The Vedic Age, also known as the Vedic period, is a significant epoch in ancient Indian history. It is named after the Vedas, a collection of sacred texts that were composed during this time. The Vedic Age spans from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE and is characterized by the dominance of Vedic culture and the emergence of early Hinduism.
During this period, the Indo-Aryan people migrated into the Indian subcontinent and settled in the northwestern region. They brought with them a rich oral tradition, which later became the foundation for the written Vedas. The Vedic texts provide valuable insights into the social, political, religious, and cultural aspects of life during that time.
In this post, we will explore various aspects of the Vedic Age and provide answers to questions about this fascinating period in Indian history. We will delve into topics such as the Rigveda, the caste system, religious practices, society, economy, and the importance of Vedic literature.
1. The term ‘Aryan’ denotes :
(a) An ethnic group (b) A nomadic people (c) A speech group (d) A superior race
The ‘Varnas’ were mentioned in the Rig Veda in a hymn. This hymn shows the four classes of people – the Brahmin (Priest), the Kshatriya (noble), the Vaishya (commoner), and the Shudra (servant).
These classes were said to have come from the mouth, arms, thighs, and feet respectively of the first person (Purusha).
6. The ‘Purush Sukta’ related to Varna System is originally found in –
(a) Atharvaveda (b) Samaveda (c) Rig Veda (d) Manusmriti (e) None of these
The Varnas have been known since the Rig Veda, which tells of four classes of people who were created from the mouth, arms, thighs, and feet of the first person.
The Rigveda have 1028 hymns. The Yajurveda has descriptions of stotras and rituals.
The Samaveda is full of hymns taken from the Rig Veda that are lyrical and melodic.
Atharva Veda with 730 hymns presents a detailed description of the lifestyle of vedic period. It is an encyclopedia for medicine, and Ayurveda (the science of life) is considered as Upa Veda (supplementary subject) of the Atharva Veda.
Yajurveda is a Sanskrit word that translates to “wisdom of sacrificie”.
This Veda was made a few hundred years after the Rig-Veda and includes poems and sayings that were to be spoken by priests during religious rituals and ceremonies.
It also explains in more detail how to do the rituals and ceremonies using the hymns from the Rig Veda.
The Yajur Veda has two parts: Shukla (white) and Krishna (black).
The Shukla Yajur Veda has a text called the Satapatha Brahmana, and the Krishna Yajur Veda has prose text for discussion.
Q 18. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?
(a) Rig Veda (b) Yajurveda (c) Atharvaveda (d) Samaveda
The Upanishads are not a religious book, but instead a set of philosophical principles that are meant to be followed by all people regardless of their beliefs.
They don’t conflict with any faith or interpretation of religious texts, but they have their own special way of explaining their concepts.
Upanishad means the students sit close to the teacher (guru) to learn.
22. The main theme of Upanishads is –
(a) Social structure (b) Philosophy (c) Law (d) State
The Kathopanishad is a story about a discussion between Yama, the god of death, and Nachiketa, a 12-year-old boy who left his home to learn more about death and the afterlife.
This story is one of several Upanishads, which is called the Katha Upanishad or Kathopanishad.
The Sindhu river was very important during the Vedic period, and was talked about a lot in the Rig Veda.
Vedic people called it the ‘Hiranyani’ because it was so important economically, and the place it flows into, the Arabian Sea, was referred to as ‘Peravat’.
The Saraswati river was the holiest river for the Rigvedic Aryans, and it was called ‘Naditama’.
29. Vedic river Askini is identified with which one of the following rivers?
During the Mahabharata era, the name of the Mahanadi river was Mahanad. During the Mahabharata’s Bhishma festival, this river was praised as Punayadayini and Sin Vashinini as well.
It was also called Chitrotpala. This is supported by a verse from the Mahabharata and the Mahoba copper plate of Someshwar Dev.
The Mahanadi river has been known by several names throughout different eras, including:
Ancient era: Kanaknandini
Dvapara Yuga: Chitrotpala
Treta Yuga: Nilotpala
Kali Yuga: Mahanadi or Mahashweta
34. Which of the following customs emerged during the post-Vedic period :
This system of Ashrams (our stages of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa) is estimated to have been in practice since the 5th century BC, these stages of life are not a requirement, rather an ideal.
The Purushartha theory (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) originated in the Dharmaśāstras, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata.
35. The ‘dharma’ and ‘Rita’ depict a central idea of the ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements : 1. ‘Dharma’ was a conception of obligations and the discharge of one’s duties to oneself and to others. 2. ‘Rita’ was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Dharma usually refers to a natural or divine law, and Rita is related to the harmony in the world where everything has a proper place and purpose.
Dharma is associated with personal actions that help maintain the order of the cosmos, while Rita is an impersonal law. Thus, the correct answer is option (c).
36. Who among the following Vedic deities was believed to be their priest?
In ancient times, the gold necklace was known as a ‘Nishka’..
41. Boghaz-Koi is important because:
(a) It was an important trading center between Central Asia and Tibet (b) Inscriptions were found which mentioned the names of Vedic Gods and Goddesses (c) Original Texts of the Vedas were composed here (d) None of the above
The Shatpath Brahmana of Shukla Yajurveda and Taittiriya Brahmana of Krishna Yajurveda both mention a ritual called Purushamedha (or Naramedha), meaning human sacrifice.
