Early Veda: Gods, Priests and the Fire Sacrifice

 

Early Veda: The Way of Action

 

1.      Origins of Hinduism in two ancient cultural complexes:

a.       Indus valley civilization (c.2500 BCE to 1500 BCE)

b.      Aryan culture (developed during 2nd millenium BCE)

2.      The Aryans: arya means “noble” or “honorable”

a.       Indo-European speaking > Vedic Sanskrit > Classical Sanskrit

b.      Nomadic, superior war technology (metalurgy, chariots, horses)

3.      Vedic Society

a.       The Purusa Sukta and the four classes (see Fisher) – found in the earliest Vedic text, the Rigveda

b.      The twice-born castes (upper three) access to the vedic tradition; subjugation of Dravidians into a four caste

                                                  i.      Priests (Brahamanas)

                                                ii.      Warriors and rules

                                              iii.      Agriculturalists and merchants

                                              iv.      Servants

c.       Jati

4.      Two Dimensions of Early Vedic Religion: Sacrificial and Visionary

a.       Sacrificial

b.      Visionary

                                                  i.            “Seers” (rishis) receive direct vision of the divine, sometimes through the use of Soma

 

 

Terms

  1. Veda, Vedanta
  2. Aryans
  3. Indus Valley Civilization
  4. Rigveda
  5. Purusha Sukta
  6. The four castes

 

Questions:

1.      Describe the two dimensions of early Vedic religion and the central figures associated with each

2.      What are the civilizational sources of Hinduism?

3.      How does varna relate to jati?

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