The Vedic Culture

1.Original Home of the Aryans

• Arrival and Spread of the Indo-Aryans (Aryavarta)Importance 3/5UPSC 1999, 2026
  Which Sanskrit-speaking people entered north-west India as the Harappan cities declined, and from which region? Learn the stages of their spread: the north-west valleys, the Punjab and the Indo-Gangetic plains. Why did they keep moving, and which part of India came to be called Aryavarta by the 6th century B.C.?
• Periodisation of the Vedic AgeImportance 3/5
  Remember the two periods of the Vedic age, the other name for the first one, and the date range of each. These dates are approximate and conventional. Use them to place any Vedic fact in its period.
• Theories of the Original Home of the AryansImportance 3/5
  Is the original home of the Aryans settled or debated? Remember the regions scholars have proposed. Which scholar argued for the Arctic region, and on what basis? Also know which region is most widely accepted as the original home, and what the Aryans who entered India came to be called.

2.Vedic Literature

• Meaning of the Word VedaImportance 2/5
  From which root does the word 'Veda' come, and what does it mean? Remember both the root and the sense of the word.
• The Four Vedas and Their ContentImportance 5/5UPSC 2004
  Which are the four Vedas, and which is the earliest? Remember the number of hymns in the Rig Veda. Be clear about what the Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas each contain or were used for. Is the Atharva Veda only about rituals, or does it also hold charms, spells and everyday practices? Which Veda is linked to the origins of Indian music?
• Brahmanas, Aranyakas and UpanishadsImportance 4/5
  Which of these texts deals with prayer and sacrifice, which with mysticism and rites (and why is it called 'forest books'), and which with the soul, the absolute and the origin of the world? You should be able to tell the three apart by their subject.
• The Epics and Their AuthorsImportance 2/5
  Who are the traditional authors of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata? Remember each epic with its author.

3.Rig Vedic Age or Early Vedic Period (1500 - 1000 B.C.)

• Saptasindhu and the Rig Vedic RegionImportance 4/5UPSC 1996, 2026
  In which region were the Rig Vedic Aryans mostly settled? What does 'Saptasindhu' mean, and which seven rivers does it include? Remember all seven by name. Also know which text is the source for Rig Vedic life.
• Units of Rig Vedic Polity and Their HeadsImportance 3/5
  Remember the units of Rig Vedic polity: kula, grama, visu (vis) and jana. Can you arrange them from the smallest to the highest? Who headed each unit? Note that the head of the vis is usually called the vishpati.
• Rig Vedic Tribes and KingshipImportance 2/5
  Learn the names of the main tribal kingdoms (Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus, Purus). What was the head of a tribe called? Was the polity monarchical, and how did a king get his position?
• Purohita and SenaniImportance 2/5
  How did the purohita and the senani each help the Rig Vedic king in administration?
• Sabha and SamitiImportance 5/5
  What kind of popular bodies were the Sabha and the Samiti in the Rig Vedic period? How did they differ in membership? Which seems to have been the council of elders, and which the general assembly of all the people? Could women attend these assemblies?
• Rig Vedic Family and MarriageImportance 3/5UPSC 1996
  Understand the nature of Rig Vedic society and family. What was the family called, and who headed it? Was one wife the general rule, and in which families was having several wives found?
• Status of Women in the Rig Vedic PeriodImportance 4/5UPSC 1995
  What role did women have in the household and in ceremonies? Remember the women poets (Apala, Vishvavara, Ghosha, Lopamudra). Was there child marriage or sati in this period? You should be able to contrast this with the Later Vedic period.
• Dress, Food and PastimesImportance 2/5
  Learn the materials used for clothing, the chief articles of food, and the favourite pastimes. What was the status of the cow among animals?
• Social Divisions in the Rig Vedic PeriodImportance 2/5
  Were social divisions rigid in the Rig Vedic period? Understand how this differed from the Later Vedic period.
• Main Occupation and Wealth in the Rig Vedic PeriodImportance 3/5
  What was the main occupation of the Rig Vedic Aryans, and how was wealth measured? Understand how this economy differs from the Later Vedic economy.
• Agriculture and Crafts in the Rig Vedic PeriodImportance 3/5UPSC 2017, 2026
  When did the Rig Vedic Aryans take up agriculture? Learn the main crafts and what each produced: carpenters, metal workers, spinners, goldsmiths and potters. Which metals did Rig Vedic metal workers use, and when did iron come into use?
• Rig Vedic Trade and the NishkaImportance 2/5
  How was trade carried on, and what helped movement of goods? Remember what the nishka was and what it was used for.
• Rig Vedic Gods and Their RolesImportance 5/5UPSC 2011
  Which natural forces did the Rig Vedic Aryans worship, and how did they turn them into gods? Remember the main gods (Prithvi, Agni, Vayu, Indra) and what each stood for. Which god was the most popular? Who came next, and why? What was Varuna's role in the cosmic order (rta), and what was his link with the waters?
• Female Deities of the Rig VedaImportance 2/5
  Remember the goddesses named in the Rig Veda.
• Mode of Rig Vedic WorshipImportance 4/5UPSC 2012
  Were there temples and idols in Rig Vedic worship? Learn why prayers were offered and what was given as offerings. You should be able to contrast this with worship in the Later Vedic period.

