NEEV

For class 9th IT`S ALL ABOUT BASICS

Lecture 03

THE VEDIC AGE -II

HISTORY
NTSE
KUNAL SIR
o1 Later Vedic Age

o2 Literature

o3 Questions
Later Vedic Period-Geography
Later Vedic Period-Political Organisation
Later Vedic Period – Economic Life

Agriculture became more common . Pastoralism no longer remained the

main subsistence activity of the people . Major Crops –Rice and Wheat .
Barley(Yava) was also produced

Urban Life started developing.New classes of ironsmiths , chariot makers

and ship builders appeared .

Later Vedic Period witnessed coming up of the Purushasukta theory

Later Vedic Period –Purushasukta theory
Concept of Ashramas and Taxes
Later Vedic Period-Society
Later Vedic Period-Position of Women
Later Vedic Period- Religion

✓ New Gods came into prominence – Vishnu , Rudra , Prajapati etc.

✓ Rig Vedic Gods – Indra , Varuna lost prominence

✓ Increase in the prestige and importance of priestly class

Later Vedic Period- Literature (Rigveda )

✓ It consists of 1028 hymns and divided into 10 books known as

Mandals

✓ The Mandala II to VII are the oldest while VIII and IX belong to middle
time and I and X are the last

✓ III Mandala contains the famous Gayatri Mantra

Later Vedic Period- Literature (Samveda )

✓ Collection of hymns taken mainly from the VIIIth and IXth mandalas
of the Rig Veda and set to tune for the purpose of singing

✓ Origin of Indian Music is traced to it .

✓ Only 75 hymns are originally composed

Later Vedic Period- Literature (Yajurveda )

✓ Prescribes the rituals for performing different sacrifices .

✓ It is divided into two parts : Krishna Yajur Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda

✓ Krishna Yajur Veda contains not only the hymns but also prose
commentaries
✓ Shukla Yajur Veda contains only the hymns
Later Vedic Period- Literature (Atharva veda )

✓ Also called book of magical spells and charms

✓ It contains spells to ward off evil and diseases.It presrves many

popular cults and superstitions. It is believed to be a work of Non-
Arynas

✓ It contains 731 hymns

Later Vedic Period-Upveda
Later Vedic Period-Brahmanas

Vedas Brahmana

Rigveda Aitareya and Kausitaki

Samveda Tandya Maha and Jaiminiya

Yajurveda Taittiriya and Shatapatha

Atharvaveda Gopatha Brahmana

Later Vedic Period- Literature (Aranyakas )

✓ Known as Forest books

✓ Deals with mysticism and symbolism of sacrifice and philosophy

Later Vedic Period- Literature (Upanishads )

✓ It literally means – “ Be seated at the feet of the Guru to receive the

teachings.”

✓ They are also known as Vedanta

✓ There are 108 Upanishads
✓ The national motto of India – “ Satyamev Jayate “ is taken from the
Mundaka Upanishad
Later Vedic Period-Epic
Question Time
Thank - You