The Vedic civilization, spanning from approximately 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, was an ancient Indo-Aryan culture in the Indian subcontinent. It is characterized by the composition of the Vedas, the emergence of early Hindu traditions, and the transition from a semi-nomadic, pastoral lifestyle to settled agriculture in the fertile plains of the Ganges River.
In this article, we have covered the Vedic Civilization’s history, Events, period, Literature, Theistic Philosophies, The northwestern descriptions, and many more.
Let’s dive right in.
Vedic Civilization
About Vedic Civilization
In ancient India, the Vedic Age spanned 1500 BC to 600 BC. It emerged during the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization about 1400 BC. The following are the aspects and descriptions of Vedic civilization.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Period | Around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE |
| Geographical Context | The northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent (present-day India and Pakistan) |
| Literary Heritage | The Vedas – Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda |
| Social Structure | Four main varnas: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), Shudras (laborers) |
| Religious Practices | Vedic rituals and sacrifices (yajnas), worship of deities like Agni, Varuna, and Indra |
| Settlements | Transition from semi-nomadic pastoralism to settled agriculture in the Ganges River plains |
| Language | Sanskrit – Central to Vedic literature and continued significance in classical Indian literature |
| Philosophical Development | Emergence of philosophical ideas, leading to the Upanishads |
| Legacy | Foundation of Hinduism, influencing religious thought, rituals, and social structures in the Indian subcontinent |
History of Vedic Civilization
The Indo-Aryan Migration to Vedic Civilization
- Between 1800 and 1500 BCE, people from the north came to India and settled in the Indus Valley and Ganges Plain.
- They are thought to have entered India via the Khyber Pass.
- The Aryans were a semi-nomadic pastoral people.
- The main group among these migrants spoke Sanskrit along with other Indo-European languages and were known as Aryans, which means “noble people” in Sanskrit.
- These Indo-Aryans were a part of the larger Indo-Iranian group, originally from northern Afghanistan.
- By 1500 BCE, the Indo-Aryans had established small communities focused on herding and agriculture in northern India.
- Contrary to a theory proposed by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler in the 1940s, these migrations most likely happened over centuries rather than as a result of an abrupt invasion.
- Wheeler’s theory suggested that an Indo-European tribe called the Aryans invaded and conquered the Indus River Valley, based on his interpretation of unburied corpses found in Mohenjo-Daro, an important city of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- However, later scholars refuted Wheeler’s theory, explaining that the skeletons were likely the result of hasty burials rather than evidence of invasion massacres.
- Ultimately, Wheeler himself acknowledged that his theory could not be proven.
Vedic Civilization – Early Vedic Period (EVP) & Later Vedic Period (LVP)
Early Vedic Period (EVP)
- The Rigveda belongs to and is the only literary source for the Early Vedic Period.
- The Rigveda contained mythological stories, poetic accounts of the world’s origins, hymns praising gods, and ancient prayers for life and prosperity.
- These texts were passed down from one generation to the next in their sacred language, Sanskrit.
- The early Vedic Period lasted between 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE.
- The Vedic age started with the Aryan occupation of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
- The Indo-Aryans maintained their religious and literary texts by memorizing and reciting them.
- Indo-Aryans were organized into tribes and frequently clashed over land and resources.
- The Battle of the Ten Kings, described in the Rigveda, was a notable conflict between the Bharatas and a confederation of ten tribes.
- The Bharatas, led by King Sudas, claimed victory in the Battle of the Ten Kings.
- They merged with the defeated Purus tribe to form the Kuru, a Vedic tribal union in northern India.
- The Early Vedic Societ was pastoral hence cattle-rearing being the dominant occupational activity. Cow and Horses are considered to be some important animals during this period.
- They raised sheep, goats, and cattle, which were considered signs of wealth.
- Trades were conducted through the barter system but later on, coins called “nishka” were also introduced.
Later Vedic Period (LVP)
- The Samaveda, Yajurveda & Atharvaveda belongs to the Later Vedic Period.
- Later Vedic Period lasted between 1000 BCE to 600 BCE.