4.Later Vedic Period (1000 – 600 B.C.)

• Eastward Expansion in the Later Vedic PeriodImportance 2/5
  In which direction did the Aryans move in the Later Vedic period? Which text refers to their expansion, and into which region? Understand why the growth of large kingdoms was a key development of this period.
• Later Vedic Kingdoms and Their RulersImportance 3/5
  Which kingdoms flourished first, and which rose after them? Remember the famous rulers: the Kuru kings, the Panchala king known as a patron of learning, the ruler of Kasi, and Janaka of Videha (his capital and court scholar). Which were the easternmost kingdoms? Do not confuse the Kasi ruler with the later Magadhan king of the same name.
• Three Divisions of India in Later Vedic TextsImportance 2/5
  Later Vedic texts divide India into three parts. Remember each division and the region it covered.
• Growth of Kingdoms and Royal PowerImportance 3/5
  What happened to many janas in the Later Vedic period, and what were the new units called? Understand the link between the size of a kingdom and the power of its king.
• Royal Sacrifices and TitlesImportance 4/5
  Learn the three royal sacrifices (Rajasuya, Asvamedha, Vajapeya) and what each was. Remember the titles kings took, such as Ekrat and Samrat. Why did kings perform these sacrifices?
• New Officials and Village AssembliesImportance 1/5
  Which new officials joined the administration besides the purohita, senani and gramani? Who carried on administration at the lower levels?
• Sabha and Samiti in the Later Vedic PeriodImportance 4/5
  How did the standing of the Sabha and Samiti change after the Rig Vedic period? Understand this change against the growth of royal power.
• Iron and the Spread of AgricultureImportance 3/5UPSC 1998
  How did the use of iron help farming? Which became the chief occupation? Remember the crops grown besides barley, and the new knowledge that improved the soil.
• Crafts and SpecialisationImportance 1/5
  Industry became more varied and specialised in this period. Which crafts made great progress?
• Later Vedic Trade, Merchants and GuildsImportance 3/5UPSC 2012
  Learn how trade grew, both within the country and abroad. Which merchant class appeared? Understand how Vaisya traders organised themselves in guilds.
• Later Vedic Media of ExchangeImportance 2/5
  Which media of exchange were in use in the Later Vedic period (nishka, satamana, krishnala)? Which one continued from the Rig Vedic period, and which were new?
• Establishment of the Varna SystemImportance 5/5
  Which four varnas made up society? Understand which two enjoyed privileges denied to the others. Who ranked higher, Brahmins or Kshatriyas, and did Kshatriyas ever dispute this? Also learn how occupation-based sub-castes appeared.
• Women and the Family in the Later Vedic PeriodImportance 4/5UPSC 2026
  What happened to the father's power and to women's position in the family? Learn the political right women lost, the change in marriage practice, and the Aitareya Brahmana's view of a daughter. Which women had some privileges? You should be able to contrast this with the Rig Vedic position.
• Later Vedic GodsImportance 4/5
  In the Later Vedic period, which early gods lost importance, and which gods became prominent? Remember the role linked to each new god: Prajapati, Vishnu and Rudra.
• Growth of Sacrifice and Hereditary PriesthoodImportance 2/5
  How did the place of prayer and of sacrifice change? Understand why priesthood became hereditary, and who created and developed the sacrificial formulae.
• Reaction Against RitualismImportance 4/5UPSC 2011
  Why did people turn against priestly domination towards the end of this period? Understand its two outcomes: the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, and what the authors of the Upanishads stressed in place of rituals.

1. 1.

   Consider the following statements regarding the Vedic literature:
   1. The Rig Veda is the earliest of the four Vedas.
   2. The Yajur Veda is a collection of hymns sung in praise of various gods.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
2. 2.

   Consider the following statements regarding the polity of the Rig Vedic period:
   1. The Sabha seems to have been a council of elders.
   2. The Samiti seems to have been a general assembly of the entire people.
   3. The polity was normally republican, with the king chosen by election.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: Towards the end of the Later Vedic period, there was a strong reaction against priestly domination and against sacrifices and rituals.
   Statement-II: Priesthood became a hereditary profession, and the priestly class invented and elaborated the formulae for sacrifices.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
4. 4.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Term (Later Vedic period)	Meaning
   1. Rajasuya	Consecration ceremony
   2. Asvamedha	Chariot race
   3. Ekrat	Sole ruler

   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B1 and 3 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
5. 5.

   Consider the following statements regarding the religion of the early Vedic Aryans:
   1. They worshipped natural forces such as earth, fire, wind, rain and thunder.
   2. Temples and idol worship were central to their worship.
   3. Prayers were offered to the gods in the expectation of rewards.
   4. Ghee, milk and grain were given as offerings.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
6. 6.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Rig Vedic god)	List II (Natural force)
   A. Prithvi	1. Fire
   B. Agni	2. Wind
   C. Vayu	3. Thunder
   D. Indra	4. Earth

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
   2. BA-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
   3. CA-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
   4. DA-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
7. 7.

