Vedic Period

Question 1

1. Early Vedic Period ?
2. Later Vedic Period ?

Answer 1

1500BC -1000BC
1000 BC - 600 BC

Question 2

What are the 4 vedas ?

Answer 2

Rigveda
Samved
Yajurved
Atharva ved

Question 3

Rigved -
How many hyms ?
Rigved contains information about ?
Rigvedic information about society?
Its chapters ?
Purush sukti?

Answer 3

Rigved contains earliest collection of 108 hyms/psalms
It has praise of various gods seeking the well-being of society.

Beautiful description of nature–> Mountains, rivers, plants.
- Himalaya is described as Himvant/ Jamuvant
Rigved also contains information about society, economy and polity

Rigveda contains 10 chapters :
2-7 : early vedic period
1,8,9,10 : later vedic period
–> 10th chapter - 1st time mentioned the varna system based on birth
–> Purushukti chapter mentions the reason for varna system
Brahman - emerged from the mouth of Adi brahma
Kshatriya - emerged from the chest and shoulder of Adi brahma
Vaishya - emerged from the thigs of Adi brahma
Shudra - emerged from the feet of Adi brahma

Question 4

Expert of
Rigved
Samved
Yajurved
Atharva ved

Answer 4

Rigved - Hotra
Samved - Adhvaryu
Yajurved - Udgatri
Atharva ved - Brahma

Question 5

Which rivers are mentioned in rigveda ?

Answer 5

Saptasindhu rivers of India
1. Indus - Sindhu
2. Jhelum - Vitasta
3. Chenab - Ashkini
4. Ravi - Parushani
5. Beas - Vipasa
6. Sutlej - Shutudri
7. Saraswati - Naditarana

Question 6

Yajurved

Answer 6

Rules to perform yagna (rituals and sacrifices)
most popular
Expert - Adhvaryu

Question 7

Samveda

Answer 7

• Origin on indian music (16000 raag and raginis)
• Book of chants
• Last part of samveda (Rulebook of music): Gandharvaved
• expert - udgatar

Question 8

Atharva veda -

Answer 8

• Cure of 99 diseases
• Book of spell and magic
• Most elaborate ved
• Chapters on astronomy, astrology, mathematics etc.
• Created by
  Atharva rishi
  Angira rishi

Question 9

1. Which book deals with the philosophy of ved
2. Which book deals with spirits and magic
3. Which book is called forest book and deals with mysticism/ mystery of veda?

Answer 9

Upanishad
Atharva veda
Aranyak

Question 10

Brahman

Answer 10

• Explains the tenets or principles of ved
• Ideals of ved
• 1st explanatory book of ved
• Consists of prayers, sacrificial ceremonies.

Question 11

Aranyak

Answer 11

• Forest book
• Deals with mysticism , rites, sacrificials, rituals etc.
• Disseminated to people in vanprastha stage of life
• Deals with mystery of veda and talks abt magic

Question 12

Upanishad

Answer 12

-Upanishad means sitting near a guru to gain knowledge
- Deals with philosphy of ved
- Topics :
absolute
soul
origin of world and universe
spiritualism
Brahmasutra
- 108 upanishads considered important
modern quotes from upanishad

Question 13

Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy

Answer 13

Brahmasutra (From Upanishad)

Question 14

Brahmasutra (From upanishad)

Answer 14

Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -

Question 14

Brahmasutra (From upanishad)

Answer 14

Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -

Question 15

Brahmasutra (From upanishad)

Answer 15

Brahmasutra - 555 chapters
deals with human existence and universe
deals with political and spiritual ideas of ved
Foundational text of vedanta school of hindu philosophy
Contains 4 chapters -
1. Absolute reality
2. Addresses objections raised by contemporary schools
3. epistemology
4. why such knowledge is important

Question 16

Which upanishad ?
1. satyameva jayate
2. Kota upanishad
3. Bruhad upanishad
4. Vasudaiva kutumbakam - G20 theme

Answer 16

Mundak upanishad
atithi deva bhvo
asto ma sadgamaye tamaso ma jyotirgamaye
Maha upanishad

Question 17

In how many texts are rituals mentioned

Answer 17

Brahman
Aranyak
Yajurveda
Atharva veda

Question 18

Epics during vedic period

Answer 18

Mahabharata (also known - Jaysamhita)
Ramayana

Question 19

Which text tried to establish the ideals of Hinduism thru mythological stories

Answer 19

Puran
- 4 categories
1. Sarga - deals with creation of universe
2. Pratisarga - deals with destruction of universe
3. Manavantar - Story of 1st humans (manu and ela)
4. Vamsanucharit - History of ruling Indian dynasties

