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THE VEDIC AGE

Introduction
After the decline or destruction of the Indus Civilization a new civilization came into existence, but between these two major
events there must have been a gap of period and about which we know nothing. The indus civilization was declined between
1750 B.C. to 1500 B.C. and so the Aryans are supposed to have migrated from Central Asia into the Indian Subcontinent in
several stages during 2000 B.C. - 1500 B.C. Moreover the Aryans were the founder of vedic culture.

The Vedic Age

Coming of Various Theories

Original

Important

Advent and

Vedic

Early

Later Vedic

the Aryans

regarding the

Home of

Vedic Facts

Expansion

Rivers

Vedic Age

Age

ancestry of

the Aryans

Aryans

of Aryans

in India

Vedic Tribes
Vedic Gods
Vedic Polity
Vedic Kula
Law and Justic
Economy

Pastoralism Agriculture Craft

Industry

Geographical
Political
Kingdoms Economy
Expansion Organisation
Rise of Big States
Growth of Royal Power
Origin of Kingship
Five state Systems
Administrative Machinery

Trade

Social
Life

Kingship
Assemblies
The gram
The visha
The Jana
The Rashtra
Royal Officers
and Ministers
Ratnin
The Platoon

Religious
Scene

Patriarchal System
Varna Concept
Marriage System
Sixteen sans Karas
Womens Position

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COMING OF THE ARYANS

Some scholars believe that the Aryans were native to the
Soil of India while others believe that the Aryans were
migrated from outside, i.e. Central Asia (Max Muller); Europe
Arctic region (B.G. Tilak) and so on.
In fact, the group that came to India first settled in Sapta
Sindhu. They lived here and gradually pushed into the
valleys of the Ganges and the Yamuna.
The earliest wave of Aryans is called the Rig vedic people
who appeared in about 1500 B.C.
It is believed that before the coming of the Aryans in India,
the greater part of the Northern-Western India was covered
by Dravidians. After the arrival of the Aryans they moved
southwards.
Literally Aryans means - the best or eminent.
In order to prove their supremacy the Aryans took this
name and called themselves the Aryans and they
called their opponents Anarya, Dasy or Das.
The Aryans were handsome, fair and slim shape persons.

Their minds were filled with natural imaginations.

They were brave and laborious with highly developed
attitude.
They were farmers peasant and loved nature in the form
of god.
They linked milk and wheat bread.
The Aryan chief was soft towards the dasas, but bitterly
hostile to the dasyus. The term dasyuhatya, slaughter of the
dasyus, is repeatedly mentioned in the Rig veda. Yadu,
Turvasu, Druhyu, Anupuru, Panchala,
Bharata and Tritsu were the chief tribes of the period.

VARIOUS THEORIES REGARDING THE

ANCESTRY OF ARYANS

Original Home of the Aryans

Asia
Central Asia
Tibet
Pamirs
Steppes
Turkistan
Bactria

Theorists
Max Muller.
Dayanand Saraswati
Mayor
Brandenstein
Hurz Feld
J. C. Road.

Europe
Germany plains
Hungary
Southern Russia
West Baltic
Arctic Region
Russian Steppes
India
Central India
Kashmir
Sapta Sindhu
Himalayan
Foothills

Theorists
Prof. Penka Sheart
Giles
Nehring
Mach
B. G. Tilak
Prof. Belfy
Theorists
Rajbali Pandey
L. D. Kala
A. C. Das
Pt. Laxmidhar
Shastri

Important Vedic Facts

The subject matter of the original home of Aryans attracted

many scholars to present their views but all the opinions given
by them became a matter of discussions.
Many scholars, such as Ganganath Jha, D. S. Trivedi, L. D.
Kalla, etc. tried to prove that the Vedic Aryans were neither
foreigners nor did they migrate into India. They were the
indigenous people, who regarded Sapta-Sindu as their
original home.
Some European scholars assigned the Baltic sea region as
the original home of the Aryans.
B.G. Tilak suggested the polar region.
Some inscriptions of about 1440 B.C. found at Boghaz koi
in Cilicia (Asia minor), the capital of the ancient Hittites,
mention some Aryan deities such as Indra, Varuna, Mitra
and the Nasatyas (Aswins) which proves Central Asian
theory as their homeland.

However the region of Sapta-Sindhu (the land of the seven

rivers) witnessed the composition of the sacred hymns
which describe the early growth and development of the
vedic culture. Let us see the various interpretations in the
chart.

Vedic literature had grown up in course of time and was

passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.
Hence these are called Shruti (to hear).
Some historians regard the Later Vedic period as the
Period of epics (long poems).
The Aryans, First of all, settled in The Sapta Saindhava
(Jambuduipa).
According to the Rigveda, The Saraswati was the most
pious river.
The most mentioned river Sindhu.
Mention of the Ganges 01 time.
Mention of the Yamuna - 03 times.
Rigveda mentions 40 rivers.
Sindhu and its seven tributaries are called Sapta
Sindhu.
The arc of Ganga-Yamuna is called Brahmarshi
Pradesh.
Land between the Saraswati and Drishadwati is called
Brahmavarta.
The Nadi sukta hymns mentions 21 rivers.
From the Himalayas to the Vindhya mountains and
between the Eastern sea and Western sea there was a
special part of land which was called Aryavarta.
Gandhar was famous for woolen articles.
Bhujvant was famous for Somaras (wine).
In the Dashrajan, Vashistha helped Sudas and
Viswamitra helped the Union of ten kings and instigated
them to fight with Sudas.

