Aryan Invasion Theories And Early Vedic Period on the basis of recent reserches

1. By Dr Ashwani Asthana

2.  The oldest surviving record of the Aryan is Rig Veda. The
Rig Veda does not give any and even inking of migration
of Aryan from any other areas. It did not have a faint
memory of any migration.
 It does not even have any knowledge of the geography
beyond the known boundaries of Ancient India. Mortimer
Wheeler think that Aryans came to India in 1500 B.C.
 Max Muller thought even 1200/1000 B.C date could be
assigned to this event. This was because Max Muller as a
true Christian believed in Bible and according to which the
world was created on 23rd October 4004 BC
 Many scholars think that Aryan were original inhabited of
India and they did not come outside of India.
 It has been argued that there is no archaeological or
biological evidence which could establish the arrival of
new people from outside between 5000 B.C and 800 B.C.

3. The skeleton remains found from various Harappan
sites resemble the skeleton of the modern
population of the same geographical area.
EARLY VEDIC PERIOD
The most important sources are the Vedas and Veda
means knowledge. Vedas are neither religious work
nor compilation of different books at a time.
The Vedic literature had grown on the course of
many centuries and handed down from generation
to generation by words of mouth.
It consists of three successive classes of literary
creations. Some of these are still exist and many
are completely lost forever. They are Vedas,
Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishad.
Vedas: Collection of hymns, prayers, charms, litanies
and sacrificial formulae. There are four Vedas
namely

4.  Rig Veda: Collection of hymns. It is one of the oldest &
vast.
 Sama Veda: Collection of Songs derived many from Rig
Veda.
 Yajur Veda: Collection of sacrificial formulae.
 Atharveda: Collection of charms and spells.
 The Vedas formed earliest segment of Vedic literature
and amongst the Vedas, Rig Veda is the oldest.
 Brahmanas: These are prose text which contained
details about the meaning of Vedic hymns, their
applications, stories of their origin etc. In a way these
contents a detail about ritual and philosophical aspect.
 Aranyakas and Upanishads: These are partly included in
Brahmanas. It attached too and partly existed as a
separate work. They embodied philosophical
meditations of the hermit and ascetic on god, soul and
world etc. The Aranyakas and Upanishads are attached
to one another of the four Vedas.

5. Authorship of the Vedic literature
Although the hymns are attributed to rishis, pious
Hindus have also laid stressed upon their divine
origin.
Thus the Vedas are called Apaurusheyas (not created
by man) and Nitya (existing in all eternity) while the
rishis are known as seers who inspired the mantras
from the supreme deity.
Vedic Geography
From the names of rivers and mountains mention in
Rig Veda, we have clear the idea of geographical
area in which Rig Vedic peoples or Aryans lived.
The Nadi Sukhta hymn of Rig Veda mentioned the
names of 21 rivers which included Ganga in the
east and Kubha (Kabul) in the west.
All the rivers like Yammuna, Saraswati, Satluj, Ravi,
Jhelum and Indus located in between.

6. Ganga and Kabul rivers are not arbitrary mentioned but
serially beginning Ganga in the east and Kubha in the
west.
Rig Vedic mentioned Himalayan and Mujabvat mountains
in the north. It also mentioned ocean (Samudra) in
connection with the rivers. Sindhu and Saraswati were
falling in ocean.
Ocean is also mentioned in context to overseas trade. The
Vedic Geography, therefore, covers present day western
U.P, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and south to
Afghanistan.
The river Saraswati is treated as most pious river.
Material Cultures of Early Vedic people and Archaeology.
Rig Vedic States: The territories known to the Vedic
peoples were divided into numbers of states, republic
and monarchical.
The battle of 10 kings gives names of 10 kings who
participated in a war against sudas who was Bharat,
king of Titsus family.

