Vedic Religion

(noun)

The historical predecessor of modern Hinduism. The Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion.

Related Terms

  • Sramanas
  • Brahmin
  • Sramana
  • Jainism
  • saṃsāra
  • shramana
  • karma
  • ascetic
  • Buddhism

Examples of Vedic Religion in the following topics:

  • The Vedas

    • The Vedas are the oldest texts of the Hindu religion and contain hymns, myths and rituals that still resonate in India today.
    • The Vedas are split into four major texts and contain hymns, mythological accounts, poems, prayers, and formulas considered sacred to the Vedic religion.
    • Although the focus of the Vedas is on the message rather than the messengers, such as Buddha or Jesus Christ in their respective religions, the Vedic religion still held gods in high regard.
    • Agni, the Indian God of Fire from the ancient Vedic religion, shown riding a ram.
    • A manuscript copy of the Rigveda, the oldest and most important of the four Vedas of the Vedic religion, from the early 19th century.
  • The Rise of Hinduism

    • Hinduism evolved as a synthesis of cultures and traditions, including the Indo-Aryan Vedic religion.
    • Sramana, meaning "seeker," refers to several Indian religious movements, including Buddhism and Jainism, that existed alongside the Vedic religion—the historical predecessor of modern Hinduism.
    • The Rig Veda describes the varied deities of Vedic religion.
    • These gods persisted as Vedic religion was assimilated into Hinduism.
    • Hinduism evolved as a combination of various cultures and traditions, including Vedic religion and the Upanishads.
  • Jainism

    • Jainism is a pre-Buddhist religion with roots in the Sramana tradition.
    • Jainism is based on an ancient Indian religious philosophy called Sramana, which began as an offshoot of the Vedic religion.
    • Sramana existed in parallel to, but separate from, Vedic Hinduism, which followed the teachings and rituals found in the Vedas, the most ancient texts of the Vedic religion.
    • However, other scholars believe the Sramana traditions were separate and contemporaneous with Indo-Aryan religious practices of the historical Vedic religion.
    • This idea also appears in other Asian religions, including Buddhism.
  • The Sramana Movement

    • Sramana was an ancient Indian religious movement that began as an offshoot of the Vedic religion and gave rise to other similar but varying movements, including Buddhism and Jainism.
    • The Vedic Religion was the historical predecessor of modern Hinduism.
    • Most history of this period is derived from the Vedas, the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion.
    • Sramana existed in parallel to, but separate from, Vedic Hinduism.
    • They also led to popular concepts in all major Indian religions, such as saṃsāra, the cycle of birth and death, and moksha, liberation from that cycle.
  • Buddhism

    • After attaining Enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha, and taught a Middle Way that became a major world religion, known as Buddhism.
    • Buddhism is based on an ancient Indian religious philosophy called Sramana, which began as an offshoot of the Vedic religion.
    • Sramana existed in parallel to, but separate from, Vedic Hinduism, which followed the teachings and rituals found in the Vedas, the most ancient texts of the Vedic religion.
    • In addition to the Vedic Brahmins, the Buddha’s lifetime coincided with the flourishing of influential Sramana schools of thought, including Jainism.
    • Ashoka promoted the religion’s expansion by deploying monks to spread Buddha’s teaching.
  • Sanskrit

    • Sanskrit is the primary sacred language of Hinduism, and has been used as a philosophical language in the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
    • The Vedas contain hymns, incantations called Samhitas, and theological and philosophical guidance for priests of the Vedic religion.
    • Vedic Sanskrit was orally preserved as a part of the Vedic chanting tradition, predating alphabetic writing in India by several centuries.
    • At approximately 1000 BCE, Vedic Sanskrit began the transition from a first language to a second language of religion and learning.
    • With this standardization, Sanskrit became a language of religion and learning.
  • The Caste System

    • A caste system developed among Indo-Aryans of the Vedic Period, splitting society into four major groups.
    • The caste system in India may have several origins, possibly starting with the well-defined social orders of the Indo-Aryans in the Vedic Period, c. 1750-500 BCE.
    • The Vedas were ancient scriptures, written in the Sanskrit language, which contained hymns, philosophies, and rituals handed down to the priests of the Vedic religion.
    • By around 1000 BCE, the Indo-Aryans developed four main caste distinctions: Brahamin, consisting of priests, scholars, and teachers; Kshatriyas, the kings, governors, and warriors; Vaishyas, comprising agriculturists, artisans, and merchants; and Sudras, the service providers and artisans who were originally non-Aryans but were admitted to Vedic society.
    • Society during the Vedic Period (c.1750-500 BCE) was patriarchal and patrilineal, meaning to trace ancestral heritage through the male line.
  • The Indo-Aryan Migration and the Vedic Period

    • Most history of this period is derived from the Vedas, the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion, which were composed by the Aryans in Sanskrit.
    • Organized into tribes, the Vedic Aryans regularly clashed over land and resources.
    • After the 12th century BCE, Vedic society transitioned from semi-nomadic to settled agriculture.
    • The Indo-Aryans settled various parts of the plain during their migration and the Vedic Period.
    • Describe the defining characteristics of the Vedic Period and the cultural consequenes of the Indo-Aryan Migration
  • Vedic and Upanishadic Periods

    • The Vedic period (or Vedic age) in India was a period in history during which the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, were composed.
    • Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition alone, and a literary tradition began only in post-Vedic times.
    • The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in from the Vedic period.
    • The Upanishads are a collection of philosophical texts which form the theoretical basis for the Hindu religion.
    • Evaluate the crafts and texts found during the Vedic Period in India.
  • Ashoka's Conversion

    • Basham, Ashoka's personal religion became Buddhism, if not before, then certainly after the Kalinga war.
    • In his edicts, Ashoka expresses support for all the major religions of his time: Buddhism, Brahmanism, Jainism, and Ajivikaism, and his edicts addressed to the population at large (there are some addressed specifically to Buddhists; this is not the case for the other religions) generally focus on moral themes members of all the religions would accept.
    • In one edict he belittles rituals, and he banned Vedic animal sacrifices; these strongly suggest that he at least did not look to the Vedic tradition for guidance.
    • He erected rock pillars at Buddhist holy sites, but did not do so for the sites of other religions.
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