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In the late Vedic Period

(1000 b. C. ± 4th C. B.C.)
 |he late Vedic society clearly distinguished
between ³high´ and ³low´. In the Veda and
the Upanishad texts rich and poor are
differentiated: ³those who eat and those
who are devoured´.
 |he king was the owner of all the kingdom
with exception of the land of the priests.
 |heir economy was semi-nomadic: they
moved every six months after the harvest.
 |his was the period in which the system of
the 4 castes.
 |he nobility was always in front at battles and
was in charge of defending the farmers who
in return had to pay tribute (—
).
 |he criticism with which the nobility is treated
in the books let us know about the existing
disputing and rivalry among castes
(à    —  
  
 ).
 It was a period of political and social crisis as
the Pancavimsabrahamana 2, 3, 7 lets us
know: ³|hose who¶ve just return from the
exile is exiled again. |hose who were in exile,
return. |he common man rises over the
distinguished one. A lineage stands against
another. |hey (the sovereing) take their
vassals from one another.
 |hese texts let us know as well that there
was no such thing as a central State, but
large tribes that became small kingdoms
and states in constant conflict.
 |he non-arian tribes were fought and
exterminated. In the best case they were
forced to pledge alliance.
 |he survivals were assimilated by the
Vedic culture.
-odern form (5):  Original form (4):
 Brahmans,  Brahmans,
 Ksatriyas (Warriors)  Ksatriyas (Warriors)
 Vaisya (cattle-  Vaisya (cattle-
herders and herders and
artisans) artisans and
 Shudras (farmers) farmers)
 Chandalas (|he  Shudras (Non-
untouchable). Arians and
outcastes)

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 Sudras were not slaves.
 Outcasts developed with the passage of
time due to mixing of castes and were
edged to perform the jobs considered
lowest: Cleaner of corpses, slayer,
butcher, etc..
 

 
 A |housand heads hath Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten
fingers wide.1
 |his Purusha is all that yet hath been and all that is to be; |he Lord of immortality which waxes greater still by food.
 So mighty is his greatness; yea, greater than this is Purusha. All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal
life in heaven
 With three-fourths of Purusha went up: one-fourth of him again was here. |hence he strode out to every side over
what eats not and what eats.
 From him Viraj was born; again Purusha from Viraj was born.
 When Gods prepared the sacrifice with Purusha as their offering, its oil was spring, the holy gift was autumn; summer
was the wood.
 |he balmed as victim on the grass Purusha born in earliest time. With him the Dieties and all Sadhyas and Rishis
sacrificed.
 From that great general sacrifice the dripping fat was gathered up. He formed the creatures of the air, and animals
both wild and tame.
 From that great general sacrifice Ricas and Sama-hymns were born: |herefrom were spells and charms produced; the
Yajus had its birth from it.
 From it were horses born, and from it all cattle with two rows of teeth: From it were generated cattle, from it the goats
and sheep were born.
 When they divided Purusha how many portions did they make? What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they
call his thighs and feet?
 |he Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made. His thighs became the Vaisya , from his feet the
Sudra was produced.
 |he -oon was gendered from his mind, and from his eye the Sun had birth; Indra and Agni from his mouth were born,
and Vayu from his breath.
 Forth from his navel came mid-air; the sky was fashioned from his head; Earth from his feet, and from his ear the
regions. |hus formed the worlds.
 Seven fencing-sticks had he, thrice seven layers of fuel were prepared, when the Gods, offering sacrifice, bound, as
their victim, Purusha.
 Gods, sacrificing, sacrificed the victim: these were the earliest holy ordinances. |he -ighty Ones attained the height of
heaven, there where the Sadhyas, gods of old, are dwelling.