E-LESSON-5 HISTORY _ CULTURE OF PUNJAB-1

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B.A. 2 All right are reserved with CU-IDOL HISTORY AND CULTURE OF PUNJAB-I Course Code: BAQ-103 Semester: First SLM Unit : 5 E-Lesson 5 www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103)

HISTORY AND CULTURE OF PUNJAB-I INTRODUCTION 33 OBJECTIVES After studying this unit, you will be able to: The Vedas were composed and orally Make student familiar with the pastoral economy and transmitted with precision by speakers of an the changes that came with the discovery of iron Old Indo- Aryan language who had migrated into the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent early in this period. The Vedic society was patriarchal and patrilineal. Make student aware about the Varna System and The caste system in India is the paradigmatic also about the division of the society on the bases of ethnographic example of caste their work www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQB1A0Q3)103) INASlTl ITriUgThEt OarFeDrIeSsTeArNvCeEd AwNitDh OCNUL-IIDNOE LLEARNING

Topics to be covered 4 > Early Vedic Period (c. 1500-c 1200 BC HISTORY AND CULTURE OF PUNJAB -I E) > Social Life during the Rigvedic Age > Religious Life during the Rigvedic Age > Indian Culture in the Rigvedic Age Image Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y9- xi5n9m3E/TInRyzZ62jI/AAAAAAAAHPA/y20sUjIlAcA/s1600/Ascetic_Bodhisatta_Gotam a_with_the_Group_of_Five.jpg www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

EARLY VEDIC PERIOD (C. 5 1500 - C 1200 BCE)  Later Vedic Period (c. 1100-c. 500 BCE) After the 12th century BCE, as the Rigveda had taken its final form, the Vedic society, which is associated with the Kuru- Pancala region but were not the only Indo- Aryan people in northern India, transitioned from semi-nomadic life to settled agriculture in north-western India. www.cuidol.in https://www.ekalawya.com/course/vedic-age/ All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-5(BAQ103)

EARLY VEDIC PERIOD (C. 6 1500 - C 1200 BCE)  Towards Urbanisation https://www.ekalawya.com/course/vedic-age/ By the 6th century BCE, the political units All right are reserved with CU-IDOL consolidated into large kingdoms called Mahajanapadas.The process of urbanisation had begun in these kingdoms, commerce and travel flourished, even regions separated by large distances became easy to access. Anga, a small kingdom to the east of Magadha (on the doorstep of modern-day West Bengal), formed the eastern boundary of the Vedic culture. Yadavas expanded towards the south and settled in Mathura. www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103)

SOCIAL LIFE DURING THE RIGVEDIC AGE 7 Food and Drink Vedic Aryans were very simple in their eating habit. Their diet was both balanced and enriching which included vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Wheat, barley, rice, fruits and vegetables comprised of their main diet. Milk and milk products like curd, cheese, butter and ghee were quite favorite.  Dress and Ornaments https://knowledgeday2day.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-later-vedic-age- In any civilized society, the use of dress and ornaments are and-social-life-lva.html given equal importance along with food and drinking habits. The apparel had three divisions. (i) Nivi or nivibasa, used for the lower part of the body. (ii) Vasa or paridhan for the upper portion of the body. (iii) Adhivasa or atkaor drapi the head dress. www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

SOCIAL LIFE DURING THE 8 RIGVEDIC AGE  Education For the noble-minded Vedic Aryans, education was a very essential part of human life, theireducation centered round gurkula (literally meaning the home of the teacher) where a pupil was sent to stay and receive education. www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) https://knowledgeday2day.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-later-vedic-age- and-social-life-lva.html All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

 Recreation and Amusement 9 The Vedic Aryans were very supportive and entertainment loving people. They used to spend their leisure and replace their mind in various ways. Since they live in villages, they were fond of outdoor games. Hence, past times like gambling, dancing. . Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL www.cuidol.in

