Vedic Culture

Origin of the word "Vedic"

The word "Vedic" is derived from "Veda," which means "knowledge." The creators of Vedic culture were the Aryans. The word "Arya" is Sanskrit and means "noble."

Transmission of Vedic Knowledge

The Aryans did not have knowledge of writing. Therefore, they transmitted their knowledge orally from one generation to the next. Due to this, Vedic literature is called "Shruti literature," which means "heard literature." Another name for it is "Samhita."

The Aryan Homeland

Scholars have differing opinions regarding the original homeland of the Aryans. Dr. Avinash Chandra Das and Dr. Sampurnanand believe the Aryans were residents of the Sapta Sindhu region. Pandit Gangadhar Jha believes the original home of the Aryans was Brahmarishi Desha (the region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers). Dr. A.V.D. Kallur believes the Aryans were residents of Kashmir. According to Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Pargiter, the Aryans were residents of the Tibet region.

Controversy Regarding the Aryan Invasion

There is still controversy over whether the Aryans originated in India or came from outside. Some scholars believe that the Aryans came to India around 1500 BCE. Max Müller believed this event could be dated around 1200 or 1000 BCE. The reason for Max Müller's dating was his strong Christian faith and his unwavering belief in the biblical account of creation.

Vedic Period

Division of the Vedic Period

For the convenience of studying Vedic culture, it is divided into two periods: the Rigvedic Period or Early Vedic Period and the Later Vedic Period.

Rigvedic Period or Early Vedic Period (1500-1000 BCE)

The Rigveda does not mention iron. The knowledge of iron is obtained from the Atranjikhera region of Etah around 1000 BCE. Therefore, the upper limit of the Rigvedic Period is set at 1000 BCE. The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have happened around 1500 BCE. Hence, its lower limit is set at 1500 BCE.

Geographical Extent of Rigvedic Aryans

The Rigveda mentions four rivers of Afghanistan: Kubha, Kumu, Gomati, and Suvastu. It also describes the Sapta Sindhu region. These seven rivers are Sindhu, Saraswati, Shatudri (Sutlej), Vipasha (Vyas), Parushni (Ravi), Vitasta (Jhelum), and Askani (Chenab). This indicates that the Aryans first settled in the Punjab and Afghanistan regions. The Rigveda mentions the Ganga river once and the Yamuna river three times. The Rigveda also mentions the peak of Mujavant in the western Himalayas, from where they obtained soma. Thus, the known region of the Rigvedic Aryans extended from Afghanistan in the west to the western bank of the Ganga in the east, from the Himalayas in the north to the northern border of Rajasthan in the south.