   Consider the following statements regarding the Varna system in Vedic society:
   1. The Brahmanas and Kshatriyas enjoyed privileges that were denied to the Vaisyas and Sudras.
   2. A Brahmin occupied a higher position than a Kshatriya, though Kshatriyas sometimes claimed a higher status.
   3. The Varna system was thoroughly established during the Rig Vedic period.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 2 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
8. 8.

   Consider the following statements regarding the later Vedic literature:
   1. The Brahmanas are treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony.
   2. The Aranyakas are philosophical texts dealing with the soul, the absolute and the origin of the world.
   3. The Upanishads are philosophical texts.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B1 and 2 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1 and 3 only
9. 9.

   The Rig Veda refers to Saptasindhu, the land of seven rivers. Along with the five rivers of Punjab, which two rivers does it include?

   1. AIndus and Saraswathi
   2. BGanga and Yamuna
   3. CIndus and Ganga
   4. DSaraswathi and Yamuna
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements regarding women in the Rig Vedic period:
    1. Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
    2. Women could attend the popular assemblies.
    3. Child marriage was common.
    4. The practice of sati was absent.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
11. 11.

    Consider the following statements regarding the family in the Later Vedic period:
    1. Women lost their political right of attending assemblies.
    2. The power of the father in the family increased.
    3. The status of women improved considerably.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
12. 12.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Person	Kingdom or court
    1. Parikshat	Kuru kingdom
    2. Pravahana Jaivali	Kasi
    3. Yajnavalkya	Court of Janaka of Videha

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
13. 13.

    Consider the following statements regarding the polity of the Later Vedic period:
    1. Many janas were amalgamated to form janapadas or rashtras.
    2. The importance of the Samiti and the Sabha diminished.
    3. Royal power decreased as the size of kingdoms increased.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
14. 14.

    Which one of the following pairs of gods lost their importance in the Later Vedic period?

    1. AIndra and Prajapati
    2. BAgni and Rudra
    3. CVishnu and Rudra
    4. DIndra and Agni
15. 15.

    Which one of the following lists the units of Rig Vedic political organization in ascending order, from the smallest to the highest?

    1. AKula - Grama - Visu - Jana
    2. BGrama - Kula - Visu - Jana
    3. CKula - Visu - Grama - Jana
    4. DKula - Grama - Jana - Visu

1. 1.

   UPSC 1998

   What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India?
   I. Gold coins
   II. Punch-marked silver coins
   III. Iron plough
   IV. Urban culture
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

   1. AIII, IV, I, II
   2. BIII, IV, II, I
   3. CIV, III, I, II
   4. DIV, III, II, I
2. 2.

   UPSC 2026

   Consider the following assertion : In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or the Sutlej flowed into the Yamuna and one major tributary of either had shifted from the Ganga to the Indus or vice versa.
   Which of the following is/are the basis of the above assertion ?
   1. The Nadi-Sukta of the Rigveda
   2. The explorations of the Sutlej and the Yamuna by Robert Bruce Foote
   3. The presence of the same species of dolphins in both the Indus and the Ganga river systems
   Select the answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C1 and 2
   4. D3
3. 3.

   UPSC 2026

   Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ?
   1. Vitasta : Chenab
   2. Asikni : Jhelum
   3. Parushni : Ravi
   4. Yavyavati : Beas
   Select the answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 and 2
   2. B3 and 4
   3. C3 only
   4. D4 only
4. 4.

   UPSC 2026

   In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni (‘mistress of the field’) originate ?

   1. ARigveda
   2. BAtharvaveda
   3. CAshtadhyayi
   4. DArthashastra
5. 5.

   UPSC 2026

   Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period :
   I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
   II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
   Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ?
   1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
   2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra /sreni (sickle).
   3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
   Select the answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B1, 2 and 3
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D3 only
6. 6.

   UPSC 2017

   With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct ?
   1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
   2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
   3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
7. 7.

   UPSC 2012

   The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of

   1. ABhakti
   2. Bimage worship and Yajnas
   3. Cworship of nature and Yajnas
   4. Dworship of nature and Bhakti
8. 8.

   UPSC 2012

   With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country's economy, which of the following statements is/are correct?
   1. Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them.
   2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
   3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members.
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B3 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
9. 9.

   UPSC 2011

   The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements:
   1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one's duties to oneself and to others.
   2. Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
10. 10.

    UPSC 1999

    The term ‘Aryan’ denotes

    1. Aan ethnic group
    2. Ba nomadic people
    3. Ca speech group
    4. Da superior race
11. 11.

    UPSC 1996

    The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is

    1. ASindhu
    2. BSutudri
    3. CSarasvati
    4. DGanga
12. 12.

    UPSC 1996

    In the context of ancient Indian society, which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?

    1. AKula
    2. BVamsa
    3. CKosa
    4. DGotra
13. 13.

    UPSC 1995

    Who among the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?

    1. ALopamudra
    2. BGargi
    3. CLeelavati
    4. DSavitri
14. 14.

    UPSC 2004

    Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?

    1. ARig-veda
    2. BYajur-veda
    3. CAtharva-veda
    4. DSama-veda