Besides the Vedas, the Brahmins, the Aranyakas and the Upnishads are also a part of the Vedic literature. The Brahmins consists of the Vedic hymns in simple prose. The Aranyakas were meant for those who gave up wordly life and lived in the forests.
The Upanishads deal with the Indian Philosophy that is the theory of Karma (duty), Maya (illusi/on) and Mukti (salvation).
The later vedic age
It is believed that two great epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata were created in the later vedic age, Other sources of information are the Vedas the sutras the up Vedas and six Darshanas.
The later vedic age so the expansion of Aryan power among tribes in bigger States through merger and extinction.
Expansions of the Aryans
In this period the Aryans started to move towards the plane of the Ganga and Yamuna.
They also penetrated the Vindhya forest and established powerful Kingdom in the Deccan to the north of the Godavari.
They founded many famous towns like Ayodhya Kurukshetra and Kashi
Rise of powerful kingdoms
The established powerful kingdoms Kuru Panchal ko Shala Kashi Magadh and agna. The Cruise occupied Delhi and the adjoining areas called Kurukshetra. Some ambitious Kings after conquering was to territories heart began to perform Ashvamedha Yajna and the Rajasurya yajna. They also assume the title of Samrat re the kings of the king. The king in the later Vedic period became an absolute ruler. The Sabha and the samity lost their powers As you have studied earlier in the Rig Vedic period the Purohit the senani out and the gramini were the main assistants. But in the later Vedic Period there were many new additional officials such as the charioteer, Chamberlain, superintendent, treasurer and collector. There were not much change in the mode of warfare. The king now begin to maintain a regular army in addition to the Kshatriyas. This was necessary because the continuous what that a king had to fight for the extension and protection of his Empire.
Social life
Position of women
- The women began to lose their importance in the later vedic age.
- The Man of the later vedic age did not like the women to take part in the political life.
- The women were excluded from inheriting the father’s property.
- The birth of a daughter in the family was regarded as a source of misery.
- However women got higher education.
Caste system
- The caste system became more rigid during the later vedic age.
- Moving from the one varna to other became difficult.
- Caste begin to be decided by birth of a child in a particular caste.
- Unfortunately the caste system led to many evils.
- The cause of untouchability is the result of the caste system.
- The status of other remained the same.
The four Ashrams
- The Aryans followed very strict code of discipline in their life.
- Divided their whole life span into four well defined parts of 25 years each.
- These four well defined parts or stages were the Brahmachari Ashram grihasth ashram the one vanaprastha Ashram and the Sanyas Ashram.
