Chapter 4 - The Vedic Civilization
1. Name the following with reference to the lesson.
(1) Women scholars in Vedic literature ______.
Ans: Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyi
(2) Means of entertainment in the Vedic period ______.
Ans: singing, playing musical instruments, dance, board games, chariot race, and hunting
(3) The four ashramas ______.
Ans: Brahmacharyashrama, Grihasthashrama, Vanaprasthashrama, Sanyasashrama
2. Right or wrong?
(1) Rigveda – Mantras uttered during yajna.
Ans: Wrong
(2) Samaveda – Guidance on singing a mantra during yajna rites.
Ans: Right
(3) Atharvaveda – The Veda derived its name from Atharva rishi.
Ans: Right
3. Answer in one word each.
(1) The language of Vedic literature
Ans: Sanskrit
(2) The meaning of vid
Ans: To know
(3) The head of a family
Ans: Grihapati
(4) The head of shrenis
Ans: Shreshthi
4. Name the following :
(1) The musical instruments you know
Ans: Harmonium, Guitar
(2) Two modern ornaments of women
Ans: Bangles, Necklace
(3) Today’s means of entertainment
Ans: Television, Adventure sports.
5. Answer in short.
(1) What foods were included in the diet of the Vedic people?
Ans:
(i) Barley and rice were the staple food of the Vedic people.
(ii) Their diet also included milk, yoghurt, ghee, fruits, cereals and meat.
(2) Why were cows priced highly?
Ans:
(i) Milk and milk products were important items of the diet of the Vedic people.
(ii) Cow was a means or commodity of exchange.
(iii) Therefore, cows were highly priced.
(3) What was a man expected to do in sanyasa ashrama ?
Ans:
(i) Sanyasashrama was the fourth and last stage in the life of man.
(ii) At this stage man was expected to sever all worldly relations and spend his time in meditation by going away to the forest.
6. Write notes on :
(1) The religious ideas during the Vedic period.
Ans:
(i) The Vedic people offered prayers to the forces in nature such as the Sun, the rain, the rivers, lightning and storms to secure their blessings.
(ii) They made ritual offerings to the fire to secure favour from the forces in nature.
(iii) This ritual offering of havi into the fire was called yajna.
(iv) The Vedic people believed that all things in nature follow ‘Rita’, i.e. a definite pattern.
(v) They believed that religion means to follow the rules of nature as an violation thereof leads to natural calamities.
(2) Houses in the Vedic period.
Ans:
(i) Most houses were earthen or made of wattle-and-daub.
(ii) Walls were made of wooden stripes, daubed with clay mixed with cow dung.
(iii) They called their place of dwelling as ‘Griha’ or ‘Shala’.
(3) Political system in the Vedic period.
Ans:
(i) Gramani was the village headman.
(ii) Vishpati headed vish – a group of villages.
(iii) A number of vish constituted Janapad.
(iv) Nripa (king) was the head of the Janapad.
(v) The king appointed a number of officials to assist him in state administration, Senapati and Purohit were the most important officials of the king.
(vi) Bhagdugh has been appointed to collect revenue.
(vii) Sabha, Samiti, Vidath and Jana deliberated on state affairs and provided guidance to the king.