Now the priestly class devoted their energy to find out the hidden and mystic meaning of the rites and ceremonies. He became the master of all subjects. Answer: The Four Varnas. Like political and social conditions, the economic condition of the Aryans of the later Vedic period also underwent significant changes. The net result was that the Brahminas and the Kshatriyas jointly governed the Later Vedic Society. Brahmins and Kshatriyas: The Brahmins and the Kshatriyas (warrior class) now enjoyed the highest privileges in the Later Vedic Society. The Vedic age or the Vedic period was the time duration between 1500 to 500 BC and is called so because it was during this period that the Vedas were being written. Varieties of crops like rice, barley, wheat, maize and oil seeds were raised. The Aryans had also faith in the doctrine of Karma. In the villages small peasant owners of land were replaced by big landlords who secured possession of entire villages. This age witnessed the composition of three later Veda Samhitas namely, the Samveda Samhita, the Yajurveda Samhita, the Atharvaveda Samhita as well as Brahmanas and the Upanishads of all the four Vedas and later on the two great epics—the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. From the Vedic age till today, her status and position has been changing with the passing of time. Vaisyas were engaged in trade, industry and agriculture, and animal husbandry. They composed hymns and performed sacrifices and also challenged the supremacy of Brahmanas. Women were treated as objects for fulfillment of passion and not as partners of men. Ships and boats were also used as means of transport. The people thought deeply about the problems of creation, life and death and arrived at the conclusion that there is one ‘Brahma’ (one Unchanging Principle) beyond the universe—the creator and controller of the whole order. According to them, each Varna had a different set of functions to perform. The house had many rooms with a special place for ‘Grahapatha’ fire which was kept continuously burning. Usuary and money lending was also practiced in this period. Arya is a Sanskrit word which means a person of noble birth or character, master, lord, preceptor, teacher, owner. The main settlement of the Rig Vedic people was the region of Indus and Saraswati Valleys. Ans. The structure of the caste system became hereditary. And this led to the birth of Brahmanical Religion. The Kshatriya kings claimed divine sanction behind them. The Atharva Veda refers to both the Eastern and the Western Seas. In the villages, Gramyavadin (Village judge) and Sabha (court) decided the cases. ii) The later Vedic (1000-600B.C.). The period that followed Rig Vedic Age is known as Later Vedic Age. The later Vedic Aryans developed the concept of ascetic ideal of life as the rites and ceremonies were not the only means of attaining success in this world or bliss in heaven. Now, the King ruled over an area of land called Janapada. The king had absolute power. Economy: » The main cultivated crops were rice, barley, beans, sesame and wheat. It was the advent of great Vedic Period . Liberally Ashram means halting place. in the house of the Gurus (teachers). lost their charm. They had to live in the house of the teacher (guru) and lead the chaste life of a Brahmacharin whose principal duties were study and service to the teacher. The Later Vedic Aryans lived in the village like their ancestors in the Rig Vedic Age. This led to the weakening of tribal system of government and rise of the territorial monarchies. The period that followed the Rig Vedic age is known as later Vedic period. They were untouchables. Many of the religious ceremonies, formerly practiced by the wife, were now performed by the priests. In the later Vedas, Rudra is depicted to have inherited new monikers such as Bhava, Sarva, Mahadeva, and Shiva, most of which were probably names of regional or indigenous gods of non-Aryan of non-Vedic origin. However the richer people among the vaisyas known as Sresthin were highly honored in the royal court. The coins which were in circulation were “Nishka”, “Satamana” and “Krishnala”. In the Later Vedic Period Gramani was both a civil and military officer Gramani was the medium through which the royal power was exercised in the village. For how many years the early vedic period lasted? The unit value of goods was a gold bar called “nishka” weighing three hundred and twenty ratis, which was also the weight of a satamana. The Political system of the later Vedic period was shifted towards Monarchy. – The source of information of this period includes the archeological evidences as well as the literary source i.e. The period that followed Rig Vedic Age is known as Later Vedic Age. and went on steadily till they reached the southernmost extremity of the Peninsula in or sometime before fourth century B.C. Cattle still continued to be the chief source of wealth. People worshipped their male ancestors. New gods like Siva, Rupa, Vishnu, Brahma etc. This is the doctrine of transmigration of souls. The people worshipped them with less zeal. Killing of cow was looked with disfavor. In the Later Vedic Society, the Aryans used the metals like lead, tin etc. A Sudra had no right what-so-ever in society. Birth of a female child was unwelcome. It lays down that all actions, good or bad, reap their proper fruits. The women lost their high position which they had in the Rig Vedic Age. All these later Vedic texts were compiled in the Upper Gangetic basin in 1000—600 B.C. The belief that gods were satisfied by Yanjas led to a rise in the number, variety of sacrifices which were prescribed for every householder. After the twelfth century BCE, as the Rigveda had taken its last structure. As such, the questions from this topic have always been featured in the history segment of the UPSC Prelims.. They included the Bhagadugha (collector of taxes), the Suta (charioteer), the Akshavapa (superintendent of gambling), the kshattri (chamberlain), the Govikartana (king’s companion in the chase), the Palogala (courtier) the Takshan (Carpenter), the Rathakara (Chariot marker) in addition to the ecclesiastical and military officials like the Purohita (chaplain) the senani (general), and the Gramani (leader of host or of the village). Main occupation was agriculture. He occupied the place of Varuna, as the most sublime among the celestials. Vishnu, the preserver rose into Prominence during this period. In order to assert the supremacy of their own class and divine origin, they introduced the rites of Upanayana or initiation of sacred thread for the Brahmins. Due to the spread of agriculture land became more valuable than cattle, unlike the Early Vedic period. The Brahmanas of the later Vedic age were the intellectual and priestly class. Most of the food items used during the Rig Vedic period also continued to be used even during the later-Vedic period. By their superior learning some kshatriyas raised themselves to the status of a Brahmana. The custom of child marriage and dowry crept in. Specialization in industry developed. The worst position is reserved for the shudra. Religion was overshadowed with rites and rituals. Privacy Policy3. The Satapatha Brahmana described the king to be infallible and immune from all punishment. 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