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ADVENT AND EXPANSION OF ARYANS

IN INDIA
Rig Veda says that there were various groups of Aryans and
they came to India in search of food and habitation and later on
they settled here. Some famous groups were Panchajan (the
most famous group), Bharat,
Trissu, Kriva, etc.
The Panchajan consisted of Anu, Druhalaya, Yadu, Turvas and
Puru. In between 2000 BC and 1000 BC the Aryans would
have arrived in India. It is supposed so.

The Expansion of the Aryans was started from

Afghanistan and were expanded up to the Western coast
of Ganga river.

The Aryans were aware of the Himalayas but they did

not know Vindhyachal, Aravali, Satpuda, and Southern
Plateaus. So, we can say that in Rig Vedic period the
Aryans were expanded from Himalaya to Malva in
North-South direction and from the Western coast of
Ganga to Afghanistan in East-West direction.

In Rig Veda period they had no approach in the Southern

and Eastern parts of India.
They lived in Saptasindh area for a long period and later
on, during post-vedic era they started reaching towards
the East and South.
Gradually, they established their sovereignty in
Kurukshetra, Kashi, Koshal, Videh, Panchal and the
coastal area of Ganga and Yamuna.
In the beginning of the 8th century B.C. they organised
Magadh, Anga, Paundra, Kaling, Shabar-pulind and
Southern India.

VEDIC RIVERS
Altogether 99 rivers are referred to in the Rig Veda of mostly
from Afghanistan. The 15 principal rivers are given in the
table. In Rigveda we find the descriptions of the various rivers
of Afghanistan. They are Kubha, Suvastu, Gomati and
Kramu. The Saptasindhus rivers, i.e. Saraswati, Sindhu
vistasha, Asibini, parushini, vapasa and shatudri are also
explained in the Rigveda. In it, Ganga is named only once
where as Yamuna is repeated thrice. It reflects that earlier they
were expanded in the area of Saptasindhu and till then
unaware of the Ganga-Yamunas plain.
Some of the minor rivers were Rasa, Anumati, Asuniti, Raka,
Gungu, Susoma, Marud-Vrdhas, etc.
Name of the rivers illustrated in the Rigveda
Rigveda
Sindhu
Vitasta

Modern Name
Indus
Jhelum

Region
Punjab
Punjab

Asikani
Vipasa
Parushni
Sutudri
Saraswati
Drishadvati
Kubha
Suvastu
Krumu
Gomal

Chenab
Beas
Ravi
Sutlej
Sarsuti
Ghaggar/Chitang
Kabul
Swati
Kurram
Gomati

Ganga
Yamuna

Ganga
Yamuna

Punjab
Punjab
Punjab
Punjab
Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Punjab
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

To conclude, we can say that the Aryans were living in the

east of Caspian sea in Auxus rivers reign. Dr.
Hormely is of the opinion that the Aryan came to India into
levo, groups. The first was of Manav dynasty and the other
was L dynasty. During this vedic period they did not enter
ahead from Punjab.

RIGVEDIC/EARLY VEDIC
AGE (1500 B.C. - 1000 B.C.)
Aryan Civilization of Rigveda Period
The Rig Veda is the main source of the Aryan Civilization, i.e.
the early vedic era. At that time Afghanistan was a part of
India. It is known through the Rig Veda as the names of Afgani
rivers are illustrated in Rig Veda. These rivers are Kubha,
Krumu, Gomati, Suvartu, etc.

Sindhu, Vitasta, Askini, Parushni, Vipasha, Shutudri,

Saraswati, Yamuna and Ganga are clearly illustrated in
the Rigveda which confirms the area of Punjab and some
parts of northern India to be the livings of the Aryans.

The illustration of cloud, lightening, torrent raining and

great mountains prove that the areas of Punjab and
Brahmavarta were furtile and verdant. According to the
Rigveda this area was divided into many parts called
Vedic Jana. Gandhari, Bhujvant, Anu, Druhalay, Turvas,
Puru and Bharat were some famous Janas.

The Rig Veda explains that the Puruvanshi Arya lived on

the banks of the river saraswati.
Similarly Yaduvanshi on the bank of Sindhu and Chinab,
the Sanjay Vanshi in Panchal, Anuvanshi, Druhalay and
Turvas in the various areas of Punjab. Thus, from the
names of rivers, mountains [Himvant, i.e. Himalaya,
Munjavant i.e. Hindukush] and ocean we are informed
about the geographical area in which Rigvedic people
lived. The Nadisukta of the Rigveda mentions 21 rivers
which include the Ganges in the east and the Kubha
(Kabul) in the West.

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