Historical Vedic religion 201363 226174291 2008-07-17T04:14:49Z Escarbot 1554195 robot Adding: [[fa:دین ودیک]] {{sprotected2}} {{Hinduism small}} :''This article discusses the historical religious practices in the [[Vedic Sanskrit|Vedic]] time period; see '''[[Hinduism]]''' and '''[[Indian religions]]''' for details of continued religious practices. See [[Śrauta]] for the continuing practice of performance of rituals by an oral passing of hymns/chants through generations.'' The '''religion of the [[Vedic period]]''' (also known as '''Vedism''' or '''Vedic Brahmanism''' or, in a context of Indian antiquity, simply '''Brahmanism'''<ref>The [[Encyclopedia Britannica]] of 2005 uses all of "Vedism", "Vedic Brahmanism" and "Brahmanism", but reserves "Vedism" for the earliest stage, predating the Brahmana period, and defines "Brahmanism" as ''"religion of ancient India that evolved out of Vedism. It takes its name both from the predominant position of its priestly class, the Brahmans, and from the increasing speculation about, and importance given to, Brahman, the supreme power."''</ref>) is the historical predecessor of [[Hinduism]] and the other [[Indian religions]]. Its [[liturgy]] is reflected in the [[Mantra]] portion of the four [[Veda]]s, that are compiled in [[Sanskrit]]. The religious practices centered on a [[Vedic priesthood|clergy]] administering [[ritual|rites]] that often involved [[sacrifice]]s. This mode of worship is largely unchanged today within Hinduism; however, only a small fraction of conservative [[Śrauta|Shrautins]] continue the tradition of oral recitation of hymns learned solely through the oral tradition. Texts dating to the Vedic period, composed in [[Vedic Sanskrit]], are mainly the four [[Vedas|Vedic Samhitas]], but the [[Brahmanas]], [[Aranyakas]] and some of the older [[Upanishad]]s ([[Bṛhadāraṇyaka]], [[Chāndogya]], [[Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana]]) are also considered Vedic. The Vedas record the [[liturgy]] connected with the rituals and sacrifices performed by the 16 or 17 shrauta priests and the [[purohita]]s. According to traditional views, the hymns of the [[Rigveda]] and other Vedic hymns were divinely revealed to the [[rishi]]s, who were considered "hearers" (''[[shruti]]'' means "what is heard"), rather than "authors". However, the Rigvedic hymns clearly speak about composing new hymns by individual authors who were in competition with their colleagues and looked for "payment" by local chieftains. The mode of worship was worship of the elements like fire and rivers, worship of heroic gods like [[Indra]] (quite similar to the Greek religion), [[patha|chanting of hymns]] and performance of sacrifices. The [[Vedic priesthood|priests]] performed the solemn rituals for the noblemen (Kshsatriya) and some wealthy [[Vaishyas]]. People prayed for abundance of children, rain, cattle (wealth), long life and an afterlife in the heavenly world of the ancestors. This mode of worship has been preserved even today in [[Hinduism]], which involves recitations from the [[Veda]]s by a purohita (priest), for prosperity, wealth and general well-being. However, the primacy of Vedic deities has been seconded to the deities of [[Puranas|Puranic]] literature. Elements of Vedic religion reach back into [[Proto-Indo-Iranian]] times. The Vedic period is held to have ended around [[500 BC]], Vedic religion gradually metamorphosizing into the historical [[Indian religions]], such as the various schools of [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], the former further evolving into [[Puranas|Puranic]] [[Hinduism]], the latter diversifying into Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, such as [[Tibetan Buddhism]], [[Chinese Buddhism|Chinese]] and [[Japanese Buddhism|Japanese]] schools.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} ==Rituals== {{main|Yajurveda|yajna}} Specific rituals and sacrifices of the Vedic religion include, among others: *The [[Soma]] cult, frequently referred to in the [[Rigveda]] and descended from a common [[Indo-Iranian]] practice. *[[Fire ritual]]s: **The [[Agnihotra]] or oblation to [[Agni]], a sun charm, **The [[Agnicayana]], the sophisticated ritual of piling the [[Vedic fire altar|fire altar]]. *The [[Agnistoma]] or [[Soma]] sacrifice *The New and Full Moon as well as the Seasonal (Cāturmāsya) sacrifices * The royal consecration (Rajasuya) sacrifice *The [[Ashvamedha]] or [[horse]] sacrifice *The [[Purushamedha]] or sacrifice of a man, imitating that of the cosmic Purusha, cf. [[Purusha Sukta]] as well as the Ashvamedha. *The rituals referred to in the [[Atharvaveda]] concerned with medicine and healing practises, as well as black and white [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]]. The [[Ashvamedha]] (horse sacrifice) has parallels in the [[2nd millennium BC]] Sintashta and [[Andronovo culture]] as well as in Rome (October horse) and medieval Ireland. In India it was allegedly continued until the 4th and even the 18th century CE (Jaya Singh at Jaipur). The practice of vegetarianism may already have arisen in late Vedic times. Although in the Rigveda, the cow's description as ''aghnya'' (that which should not be killed) may refer to