Question 20

Describe the social condition during early Vedic period w.r.t
1. Type of family
2. Women ? Condition ? peots (4)
3. Past time
4. Social division

Answer 20

1. Patriarchal family
   Basic unit of family :: Headed by
   Graham :: Grahapati (eldest male member)
2. Women -
   Monogamy prevalent
   Polygamy - among nobles and royals
   Women were treated equally like men . Respectable position
   –> could attend assembly or sabha
   –> opportunities for ritual and intellectual devt
   –> both had upper and lowe garments

Female poets :
1. Lopamudra
2. Ghosha
3. Apala
4. Vishwara
No child marraige
No sati practice
Women slaves

Priviledges -
Had political rights–> Could attend sabha samiti
Educational discourses –> participated in debates and discussions
Gandharva vivah allowed- Both male and female were allowed to choose spouses
Niyog vivah - Widow can remarrry younger brother of deceased husband.

3. Past time :
   Racing - Chariot, Horse
   Music
   Dance
   Dicing
4. Social Divison
   Not rigid
   3 professions
   Priestly class
   Warrior class
   Peasants and artisans

Question 21

Describe the social condition during early Vedic period w.r.t
1. Slavery
2. Food

Answer 21

Slavery :
Defeated people were made slaves
Das (Aryans) - better treatment
Dasyu (non aryans) - Heav discrimination
Dasyu hatya - mass killing mentioned in rigveda

Cattle and women slaves were given in the form of gifts
High rank of individual but not high social class.

FOOD :
Wheat, barley, curd, ghee
vegetables, fruits

Question 22

Describe the religious practices followed during the early vedic period
1. Gods
2. Female gods
3. Offerings
4. Temple/idol worship
5. Mode and objective of worship

Answer 22

1. Nature was personifies in the form of gods
   
   1. Indra –> God of rain and storm
      Most important
      Also known - Breaker of forts : Purandhar
      Mentioned more than 250 times in rigveda
   2. Agni –>
      Intermediary god (god-people)
      Mentioned more than 200 times in rigveda
   3. Varun –> God of water
      Upholder of natural order
      Maintain cosmic balance
   4. Prithvi
   5. Vayu
   6. Mitra –> God of air [later known as marut]
   7. Surya
2. Female gods :
   Aditi - Daughter of daytime
   Usha
   Savitri - Gayatri mantra is dedicated to her
   Vela
3. NO temple or idol worship
4. Mode of worship - prayers, chanting mantras
   objective - material gain . for brave son (suvihara)

NO concept of spiritualism

Question 23

Describe the economic life during early vedic period w.r.t?
1. Agriculture
2. Iron
3. Carpentry
4. Goldsmith
5. Trade
6. Taxation

Answer 23

Agriculture :
Imp crops - Wheat (yava)
Barley (Godhuli)

Iron
Used to clear forests
Bring more land under cultivation

Carpentry:
Chariots
Ploughs

Goldsmith :
Ornaments

Trade:
    Barter system
		 River used for means of transport 
		Gold coins - for exchange (Nishka)

No formal system of taxation
People voluntarily contributed in the form of barley and bhag to chieftain of community

Question 24

3 imp bodies during early vedic period ?

Answer 24

Sabha Council of elders Include women Exclusive + most Decisive assembly Samiti Assembly of entire people Did NOT include women Vidhata Men + women included Religious and agriculture related decisions

Question 25

Describe the polity during early vedic period?

Answer 25

1. Monarchial and hereditary 2. kind was assisted by purohit and senani 3. imp bodies sabha (most decisive) - men + women , council of elders samiti - women not included , all age assembly vidhata - men + women 4. Constitution Unit :: Headed by Tribal kingdoms :: Rajan (highest political kingdom) | Visu (Group of villages ) :: Vishayapati | Village :: Gramin | Family :: Kulpati /Grahapati 5. Dasrajan war

Question 26

Describe Dasrajan war

Answer 26

Bharat territory was ruled by Sudas It was one of the strongest territories Coveted position of head priest was given to Vasishtha instead of Vishwamitra Vishwamitra got humiliated and persuaded 5 aryans + 5 non aryan tribes called DARAJAN for war against sudas Battle took places at Parushani b/w Dasrajan and Sudas Sudas emerged victorius and all his ruled terriroty came to be known as BHARATVARSHA WAR:: SUDAS ==== DARAJAN + VASHISTHA {WON}