Vedic Culture of India

Vedic Culture of India

Between 1500-500 BC
Refers to the time period when vedic sanskrit texts
and sacred books of hymns were composed in india.
These sacred books were called vedas.
Provides material for study of the first efforts at
building construction
Produced elementary types of forest dwelling
Outcome of Indo Aryan migration of north west
Aryans migrated from northwest to the area called
sapta-sindhva
(Punjab,
fringes
of
western
Uttarpradesh)

Map showing Indo Aryan

Migration

Vedic Period

The Indus valley civilization was replaced by Aryans or Vedic

people. These people were widely different from the people of
Indus. The people of Indus region were mainly traders and
town-dwellers, while the Vedic were wrestlers and working in
the fields and forests. When the Vedic people settled down in
the
plains
of
India,
theybecamepartlypastoralandpartlyagricultural.They
madetheirhabitations rudimentary structures of reads and
bamboo thatched with leaves. These were not developed
fromthe finehousesof theIndusvalley civilization. But
thesetemporary erections were developed to meet the needs
of the forest dwellers.

Technology and Economy

1. Use of Iron Tools.

2. Clearing of
Forests in IndoGangetic Plain.
3.Beginning of
Sedentary agrarian
Civilization.
4. Rise of Urban
Centers.

Art
Colour applied on mud walls
White washed and pattern of archaic
design in red
pigments(haematite)painted on white
ground.
Religion

Worshipped many Gods and Goddess

including Rain, animal and earth etc.
The main deities were Indra dev, Agni
dev, Mitra Varuna, Surya,Vayu.

Religion

Follow Hindu religion and a custom of varna

class.
Four class in vedic culture(Brahmins,
Kshatriyas,Vaishyas,Shudras)
Positions of Brahmins and Kshatriyas were
higher than Vaishyas and Shudras.
Brahmins were specialized in creating sacred
texts and carrying out various types of rituals.
The people of royal families are considered as
Kshtriyas. They performed commanding
authority and helped to maintain law and order.

Settlements
Vedic Aryans divided their political range
in 3 units.

Gama(Village),Vis(sub
domain)
and
jana(kingdom)
Grama is the smallest unit of the political
system
A collection of gramas are called vis
A number of vis built a king dom.

Early Settlements

Mostly nomads ,settled down in the plains of India

Partly pastoral and agricultural
Settlements mostly of reeds and bamboo thatched
with leaves
People stayed in cutout of primeval forest
To protect themselves and their property from the
ravage of wild animals, they have surrounded their
collection of huts with a special kind of fence or
palisade.
Huts were arranged in threes and fours around the
square courtyard.

The Three stages of Vedic

House

Layout of ideal Vedic village- Arthashastra

Vedic cities

Cities were rectangular in plan

Devided into 4 quarters by 2 main thorough fares
intersecting at right angles.
One citadel or royal apartment
Second residence of upper class
Third for middle class
4th open for traders
Royal apartment built around inner courtyard, large
central window for darshan, both had a wing for
ladies and pleasure gardens
Eg-citi wall of Rajagriha, magadha