- The Aryans further moved towards east in the Later Vedic Period. The Satapatha Brahmana refers to the expansion of Aryans to the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
- One of the most important developments that took place during this period as the growth of large kingdoms. Kuru & Panchala kingdoms were flourished in the beginning.
- These communties used a particular kind of pottery called the Painted Grey Ware (PGW). Some important PGW sites were Hastinapura, Kurukshetra, Bhagwanpura and Jakhera etc.
- PGW archeology shows that iron weapons such as arrow-heads and spear-heads came to be commonly used in Western UP from about 800 BCE onwards.
- Agriculture expansion led to increased trade and competition for resources.
- Old tribes joined together to form larger political units.
- The growth of economic prosperity is indicated in the Atharvaveda for the success of farmers, shepherds, merchants and so on.
- Niska and Satamana were the units of currency.
- Bali, which was earlier only a voluntary gift to chief, had now become a regular tax and was collected to maintain the administrative structure.
- New crafts, including carpentry, leather work, tanning, pottery, jewelry crafting, textile dying, and wine making, emerged.
- Darius I’s invasion in the early 6th century BCE marked the first outside influence in Vedic society.
- The Indo-Greek Kingdom, centered in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, continued this external impact on South Asia.
Vedic Civilization – Literature
Understanding the Vedas and Vedic Texts:
- The term ‘Veda’ comes from the root ‘vid,’ meaning spiritual knowledge, subject of knowledge, or means of acquiring knowledge.
- There are four main Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.
- The world’s oldest religious text, the Rigveda, was written in the Early Vedic Period. The Later Vedic Age occurred when the other three Vedas – Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda were composed.
- Rig Veda is considered to be the world’s oldest religious text, containing 1028 hymns divided into 10 mandalas.
- Yajur Veda focuses on the methods of performing rituals.
- Sama Veda is associated with music, and it is said that Indian Music originated from this Veda.
- Atharva Veda includes spells and magical formulas.
- Other significant Vedic texts outside the Vedas include the Aranyakas (teaching books), the Upanishads, often called Vedantas (108 in number), which describe the significance of sacrifices, and the Brahmanas.
- During the Vedic period, two significant Indian epics were composed: Mahabharata and Ramayana. These epics are epic tales that include stories, teachings, and cultural insights.
- The Vedas are foundational texts in Hinduism, capturing ancient wisdom and spiritual insights.
- The Rigveda’s hymns cover a wide range of topics, including creation, rituals, and praises for various deities.
- The Upanishads talks in deep about profound philosophical concepts, exploring the nature of reality, self and the ultimate truth (Brahman).
- Mahabharata contains the Bhagavad Gita, a crucial philosophical dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna.
Vedic Civilization – Texts
Strictly speaking, Vedic Texts can be broadly classified into two types:
Shruti
Shrutis are like important messages from God that were heard by wise sages during meditation. The collection of these messages includes the four Vedas and Samhitas.
Smriti
Smritis are referred to as the information remembered by normal people. They consist of detailed explanations and commentaries on the Vedas (Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads), along with the 6 Vedangas and 4 Upavedas.
Four types of Vedas
| VEDAS | ASSOCIATED BRAHMANA/ UPAVEDA | PRIESTLY RECITER | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIG VEDA |
Aiteraya, Kaushitaki
Upaveda: Dhanurveda (Warfare) |
Hotr/Hotar |
Oldest surviving text.
Hymns are dedicated to several deities mostly to Indra. Themes: Life, death, creation, sacrifice and ‘soma’(godly pleasure) |
| SAM VEDA |
Tandya, Sadavimsha
Upaveda: Gandhavra Veda (Music) |
Udgatar |
Earliest book on music (Sama = Melody; ragas & raginis)
Poetic text, derived from Rig Veda. |
| YAJUR VEDA |
Taittiriya, Shatapatha
Upaveda: Sthapatyaveda (Architecture) |
Adhavaryu |
Sacrifices and rituals, composed both in prose and poetry.
