig vedic

A

cattle rearing, agri, carpenter to make chariots and ploughs, spinning, goldsmiths, potters

35
Q

did rig vedic people use iron

A

yes, unlike harappans that were chalcolithic

36
Q

how did trade happen in rig vedic age

A

barter initially, but used gold coins later called nishka for large transactions

37
Q

religion of rig vedic ppl

A

worshipped natural forces, personifies into gods

prithvi- earth
agni- fire
vayu- winf
varuna- rain
indra- thunder

38
Q

most popular god of rig vedic period

A

Indra and agni thought to be intermediary between gods and people

39
Q

which god wass the upholder of natural order

A

varuna

40
Q

female rig vedic gods

A

aditi and usha

41
Q

did rig vedic ppl have temples and idol worship

A

no, though they did offer prayer in expectation of rewards. Ghee, milk and grain were given as offerings

42
Q

were elaborate rituals followed during rig vedic age

A

yes

43
Q

where did aryans expand to in the later vedic age

A

eastwards

44
Q

satapatha brahmana refers to what

A

expansion of aryans

45
Q

change in polity from rig vedic to LV

A

Large kingdoms, Kuru and Panchala initially

after their fall, Kosala, Kasi and Videha came to prominence

Magadha, anga and vanga in east

46
Q

famous ruler of
1. kuru
2. panchala
3. kasi
4. videha

A
  1. parikshat and janamejaya
  2. pravahana and jaivali
  3. ajatashatru
  4. Janaka, capital was mithila
47
Q

scholar in videha kingdom

A

Yajnavalkya

48
Q

3 divisions of india acc to later vedic texts

A

Aryavarta, North india
Madhyadesa, central india
dakshinapatha, southern india

49
Q

what ar janapadas and rashtras witnessed in LV

A

amalgamation of tribes made janapadas or rashtas

50
Q

why did the kings perform rituals and sacrifices

A

to strengthen their positions

51
Q

rituals/ sacrifices by king

A

Rajyasuya- consecration ceremony-declaration of something holy
Asvamedha- horse sacrifice
Vajpeya- chariot race

52
Q

new officials in LV

A

Apart from purohit, senani and gramani

treasury officer, tax collector, royal messenger

importance of sabhas and samitis diminished

53
Q

professions of people in LV

A

agriculture, industrial activity, metal work, leather, carpentry, pottery.

54
Q

whom all did LV ppl trade externally with

A

babylon

55
Q

what are ganas

A

class of hereditary merchants came into existence
Vaishyas also carried out trade and organised themselves into guilds called ganas

56
Q

currency in LV

A

Apart from nishka, they used gold and silver coins like satamana and krishnala

57
Q

social life in LV

A

Varna system became rigid
brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra
various subcastes also merged

increased patriarchy
women considered inferior and subordinate to men
wmn lost political right of attending assemblies
child marriages

58
Q

what does aitreya brahmana say

A

daughter is the source of misery

59
Q

religion of LV

A

Indra and agni lost their importance

prajapati- the creator
vishnu- the protector
rudra- the destroyer became prominent

sacrifices were still important but rituals became more elaborate

importance of prayers decreased and sacrifices increased

priesthood became a hereditary profession, led to strong rxn against priestly domination and unnecessary sacrifices and rituals

all this led to rise of buddhism and jainism as even the upanishads which focused on true knowledge or gnana for peace and salvation were too philosophical for common people to understand.