The Vedas and Vedic literature
In school we memorise poems and tables so that they stay in mind. In ancient times the Vedas were kept alive across generations in the same way, by memorising.
The Sanskrit root ‘vid’ means ‘to know’; from it ‘Veda’ means knowledge. Vedic literature is an important source of knowledge, religion, philosophy and way of life of ancient India.
Key idea 1 : The four Vedas — Rigveda — hymns to deities; the oldest Veda. Yajurveda — details of sacrificial rites. Samaveda — ways of singing the hymns to musical notes. Atharvaveda — health, home remedies and the life of common people. The basic text of a Veda is called ‘Samhita’.
Key idea 2 : Supplementary texts — The Brahmanas describe sacrifices and rituals. The Aranyakas (‘aranya’ = forest) were composed for seekers of knowledge living in forests and discuss meditation and practice. The Upanishads mean knowledge got by sitting near a Guru; they reflect on the soul, the Supreme Soul, Brahman and the universe.
Key idea 3 : Two phases of the Vedic period — Early Vedic (Rigvedic) about 1500 to 1000 BCE — life based on herding; the cow was the main form of wealth. Post-Vedic about 1000 to 600 BCE — people moved into the Ganga valley; agriculture, trade and crafts grew and urban centres began to emerge.
- Easy : Which is the oldest Veda? — The Rigveda.
- Medium : Which Veda has musical ways of singing? — The Samaveda.
- Exam-type : How long did the Post-Vedic period last? — 1000 − 600 = 400 years.
In the figure: The themes of the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
In 2003 UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Vedic chanting a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral Heritage of Humanity’, and in 2008 it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Many recitation methods are used so that the sound of every word stays unchanged, such as saying words forward and backward.
Rigveda — hymns; Yajurveda — rituals; Samaveda — music; Atharvaveda — health.
The Vedas were not composed by one person or at one time; many sages composed hymns at different times.
R-Y-S-A: hymns, rituals, music, health. Memory clue: ‘hymn–ritual–tune–medicine’.
Spot the difference
| Veda | Main theme |
|---|---|
| Rigveda | Hymns to deities |
| Yajurveda | Rites of sacrifice |
| Samaveda | Singing in tune |
| Atharvaveda | Health, daily life |
Practice questions
- 1What does the word ‘Veda’ mean?
- 2Name the four Vedas.
- 3Which is the oldest Veda?
- 4What is an Upanishad?
- 5For whom were the Aranyakas composed?
- 6State the periods of the Early and Post-Vedic ages.
- 7How did the two phases differ in way of life?
- 8In your words write benefits and drawbacks of preserving Vedas by memorising.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Knowledge.
- 2Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
- 3The Rigveda.
- 4Knowledge obtained sitting near a Guru; texts reflecting on the soul, Supreme Soul and Brahman.
- 5For seekers of knowledge living in forests.
- 6Early Vedic about 1500–1000 BCE; Post-Vedic about 1000–600 BCE.
- 7Earlier herding with the cow as wealth; later farming, trade and urban centres in the Ganga valley.
- 8Benefit — texts were kept intact; drawback — risk of error without writing, so many checking methods were used.
Vedic society, education and the ashram system
In our home grandparents, parents and siblings live together. In the Vedic period too, the family was the smallest step of society.
Vedic society was built of the family, village settlement and Jana. Life was divided into four ashrams and education was got in the Guru’s ashram.
Key idea 1 : Structure of society — The head of a family was called ‘Grihapati’. Several families formed a ‘Gramavasahat’ led by the ‘Gramani’. Several villages formed a ‘Jana’ (kingdom), headed by the ‘Rajan’. Everyone had to follow dharma, truth and justice. Society was divided into four varnas — Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.
Key idea 2 : Gurukul education — Students lived and studied in the Guru’s ashram. Vedas, mathematics, astronomy, Ayurveda, ethics and weaponry were taught. The aim was not only knowledge but also values like humility, discipline, righteousness and self-control.
Key idea 3 : Four ashrams — Brahmacharyashram — education. Grihasthashram — marriage and family duties. Vanaprasthashram — withdrawing from family for reflection and penance. Sanyasashram — leaving all ties to understand the meaning of life. This system built planning and sense of duty in life.
- Easy : Who was the head of a village? — The Gramani.
- Medium : Which ashram is for education? — Brahmacharyashram.
- Exam-type : Who headed a Jana? — The Rajan.
In the figure: The four stages of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.
According to a story in the Upanishads, a boy named Satyakama went to the sage Gautama to study. The sage asked his gotra. He did not know it, so he asked his mother; mother Jabala said she did not know it either, and told him to say ‘Satyakama Jabala’. Satyakama told the sage exactly that. The sage said that a person who speaks so truthfully is fit to learn and accepted him as a student. Message of the story: truthfulness matters for learning.
Family → village settlement → Jana; heads: Grihapati → Gramani → Rajan.
An ashram is not only a place of living; they were four stages of life, each with different duties.
Brahmacharya → Grihastha → Vanaprastha → Sanyasa. Memory clue: ‘B-G-V-S’: study, family, reflection, renunciation.
Spot the difference
| Level | Unit | Head |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Home | Grihapati |
| Village | Many families | Gramani |
| Jana | Many villages | Rajan |
Practice questions
- 1Who was called a Grihapati?
- 2State the difference between Gramani and Rajan.
- 3Name the four ashrams.
- 4Which subjects were taught in a Gurukul?
- 5What was the aim of Gurukul education?
- 6How did the ashram system benefit life?
- 7Describe the four ashrams in four sentences of your own.
- 8If you studied in a Gurukul, what would your routine be? Write five lines.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The head of a family.
- 2The Gramani heads a village; the Rajan heads a Jana (kingdom).
- 3Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.
- 4Vedas, mathematics, astronomy, Ayurveda, ethics and weaponry.
- 5To instil humility, discipline, righteousness and self-control along with knowledge.
- 6Planning and sense of duty increased in life.
- 7Study; family and duties; reflection and penance; renunciation and understanding life’s meaning.
- 8Write your own answer; e.g. waking early, study, serving the Guru, manual work.
Values, music, women and economic life
We celebrate festivals, sing songs and learn not to waste food. The Vedic people also had a simple and disciplined way of life.
Vedic life was simple, disciplined and value-based; they celebrated through music, yajnas and seasonal festivals, and farming and herding were their economic base.
Key idea 1 : Values and music — Values were truthfulness, self-control, generosity, unity, cooperation and mutual respect; not wasting food and helping the poor were part of moral life. Music was very important; knowing musical notes was needed for chanting mantras. Veena, mridanga, conch and flute were used. Vedic music is regarded as the base of Indian classical music.
Key idea 2 : Status of women — In the Early Vedic period women were honoured; they had the right to education and to study the Vedas. Lopamudra, Ghosha, Gargi, Maitreyi and Apala were famous women scholars. In the Post-Vedic period society became more patriarchal and women’s education and freedom gradually reduced.
Key idea 3 : Economy and diet — The economy rested on farming and herding; wheat, barley and rice were grown. Cows, oxen, horses, sheep and goats had value; the cow served as a means of exchange. Diet was simple and nutritious — grains, milk, curd, ghee, honey and vegetables.
- Easy : Which animal served as a means of exchange? — The cow.
- Medium : Name a Vedic woman scholar. — Gargi (or Lopamudra, Maitreyi).
- Exam-type : Vedic music is the base of what? — Indian classical music.
In the figure: Aspects of Vedic life: values, music and economy.
Women had education in Vedic society; restrictions grew later in the Post-Vedic period.
Women’s position was not the same throughout the Vedic age; they were freer in the Early Vedic period.
Values, music, women, farming — four pillars of Vedic life. Memory clue: ‘V-M-W-F’.
Spot the difference
| Point | Early Vedic | Post-Vedic |
|---|---|---|
| Period (BCE) | 1500–1000 | 1000–600 |
| Life | Herding | Farming, trade |
| Women | Education, honour | Restrictions grew |
Practice questions
- 1State two values of the Vedic period.
- 2Which musical instruments were used in the Vedic period?
- 3Name Vedic women scholars.
- 4What was the main occupation of the Vedic people?
- 5Why was the cow a means of exchange?
- 6What was the Vedic diet like?
- 7What changed in women’s position in the Post-Vedic period?
- 8Which Vedic values will you follow today, and how? Write your opinion.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Truthfulness and cooperation (or self-control, generosity).
- 2Veena, mridanga, conch and flute.
- 3Lopamudra, Ghosha, Gargi, Maitreyi and Apala.
- 4Farming and animal husbandry.
- 5Because the cow had value as wealth and was given in exchange for goods.
- 6Simple and nutritious — grains, milk, curd, ghee, honey and vegetables.
- 7Society became more patriarchal and women’s education and freedom reduced.
- 8E.g. not wasting food, cooperation and respect for others — at school and home.