7. The 10 kings were of the states of Purus, Yadus,
Turvas, Annus and Diryus along with five other
Alines, Pakhtas, Bhalanas, Sibhis, and Vishanins.
The battle was fought on the bank of Parushani
i.e Ravi and Sudas emerged victories. In the
context of other peoples and kings like Ajias,
Sigrus, Yakshus,
the Bharatas who gave their name to the whole
country as Bharatbharsha are the most important
people of Rig Veda. They settled in the region
between Saraswati and Yammuna.
Similarly the Rig Veda gives other names of people
like Purus in the region of Kuru Kshetra, the Titsu
east of Ravi, the Alines and Pakhtas, the Balanas
and the Sibis west of Indus upto Kabul and so on.
The struggle for supremacy among different kings
and republic’s chiefs were a part of the
evolutionary process towards the formation of a
larger political entity.

8.  Polity and Administration
 The Political structure of Rig Vedic India may be
treated in the following ascending orders.
 The Family (Kula)
 The Village (Grama)
 The Clan (Vis)
 The People (Jana)
 The Country ( Rashtra)
 It was the smallest unit. It includes all the people
living under the same roof (griha). An aggregate of
several families made the gram of today and its
headman was called Gramini, the next larger
formation was called the Vis under the head called
Vishwapati, larger then Vis was Jan.
 Regarding the Jan we get mention of Panckya Janya
and of people called Yadus (Yadava Janah) and
Bharatas (Bharat Janah).

9. The king is also called the protector or people above the
Jan were Rashtra.
The kingdoms Rashtra were generally small state ruled by
kings/ Rajans but the word Samrat does indicated that
some of them must have had bigger kingdoms and
enjoyed the position of greater authority and dignity
marginally different from others.
The king administered the justice with the assistance of
Purohita and other officials. For his services the king
was paid Bali (Voluntary gift or tribute).
The Bali came to the king from his own people and also
from defeated people.
Theft, cattle lifting, robbery, burglary, loot were the
principle crimes which were strongly dealt by the
administration.
Among the royal important officials were the Purohit
(chief priest and minister), Senani (army chief), Gramini
(head of the village).

10.  We also hear of dutas means envoys and spies i.e spas.
There must have been many other great prominence is
given in the Rig Veda two popular assemblies called
Sabha and Samiti.
 Society
 The Rig Vedic Society composed of four varnas namely
Brahmans, Kshetriya, Vaishya and Sudra.
 The classification of society was based on the
occupation of individuals, the teachers and priest were
called Brahmans, rulers and administrators were called
Kshetriyas, farmer, merchant and bankers were called
Vaishyas and artisans and laborers as Sudra.
 These vacation were followed by persons according to
their ability and liking and the occupations had not
become hereditary as they become later on members of
the same family took two different professions and
belonged to different worlds is well illustrated by a
hymns of Rig Veda [ IX.112].

11. In this hymns a person says I am a singer, my father is a
physician, my mother is a grinder of corns having
various occupation desiring riches, we remain (in the
world) like cattle (in a stall).
It is therefore clear that there was freedom and mobility
for the adoption of a profession and the idea of heredity
traits and occupations was envisaged in society.
The unit of society was family primarily monogamous and
practices child marriage was not in vogue. There are few
references of freedom in marriage. Widow can marry
younger brothers of her dead husband.
The wife was husband’s partner in all religious and social
ceremonies. The father’s property was inherited by son.
The daughter could inherit the property if she is the only
child of her parents. Right to property was known in the
movable and things like cattle, horse, gold and
ornaments and also immovable property like land and
house.

12.  Sabha and Samiti formed essential feature of the
government.
 We have no definite information of the distinctive
between the two most probably Samiti which
mainly dealt with policy decision and political
business included common people while the Sabha
less political in character was a more select badly
of elders and nobles. I
 It was through these two assemblies that the will of
the people on important matters of the Rashtra was
expressed.
 Education
 The home of the teacher was the school where he
tough the particular sacred text. The texts were in
the first instance learned by peoples repeating the
words tough by the teacher.
 A great importance was attached to emancipation
and pronunciation. Intense training was given to
students. These training and learning which saved
a huge mass of Vedic literature.

