Vedic Period Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
In this note
- 1.Two Phases of the Vedic Age
- 2.The Four Vedas
- 3.Other Vedic Texts
- 4.Early Vedic Society, Polity and Economy
- 5.Gods of the Early Vedic Age
- 6.Later Vedic Period: Changes
- 7.Early Vedic and Later Vedic: Difference
- 8.Quick Tips
- 9.Quick Revision Points
- 10.Practice Questions With Answers
- 11.How to Practise This Chapter
- 12.Frequently Asked Questions
PDF Notes: Vedic Period Notes for SSC Exams
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The Vedic period is the age of the Aryans, named after the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of India. It is divided into the Early Vedic or Rigvedic period and the Later Vedic period. SSC exams ask about the Vedas, the gods, the society, the political system and the difference between the two periods. These Vedic period notes for SSC give everything in simple tables with practice questions.
Two Phases of the Vedic Age
| Phase | Period (approx.) | Main source | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Vedic (Rigvedic) | 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE | Rigveda | Sapta Sindhu (land of the seven rivers) in the Punjab area |
| Later Vedic | 1000 BCE to 600 BCE | Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads | Upper Gangetic plain |
The Four Vedas
| Veda | Main subject |
|---|---|
| Rigveda | Oldest Veda; 1028 hymns in 10 mandalas; hymns of praise to gods |
| Samaveda | Music and chants; the origin of Indian music |
| Yajurveda | Rules of sacrifices and rituals |
| Atharvaveda | Magic spells, charms and medicine |
- The Gayatri Mantra is in the third mandala of the Rigveda, and it is dedicated to Savitri.
- The Purusha Sukta in the tenth mandala of the Rigveda describes the origin of the four varnas.
- The word "Veda" means knowledge.
Other Vedic Texts
| Text | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Brahmanas | Explain the rituals and sacrifices |
| Aranyakas | Forest books, with the philosophy of rituals |
| Upanishads | Philosophy of the soul (Atman) and the Brahman; called Vedanta; "Satyameva Jayate" is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad |
| Vedangas | Six limbs of the Vedas: Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chhanda and Jyotisha |
Early Vedic Society, Polity and Economy
| Area | Features |
|---|---|
| Family | Patriarchal; the family was called kula, and its head was kulapa |
| Tribe | The tribe (jana) was headed by the king (rajan); the clan was vish and the village was grama |
| Assemblies | Sabha, Samiti and Vidatha; the Samiti and the Sabha limited the power of the king |
| Women | Respected; scholars like Gargi, Maitreyi and Lopamudra; no child marriage |
| Economy | Mainly cattle rearing (pastoral); the cow was the main wealth; farming was secondary |
| Social divisions | Mainly based on work, not rigid; the varna system began to develop |
| Battle | The Battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna) on the river Parushni (Ravi), in which King Sudas of the Bharata tribe won |
Gods of the Early Vedic Age
| God | Role |
|---|---|
| Indra (Purandara) | God of war and rain; the most important god |
| Agni | God of fire; the messenger between men and gods |
| Varuna | God of water and the moral order (Rita) |
| Soma | God of plants and the drink Soma |
| Surya, Savitri, Ushas | Gods of the sun and the dawn |
Later Vedic Period: Changes
| Area | Features |
|---|---|
| Polity | Kingdoms (janapadas) became bigger; the king's power increased; the Sabha and the Samiti lost importance; rituals like Rajasuya, Ashvamedha and Vajapeya were performed |
| Economy | Agriculture became the main occupation; iron (shyama ayas) was used; Painted Grey Ware (PGW) pottery |
| Society | The four varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) became rigid and by birth; gotra system started |
| Ashramas | Four stages of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa |
| Gods | Prajapati, Vishnu and Rudra became important; Indra and Agni lost importance |
| Women | Position fell compared to the early period |
Early Vedic and Later Vedic: Difference
| Point | Early Vedic | Later Vedic |
|---|---|---|
| Main occupation | Cattle rearing | Agriculture |
| Main god | Indra | Prajapati |
| Varna | Based on work | Based on birth |
| Political unit | Tribe (jana) | Territorial kingdom (janapada) |
| Metal | Copper | Iron |
| Source | Rigveda | Other Vedas, Brahmanas and Upanishads |
Quick Tips
- Learn the four Vedas with their subject in one table.
- Remember that the Rigveda has 1028 hymns in 10 mandalas.
- Learn the differences between the two periods in one comparison table.
- Remember the famous lines: Gayatri Mantra (Rigveda) and Satyameva Jayate (Mundaka Upanishad).
Quick Revision Points
- The Rigveda is the oldest Veda, with 10 mandalas.
- The Samaveda is the source of Indian music.
- The Sapta Sindhu region was the home of the early Vedic people.
- Indra was the most important god of the Rigvedic age.
- Agriculture and iron became important in the later Vedic age.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which is the oldest Veda?
Answer: Rigveda - How many mandalas are there in the Rigveda?
Answer: 10 - Which Veda is related to music?
Answer: Samaveda - Which Veda is related to magic and spells?
Answer: Atharvaveda - Which was the most important god of the early Vedic age?
Answer: Indra - Which text contains the Gayatri Mantra?
Answer: Rigveda - What is the meaning of "Veda"?
Answer: Knowledge - Which battle was fought on the river Parushni?
Answer: Battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna) - Which are the four ashramas?
Answer: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa - From which Upanishad is "Satyameva Jayate" taken?
Answer: Mundaka Upanishad
How to Practise This Chapter
Make a comparison table of the early and later Vedic periods and revise it daily for a week. Then solve questions from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapter, Buddhism and Jainism, and the earlier chapter Indus Valley Civilization. See all topics on the Indian History notes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vedic period?
The Vedic period is the age of the Aryans, from about 1500 BCE to 600 BCE, named after the Vedas.
What are the two phases of the Vedic period?
The two phases are the Early Vedic (Rigvedic) period from 1500 to 1000 BCE and the Later Vedic period from 1000 to 600 BCE.
How many Vedas are there?
There are four Vedas: the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda.
What is the Rigveda?
The Rigveda is the oldest Veda. It has 1028 hymns in 10 mandalas.
What are the Upanishads?
The Upanishads are philosophical texts about the soul and the Brahman. They are also called Vedanta.
What were the political assemblies of the early Vedic age?
The Sabha, the Samiti and the Vidatha were the assemblies that advised the king.
What was the main occupation in the early Vedic age?
The main occupation was cattle rearing, and the cow was the main form of wealth.
What changed in the later Vedic period?
Agriculture and iron became important, kingdoms became bigger, and the varna system became rigid and based on birth.
What are the four ashramas?
They are the four stages of life: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest dweller) and Sanyasa (renunciation).
What was the Battle of the Ten Kings?
It was a battle on the river Parushni (Ravi) in which King Sudas of the Bharata tribe defeated a group of ten tribes.
How can I remember the Vedic period easily?
Learn the Vedas and texts in one table, and the differences between the early and later periods in a comparison table.
How many questions come from the Vedic period in SSC exams?
Usually one question comes from the Vedic period in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.
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Buddhism and Jainism Notes for SSC Exams
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Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.