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The Vedic Age | UPPCS X-Factor Notes | UPPCS Manch

History · X-Factor Notes

The Vedic Age

The Vedic Age revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.

High-Yield Revision

I. Structure and Texts

Concept	What to remember	Asked in UPPCS
Division of Vedic Age	Rigvedic or Pre-Vedic Age (1500-1000 BCE) and Later-Vedic Age (1000-600 BCE).
Parts of Vedas (order)	Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.
Karma-Kanda segment of Vedas	Samhitas and Brahmanas.
Gyan-Kanda segment of Vedas	Aranyakas and Upanishads (focus on philosophy and spirituality).
Earliest composition (Veda)	Rigveda.
Vedas called ‘Trayi’ or ‘Vedatrayi’	Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Samaveda.	U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010
Compilation based upon Rig Veda	Samaveda (shortest Veda; compiled for ritual application; most verses taken from Rigveda).	UPPCS (Pre) 1997
Purush Sukta (Varna System) location	Originally found in the Rig Veda.
Atharvaveda content	Describes thoughts and superstitions of common people; first reference to Anga and Magadha found here.
Ayurveda	Upaveda of Atharvaveda; describes the 'Science of Life'.
Gopatha Brahmana	The only Brahmana associated with the Atharvaveda.	U.P.R.O./A.R.O (Pre) 2014
Brahman texts related to Yajurveda	Taittiriya and Shatpatha.
Upanishads	Focus on philosophy and spirituality; Moksha (salvation/liberation) was first discussed here (not in Vedas).
Nachiketa legend mention	Finds mention in Kathopanishad (conversation between Yama and Nachiketa).	UPPCS (Mains) 2006
Phrase "Satyameva Jayate"	Taken from the Mundakopanishad; meaning “Truth Alone Triumphs”.
Phrase “Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya”	Originally mentioned in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
Puranas	18 Puranas in total; Srimad Bhagvatam is considered the ‘Crown Jewel’. Vayu Purana mentions the ancient name Nilotpala for Mahanadi.
Mahabharata	Originally had 8,800 Shlokas, named ‘Jaya’. Srimad Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharata, originally written in Sanskrit.

II. Geography and Society

Concept	What to remember	Asked in UPPCS
Most mentioned river in Rigveda	Indus (Sindhu).
Most sacred river in Rigveda	Saraswati, known as ‘Matetama,’ ‘Devitama,’ and ‘Naditama’.
Mention of Ganga and Yamuna in Rigveda	Yamuna mentioned three times, Ganga mentioned one time.

Contrast: Rigvedic Aryans vs. Indus Valley people	Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver, and copper; Indus Valley people knew copper and bronze (not iron). Rigvedic Aryans had weapons (coat of mail/helmet).