poetry,<ref> J. Narten, ''Acta Orientalia Neerlandica'', Leiden 1971, 120-134</ref> it is certain to be reflective of the social practice as were other practices like rituals and deity worship. Incipient change to contemporary vegetarianism is seen as early as the late Brahmanas and [[Upanishads]] and may have continued under the influence of [[Jainism]] and possibly of [[Buddhism]], which began as a reform-movement of the Vedic religion. The Hindu rites of [[cremation]] are seen since the Rgvedic period; while they are attested from early times in the [[Cemetery H culture]], there is a late Rigvedic reference in [[RV 10]].15.14, invoking forefathers "both cremated (''agnidagdhá-'') and uncremated (''ánagnidagdha-'')". ==Pantheon== {{main|Rigvedic deities}} The Vedic pantheon, similar to its [[Greek pantheon|Greek]] or [[Germanic pantheon|Germanic]] counterparts, comprises clans of anthropomorphic deities as well as deified natural phenomena, and like the Germanic [[Vanir]] and [[Aesir]] it knows two classes of gods, [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and [[Asura]]s. The Asuras ([[Mitra]], [[Varuna]], [[Aryaman]], [[Bhaga]], [[Amsa]], etc.) are deities of cosmic and social order, from the universe and kingdoms down to the individual. The [[Rigveda]] is a collection of hymns to various deities, most notably heroic [[Indra]], [[Agni]] the sacrificial fire and messenger of the gods, and [[Soma]], the deified sacred drink of the Indo-Iranians. Also prominent is [[Varuna]] (often paired with Mitra) and the group of "all-gods", the [[Vishvadevas]]. ==Monistic tendencies== In the view of some, the [[Rigveda]], in its youngest books (books 1 and 10) contains hymns for [[monistic]] thought that however need to be interpreted in the context of the individual hymn. Often quoted are [[pada]] 1.164.46c, :''{{IAST|ékam sád víprā́ bahudhā́ vadanti}}'' :"To what is One, sages give many a title" (trans. [[Ralph T.H. Griffith|Griffith]]) and hymns [[Nasadiya Sukta|10.129]] and 10.130, dealing with a creator deity, especially verse 10.129.7: :''{{IAST| iyám vísṛṣṭiḥ yátaḥ ābabhūva / yádi vā dadhé yádi vā ná / yáḥ asya ádhyakṣaḥ paramé vyóman / sáḥ aṅgá veda yádi vā ná véda}}'' :"He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it, / Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not." (trans. Griffith) ''{{IAST|Ékam sát}}''<!--leave the -t. -d in samhita is just sandhi, this is the pausa form--> in 1.164.46c means "being one". Such concepts received greater emphasis in classical [[Hinduism]], from the time of [[Adi Shankara]] at the latest, and they receive emphasis in contemporary Hinduism from pantheistic sects like [[Arya Samaj]]. ==Post-Vedic religions== {{main|Indian religions}} Vedic religion was gradually formalized and concluded into [[Vedanta]], which is the primary institution of [[Hinduism]]. [[Vedanta]] considers itself the 'essence' of the Vedas. The Vedic pantheon was interpreted by a unitary view of the universe with [[Brahman]] seen as immanent and transcendent, since the Middle Upanishads also in personal forms of the deity as [[Ishvara]], [[Bhagavan]], or [[Paramatma]]. There are also conservative schools which continue portions of the historical Vedic religion largely unchanged until today (see [[Śrauta]], [[Nambudiri]]). During the formative centuries of [[Vedanta]], traditions that opposed [[Vedanta]] and which supported the same, emerged. These were the [[nastika]] and [[astika]] respectively. Religions that have continued from the Vedic religion : *[[Shramana]] traditions (''[[nastika]]''):<ref>These were not direct outgrowths of Vedism, but counter-movements heavily influenced by Brahmanical traditions. S. Cromwell Crawford, review of L. M. Joshi, ''Brahmanism, Buddhism and Hinduism'', Philosophy East and West (1972): "Alongside Brahmanism was the non-Aryan Shramanic culture with its roots going back to prehistoric times."</ref> **[[Jainism]], from the 6th century BC **[[Buddhism]], from ca. 500 BC; [[decline of Buddhism in India|declined]] in India over the 8th to 12th centuries in favour of Puranic Hinduism. *[[Hinduism]] is an umbrella term for ''[[astika]]'' traditions in India (see [[History of Hinduism]]). **[[Puranas]], [[Sanskrit epics]]<ref>[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] s.v. ''[[Hindu philosophy]]'': "The great epic [[Mahabharata]] represents the attempt of Vedic Brahmanism to adjust itself to the new circumstances reflected in the process of the aryanization (integration of Aryan beliefs, practices, and institutions) of the various non-Aryan communities."</ref> **the classical schools of [[Hindu philosophy]], of which only [[Vedanta]] is extant. **[[Shaivism]] **[[Vaishnavism]] **[[Bhakti]] **[[Shrauta]] traditions, maintaining much of the original form of the Vedic religion. ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Vedic priesthood]] *[[Vedic period]] *[[Brahmanism]] *[[Proto-Indo-European religion]] *[[Zoroastrianism]] [[Category:Hindu history]] [[Category:Vedic civilization]] [[da:Vedisk religion]] [[de:Brahmanismus]] [[es:Vedismo]] [[fa:دین ودیک]] [[lt:Vedizmas]] [[ja:ヴェーダの宗教]] [[pl:Wedyzm]] [[pt:Religião védica]] [[ru:Ведизм]] [[sr:Ведизам]] [[sv:Vedisk religion]]