LATER VEDIC AGE 1000-500 BC

IRON• Iron allowed greater clearing of land

• King Janak and his story of furrowing of land

• Indrasurasir means Plough bearing Indra

• Balram indicated carrying plough and called Haladhari

• Plough were made out of iron now called Praviradant and

Pravira

• With more lad under cultivation iron allowed greater

surplus productionsurplus production

• With rising surplus rose the expected demands of the

leader

• Bhag & Shulk were now collected from the people as tax

• Kings officers who collected tax were called Bhagdhuka

• As Vaishyas paid mostly the Bhag, Bali and Shulk they

became synonymous as Balikrit

AGRICULUTRE BECAME PRIME• Satapatha Brahmana elaborates about

ploughing rituals

• Sugarcane agriculture in Atharva Veda

• Yava (Barely) was grown

• Godhunam became the name for Wheat• Godhunam became the name for Wheat

• Vrihi became name for Rice

KING

• Aitriya rahmana speaks of Kings titles

• Raja – King of Centre

• Virat – King of North

• Bhoja – King of South• Bhoja – King of South

• Samarata – King of East

• Swarat – King of West

• Chakravarti - King of all 5 directions

RATNINMAHISI

• Chief QueenVISATA / YUVARAJ

• Second Queen / Crown PrincePUROHIT

• Royal PriestSENANI

• Military CommanderGRAMINI

• Head of VillagesSUTA

• Chief Charioteer• Chief CharioteerKSHATTA

• Chief Chamberlin/DwarpalBHAGADHUKA

• Chief Revenue CollectorSANGHAIHITRA

• Chief TreasurerAKSHAVAPA

• Court OrganizerPALAGAL

• Chief JesterGOVIKARTAN

• Organizer of Hunt

Rajanorajakrithah and Arajanorajakrithah

ROYAL SACRIFICESRajasurya

– At time of coronation

– Aksha was played during this sacrifice

– Varun god of morals was the priest of the sacrifice

Ashwamedha

– Establishes unquestionable control over land

– Tilling of land was a important ceremony– Tilling of land was a important ceremony

Vajpeya

– Drink of Strength for middle age rulers

– Chariot race was a ceremony

FORMS OF MARRIAGE

DHARMAYA

• BRAHMA - Marriage without money

• DAIVA - Father gives daughter to priest

• ARSA – Girl married with exchange of cows

• PRAJAPATYA - Boys father asks for girl from girls father• PRAJAPATYA - Boys father asks for girl from girls father

ADHARMAYA

• ASUR - Girl is sold

• GANDHARVA – Love Marriage

• RAKSHASA – Girl abducted and forcefully married (Popular in Kshatriya)

• PAISACHA – Girl intoxicated to sleep with

COMPLICATION OF SOCIETY

• Varnashankara Marriage

1. Anuloma Higher varna male lower varna female

2. Pratiloma Higher varna female lower varna male

• Dvij the first three varna collectively

• Entitled to Upanayana (Sacred Sacrifice)

• Empowered to recite the Vedic mantra (esp –

gayantri mantra)