Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)

Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)

Original Home of the Aryan

• The location of the original home of the Aryans remains a controversial issue.

• Some scholars believe that the Aryans were native to the soil of India.

• Some other scholars believe that the Aryans migrated from outside:

  • Central Asia (Max Muller)

  • Europe

  • Arctic region (B. G. Tilak)

According to popular belief, the Aryans are supposed to have migrated from Central Asia into the Indian subcontinent in several stages or waves during 2000 BC–1500 BC.

• Boghazkai Inscription (Asia Minor, Turkey), which mentions the 4 Vedic gods Indra, Varuna, Mitra, and Nasatyas, proves Central Asian Theory being their homeland.

• The group that came to India first settled in the present Frontier Province and the Punjab, then called Sapta Sindhu, i.e., the region of seven rivers.

• They lived here for many centuries and gradually pushed into the interior to settle in the valleys of the Ganges and the Yamuna.

Vedic Literature (1500 BC–600 BC)

• It is presumed that the Rig Veda was composed while the Aryans were still in the Punjab.

Components of Vedic Literature

Vedic Literature comprises four literary productions:

1. The Samhitas or Vedas

2. The Brahmanas

3. The Aranyakas

4. The Upanishads

Vedic Literature had grown up in the course of time and was really handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Hence, these are called Shruti (to hear).

The most important of the Vedic Literature is the Vedas.

Vedas are called:

• Apaurasheya – not created by man but God-gifted

• Nitya – existing in all eternity

The Four Vedas

There are four Vedas:

1. Rig Veda

2. Yajur Veda

3. Sama Veda

4. Atharva Veda

The first three Vedas are jointly called Vedatrayi, i.e., the trio of Vedas.

Rig Veda

• The oldest text in the world

• Also known as "the first testament of mankind"

• Contains:

  • 1028 hymns

  • 10,580 verses

  • Divided into 10 mandalas

• Six mandalas (2nd to 7th) are called Gotra/Vamsha Mandalas (Kula Granth)

• 1st and 10th mandalas are said to have been added later

• 10th mandala contains the famous Purushasukta, which explains the 4 Varnas:

  • Brahmana

  • Kshatriya

  • Vaishya

  • Shudra

• The hymns of the Rig Veda were recited by the Hotri

Yajur Veda

• Book of sacrificial prayers

• A ritual Veda

• Hymns were recited by Adhvaryus

• Divided into two parts:

  • Krishna Yajur Veda

  • Shukla Yajur Veda

• It is in both verse and prose (unlike Rig and Sama, which are entirely in verse).

Sama Veda

• Book of chants

• Contains 1549 verses

• All verses (excluding 75) were taken from the Rig Veda

• Hymns recited by Udgatri

• Important for Indian music

Atharva Veda

• Book of magical formulae

• Contains charms and spells to ward off evils and diseases

• For a long time, it was not included in the category of the Vedas

The Brahmanas

• The Brahmanas explain the hymns of the Vedas

• Written in prose and are ritualistic

• Brahma means 'sacrifice'

• The various sacrifices and rituals have been elaborately discussed in the Brahmanas.

• Every Veda has several Brahmanas attached to it.

Aranyakas and Upanishads

Aranyakas (Forest Texts)

• The word Aranya means "the forest."

• The 'forest texts' were called Aranyaka, because they were written mainly for the hermits and the students living in the jungles.

• The Aranyakas are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas.

Upanishads (Vedanta)

• The Upanishads are philosophical texts.

• They are generally called Vedanta, as they came towards the end of the Veda.

• There are 108 Upanishads.

• Vrihadaranyaka is the oldest Upanishad.

Literature of Vedic Tradition (600 BC–600 AD)

Smriti Literature (Remembrance Literature)

Literature of Vedic Tradition (Smriti) comprises 6 literary works:

1. Vedangas / Sutras

2. Smritis (Dharmashastras)

3. Mahakavyas (Epics)

4. Puranas

5. Upavedas

6. Shad-Darshanas

Vedangas

There are six Vedangas:

1. Shiksha (Phonetics)

   • Pratishakhya – the oldest text on phonetics

2. Kalpa Sutras (Rituals)

   • Shrauta Sutras / Shulva Sutras – deal with the sacrifices

   • Grihya Sutras – deal with family ceremonies

   • Dharma Sutras – deal with Varnas, Ashramas, etc.

