Later Vedic Period Notes for UPSC IAS Exam

Later Vedic Period

The later Vedic period or post Vedic age extended roughly from 1000 B.C. to 600 B.C., during which some Vedic tribes had migrated from the ‘Sapta Sindhu’ region to the upper Ganga Valley and other adjacent areas. The history of the later Vedic period is based primarily on Vedic texts, which were compiled after the age of Rigveda.

• Use of Iron: The wide use of iron distinguishes the early Vedic phase from the later Vedic stage. This enabled the large-scale clearing of forests in the Ganga Plains. The technology of Iron smelting, however, was primitive.
• PGW Culture: The later Vedic culture is also known as Painted Grey ware culture (PGW) because of its inhabitants’ use of earthen bowls and dishes made of painted grey pottery.
• Sedentary lifestyle: The later Vedic phase marks the slow transition from a pastoral society to a sedentary agrarian society. 
• Changes in social, political and economic structure: This phase witnessed several changes in their social, political, economic and religious structure.

PGW Full Form in History?

Full form of PGW in History is Painted Grey Ware culture.

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Painted Grey Ware (PGW) Culture (1100-400 BCE)

• Painted Grey Ware (PGW) is a fine, smooth, and even-coloured grey pottery. PGW sites stretch over a large area, from the Himalayan foothills to the Malwa plateau and from Bahawalpur (Pakistan) to Kaushambi (Prayagraj).
• Other sites include hilly regions of Kumaon and Garhwal, Vaishali in Bihar, Lakhiyopur in Sind and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

• The mature PGW phase at Jakhera has also given substantial evidence of iron implements used in agriculture like a sickle, ploughshare and hoe.
• The Painted Grey Ware (PGW) phase is followed by the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), which is associated with the Mahajanapada period (600BCE onwards).

• Shelters– Structures found were wattle-and-daub and mud huts. These were constructed using unbaked bricks. For example, baked bricks were found at Hastinapura.
• Agriculture– Crops included rice, wheat and Barley. Double cropping was possibly practised. There is no significant evidence of irrigation facilities, but a few deep, circular pits outside the habitation area at Atranjikhera indicate kachcha wells. Animal husbandry was also practised.

Expansion of Vedic Culture in Later Vedic Period

The post Rig Vedic texts tell us that Aryans expanded from Punjab-Haryana over the whole of western UP covered by the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. The Vedic people succeeded in the second wave of their expansion due to the use of iron weapons and horse-drawn chariots.

• Gradually they moved towards the upper (Puru tribe) and middle portion (Panchalas) of the Doab.
• Towards the end of the later Vedic phase, around 600 BCE, the Vedic people spread from the Doab further east in Eastern UP and north Bihar.

• It occurs along with other pottery types such as plain grey ware, Black and Red Ware (BRW) and black slipped ware, which were perhaps used in everyday life. 

Political Organization during Later Vedic Age

• The term ‘Jana‘ was used in the sense of people or a tribe in the Rigvedic period. The members of Jana were pastoral groups roaming in search of pastures. 
• However, in the later Vedic phase, the members of Jana took up agriculture and began to settle down. These agricultural settlements were called Janapadas (meaning “where the Jana set foot”).
• Rashtra was used for the first time in the Later Vedic texts. However, it was still not used in the sense of a state with well-defined territories.

Early Vedic	Later Vedic	Maha-janapada
No concept of Territory	Territory not well-defined	Well- Defined Territory
No concept of Sovereignty	Sovereignty over tribal pastures/land – Janapada	Developed the concept of Sovereignty

• The transition towards Mahajanpads: The coming together of tribes (such as Kurus and Panchalas) and consolidation of their respective territories led to the formation of Janpadas and later Mahajanpadas by the 6th century BCE.
• Importance of assemblies: Popular assemblies lost their importance. Vidhata disappeared completely. Women were no longer allowed to sit on the Sabha, and nobles and Brahmanas now dominated it.
• Position of King: The formation of bigger kingdoms made the king more powerful. We find traces of the election of chief or king in the later Vedic texts.
  • They received voluntary presents called Bali from ordinary people.
  • However, kings tried to perpetuate their right to receive gifts by making the position hereditary; the post generally went to the eldest son.
  • In addition, the kings tried to increase their influence by performing rituals like Rajasuya and Ashwamedha yajna.
• Taxation: While it was voluntary in the Rigvedic period, it became a common feature in the later Vedic period. Sangrihitri was the officer made responsible for collection.
• Tribal conflicts: In place of cattle, the acquisition of territories was now a cause of dispute.
• Priest: With the rising importance of the king (Rajanya Kshatriya) dominance of Brahmins also increased since they legitimized the office of ruler by conducting rituals.
• Army: Like in the Rigvedic period, even in the later Vedic period also king didn’t possess a standing army.

