Later Vedic Age

1000-600 BC

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Sources of Later Vedic Society
Samaveda
Yajurveda
Adharvaveda
Brahamans
Araynakas
Upanishads
Epics
Sama Veda:
Yajur Veda:
• The book of sacrificial prayers and rules to
be observed at the time of sacrifices.
Atharva Veda:
• How to protect from evils and diseases

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• The Brahmanas:
• Expiations or discussions Vedas
• RigVeda: Aitereya and Kausitaki
• SamaVeda: Tandyamaha and Jaiminiya
• Yajur Veda: Taittiriya and Satapatha
• AdharvaVeda: Gopatha

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The Aranyakas: Forest books
Against sacrifices
Deals with religion and philosophy and not with
rituals
They form a bridge between Karma Marga
( way of work) and Gyana Marga ( way of
Knowledge)
The Upanishads (108)
They are the philosophical texts deals with
topics like Universal Soul, the Absolute,
individual self, the origin of world and
mysteries of nature 5
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 Political organization

Family or Kula – Kulapati

Grama – Gramani
Vis - Visyapati
Maha Gana - Rajan
 Purohita
Senani
Mahishi
Gramani (Kings Nomine)
Vishyapathi (Kings Nomine)
Suta (Charioteer)
Sagahita (treasurer)
Bhagaduga (tax collector)

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Position of King
Theory of divine origin of kingship came into
force and kingship became hereditary.
Monarchy became the system of Government
and king claimed absolute royal power over
his subjects.
Idea of imperialism began to grow during this
period.
Kings stated wearing the title like
Ekarat (sole king), Raja visvarajanya ( the
universal king)
Rajadhiraj: King of kings
• King received tributes such as Bali, Bhaga
and Sulka from the common man.
• The king had to perform mainly military and
administrative functions.
• Big Empires had taken place of the small
kingdoms by the end of later Vedic Society.
Sabha and Samithi
• The king sought the assemblies advises even
though he had supremacy on the
administration.
• The Sabha also acted as a court of justice
• Along with purohita and senani other
officials assisted the king in the
administration.
•

• Gramani became military and general

administration head at village level and also
acted as head of village level court.
Caste system

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• Brahmana (learning group)
• Khatriya (warriors)
• Vishya (Farmers )
• Sudra (working class)

• Brahmans performed religious rites, rituals and

sacrifices and used to receive gifts.
• Brahmans prayed for the king’s success and
they acted as the judicial advisers of king.
• Vishya position was decline during this period
• Family similar to the early Vedic society.
• Marriages: inter-caste marriages took place
in later Vedic age.
• No permission for pratiloma marriage and
Anuloma marriages were allowed.

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 Position of women
• The birth of a daughter was regarded as a
source of misery.
• Women were not allowed in the tribal
assemblies and restricted to home only.
• dress: like early Vedic society
• Both men and women various all types of
ornaments like us.
• Diet: wheat, barley, rice and milk products
Economy

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• Agriculture became the main financial source
• Thousands of acres of land cultivated by the
people.
• Griha( family) was basic unit of agricultural
production.

• Barley, wheat and rice important food

grains
• Cultivation of other commercial crops also
started from this period.

• Both Kharif and rabi crops were known.

Crafts and Industry

• Occupations like fisherman, hunters, washer

man, jewelers came into existence.

• The most significant change is the use of iron

during this period.

• Iron weapons and tools also recovered from the

this later Vedic sites.
• Tin, lead, sliver and copper evidences also
recovered.
• The Manufacture of glass was also known.
• Trading activities were under a class of
hereditary merchants “vanija”
• Revenue source for state
• Bali: Kings share of produce
• Bhaga: periodical tax
• Sulka: toll tax

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Religion
• Religion of the early Vedic was plain and
simple
• New gods like Rudra, Vishnu had arisen
• Idol worship started
By the end of Later Vedic society
•  Brahma
(the creator) 
• Vishnu
( the preserver )
• Shiva
the destroyer
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 Judicial system
Civil cases were solved through arbitration
method.
The murder of a brahman was considered a
terrible crime.
Punishments for crimes were very severe.
Cutting of limbs was general punishment.
Special cases were decided by the king with
the help of Sabha
Brahmans occupied special status in the
administration of justice was concerned.
Rise of Magadha

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Limits of Aryans area extended to up to Vindhyas.
There were 16 Mahajapadas with in the Aryans
area.
Kamboja, Assaka, Vasta, Surasena, Chedi, Malla,
Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Anga, Kosala, Magadha,
Kashi, Vrijji, Avanti and Gandhara.
Rise of Magadha:
Ambitious attacks of Magadha rulers
Availability fertile land
Richest iron deposits were enable them to make
weapons
The two capitals of Magadha i.e Rajagriha and
Pataliputra located very strategic points.
• Rajagriha was surrounded by a group of five
hills. (vaihara, varaha, vrishabha , Rishigiri
and chaityaka)
• Other names of Rajagriha were
Magadhapura, Vasumati, Kushagrapura and
Bimbisarapura)
• Pataliputra (Kusumapura) were situated at
the confluence of the Ganga, the Gandak and
the son and Ghagra ( punpun)
• Pataliputra was a true water fort ( jaladurga)
as it was surrounded by rivers on almost all
sides.
Haryanka Dynasty:
• Bimbisara ( 544 B.C -492 B.C )
• Ajatashatru (492-460 B.C)
• Udayain (460-396 B. C)
Saisunaga dynasty (444-396)

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• Founder of Nanda Dynasty : Mahapadma
• Last ruler: Dhana
Jainism:
• Aristanemi and Rishabha (24 tithankaras)
• Vardhmana Mahavira (540 B.C)
• Kundagrama near Vishali ( North Bihar)
• At the age of 30 he became an ascetic, in
13th year or at the age of 42 he attained
Kailvalya.
• He became the head of a sect of Nigranthas
( free from fetters)
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• Died at Pava at the age of 72 (South Bihar).
• He rejected the authority of the Vedas,
Vedic rituals and the Brahmin supremacy.
• Mahavira added doctrine of bhahmacharya
• ahimsa ( non-injury)
• Satya ( truthfulness)
• Asateya ( non stealing)
• Aparigraha ( non-possession)

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Buddhism

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Gautam Buddha born in 563 B.C Lumbini ( Nepal)
Shakya Kshatriya clan of Kapilavastu
He left his home at the age of 29 in search of truth.
At the age of 35 he attained unto supreme knowledge and
became known as the Buddha or the enlightened one.
Tathagata ( who attained the truth)
Gautama Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in 483 B.C
Sutta Pitaka ( Bhuddhas sermons on matters of doctrine and
ethics)
Vinaya Pitaka (Monastic code or rules)
Abhidhamma Pitaka ( philosophical interpretation of the
doctrines of the two already existing Pitikas)

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