THE LATER VADIC CIVILIZATION
The period from 1000 BC to 500 BCE, during which the Indo-Aryans settled the Gangetic Valley, is known as the Later Vedic period. The three later Vedas (the Atharva Veda, the Sama Veda and the Yajur Veda) and the Upanishads are supposed to have been composed during this time. The two great Indian epics-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata-were written during this period.
SOCIAL LIFE
Classification of Society
The classification of society into four varnas now became rigid and hereditary. The four classes came to be known as the four castes. The son of a kshatriya could not become a brahmana. Caste was now decided by birth and not by occupation. Inter-caste marriages. were not allowed. As the caste system became deep-rooted, society got sharply divided. The brahmanas and the kshatriyas formed the ruling class. The vaishyas were the artisans, traders and farmers. The shudras were the uneducated workers who served the other three classes.
Family
The joint family system was further strengthened. The birth of a son was welcomed. The position of women declined. They were now considered inferior to men. They no longer took part in the assemblies. Their highest duty was to serve their husbands and take care of the family. However,they continued to participate in religious ceremonies.
The Four Ashramasl
The life of an Aryan was divided into four stages or ashramas.
. Brahmacharya was the first stage of lis during which a person stayed with his guru in the gurukul and received education.
• Grihastha was the second stage in a person's life during which he got married and led family life as a householder
.Vanaprastha was the stage when he gave up his worldly life and went away to the forest to meditate.
. Sanyasa was the last stage of life when he renounced all worldly ties and became an ascetic, spreading the principles of religion and truth.
The Gurukul System of Education
When a boy was 7 years old, he was sent to a gurukul, i.e. the house of the teacher or guru. He stayed there till he was 25 years old. Gurukuls were usually situated deep in the forests. The teacher treated his students like his own children and the children regarded the teacher as their spiritual father. The students led simple and highly disciplined lives. They helped their guru in many ways.
The students cleaned the house, drew water from the well, gathered wood and worked in the fields. They had to memorize lessons which were taught orally. After completing their education, the students paid guru dakshina or fees according to their means.
In the Early Vedic period there were highly educated women like Maitreyi and Gargi. In the Later Vedic period, however, women were not allowed to study Vedic literature.
Religion
The gods of the Early Vedic period lost their importance. Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer, became the most important gods. The mode of worship became complex. Elaborate rituals and sacrifices were performed. The status of the brahmanas rose because these complicated rituals could only be performed by them
Epics
The two epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, were written during the Later Vedic period.
The Mahabharata, originally composed by Rishi Vyasa, is the story of the conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. This conflict ended in a great battle called Mahabharata, in Kurukshetra.
The Ramayana is an epic poem composed by Rishi Valmiki. It is the story of the life and great deeds of Rama, the son of King Dasaratha, the ruler of Ayodhya
Hinduism
The word Hindu comes from the word "Sindhu', the Sanskrit term for the river Indus The roots of Hinduism can be traced to the Indus Valley culture.
Hinduism was not founded by any spiritual leader. It is a philosophy and a way of life that evolved over hundreds of years. The mixing of social and religious beliefs of the Indus Valley people and the Aryan settlers led to the evolution of Hinduism.
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