Ancient history of India
Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was established around 3300 BC. It
flourished between 2700 BC and 1900 BC (Mature Indus Valley
Civilization). It started declining around 1900 BC and disappeared around
1400 BC. This is also called Harappan Civilization after the first city to be
excavated, Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan). Pre-Harappan civilization has been found at Mehrgarh, Pakistan which
shows the first evidence of cotton cultivation. Geographically, this civilization covered Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and Western Uttar Pradesh. It extended from
Sutkagengor (in Baluchistan) in the West to Alamgirpur (Western
UP) in the East; and from Mandu (Jammu) in the North to Daimabad
(Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) in the South. Some Indus Valley sites
have also been found in as far away as Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. The first common feature is Indus script on seals. This script has not
been deciphered yet, so not much information is available about the
social life, customs etc. The second most important feature is town planning. The main features
of town planning were use of baked as well as sundried bricks, well
planned straight roads and system of drainge. Another features of Civiizations were:- A fortified citadel at most of the
cities. Houses with kitchens and wells, tanks or water reservoirs. Use
of standard weights and measurement throughout the civilization. Presence of wheel made pottery. The Practice of burying the dead. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are 500 kms apart from each other. These, along with Dholavira, are called the nucleus cities of the civilization. Harappa, the first discovered site of this civilization was on bank of
river Ravi, while Mohenjo-Daro was on banks of Indus River. Each
of them has two prominent mounds where excavations took place. Notable findings at Harappa are rows of granaries, Citadels, Furnaces
and a crucible to melt the bronze. Notable findings at Mohenjo-Daro
are the magnum opus Great Bath, uniform buildings and weights,
hidden drains and other hallmarks of the civilization. This is the site
where most unicorn seals have been found. Mohenjo-Daro is also
sometimes known as largest urban centre of the civilization. The most famous building found at Mohenjo-Daro is a great bath. It is
a 6×12 meter specimen of beautiful brick work. The water for the bath
was provided from a well in an adjacent room. The floor was made up ofbricks. Floor and outer walls were bituminized so that there is no leakage
of water. There are open porch’s on four sides of the bath. There is use of
Burnt bricks, Mortar and Gypsum in the Great bath but NO use of
stone is there. The largest building found at Mohenjo-Daro is a granary. Then, there
was also a pillared hall for social gatherings. The other notable findings at
Mohenjo-Daro are instruments of cotton weaving, Bronze figurine of
dancing girl, evidence of violence and killing, seal of the mother
goddess, the figurine of beared man, the seal of Proto Shiva, a seal in
which a man is sacrificing a women with his knife. Third important centre of the civilization is Dholavira in the Rann of
Kutch area. The site is relatively newly discovered and here the
historians found a tantalizing signboard with Indus script. Dholavira is different from Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro on the account
that its drainage system is much more elaborated then these two cities. While the two cities had two mounds each, leading to conclusion that
there were two citadels, Dholavira had three citadels. Each of these
three citadels of Dholavira was improved than Harappa and
Mohenjo-Daro and had an inner enclosure as well. The Rakhigarhi is the largest Indus Valley Site in independent India. The second largest is Dholavira. There is another site called Banawali
where Barley was a common crop in Indus valley times. The westernmost site Suktagendor is located near present borders of Iran
and it was an important coastal / port town. Another important port town
was Lothal. One more coastal city was Balakot, which is located near
Karachi in Pakistan. The presence of horse has been doubtful in Indus Valley Civilization. The
site where the historians were able to collect some bones of Horse is
Surkotada in Bhuj Area in Gujarat. The Kalibangan site in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan has
given evidence of both Pre-harappan and harappan civilization. Here
the historians have found a ploughed field and bones of camel. The
peculiar type of circular and rectangular graves is another feature of
Kalibangan. In terms of town planning, Kalibangan was not as
developed as Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Dholavira because here we
neither find use of baked bricks nor a drainage system. A different kind of town planning we found at Lothal; this city was
divided into 6 sections and each section had a wide platform of earthen
bricks. Lothal and Rangpur are two sites where historians found rice
husk. The magnum opus of Lothal is an artificial dock. A bead making factory has also been found in Lothal.
The only city in the Indus Valley civilization which does not have a
citadel was Chanhu Daro, located some 130 kilometers south of
Mohenjo-Daro. Alamagirpur was the eastern boundary of the Indus Valley Civilization. The evidences say that this site developed in mature Harappan phase. Kot
Diji and Amri were pre-harappan sites. Harappan Seals were made of Terra- Cotta . Chess like games of Harappans was called Sent. Harappan ruins were discovered by Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram
Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats. It was the first site to be discovered in
1921
Mohenjodaro ruins were excavated for the first time by R.D. Banerjee,
E. J. H. MacKay and Marshall. The people of Indus Valley Civilization were aware of Gold, Silver,
Copper, Brass, Bronze and Tin but did not know much about Iron. Copper was the most widely used metal. Hump less bull as unicorn was the most engrave animal on Harappa
seeds. Vedic Civilisation
The Vedic Age was between 1500 BC and 600 BC. This is the next
major civilization that occurred in ancient India after the decline of the
Indus Valley Civilization by 1400 BC. The Vedas were composed in this
period and this gives this age the name. The Vedas are also the chief
source of information about this era. The Vedic Age started with the
coming of the Aryans or Indo-Aryans. The Vedic Age started with the Aryan occupation of the Indo-Gangetic
Plains. They spoke Sanskrit, an Indo-European language. They led a
rural, semi-nomadic life as compared to the Indus Valley people who
were urbanised. It is believed that they entered India through the
Khyber Pass. Initially, the Aryans lived in the land known as “Sapta Sindhu” (Land
of the Seven Rivers). These seven rivers were: Sindhu (Indus), Vipash
(Beas), Vitasta (Jhelum), Parushni (Ravi), Asikni (Chenab), Shutudri
(Satluj) and Saraswati. Politcial Structure of the Aryans were:- Monarchical form of government with a king known as Rajan. Patriarchal families. Jana was the largest social unit in Rig Vedic
times. Social grouping: kula (family) – grama – visu – jana. Tribal assemblies were called Sabhas and Samitis.
