The Vedic Age (Vedic Period)

The Aryans or the Indo-Europeans were nomadic tribes from the Euro-Asian plains. They were very tough and war-like people. The Saptsindhu (land of seven rivers), comprising of the present day Afghanistan, Punjab (both in India and Pakistan) and western areas of Uttar Pradesh were inhabited by the Aryans. The vedic age flourished during the Aryan civilization and gained popularity all over the world.

The vedic period (1500BC - 600BC) got its name from the four vedas written during this period. The vedas are perhaps the oldest written literature available to man today. They have been passed through various cultures for over 100,000 years. The vedic age laid the foundation of the Hindu religious philosophy. It is during this period that the great Indian epics, namely the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads, and hymns in praise of the vedas were written. The four Vedas were written in Sanskrit language and were categorized into four groups:

• Rig Veda (oldest veda)
• Yajurveda
• Samveda
• Atharvaveda.

The original text (mantra) and a commentary portion (Brahmana) are part of every veda. Brahmana is further classified into two parts, one explaining the ritual and other the philosophy (known as Upanishads). The vedangas are supportive texts of the Vedas. The vedic period is studied under two broad branches, namely:

Early Vedic Period

The people of this period excelled in agriculture and domesticated cattle and other farm animals. With a gradual increase in population, these people settled as farmers. The Aryan race called its people as Jana (people) while Janapada meant land. Every Aryan tribe had a tribal chief and a group of wise man assisted him in his work. There was no domination of any individual and the group worked in tandem. The tribal chief, warriors and priests were the important people, and lead the common public in social and religious events.

Prayers were offered by chanting religious hymns and mantras. Nature and its main elements, the sun, moon and wind were worshiped as God. Performing rituals was an important part of their daily duties. Animal sacrifice was a common ritual sacrifice.

Later Vedic Period

It was in the later Vedic Period, that the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and Upanishads were written. These epics defined the way of leading a meaningful life. The Ramayana and Mahabharata deals with various social, political and religious views of Hindu culture, while the Bhagwad Gita (an extract from the Mahabharata) beautifully describes Hinduism in its true essence.

In this period, hereditary form of leadership gained popularity and the tribal chiefs' sons generally took over as the next chief. With dominance creeping in the society, the heads of religious tribes became powerful brahmin priests and the caste system came into existence.

The society was divided into four main subsections, 'brahmins' or the priestly people became leaders and religious heads and educated the common people while the 'Kshatriyas' were responsible for the safety of the society. The 'Vaishyas' adopted the roles of businessmen and merchants and the 'Shudras' or the 'outcasts', were a deprived section of the society. They performed the jobs of removing dead bodies, picking garbage, etc. and weren't given much option to prosper within the society.

The Vedic Period formed a platform for the rise of Hindu principles and indeed, the whole religion. It also contributed to Indian philosophy and literature. Empires and kingdoms started to flourish after the Vedic Period. The Vedic Period was an amalgamation of 'mind' and 'matter'. Due to deep spiritual insights, the sages more ably understood the natural principles. The discovery of 'zero' and other mathematical theorems, ayurveda and yoga are few gifts of the Vedic Period, that makes it an immortal era of Indian civilization.