Vedic Age (1.5k BC to 0.6k BC)

Vedic age is often cited as the basis of our current Indian civilization however it had marked differences from the current socio-religious structure extant today. Most of the popular gods venerated today would have been unknown to them so would have been the tough caste system we see today. They indeed had contributed a lot to the stream of Indian culture but most of their contribution came later upon intermixing with local people.

Vedic period is considered to have lasted from 1.5k BC to 1k BC while the period from 1k BC to .6k BC is generally considered later Vedic period. The oldest Veda, the Rig Veda talks of simple socio-economic, religious and political setup. This has been corroborated by over 700 sites found in northern India. Later Vedic times witnessed spread of  the culture to other areas which increased the complexity in living conditions.

Rig Vedic phase-

The culture was spread throughout the Saptasindhu (five rivers of Punjab, Indus and Saraswati) spreading from eastern Afghanistan to doab region.

They were mostly pastoral but were also aware of cultivation. Raids and animal breeding was the main source of increasing wealth. Horses, cattle, dog, ass, sheep and goat were domesticated.

Identity was related to tribe of Jana. Groups of Families formed Gram. Group of villages formed Vis. Groups of Vis formed Jana. Groups of Jana formed Rashtra.

The varna system which literally means colour had three levels; warriors, priests and traders.

Vedic religion is defined as Henotheism, the belief in single gods, each in turn standing out as highest. There were thirty three deities and there was no stress on iconography.

Later Vedic phase-

Vedic people expanded to western and middle Ganga valley and the Himalayan foothills.

Mentions of non-Vedic local populations in central Ganges valley.

There was gradual shift from pastoralism to agriculture.

The four varna system was established and the hierarchy cemented. The caste system may have been an earlier organisation of Indian society.

Various Janas merged to form larger groups with rajan evolving into the king. The increase in power also brought about increase in sacrifices like Ashwamedha, Vajapeya and Rajasuya.

There was a general decline in prayer as a mode of worship and elaborate sacrifices took over. There were reactions to it in the form of Shramana movements.

The use of iron which had begun in early Vedic period become more advanced and this commonly available.

Other features of Vedic age.

Position of women- The society was fairly egalitarian. Women enjoyed equal rights as men in attending tribal assemblies(sabhas) and religious ceremonies, widow remarriage was allowed, child marriage was unknown and sati was only symbolic. However later they lost their political rights and child marriage and sati emerged.

Ashramas or stages of life- Later in Vedic period emerged four stages for regulating the life of higher casts. These were, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprashta and Sanyas.

System of Gotra- Gotra literally mean cow-pen. It denoted descent from a common ancestor. Exogamy between gotras was observed.

Education and Slavery- Early Aryans were illiterate and writing appeared around 700 BC. Slavery was prevalent and affluent men kept many female slaves for household works.

Vedic religion-

There are thirty three divinities divided into three groups; Terrestrial(prithvisthana),atmospheric or intermediate(antarikshastana or madhyamasthana) and celestial(dyusthana).

There were strains of monotheism and monism from a philosophical point and Henotheism/kathenotheism in practice.

Indra was the most important god(250 hymns in rig veda were dedicated to him).

Agni was the second most important god (200 hymns were dedicated to him).

Soma or the deity of plants is the third most important god.

Other important gods are Varun (the god of water) the upholder of rita or natural order.

Hymns to Usha ( dawn) are most flowery.

Other important goddesses are Aditi (eternity),Aranyani (forest), Nirrti (decay and death)

In later Vedic period gods like Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra grew in importance at the cost of Indra.

Also with time, the importance of prayers decreased and that of sacrifices increased.

This led to the rise of shramana movement which would eventually give rise to Buddhism and Jainism. This would cause a reform in the Vedic society and in later phases the importance of sacrifices diminished.