Purushamedha was probably symbolic. The Chandogya Upanishad (associated with Sama Veda) states that Purushamedha is a metaphor for life, comparing the stages of life to the oblations that are offered.
46. The priest associated with King Videgha Madhava referred to in Shatapatha Brahmana was –
Bharatas, Purus, and Kurus tribes were active in the area of Saraswati.
According to the Shatapatha Brahmana (Yajurveda), King Videgha Madhava (also written as Mathava) and his priest Rishi Gautama Rahugana traveled east carrying a sacred fire in search of new land.
He came to Mithila and established the kingdom of Videha on the bank of river Sadanira (Gandak).
47. In the post-Vedic period which was considered the axis of Aryan Culture
After the Vedic period, the area of Kuru and Panchala was known as the center of Aryan culture because many accomplishments in science, math, astronomy, faith, and philosophy were made here.
48. The word Gotra occurs for the first time in
(a) Atharvaveda (b) Rig Veda (c) Samaveda (d) Yajurveda
The early Vedic Aryans had a religion that mainly focused on worshipping nature and performing rituals.
They saw life as something created by nature, so they prayed to different elements of nature, believing that some divine power was behind them, such as fire, water, and wind.
50. In the Rigvedic period, people believed mainly in –
(a) Idol worship (b) One God belief (c) Goddess worship (d) Sacrifice and rituals
In the Rigvedic period, the Saraswati River was seen as the holiest river.
In the Rig Veda, it was referred to as “Matetama,” meaning the best of all mothers, “Devitama,” meaning the best of all goddesses, and “Naditama,” meaning the widest of all rivers.
54. Give the name of the tribe which is not related to the ‘Panchjana’ of the Rig Veda Aryans:
During the Vedic period, the most common form of government was the royal dynasty.
There were some examples of people choosing their leader, but most people preferred monarchy.
60. ‘Sabha’ of Vedic-era –
(a) Was an institution of mercantile people of the villages (b) Was a royal court (c) Was the council of ministers (d) National Assembly of all the people of the state
Ayurveda, which means the “Science of Life”, first appeared in Atharvaveda.
It is a branch of Atharva Veda and contains information about disease prevention, coordination, loyalty, marriage, and love poetry from the beliefs and traditions of the common people.
The Rig Vedic religion was polytheistic, meaning they believed in and worshipped many different Gods.
They viewed nature as alive and gave it a soul. These Gods were divided into three groups: gods of the sky, gods of space, and gods of the earth.
Whenever they worshipped a God, they saw them as the supreme power, which is called Henotheism (एकैकाधिदेववाद).
They also supported Ekeshwarvaad, which included Advaityavaad, Sarvadevtavaad, and Bahudevatavaad, but this concept of one supreme God is different from modern Ekeshwarvaad.
65. The largest number of Rigvedic hymns are devoted to –
Indra is seen as the most powerful god in the Rig Veda.
He is the most important god in the Rigveda and he has the most number of hymns dedicated to him, reaching up to 250 hymns, followed by Agni with 200 hymns.
66. The largest number of the Hymns in Rig Veda belongs to–
The Kuninda dynasty ruled in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand, and North India around the second-third century AD. They were the first political rulers of Uttarakhand.
The Kuninda kings are mentioned in Indian epics and Puranas. The Mahabharata says that they were defeated by Arjuna. They were also called ‘Dwij Shrestha’.
81. According to Hindu mythology, which serpent offered himself as a rope for churning the ocean?
The phrase “Satyameva Jayate” is a Sanskrit phrase taken from the ‘Mundakopanishad’, not from the ‘Mandukopanishad’.
This phrase means “truth alone triumphs” and was chosen as the national motto of India. It is written in the script at the bottom of the national symbol.
On January 26, 1950, it was officially made the national motto of India.
The Mandukya Upanishad and the Mundaka Upanishad are both part of the Atharva-Veda.
Mandukopanishad discusses the meaning and significance of the syllable Aum (Om).
85. ‘Satyamev Jayate’ which is engraved on the Indian Emblem has been taken from –
The Aryans were an Indo-Iranian group who wrote the Avesta and Vedas.
The Avesta is the primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism. It contains the teachings of the prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), including: Cosmogony, Law, Liturgy.
The Avesta is written in the Avestan language. It’s sometimes incorrectly called the Zend-Avesta.
92. Which of the following animals was considered as “Aghanya” during the Vedic period:-
The idea of ‘Rit’ is an ancient Indian belief that there is a natural order to things. It is the foundation of Indian culture, law, politics, and thought.
People believed that God Varuna was in charge of upholding ‘Rit’, or the natural order, which is why he is also known as ‘Ritasyagopa’.
97. In the context of ancient Indian society which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?
Upadhyaya made teaching his job to make money, and only taught a portion of the Vedas or Vedangas.
Q 101. With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of the Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them. 2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver, and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron. 3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3
Rigveda mentions golden and iron armor and helmets which were likely used in battle.
Indus Valley people did not have many weapons and were probably controlled by merchants.
No weapons have been found from this civilization,
Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver, and copper, but the Indus Valley people knew only copper and bronze. Iron started to be used in North India between 1000 BC and 600 BC.
The Rigvedic Aryans were successful in India because of their horses and chariots, and a site called Bhagwanpura has been found with horse bones.
Some remains of horses were found in Surkotada, an IVC site in Gujrat.