13.  Food and Drinks
 Milk and its products like curd, butter and ghee
fromed an important part of the diet.
 That is also mention of grain cooked in mild
(Khira-pakamadanam), bread (chappati) of wheat
and barley was eaten mixed with ghee not only
were fish, birds, wild animals like bore, antelope
and buffalo etc eaten but in ceremonic occasion
the meat of animal which were sacrificed such as
sheep, goat and buffalo etc was also eaten.
 The cow was already deemed aghnya means not
to be killed. The Veda described the penalty of
death or expulsion from the kingdom of those
who killed or injured the cow. Sura and Som were
also consumed though their consumption has
been condemned because of its intoxicating
effects.
 It sometimes gave rise to brail in Sabha.

14.  Economic Life
 The life centered on cattle rearing, agriculture and trade
and commerce. Oxen were used for ploughing and
drawing carts and horses for drawing the chariots, other
domestics animals were cow, sheep, dog, ass and buffalo.
 Rig Veda attached great important agriculture. The plough
was drawn by the oxen at times in terms of 6-8 or even 12
the grains were harvested with sickle.
 The manure was also used form the various references in
Rig Veda. It appears that irrigation was also practiced.
Excess of rain and drought is mentioned as damaging the
crops.
 The grains are collectively called Dhanya and Yava. But in
later Vedic text we have mention of 10 types of cultivated
grains. Among other occupations pottery making, weaving,
carpenter, metal working, leather working etc are most
noteworthy and during this Rig Vedic period only copper
was used for which the general term Ayas has been used
in the later period.
 When iron came into use copper and iron came to be
known as Lohit Ayas and Sayam Ayas.

15.  The trade and traders (vanik) were known in Rig Vedic
era. Barter was in vogue. It has been found that to cows
were quoted as price for an image of Indra.
 The conception of money ca be traced in the mentioned
of gift of 180 rishaka. Money lending was also known.
There is also mention of 8th or 6th part of one being
paid either as a part of interest or part of principal.
 The sea is mentioned in the context of trade and ocean.
Wealth life pearl and shells and god of sea voyage were
praised during the journey and were known as Aswins.
 Religion and Philosophy
 During the Rig Vedic time the God worshipped are
generally personified the nature. The Vedic god can be
classified into 3 classes.
 Terrestrial(Prithivi)
 Arial or intermediate (Antaric sthana)
 Celestial (dysu sthana)

16.  Prithivi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and rivers belongs to
one category. Indra, Apan Napat, Rudra, Vayuvata,
Parjanya and Apah(water) to the 2nd and Dyaus,
Varuna, Mitra, Surya, Sabitri, Pushana, Vishnu, Adityas,
Ushas, and Asuins to the 3rd category.
 Indra and Varuna, the supreme cosmic and moral ruler
standout in that order pre-eminent above the rest.
Agni and Soma were also popular deities.
 Agni was reserved as messenger between earth and
heaven. Farther Agni is the only god who is regarded
as present amongst all the categories of God. The God
is described as born although they are imported.
 In appearance they are human but sometimes animals
like Dyus was a bull and swift horse. The food of man
such as milk, grain flesh etc becomes the food of God
when offer in the sacrifice.
 All the whole gods are benevolent. Some of them also

17.  Praying and offering of these gods were made for material gains
and also for enlightened of knowledge. For example, the most
popular and famous Gayatri Mantra is recited by pious Hindus
even today.
 Besides the ritualistic aspect of the religion, there is profound
philosophy. The multiplicity of God is openly questioned and
ultimate unity of universe is asserted as the creation of one god
to whom different designation applied.
 The creation is deemed as the outcome of sacrifice made by the
Virat Purus or of evolution form none being manifested in the
form of water. It is said that Hirana Garbhargh arose of the great
water pervading the universe and thus created the waves out of
eternity pre existing matter.
 Critical consideration of the evidence of Rig Veda leads to the
conclusion that it contains their people and the civilization refers
to the Harappan civilization.
 Example, reference of Rig Vedic deities in Bhokhazkhoi
inscription of 1400 BC would indicated that Rig Veda existed
earlier and culture migrated from India to Asia Minor in that early
age.
 The age of Rig Veda in its final form should be placed not later
than about 3000 BC and let’s examined differences and
similarity between Harappan and Vedic.

