Vedic Period


Q.1 Which of the following is a Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda? (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018)

 

(a) Vajasanami (b) Maitrayani (c) Taittiriya (d) Kathak

Ans. (a)

Exp:

  1. The option “Vajasanami” in the question refers to the Vajasaneyi Samhita (also spelled Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā), which is the principal Samhita of the Shukla (White) Yajurveda.
  2. The Yajurveda is traditionally divided into two major branches:

1. Shukla Yajurveda (White Yajurveda): Its Samhita is called the Vajasaneyi Samhita.

2. Krishna Yajurveda (Black Yajurveda): It has several important Samhitas, including:

·  Taittiriya Samhita

·  Maitrayani Samhita

· Kathaka Samhita

·   Kapisthala-Katha Samhita

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q.2 Which of the following is the correct order of the Vedic literature? (U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014)

 

(a) Vedic Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads

(b) Vedic Samhitas, Upnishads, Aranyakas, Brahmanas

(c) Vedic Samhitas, Aranyakas, Brahmanas, Upnishads

(d) Vedic Samhitas, Vedangas, Aranyakas, Smritis

Ans. (a)

Exp:

  1. Vedic literature developed through several layers. The broad conventional sequence used in Ancient Indian history is: Samhitas → Brahmanas → Aranyakas → Upanishads
  2. Samhitas — earliest layer: Samhita literally means a collection/compilation. The four Vedas have their respective Samhitas:

·  Rigveda Samhita → hymns .The Rigveda Samhita is generally regarded as the oldest Vedic text.

·  Samaveda Samhita → chants/melodies

·  Yajurveda Samhita → sacrificial formulas

·  Atharvaveda Samhita → spells, prayers and everyday concerns

  1.  Brahmanas: The Brahmanas are prose texts explaining the meaning, procedures and significance of Vedic sacrifices and rituals. Each Veda has several Brahmanas:
  2. Aitareya Brahmana → Rigveda
  3. Shatapatha Brahmana → Shukla Yajurveda
  4. Taittiriya Brahmana → Krishna Yajurveda
  5. Gopatha Brahmana → Atharvaveda.
  6. Aranyakas: Aranyakas literally means "forest texts" (aranya = forest). They represent a transition from the external ritual emphasis of the Brahmanas toward symbolic, philosophical and meditative interpretation. They discuss:

·  Ritual symbolism

·  Meditation

·  Sacrificial concepts

·  Philosophical ideas. 

They therefore form an important bridge between Brahmanical ritualism and Upanishadic philosophy.

  1. Upanishads: The Upanishads represent the more philosophical layer of Vedic literature. They focus on questions concerning: Brahman, Atman, Ultimate reality, Knowledge, Karma, Rebirth, and Liberation (moksha).

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

 

 

Q.3 Match the List-I and List-II and choose the correct answer from the code given below: (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012)

 

  List-I              List-II

(Vedic Rivers)    (Modern Name)

A. Kubha          1. Gandak

B. Parushni         2. Kabul

C. Sadaneera       3. Ravi

D. Shutudri         4. Sutlej

 

Code:

  A B C D

(a) 1 2 4 3

(b) 2 3 1 4

(c) 3 4 2 1

(d) 4 1 3 2

 

Ans. (b)

Exp:

  1. Kubha is identified with the Kabul River of present-day Afghanistan/Pakistan. It is one of the northwestern rivers mentioned in the Rigveda. The Kabul River ultimately joins the Indus River near Attock in present-day Pakistan.
  2. The Vedic Parushni is identified with the modern Ravi River. Parushni is particularly important because the Battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna) described in the Rigveda is associated with the Parushni River.
  3. The Sadaneera mentioned in Vedic literature is generally identified with the Gandak River. The river is particularly significant in the later Vedic geographical context because it marked the eastern boundary of the region associated with Aryavarta in the Shatapatha Brahmana.
  4.  The Vedic Shutudri is identified with the modern Sutlej River. The Shutudri and Vipash are famously mentioned together in Rigveda 3.33 in a hymn in which Vishvamitra addresses the two rivers.

Therefore, option (b) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4 is the correct answer.

Q.4 Who among the following Vedic deities was believed to be their priest ? (U.P.P.C.S. (Main) 2013)

 

(a) Agni (b) Brihaspati (c) Dyaus (d) Indra

Ans. (b)

Exp:

  1. Brihaspati is a prominent Vedic deity associated with priesthood, sacred speech, ritual knowledge and wisdom. He is traditionally regarded as the purohita (priest) of the gods. Purohita literally means “placed in front” and refers to a priest who officiates or advises in rituals. Bṛhaspati is also associated with brahman (sacred utterance/prayer) and priestly authority. 
  2. Agni is one of the most important Vedic deities and is central to the sacrificial ritual. He is often described as the messenger/mediator between humans and gods, because offerings are conveyed to the gods through the sacrificial fire. The Rigveda opens with: “Agni…” and praises Agni as the hotṛ (sacrificial priest/invoker) in the ritual context.
  3.  Dyaus is the Vedic deity associated with the sky/heaven. He is comparable to the Indo-European concept of a Sky Father.
  4. Indra is the most prominent warrior deity of the Rigvedic period. He is one of the most frequently invoked deities in the Rigveda. He is associated with: Thunder, Rain, War, Victory, Destruction of Vritra, and Release of the waters.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q.5 An inscription of 14th century B.C. which describes the Vedic Gods has been found in - (U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016)

 

(a) Ecbatana (b) Boghaz-Koi (c) Babylon (d) Bisotun

Ans. (b)

Exp:

  1. Boghaz-Koi (modern Boğazkale) is located in present-day Turkey and was the capital of the ancient Hittite Empire, known as Hattusa. A famous Hittite-Mitanni treaty discovered at Boghaz-Koi contains the names of several deities who correspond to important Vedic gods. The treaty is generally dated to the 14th century BCE. The names mentioned include: Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Nasatyas (Ashvins). These names are strikingly similar to major deities known from the Rigvedic tradition.
  2. It provides one of the important pieces of extra-Indian evidence for the Indo-Aryan/Vedic religious tradition. The treaty was between the Hittite king Shattiwaza and the Mitanni kingdom, and the deities were invoked as divine witnesses to the treaty.
  3. Ecbatana was the ancient capital of the Medes and later an important city under the Achaemenids. It is associated with ancient Iranian/Persian history, but the famous 14th-century BCE inscription mentioning the Vedic deities Mitra, Varuna, Indra and Nasatyas was not found at Ecbatana.
  4. Babylon was a major Mesopotamian city in present-day Iraq and is associated with civilizations such as: Babylonians, Hammurabi, Mesopotamian cuneiform tradition
  5.  Bisotun (Behistun) is famous for the Behistun Inscription of the Achaemenid king Darius I. It dates to the 6th century BCE, much later than the 14th century BCE.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.