Vedic Period Of Ancient India

Vedic Period (1750 -500)BCE comes with the decline of Indus Valley Civilization, the Indo-Aryans that migrated from now known Afghanistan to the northern part of Ancient India bring their own specific tradition and culture.

Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism were composed between 1500 to 800 BCE. Written in Sanskrit and were divided into four major texts - Rig veda, Sam Veda, Yajur veda and the Atharva veda.

The early Vedic period of Indo-Aryans were described in Rigveda, one of the oldest Vedic text. At the end of Rig Vedic period, Indo-Aryans started there expansion from northwest region to the western plains of India and were socially organized into four main Varanas (social classes).

Kuru Kingdom was the first state society of Vedic Period that developed specific traditions and rituals to uphold the social order. 1200 – 800 BCE was the beginning of Iron Age and composition of Atharva Veda (between this era importance of black metal was introduced). The centre of Vedic Culture shifted to the neighbor Panchal after decline of the Kuru Kingdom, Mahabharata, one of the core epic of Sanskrit is said to be originated in the same period.

Upanishads: Know as the conclusion or the last section of Vedas was written after 500 BCE which describes the earliest disclosure of the central religious concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism & Jainism and comes after the Sanskrit Era (people from different levels of society throughout the subcontinent were influenced to practice their social and religious life to Brahmana norms). Increasing urbanisation of India led to the inflation of new move that confronted the orthodoxy of rituals. Buddhism & Jainism were the most known forms of this movement.

Then comes the great empires like Nanda, Maurya, Kushan, Gupta, Chalukya and Chola.

Magadha Region (600-321 BC) was known as the land for its great rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatshatru who ruled most of the parts of present day Bihar, Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. It also played a major role in the expansion of Buddhism and Jainism and is also described in their texts. It was also the origin of some of the greatest empires (Nanda, Maurya and Gupta) of India. This age was also known as the “Golden Age” in Indian history since these empires saw the advancement in Mathematics, astronomy, ancient India's Science, religion and Philosophy. It is also described in Indian epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas.

Magadha Kings:

• Haryanka Dynasty 600-413 BC
  

  
• Shishunaga Dynasty 413-345 BC
• Nanda Dynasty 345-321 BCE

Nanda Dynasty (345-321 BCE) - Originated in 4th Century BC, At the peak of its empire Nanda Dynasty extended from Punjab in the west to Bengal in the east and as far as Vindhya range in the south. Known for their famous and historical capital city of Patliputra, mighty army which forced Alexander the great to return for better and wealth & treasure.

Maurya Dynasty was the only empire that united India into one big state and was established by the great Chandragupta Maurya by defeating Nanda Dynasty. In his reign, Ashoka the great – one of the fearsome and successful emperor extended his empire's territory to new heights. Stretching from natural boundaries of Himalayas in the north to the southern India except Tamilnadu and Kerala (present day) and Hind Kush mountains in Afghanistan (present day) in the west till Assam (present day) in the east. Also known as “Chakravari Samrat Ashoka” (Emperor of Emperors) whereas in Sanskrit Ashoka means without Sorrow, painless.

Kalinga (present day Orissa) was taken by King Ashoka but was also a turning point in the history of India as the bloodiest battle claimed 1,50,000 Kalinga and 1,00,000 Mauryan warriors lives and prompted king Ashoka to convert to Buddhism.

Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), also known as Golden age of India since there were achievements in engeineering, logic, technology, astronomy, science, literature, art, mathematics, philosophy, dialectic and religion and strengthen the elements of Hindu culture.

To be continued....