Aryan Migration and Vedic Literature , Vedic age NOTES
- The Aryans are believed to have migrated from outside regions, with theories suggesting Central Asia, Europe, or the Arctic region as their homeland.
- The Boghazkai inscription in Asia Minor, Turkey, supports the Central Asian theory.
- The Aryans initially settled in the present-day Frontier Province and Punjab, known as Sapta Sindhu.
- Vedic literature comprises four main texts: Samhitas or Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.
- The Vedas consist of four main texts: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
Rigveda
- The Rigveda, the oldest religious text globally, contains 1,028 hymns composed around 1700 BC and divided into 10 mandalas.
- Important features include the Gayatri Mantra and reverence for the Saraswati River.
- Mandalas 2 to 7 are the earliest, each ascribed to different Rishis (sages), while the 10th Mandala contains the Purushasukta hymn, explaining the caste system’s origin.
Samaveda
- It is a collection of melodies recited at Soma sacrifices, containing the Dhrupad Raga.
Yajurveda
- Contains rituals and beliefs of non-Aryans, divided into Shukla (White) and Krishna (Black) Yajurveda.
Atharvaveda
- Functions as a book of magical formulas, mentioning Gotra among other topics.
Upanishads
- Also known as Vedanta, they mark the last phase of the Vedic period, discussing concepts like Karma, Atman, and Brahma.
- There are 108 Upanishads, with the period from 800 BC to 500 BC known as the Upanishadic period.
Vedangas
- Six limbs of the Vedas, including Shiksha (Phonetics), Vyakarana (Grammar), and Jyotisha (Astronomy).
Brahmanas and Aranyakas
- Brahmanas are prose commentaries on Vedic hymns, with the Shatapatha Brahmana attached to Yajurveda being significant.
- Aranyakas are texts where sages explain Vedic scriptures to their pupils in the forest.
Upavedas
- Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda, and Sthapatyaveda are considered Upavedas, each associated with a Veda.
Philosophy
- Six systems of Hindu philosophy, including Nyaya, Sankhya, and Yoga, were developed by ancient Indian philosophers.
Puranas, Sutras, and Smritis
- The Puranas reflect a change in worship mode and deity portrayal, with Matsya Purana being the oldest.
- Sutra literature comprises three classes: Srauta Sutra, Griha Sutra, and Dharma Sutra.
- Smritis, or Dharma Shastras, are law books written in shloka form, with Manusmriti being the most famous.
Epics
- The Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two main epics, containing rich narratives and philosophical teachings.
- Bhagavad Gita, extracted from the Mahabharata, is a revered text on duty and righteousness.
Aryan and Vedic Age
- The Aryans migrated from Central Asia and settled in present-day Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
- Rigvedic society had a patriarchal structure, with a division into four varnas based on occupations.
- Rigvedic religion was henotheistic, worshipping gods like Indra, Agni, and Varuna.
- Later Vedic period saw the emergence of new gods like Vishnu and Rudra, and elaborate sacrificial rituals.
- Society saw the emergence of new occupations and a decline in the status of women.
- The later Vedic period introduced complex rituals like Asvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices.