Vedik period- The Ancient History of Hindustan

History is a brilliant branch of knowledge. The more you can walk in this branch, the better. Vedic civilization is one of the oldest and most important branches of history.

Vedic civilization carries a different significance in the history of human civilization. The beginning of the Vedic period is from BC (1500-500). The Vedic civilization came after the Stone Age (60,000-3300 BC), Mehergarh (6000-3300 BC) and the Harappan and Mohenjo-daro civilizations (3300-1600 BC). 

That is to say, "this civilization developed long before the Islamic era."  Some historians think that the Vedic civilization started from the age of the second glacier. The followers of this Vedic civilization are now known as Sanatani or Hindu.

 Reviewing the history of the ancient Vedic civilization, it is seen that the role of the Aryan nation in the history of this civilization is very important. The foundation of the ancient Vedic civilization was laid with the arrival of the Aryans. 

Although Aryan means nation, it is basically the name of a language. Interestingly, another intrinsic connection with the Sanskrit language was first pointed out by a foreigner named William Jones. William Jones, for the first time in his Asiatic Society lectures in 16 AD, explained to the world the underlying relationship of Sanskrit with ancient Greek, Latin, German, Persian, Celtic, etc. He says all these languages originate from the same original language. 

Because, Sanskrit is the original language originally from Aryan language. So it is clear that there were similarities between Sanskrit-speaking Indian Aryans and European and Central Asian Aryan speakers.

 Those who spoke Aryan language were mainly identified as Aryan people. They are basically divided into two groups: one living in Europe and the other in the Indian subcontinent and Asia Minor.

Historians have differing views on the arrival of the Aryans. According to the famous historians Professor MacDonald and Gill, ‘the region of Europe consisting of Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia was the original home of the Aryans.’ Another famous historian, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, said that, "southern Russia was the original land of the Aryans."

Although there are differences of opinion as to the origin of the Aryans, it is clear that the Aryans lived in the vast grasslands of Eastern Europe from Poland to Central Asia around 2000 BC. Later, due to various natural calamities, internal strife, lack of food, etc., they left their homeland and spread to different places. From then on, the present Iranians are also the descendants of this Aryan race.

Another branch of the Aryans entered India through the north-western pass. It is estimated that the Aryans invaded India between 1400 and 1500 BC. The influence of the Aryans was mainly in northern India. But this Aryan civilization did not dominate so much in South India.

They built their civilization on the land washed away by the river Indus. In Vedic literature, this region has been identified as 'Sapta Sindhu'. The Indus, Irrawaddy, Shatadru, Chandrabhaga, Swaraswati, Bipasha, Vitasta, the Aryan civilization developed around these seven rivers. But the original inhabitants of the region could not accept the intrusion of the Aryans. 

As a result, their war continued for a long time and the Aryans skilled in war defeated them miserably. The defeated tribes migrated to the hills and forests and the others became part of the lower class of the Aryan society. The Aryans used to call them bandits, slaves, demons, demons etc. They were called Anarya.

Social system

The practice of casteism in the present Hindu society did not exist in the ancient Vedic society. This new ideology emerged in association with the non-Aryans. Although there was an economic class in the society, there was no racial classification, but in the course of time, caste system came to the fore among them. The society is divided into four parts — Brahmans, Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Sudra.

Towards the end of the ancient Vedic period, this caste system took a deadly shape. The practice of nobility increased in the society. However, this caste system was introduced by the then rulers for their own interests. The Holy Veda does not mention any caste distinction.

‘Chaturashram’ is an important concept in Vedic society. Through this, human life is divided into four stages. These are four parts

The first life was celibacy. During this time, every Aryan boy would receive education from his guru's house after upanayan and serve the guru or teacher.

After finishing school, one had to start a domestic ashram, that is, one had to start family life by getting married.

Then the banaprasthashrama was started. The main purpose was to live a detached life by building a hut in the forest.

The last stage is ‘Sannyasa’ or  ‘Yati-Ashram’. At this stage everyone had to live like a monk.

Female Location:

 The position of women in the Vedic society was very high and dignified. Women enjoyed equal status with men in education, armaments, politics, agriculture, business and so on. Women had absolute authority over the household. 

Although there is a tendency in society towards sons, daughters would not be neglected. In society, women were called  "Goddess or Devi." The punishment for oppressing women was terrible. There were some famous female sages in the Vedic age who were the seers of Vedic mantras, they were: Lopamudra, Mamata, Ghosha, Vishwabara, Apala etc. There was also a role for women in literary composition.

Religion:

 The Vedas were the basis of the religious life of the society. The Vedas are also called, “Apaurosheo” meaning the Creator of God Himself. The word ‘Veda’ is derived from ‘Bid’. It is written in Sanskrit. The Vedas and other Vedic literatures are believed to have been written between 1500-1000 BC. The Vedas occupy a prominent place in world literature. The Vedas are basically divided into four parts, namely, Rig, Sam, Jajuh and Atharva. Again each of these Vedas is divided into Sanhita, Brahman, Aranyaka and Upanishads. This Veda was not composed by any writer or messenger. At different times, different sages and great men have recorded in the Vedas the words that God would receive in their meditations. : originally " Krishna Daipayana"  recorded most of the words of the Vedas, and he divided the Vedas into four parts. That is why he is famous as “Bedavas”.

The hymns or sayings of the Rigveda found in the nineteenth century were considered to be among the most ancient and literary of the time. This Veda contains descriptions of 1026 Rikas or Stotras addressed to the gods who are the presiding deities of nature. The gods like Usha, Indra, Akash, Surya, Agni etc. have been praised. On the other hand, the Samveda which is compiled from Rigveda has a combination of rhythm, dimension, melody and music. 

Ayurveda is a combination of prose and verse. It contains the full details of the Yajna and various mantras. The last level of the Vedas is the Atharva Veda.

In the ancient Vedic age, idol worship was not as prevalent as in the present Sanatan or Hindu religion. The Aryans were amazed at the various forces of nature and began to worship them as gods and goddesses with devotion. 

Varuna, the god of water, Indra, the god of thunder, Marut, the god of storms, Surya, the god of light, Agni, Vāyu, Usha were worshiped. Although they worship different deities, the Aryans or the present Sanatanis are basically monotheists. 

There are many hymns about this in Vedic literature. That is, all the gods and goddesses are just manifestations of the different powers of this God. At that time, the Aryans used to burn incense to please the gods. Besides, large scale yajnas were organized. According to the Vedic or traditional religion, killing animals is a great sin. At present, animal sacrifices are offered in many places which is against the Vedic rituals and the Vedas.

Economy

Vedic civilization was village centered. Their administration, economy, social life and religious life were conducted around the village. The main drivers of the economy of that era were agriculture and animal husbandry. Each family had its own agricultural land and everyone used to cultivate it. Every village had land for grazing. The Aryans used to produce food grains like wheat, barley, paddy, etc. As the land was fertile, their farming was done smoothly. Although the occasional drought and other natural calamities caused them to suffer, the fertile land was a blessing to them. Cows, horses, goats, dogs, sheep, these domesticated animals were one of the driving forces of their economy. Industrial products are also known in the Vedic age. There was a golden age of textiles, pottery, fine arts, metals and other handicrafts. Coins were not in circulation in that era. People used to perform economic and business activities through barter system. Although limited in size, transportation was the norm.

The ancient Vedic age was the golden age of the world and a unique time of ancient architecture. However, many histories and traditions of the Vedic period have been destroyed by the Muslim rulers. What remains after that is still glorious in its own glory.