Two related samhitas: Shukla and Krishna |
| ATHARVA VEDA |
Gopatha
Upaveda: Ayurveda (Medicine) |
Priests (Brahmins) didn’t recite it | Magic, omen, agriculture, industry/craft, cattle rearing, cure for disease; composed by Non-Aryans |
The Six Theistic Philosophies (‘Darshan’)
- Samkhya: theoretical foundation; by Kapil
- Yoga: union of soul with God; by Patanjali
- Vaisheshika: discusses atomic theory; by Kanad
- Nyaya: philosophy of logic; by Gautam
- Mimansa: rituals; by Jaimini
- Vedanta: most important; by Badrayan
Vedangas
These six Vedangas are supplements to the Vedas, hence required for their better understanding:
- Siksha: Pronunciation of the words; education
- Nirukta: Origin of the words
- Chhanda: Metricts used in Sanskrit verses.
- Jyotish: Understanding of astronomy
- Vyakaran: Sanskrit grammar
- Kalpa: Knowledge of rituals (Dharmasutras)
Upanishads
- The Upanishads show how you can gain knowledge by sitting near a teacher.
- They’re also called Vedantas because they contain truths about human life and the way to ‘moksha’ or liberation.
- There are more than 200 Upanishads, but 108 of them are called ‘muktikas.’
- The Mundaka Upanishad includes the well-known phrase ‘Satyameva Jayate,’ which means ‘Truth alone triumphs.’
Archaeology of Vedic Civilization
Archaeologists lfound signs of ancient Vedic culture through things like Ochre Colored Pottery, Gandhara graves, Black and Red Ware, and Painted Grey Ware. They found Ochre-colored pottery in places like Badaun and Bisjuar in western Uttar Pradesh.
Around 2000 BCE, while the Indus Valley civilization was evolving and the Harappan culture was beginning to decline, this manner of life was prevalent. “Gandhara graves” are the ancient tombs found in the Gandhara region, ranging from Bajuar to the Indus.
These cemetery appeared to have organised funeral customs and burial procedures, including both cremation and strict burial. The civilization progressed through three stages: urn burials and cremations were added in the first stage, when graves were covered in large stone slabs; the “surface” level was reached later.
Sir Mortimer Wheeler first used the phrase “black and red ware culture” in 1946. During the Neolithic era, black-and-red pottery expanded over Egypt, West Asia, and India, and it persisted until the early Middle Ages. The pottery, which might be offering stands or cooking pots, often has a black rim and a crimson bottom.
Another kind is known as painted grey ware and is associated with the Sutlej, Ghagger, and Upper Ganga/Yamuna Valley communities. These people, thought to be early Aryans who arrived during the Vedic period, brought iron technology and this type of pottery to the Indo-Gangetic plains, ushering in a significant era known as the Northern Indian Iron Age.
FAQs on Vedic Civilization
What are Vedas? Name the four main Vedas.
The Vedas are not a single religious text nor a compilation of a certain number of books written over time. The four main Vedas are Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, and Rigveda.
What is the Vedic civilization in India?
Vedic Civilization is the next major civilization that occurred in ancient India after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization by 1400 BC. It lasted from 1500 BCE to 600 BCE.
Who founded the Vedic Civilization?
By combining elements of the Indo-Aryan and Harappan civilizations, the Vedic religion came into being. Three academics are mentioned by White (2003) as having compelling evidence that the Indus Valley civilization is the source of some aspects of Vedic religion.
What is the main source of Vedic civilization?
The Vedic Literature is the main source of Vedic Civilizatation. It consists of the four main Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda along with other significant texts like Aranyakas, Upanishads and Brahmanas.
What currency was being used in the Early Vedic Period and the Later Vedic Period?
During the Early Vedic Period, trades were conducted through the barter system before coins called “nishka” were introduced. Whereas during the Later Vedic Period, “Niska and Satamana” were the units of currency.
Who is the father of Vedic Civilization?
The Vedic civilization, around 1500 BCE to 600 BCE, was the earliest in Indian history with written records. The Aryans, who lived during this time, brought about significant changes in civilization.