3. Vyakarana (Grammar)

   • Ashtadhyayi (Panini) – the oldest grammar of the world

4. Nirukta (Etymology)

   • Nirukta (Yask) – based on Nighantu (Kashyap), a collection of difficult Vedic words

   • Nighantu – the oldest word collection of the world

   • Nirukta – the oldest dictionary of the world

5. Chhanda (Metrics)

   • Chhandasutras (Pingal) – a famous text on meters

6. Jyotisha (Astronomy)

   • Vedanga Jyotisha (Lagadh Muni) – the oldest Jyotisha text

Smritis (Dharmashastras)

There are six famous Smritis:

• Manu Smriti (Pre-Gupta Period) – the oldest Smriti text

  • Commentators: Vishwarupa, Meghatithi, Gobindraj, Kulluk Bhatt

• Yajnavalkya Smriti (Pre-Gupta Period)

  • Commentators: Vishwarupa, Jimutvahan (Dayabhaga), Vijnyaneshwar (Mitakshara), Apararka (a king of the Shilahar Dynasty)

• Narad Smriti (Gupta period)

• Parashara Smriti (Gupta period)

• Brihaspati Smriti (Gupta period)

• Katyayana Smriti (Gupta period)

Mahakavyas (Epics)

There are mainly two Mahakavyas:

1. The Ramayana (Valmiki)

• Known as Adi Kavya (the oldest epic of the world)

• At present consists of:

  • 24,000 shlokas (verses)

  • 7 Kandas (sections)

  • Originally: 6,000 verses

  • Later: 12,000 verses

  • Finally: 24,000 verses

• 1st and 7th Kandas were the latest additions to the Ramayana

2. The Mahabharata (Ved Vyasa)

• The longest epic in the world

• At present consists of:

  • 1,00,000 shlokas (verses)

  • 18 Parvans (chapters)

• Additional Text: Harivamsa supplement

• Evolution:

  • Originally: 8,800 verses – Jay Samhita

  • Later: 24,000 verses – Chaturvinshati Sahastri Samhita / Bharata

  • Finally: 1,00,000 verses – Shatasahastri Samhita / Mahabharata

• Bhagavad Gita is extracted from the Bhishma Parvan

• Shanti Parvan is the largest chapter of the Mahabharata

Puranas

• Purana means "the old"

• There are 18 famous Puranas

• Matsya Purana is the oldest Puranic text

Other Important Puranas:

• Bhagavata

• Vishnu

• Vayu

• Brahamanda

Puranas generally describe 5 subjects:

1. Sarga – creation of the world

2. Pratisarga – re-creation after the dissolution of the world

3. Vamsha – genealogies of gods and rishis

4. Manvantara – the reigns of the Manus (the first humans)

5. Vamshanucharita – genealogies of various royal dynasties

Upavedas (Auxiliary Vedas)

The Upavedas were traditionally associated with the Vedas

Nav-Darshanas (Indian Philosophy Schools)

There are 9 schools of Indian philosophy known as the Nav-Darshanas:

A. Shad-Darshanas (Aastik Darshanas)

• 6 Darshanas that accept the Vedas as an authoritative source of knowledge

Shad-Darshanas (Aastik Darshanas)

B. Nastik Darshanas

• 3 Darshanas that reject the Vedas as an authoritative source of knowledge

Trik-Darshanas (Nastik Darshanas)

Final Thoughts

The Vedic period and its literary tradition form the foundation of ancient Indian culture, philosophy, and religious thought.

From the Shruti literature, like the Vedas and Upanishads, to the Smriti texts including epics, Puranas, and philosophical systems, this era reflects a deep intellectual and spiritual heritage.

The structured development of Vedangas, Mahakavyas, and Darshanas showcases the richness of India's scholarly and cultural legacy, which continues to influence Indian society and philosophy even today.