Later Vedic Society

• Varna system: The position of four varnas, namely the Brahmanas, Rajanyas or Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, became rigid. The growing cult of sacrifices enormously strengthened Brahmanas. The first three varnas were entitled to Upanayana or sacred thread, but Shudras were deprived of it. The concept of Varna had the following features:
  1. Status by birth
  2. Hierarchical ordering of varnas (Brahmanas being on top and Shudras at the base).
  3. Endogamy and ritual purity.
• Code of Conduct: The varna system was also attached to the concept of Dharma, i.e. Universal law; it was an attempt to establish a social law for a systematic functioning of the society. 
• Institution of Gotra: The institution of gotra (literally meaning cow pen) emerged during this period. People practised gotra exogamy (marrying outside the gotra) as against tribal endogamy (marriage within the tribe). Gotra denoted descent from a common ancestor, and marriages could not occur between couples belonging to the same gotra.
• Ashramas: Ashramas, or the four stages of life, were not well established in the Vedic period. In post-Vedic texts, we hear about three ashramas- Brahmachari or student, Grihastha or householder, Vanaprastha or hermit. The fourth ashram, Sanyasin or ascetic, was not known till the time the early Upanishads were written.
• Position of women: We notice the increasing power of the father in the family. In princely families, the concept of primogeniture was getting more prominent. Women were generally given lower positions and considered inferior and subordinate to men.

Religion during Later Vedic Period

• Sacrifices and rituals: Sacrifices became even more elaborate in the later Vedic period and attained public and private character. The rising complexities of rituals and yajnas gave further impetus to the priestly class.
• Assimilation of cultures: Post-Vedic texts like Atharva Veda suggest the assimilation of Aryan culture with non-Aryan practices and beliefs.
• Tribal gods: The two important Rigvedic gods, Indra and Agni, lost their former importance. 

God	Description
Prajapati, the creator	Occupied the supreme position in the later-Vedic pantheon.
Rudra and Vishnu	They were initially minor Rigvedic gods who came to the forefront in the later Vedic age.
Pushan	who was supposed to look after cattle, came to be regarded as the god of the Shudras.

• Age of Upanishads: It was the age when Upanisads started coming to form, and various Philosophical ideas began taking shape. This philosophical enquiry continued for at least a Millenia when the Upanishads were compiled. Following is the approximate location of various theological schools where the Upanishads were compiled.
  • This eventually led to the growth of six schools of Vedic Philosophy (or the orthodox schools of Philosophy), namely: Samkhya, Vaishesika, Nyaya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta.

• Reaction against priestly domination: Towards the end of the Vedic period, a strong reaction against cults, rituals, and priestly domination began, especially in the land of Panchala and Videha (a tribe settled in North Bihar), where around 600 BC, the Upanishads were compiled. These philosophical texts criticized the rituals and stressed the right belief and knowledge.

Metallurgy, Art and Craft during Later Vedic Period 

The later Vedic period also saw a rise in art and craft. 

• Copper was also found at various PGW sites, one of the first metals to be used by Vedic people.
• Iron Age: The period after 1000BCE is marked by the widespread use of Iron in India. However, there are various hotly debated older discoveries from RBW areas of North India and Megalith areas of south India too.

• Jewel-makers are also mentioned in later Vedic texts, and they possibly catered to the needs of the wealthy class.
• Weaving was mainly done by women but was practiced on a wide scale, and leather work, pottery, and carpenter’s works also made great progress.
• Pottery: The Later Vedic people were aware of four types of pottery – Black and red ware, Black-slipped ware, Painted grey ware and Redware.  

Economy during Later Vedic Age

• Agriculture: Unlike the Rigvedic period Agriculture became the primary source of livelihood. The availability of a vast expanse of fertile alluvial lands of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and the middle Ganga valley and the use of iron in clearing forests supported agriculture.
  • While cultivation of Barley continued, during this period, rice (Vrihi) and wheat became the chief crop. In addition, various kinds of lentils were also produced.
  • Wooden ploughs were still used.
  • However, the later Vedic texts reflect the continued importance of pastoralism.
• Importance of land increased: Sedentary lifestyle and agricultural growth made the land a vital source of wealth. However, the concept of private ownership of land still did not exist. The textual reference suggests communal ownership of land over which the vis (Vaishya) had major participatory rights.
• State of Urbanization: Society was largely rural; however, towards the end of the period, we see traces of the beginning of urbanization, as the “Nagar” is mentioned in the post-Vedic texts.
• Medium of exchange: While the barter system continued, we hear the term ‘Nishka’ referred to as a coin, majorly gold coin.

Conclusion

The Later Vedic Period, spanning from 1000 BC to 600 BC, marks a transformative era in ancient Indian history. This period is known for advances in agriculture facilitated by iron technology, this period saw the Vedic  culture expand into the fertile Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Social structures evolved with the solidification of the Varna system, and complex rituals emphasized the rising dominance of the Brahmins. As settlements grew, the foundation for future urban centers and sophisticated state systems began to emerge, setting the stage for the subsequent Mahajanapadas Period.

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FAQ’s Related to Later Vedic Period

Q1. What were the chief features of the later Vedic period?

The later Vedic period featured complex social structures, caste systems, and expansion of Vedic rituals. Agriculture became prominent, with iron tools in use.

Q2. What is the later Vedic period associated with?

The later Vedic period is associated with the composition of the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and early Upanishads, reflecting a shift from ritualistic practices to philosophical inquiries.

Q3. Who composed later Vedic period?

The later Vedic texts were composed by sages and scholars who were part of the Brahmanical class. The later Vedic texts, primarily the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and some of the earliest Upanishads, were composed between 1100 and 500 BCE.

Q4. Why is the later Vedic Age called the epic age?

The later Vedic Age is called the epic age because it saw the composition of the epic texts, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which reflect the socio-political and religious ideas of the time.

Explore additional significant articles on Ancient Indian History listed in the table below:

Harappan Civilization	Various Aspects of Harappan Civilization
Stone Age	Decline of Harappan Culture
Vedic Period	The Mahajanapadas
Mauryan Empire	Gupta Empire