Women enjoyed a respectable position. They were allowed to take part in
Sabhas and Samitis. There were women poets too (Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara and Ghosa). Cattle especially cows became very important. Monogamy was practised but polygamy was observed among royalty and
noble families. There was no child marriage. Social distinctions existed
but were not rigid and hereditary. Economic Structure of Aryans were:- They were a pastoral and cattle-rearing people. They practised agriculture. Products made out of copper, iron and bronze were in use. They had horse chariots. Initially trade was conducted through the barter system but later on coins
called ‘nishka’ were in use. They worshipped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain, thunder, etc. by personifying them into deities. Indra (thunder) was the most
important deity. Other deities were Prithvi (earth), Agni (fire),
Varuna (rain) and Vayu (wind). Female deities were Ushas and Aditi. There were no temples and no idol worship. The word ‘Veda’ originated from the root ‘vid’ which means spiritual
knowledge/subject of knowledge/means of acquiring knowledge. The four Vedas are: Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Rig Veda was composed during the Early Vedic Age. The other three
were written in the Later Vedic Age. Rig Veda – this is the oldest religious text in the world. It contains 1028
hymns and is classified into 10 mandalas. Yajur Veda – this deals with the ways to perform rituals. Yajurveda is of
two types : Shukla Yajurveda & Krishna Yajurveda
Sama Veda – deals with music. Indian music is said to be originated
from Sama Veda. Atharva Veda – contains spells and magical formula. Other Vedic texts were the Brahmanas (explains the meaning of
sacrifices); Upanishads (also called Vedantas, 108 in number, source
of Indian philosophy); and Aranyakas (books of instructions). The great Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana were also
composed during this period. There are 6 vedangas : siksha, Kalpa, Vyakarna, Nirukt, Jyotish,
Chhanda
Siksha vedanga is related to Phonetic Education. Kalpa Vedanga is related to Rituals
Vyakarna Vedanga is related to Grammar
Nirukt Vedanga is related to Etymology
Chhanda is related to Metrics
Jyotish is related to Astrology
There are 4 kalpsutra : Sharutan Sutra, Grih Sutra , Dharma Sutra,
and Sholva Sutra,
There are 4 major upvedas: Ayurveda of Rig-Veda, Dhanurveda of
Yajurveda, Gandharvaveda of Sam Veda, Shilpveda is of
Atharvaveda
Ayurveda was propounded by Brahma and it is about medicinal science
Ayurveda
Dhanurveda was propounded by Vishvamitra and it describes art of War
Gandharvaveda was propounded by Narad and it describes Music
Shilpveda was propounded by Vishwakarma and it describes architecture
The Number of Puranas is 18
There are 6 schools of Philosophy in Vedic Culture: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Mimansa , Vedanta . They are collectively called
shaddarshana
Samkhya school was propounded by kapilMuni and it describes about
real knowledge and atheism
Yoga was propounded by Patanjali which describes Yoga and
meditation
Nyaya is propounded by Gautam and it deals with justice and logic
Vaiseshika is propounded by Mahrishi Kanad and deals with
materialistic
Mimansa was propounded by Jaiminia and Badrayana and deals with
practical religion
Vedanta was propounded by Badrayana and deals with soul, Brahma
and Karma
The doctor or vaidya was called Bheesaj or Mishak. Traders were
called pani. Prajapati has been refereed as aadipurush or first male. The officer of lands was Vrajpati
Rajsuya Yajna was performed to obtain divine power. Ashwamedha
yajna was performed to expand the empire. Vajpey Yajna for Chariot
racing
Bronze was referred as Ayas. Barley was referred as Yava. Carpenter
was called Takshak. Maker of bows was called dhumvakrit. Rice was
referred as Vrihi. Goldsmith was called as Hiranyakata. Gayatri Mantra is mentioned in 3rd mandal of Rig-Veda. Savitri or
Sun is worshipped in Gayatri mantra. Satyamev Jayate is taken from
Mundakopnishad. Animal Theft was the crime mentioned most in
Vedas’ Araynakas deal with life, death and other serious themes, they were
read and listened in loneliness of Jungles (Aranya means Forests)
The Samveda and Yajurveda have no Araynakas
There are 1028 Vedic texts in Rig-Veda. Om has been used for 1028
times in Rigveda
#vedas
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