Original Home of the Aryan
The location of the original home of the Aryans still remains a controversial issue. Some scholars believe that the Aryans were native to the soil of India and some other scholars believe that the Aryans were migrated from outside (Central Asia (Max Muller)/Europe/ Arctic region (B. G. Tilak)
According to popular belief, the Aryans are supposed to have migrated from Central Asia into the Indian subcontinent in several stages or waves during 2000 BC-1500 BC.
Bogharkal Inscription (Asia Minor Turkey), which mentions the 4 vedic gods Indra, Varuna, Mitra and Nasatyas, proves Central Asian Theory being their homeland.
The group that came to India first settled in the present Frontier Province and the Punjab – then called Sapta Sindhu i.e. region of seven rivers. They lived here for many centuries and gradually pushed into the interior to settle in the valleys of the Ganges and the Yamuna.
Vedic Literature (1500 BC-600 BC)
It is presumed that the Rig Veda was composed while the Aryans were still in the Punjab.
Vedic Literature comprises four literary productions:
- The Samhitas or Vedas
- The Brahamans
- The Aranyakas
- The Upanishads
Vedic Literature had grown up in course of time and was really handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Hence these are called Shruti (to hear).
The most important of Vedic Literature are Vedas. Vedas are called Apaurasheya i.e. not created by man but God-gifted and Nitya i.e. existing in all eternity.
There are four Vedas- Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. The first three Vedas are jointly called Vedtatrayi i.e. trio of Vedas.
Of the four Vedas, the Rig Veda (Collection of lyrics) is the oldest text in the world, and therefore, is also known as ‘the first testament of mankind’. The Rig Veda contains 1028 hymns and 10,580 verses, divided into 10 mandalas. Six mandalas (from 2 to 7) are called Gotra/Vamsha Mandalas (Kula Granth). The 1″ and 10th mandalas are said to have been added later. The 10th mandala contains the famous Purushasukta which explains the 4 Varnas-Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. The hymns of Rig Veda were recited by Hotri.
The Yajur Veda (book of sacrificial prayers) is a ritual veda. Its hymns were recited by Adhvaryus. It is divided into two parts-Krishna Yajur Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda, In contrast to the first two which are in verse entirely, this one is in both verse and prose.
The Sama Veda (book of chants) had 1549 verses. All verses (excluding 75) were taken from the Rig Veda.
The hymns of the Sama Veda were recited by Udgatri. This Veda is important for Indian music.
The Atharva Veda (book of magical formulae), the fourth and the last one, contains charms and spells to ward off evils and diseases. For a very long time it was not included in the category of the Vedas.
The Brahmans explain the hymns of the Vedas. They are written in prose and are ritualistic in nature. Brahma means sacrifice. The various sacrifices and rituals have been elaborately discussed in the Brahamanas. Every Veda has several Brahamanas attached to it:
| Rig Veda | Aitareya and Kaushitiki Sankhyan |
| Yajur Veda | Shatapatha (the oldest and the largest Brahamana) and Taittariya |
| Sam Veda | Panchvisha (Tandya Maha Brahamana),Shadvinsh Chhandogya and Jaiminaya |
| Atharva Veda | Gopatha |
The word Aranya means ‘the forest. The ‘forest texts’ were called Aranyaka, because they were written mainly for the hermits and the students living in jungles. The Aranyaka are the concluding portions of the Brahamanas.
The Upanishadas are philosophical texts. They are generally called Vedanta, as they came towards the end of the Veda. There are 108 Upanishadas. Vrihadaranyaka is the oldest Upanishada.