Later Vedic Period
Vedic Period can be divided into two broader categories -
- Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 6th century BC)
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Later Vedic Period
It is said that the discovery of Iron around 1000 BC marked the beginning of Later Vedic Period. It was discovered from places like Atranjkhera and Jakheri in western UP. With Iron, sharp tools were created which facilitated in clearing the dense forest of Gangetic plains. Moreover, very fertile land was available for agricultural practices. With this Aryans further penetrated into eastern part of the central India.
Aryans mentioned the following parts -
- North-West as Bramhavart
- North as Aryavart
- East as Purvakhand
- Central India as Madhyadesh
Polity during Later Vedic Period - The position of Rajan became very much important at this point of time. The Early political assembly of Vidhata disappeared completely. Sabha and Samiti lost their formal relevance. Moreover, women were evicted from Sabha and Samiti.
At this time, priestly class assumed very important role of aiding and advising Rajan.
To confer supreme power to Rajan, priestly class devised rituals & sacrifices which are as follows -
Rajsuiya (Consecration ceremony) - In this ceremony, accession of Rajan on the throne happened with the blessings of priestly class.
Vajpeya (Sport event - Chariot race) - In this ceremony, a sport event - Chariot race was to be organised. After the end of the sport event, a grand feast was thrown to the public.
Ashwamedha (Horse sacrifice - for territorial expansion) - This ritual sacrifice was associated with territory expansion in which a bruised horse was let loose with the flag of kingdom to run into the territories of other kingdoms. If the ruler of other kingdom captures the horse then, a fight was ensured and whoever would be victorious would control the entire territory. But if the other ruler does not captures the horse, then it means he had accepted the supremacy of Ashwamedha king. On the last day of the ceremony, horse was brought back to the kingdom and was sacrificed along with 21 sterile cows and more than 200 bulls.
Economy during Later Vedic Period - At this point of time, land became the most important economic wealth. Battles at this point of time were fought for securing large tract of land. The importance of lands is highlighted in the later Vedic texts with the term 'Rashtra'.
There was no formal system of taxation and people voluntarily contributed in the form of Bhag or Bali.
Society during Later Vedic Period -
Society → Patriarchal
Condition of women,
Political rights → No right
Educational rights → Still allowed
Marriage → Gandharva vivah was not encouraged
Child marriage → No instances came into light
Widow remarriage → Still allowed under Niyog Vivah
Status of women - As far as the political right is concerned, women did not enjoyed any political right at this point of time as they were no more member of Sabha and Vidhata disappeared completely.
Educational discourse was still open to women. They were allowed to participate in intellectual debates and discussions. Eg. - Vidushi Gargi
Gandharva Vivah was not encouraged at this point of time.
Types of marriage -
- Anuloma Vivah - Higher caste men getting married to lower caste women
- Pratiloma Vivah - Higher caste women getting married to lower caste men.
In later Vedic Period also no instances of child marriage has come to light.
Widow remarriage continued under Niyog Vivah.
Purusha Shukti - In the tenth Mandal of Rig Veda under Purusha Shukti, it was mentioned to divide the society into four Varnas on the basis of birth, i.e.,
- Brahman - emerged from mouth
- Kshaatriya - emerged from shoulder and chest
- Vaishya - emerged from thigh
- Shudra - emerged from feet of the primeval man (Adi Brahma)
Gotra concept (Lineage from a common ancestor) - Gotra was further consolidated at this point of time. Brahmin advised exogamy of Gotra in the matters of matrimonial alliance.
16 Sanskar - The concept of 16 Sanskar also got consolidated at this point of time. Some of the important Sanskars are as follows -
- Nanakaran Sanskar - when a child is born
- Annaprashan Sanskar - when child is having solid food for the very first time
- Chudakaran Sanskar - when child is going bald (mundan) for the very first time
- Upanayan Sanskar - sacred thread ceremony
- Vivah Sanskar - marriage
- Antyesthi Sanskar - After death, last rites
Aashram System - The first three stages of Aashram system came to reality at this point of time.
- Brahmacharya - celibacy period & study period
- Grihasta - married life & its responsibility
- Vanaprastha - partial retirement from household's life to attain wisdom
Religious practices during Later Vedic Period - The Early Vedic gods like Indra, Agni, Varun, etc lost their former importance and at this point of time 'Prajapati' or Brahma (creator of the universe) emerged as the most important god. Moreover, Rudra and Vishnu also emerged as important gods.
The mode of worship at this point of time was through prayers, recitation of mantras, performance of yajnas and offering sacrifices.
The objective of the worship was to seek material gain (wealth & prosperity) but it was not for spiritualism. In the later half of the later Vedic Period, the progressive section of the society started reform movements where by they emphasised spiritualism to be the most important objective of the worship.
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Next Article - Rise of 16 Mahajanapadas
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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
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