18.  Geographical distribution of the Harappan can be
seen on the light of Rig Veda also. Ganga in the east
and Kubha in the west.
 Amongst the rivers in the Rig Veda, the Saraswati is
considered to be the most important and sacred. The
area around Saraswati and its tributaries were the
core areas of Harappan civilization and more than
80% of settlements are located in Saraswati basin.
 Thus Rig Vedic geography and Harappan geography
are same.
 Rig Veda refers to 100’s of cities, town and forts
which are broad (Prithivi) and wide (Urvi) full of Kine
(Gomati), of hundred pillars. Saptaghji built of stone
(Asmamya) and automanal saradi forts as refugee
against inundation. Indra is known as Purandari i.e
lord of cities.
 The Rig Veda also mentioned business and
merchandized people to whom they called as Vanik
and Banis respectively and refers to the Vedic people
such as Turbas and Indus as hailing from the sea.

19.  Most of three animals known to the Indus people also
known to Rig Vedic peoples such as sheep, goat and
Buffalo.
 The animals hunted by the Rig Vedic people are
antelope, buffalo, bore, lion, elephant etc. Most of
which are known to the Harappans.
 Horse was an important animal in Vedic people. Horse
and terracotta figurines found at some Harappan sites.
Worship of Papal tree, bull, siva lingas is seen in
Harappan civilization.
 Kamandalu which is seen in modern day as one of the
most auspicious possession of aesthetics also found in
Harappan civilization. Various terracotta figurines in
Yogic posture have also been found. Some terracotta
figurines of women found at Nohsero still have
vermillion in their head parting.
 It is the most sacred symbol of married Hindu women.
Terracotta tablets from Harappan depict the scene of
Mehisha Mardini.

20.  The story of the cunning fox and thrusty crow are
found painted on Harappan Vase. The Swastika
sacred symbol is found on seals as well as in
paintings.
 The fire alters serving as Hawan Kunda has been
very much important part of Harappan civilization.
 As regards the Rig Veda, ornaments of gold
(Hiranya), ear ring, necklace, bracelet, anklet,
jewels fro the neck. Most of these are present in
Harappan material culture.
 Rig Veda refers to the weaver and his loom, the
shuttle, rap and the wool fro weaving a cloth.
Central meaning of cloth has been found from
certain Harappan sites and image weaving cloths.
 Charpai takhti, mirror etc. were also found in
Harappan period. Therefore it seems that the
Harappan civilization and Rig Vedic culture have
very close resembles and further reaches in this
field will certainly through a short of attesting light
on this subject.

21. The whole question of Aryan invasion theory has most aptly
summed up by the famous anthropologist Prof. Edwmund
Leach at the Cambridge University in 1990.
His famous article “Aryan Invasion over four Millennia”,
published in the book “Culture through time”. In
Anthropological approach, he wrote “why do senior scholars
persist in believing in the Aryan invasion. Why was this sort of
thing attraction, who finds it attractive? Why has the
development of early Sanskrit come to be so dogmatically
associated with an Aryan invasion?
The details of this theory fitted with this recent framework. The
origin myth of British colonial imperialism had the elite
administration in the Indian civil service to see them as
bringing pure civilization to a country in which the civilization
of the most sophisticated kind was already nearly 6000 years
old.
Here I will only remarks that the whole if these myth on the
British middle class imagination is so strong that even today
about 49 years after the creation of independent India and
independent Pakistan.
The Aryan invasions of second millennium B.C is still treated as
if they work and established fact of history. The Aryan
invasion never happen at all