 Knowledge of Medicine 10 The Vedic Aryans at sufficient knowledge about plants and herbs having medicinal qualities. There were Vedic physicians who used to prepare curative medicines. At times, they also perform some preliminary surgical operations. https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/herbal-ayurvedic-medicine-16218978548.html www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Religious Life during the 11 Rigvedic Age Aryans lead a simple religious life. They continued to follow the faith and rituals which were prevalent among them before they arrived in India. They worshipped forces of nature. The number and importance of the goddesses was less as compared to the gods. 1. Terrestrial Gods: Prithvi, Agni and Soma 2. Celestial Gods: Dyaus, Varuna, Surya 3. Atmospheric Gods: Indra, Vayu, Parjanya www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Following are the gods of the three orders: 12 1. Terrestrial sphere (Prithvi sthana): Prithui, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and the rivers. 2. Intermediate sphere (Antariksha sthana): Indra, Apamnapad, Vayuvata, Parjanya, Apah and Matarisvan. 3. Celestial sphere (Dyu sthana): Dyaus, Varuna, Mitva, Suiya, Pushan, Vishnu, Aditya, Usha and Ashvini. • The Gods are described to have been born, though not simultaneously, but are immortal, unlike human beings. • In appearance, however, they are humans, though sometimes they are conceived as having figures of animals. • For example, Dyaus appears as a bull and Surya as a swift horse. •These gods usually travel in the air by chariots driven by steeds and occasionally by other animals. www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Indian Culture in the Rigvedic Age 13  Form of Government Monarchy was the normal form of Government. Kingship was hereditary. But there was a sort of hierarchy in some states, several members of the royal family exercising the power in common. There were references of democratic form of government and their chiefs were elected by the assembled people.  The King The kingdom was small in extent. The king enjoyed a position of pre-eminence in the tribe. Kingship was hereditary. He was anointed by the priest as king in the ‘Abhishka’ Ceremony. He wore gorgeous robes and lived in a splendid palace, gaily decorated than a common building.  Officials In the work of administration, the king was assisted by a number of functionaries like the Purohita (priest), the senani (general), the Gramani (village headman) and the spsa (spies).  The Army The army was mainly consisting of Patti (infantry) and Rathins (chariots). The weapons used by the soldiers were bows, arrows, swords, axes and spears. www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Key Words/Abbreviations 14  Food and drink: Vedic Aryans where very simple in their eating habit .  Dress and ornaments: In any civilized society, the use of dress and ornaments are given equal importance along with food and drinking habits.  Education: For the noble-minded vedic Aryans, education was a very essential part of human life. www.cuidol.in https://keywordtool.io/blog/keyword-research/ All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Unit-5(BAQ103)

Learning Activity 15 1. You are required to identify the Early Vedic period and prepare a report. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. You are suggested to prepare the project report on “Social Life during the Rigvedic Age”. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Multiple Choice Questions 1. Early Vedic Aryans were a Late Bronze Age society centered in the __________. 16 (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Punjab (c) Buddhism (d) None of the above 2. Who defined, “Social stratification is horizontal division of society into ‘higher’ and ‘lower ’social units”? (a) According to Lundberg (b) According to Gisbert (c) According to Williams (d) According to Raymond W. Murray 3. Which of the following is the characteristic of Social Stratification? (a) Social stratification is universal (b) Stratification is social (c) It is ancient (d) All the above Answers 1.(b) 2.(d) 3.(d) www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Summary 17  The Rigveda contains accounts of conflicts between the Aryas and the Dasas and Dasyus.  It describes Dasas and Dasyus as people who do not perform sacrifices (akratu) or obey the commandments of Gods (avrata).  During this period, the four varnas such as a Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra came into existence which was not strictly hereditary and rigid.  This system had provided for stability to be maintained in the society . https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/summary-word-on-wooden-cu www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

FREQUENTLY ASKED 18 QUESTIONS 1. Whose conflicts are accounted in Rigveda? (For more information see SLM) Ans: The Rigveda contains accounts of conflicts between the Aryas and the Dasas and Dasyus. 2. Name the four varnas. (For more information see SLM) Ans: The four varnas such as a Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra . 3. Write a short note on Social Life during Rigvedic Age.  Ans: Food and Drink :Vedic Aryans were very simple in their eating habit. Their diet was both balanced and enriching which included vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Wheat, barley, rice, fruits and vegetables comprised of their main diet. Milk and milk products like curd, cheese, butter and ghee were quite favorite. (For more information see SLM) www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

REFERENCES 19 •Basham, A.L.(1992). The Wonder that was India. Calcutta: Rupa Books. •Walia, J.M.(1992). A History of the Punjab. Ludhiana: Kalyani Publishers. •Joshi, L.M. and Singh, F.(1977). History and Culture of the Punjab.Vol. I. Patiala: Punjabi University www.cuidol.in Unit-5(BAQ103) All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

20 THANK YOU For queries Email:[email protected] www.cuidol.in Unit-5- BAQ103 All right are reserved with CU-IDOL