Maharashtra Board Class 6 History Chapter 4 The Vedic Civilization PDF Download

The Vedic Civilization

The Vedic Literature

The civilization that is based on Vedic literature is known as Vedic civilization. The Vedas are considered to be our earliest literature. The Vedas were composed by many Sages or rishis. Some vedic hymns were composed by women.

Vedic literature is in Sanskrit. Vedic literature is very rich and diverse. The Rigveda is considered to be the first text. It is in the form of verses. There are four Vedas - Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. The Vedic texts are known as Samhita. 'Vid' means 'to know'. The term 'Veda' derives from vid. It means 'knowledge'. The Vedas have been preserved through the oral tradition. The Vedas are also called as Shruti.

Rigveda Samhita: Each verse of the Veda is known as a richa. So, the Veda consisting of richas is called 'Rigveda'. Richa means a verse composed to praise a deity. When a number of richas are put together to praise a particular deity, the poetic composition is called a sukta. The Rigveda consists of many suktas composed to praise different deities.

Yajurveda Samhita: The Yajurveda contains mantras uttered during a yajna. Yajurveda provides guidance about how and when the different mantras must be chanted during yajna rites. This text includes the verses or poetic incantations and their explanation in prose.

Samaveda Samhita: The Samaveda provides guidance on singing Rigvedic verses to a set rhythm and tune at the time of yajna rites. The Samaveda has contributed in a major way in laying the foundation of Indian music.

Atharvaveda Samhita: The Atharvaveda is named after Atharva rishi. This Veda is different from the other three Vedas. It is more concerned with many things in the day-to-day life of the people. It includes solutions to adversities and diseases. It also provides information about medicinal herbs. The Atharvaveda provides guidance to a king about the way he should administer his kingdom.

The Brahmana texts, Aranyakas and Upanishads were written after the composition of the Samhitas. They are also included in Vedic literature.

Brahmana texts: They were composed to provide guidance on using Vedic mantras in yajna rituals. Each Veda has independent texts called Brahmanas.

Teacher's Note

The Vedas are like the old books we read in schools. Just like your school has books and rules, the Vedas have stories and rules for Indian people long ago.

Exam Trick

Remember: Four Vedas = Four friends. Rigveda is the first friend. Each Veda has different work - like Samaveda teaches singing, just like your music class.

Points to Remember

Vedas are the oldest books of India written in Sanskrit.

There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.

Brahmanas teach how to use Vedic mantras in yajna rites.

Aranyakas are thoughts about nature and yajna rites.

Upanishads teach about deep questions like life and death.

Family System, Day-to-Day Life

Joint family system was prevalent in the Vedic period. The grihapati was the head of the family, a man responsible for the family. His family included his old parents, wife and children and also the families of the children, the younger brothers and their families. This family system was patriarchal. In the initial period, there are references to women scholars such as Lopamudra, Gargi and Maitreyi in Vedic literature. However, slowly the restrictions on women went on increasing and their position in the family and society became secondary.

The houses during the Vedic period were earthen or wattle and daub constructions. Wattle means woven lattice of wooden strips which is daubed with clay mixed with cowdung. A house was called griha or shala.

The diet of the people mainly consisted of cereals like wheat, barley and rice. From this, they made different preparations. Words like yava, godhoom, vrihi, etc. can be found in the Vedic literature. Yava means 'barley', godhoom - wheat, vrihi - rice.

Vedic people relished milk, yoghurt, ghee, butter, honey. Black gram (udad), lentil (masoor), sesame and meat were also a part of their diet.

People in the Vedic period used cotton and woolen garments. They also used valkals or clothes made from barks of trees. Similarly, animal skins were also used as clothing. Men and women used ornaments of gold, flower garlands, strings made of beads, etc. A kind of pendant called nishka seems to have been popular. It was also used as a currency.

Singing, playing musical instruments, dance, board games, chariot-race and hunting were the means of recreation. Their main musical instruments were veena, shat-tantu, cymbals and the conch. Percussion instruments like damru and mridanga were also used.

Teacher's Note

Vedic families were like your joint family at home. Many people lived together - grandparents, parents, uncles and their children all in one house. This is still common in Indian villages.

Exam Trick

Remember: Griha = house. Grihapati = father of house. Just like your father is the head of your home, grihapati was the head of Vedic home.

Points to Remember

Joint family system meant many families lived together under one head.

Grihapati was the man who led the family.

Houses were made with mud, clay and cow dung mixed together.

People ate wheat, rice, barley, milk, ghee and meat.

Men and women wore cotton, wool and animal skins as clothes.

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Economic and Social Life

Agriculture was the main occupation during the Vedic period. Many oxen were yoked together to plough the fields. The plough had iron ploughshares. The Atharvaveda considers insects, pests and other animals that destroy crops and suggests certain remedies. Cowdung was used as manure.

During the Vedic period, animals like horses, cows and dogs had special importance. Cows were used as means of exchange. That is why, cows were highly priced. People took special care to ensure that their cows would not be stolen. The horse was valued because of its speed. The Vedic people were skilled in taming the horses and harnessing them to the chariots. Chariots in the Vedic period had spoked wheels which are lighter than solid wheels. The horse drawn and spoked wheel chariots of the Vedic period were swift and speedy.

In this period, apart from agriculture and animal husbandry, several other occupations had also flourished. Artisans and people practising various occupations were an important part of the social system. They formed independent organizations known as shrenis or guilds. The head of the guild was known as shreshthi. However, slowly, the status of skilled artisans became secondary.

During this period, there were four varnas - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. A varna was determined by the occupation of the people. In the later period, the varnas came to be determined on the basis of birth. This gave rise to castes. The caste system led to inequality in the society.

During the Vedic period, certain notions about leading an ideal life had become well established. There were four stages or four ashramas, from birth to death. The first ashrama was the brahmacharyashrama, or the period of staying with the Guru to learn from him.

The next stage after the successful completion of brahmacharyashrama was grihasthashrama. It was expected that during this period, a man would carry out his duties towards his family and society with the help of his wife. The third stage was vanaprasthashrama when a man was expected to detach himself from the household, retire to a solitary place and lead a very simple life. The fourth stage was the sanyasashrama. At this stage, the convention was to renounce all relations, lead life in order to understand the meaning of human life, and not stay in one place.

Teacher's Note

Cows were like money in Vedic times. If you had more cows, you were rich. Even today, cows are respected in Indian villages and farms.

Exam Trick

Remember: Four varnas = four jobs. Brahmin = teacher, Kshatriya = warrior, Vaishya = business, Shudra = service. Easy way to remember!

Points to Remember

Farming was the main work in Vedic times.

Cows were used as money to buy and sell things.

Horses and chariots with spoked wheels were fast and strong.

Four varnas were based on jobs - later they became castes based on birth.

Four ashramas were four life stages from birth to old age.

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