Geography
Early Vedic Period (1500-1000 B.C.):
When the early Rig Vedic hymns were written, the focus of Aryan culture was the region
between the Yamuna and Sutudri (Sutlej) and along the upper course of the river Sarasvati. The
geographical area eventually occupied by the Rig Vedic tribes is clearly indicated by the mention
of certain rivers, mountains localities, tribes and kingdoms which permit easy identification. The
Rigveda mentions the following rivers: Kubha (modern Kabul), the Suvastu (Swat), the Krumu
(Kurram), the Gomati (Gumal), the Sindhu (Indus) and its five tributaries viz., Vitasta (Jhelum),
Askini (Chenab) Parushni (Ravi) Sutudri (Sutlej) and Vipasa (Beas), the Sushoma (Sohan), the
Marudvridha (Maruwardwan), the Sarasvati, the Drishadvati (the Rakshi or Chitang), the
Yamuna, the Ganga and the Sarayu.
The mention of these rivers implies the possession by the Aryans of a considerable portion of the
country stretching from eastern Afghanistan to the upper valley of the Ganges. The major part of
this area came to be known as Sapta Sindhu or the land of the seven rivers by the Aryans
(comprising the five tributaries of the
river Indus, Indus and the Sarasvati).
The country of the Aryans was also
designated as Aryavarta in the latter
scriptures. The Rig Vedic Aryans
were not acquainted with the seas or
oceans. Rig-Veda mentions the word
Samudra which probably meant only
a collection of water and not sea in
this period. The Rig Vedic Aryans
were not familiar with any kind of
desert. The Himalaya or the
Himavanta mountains are well
known to the Rig Vedic sages but not the Vindhyas or Satpuras. The other hills referred to are
Arjika, Mujavant (referred to as the source of soma), Silament (Suleman ridge), etc.
Later Vedic Period (1000-600 B.C.):
This period was marked by further expansion of the Aryans to parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh,
northern Bihar and parts of eastern Rajasthan. The Sathapatha Brahmana throws light on this
expansion to the eastern Gangetic [Link] reports the founding of a realm called ‘Videha’ by a
Prince, Videgha Madhava. The Purus and the Bharatas were amalgamated to form the Kurus, the
kingdom of which corresponds to modern Thaneswar, Delhi and the upper Gangetic Doab.
The Panchalas were also a composite class whose territory roughly corresponds to the modern
day Bareilly, Badaun, Farukhabad and adjoining districts. The major socio-political centre of this
period was the Kuru- Panchala janapada of the Ganga-Yamuna doab. Further, regions to the east,
such as Kosala (eastern Uttar Pradesh, its early capital was Ayodhya, later replaced by Srawasti.
Kashi (Varanasi), Videha (north
Bihar), Magadha (South Bihar), Anga
(set up their settlements on the rivers
Son and the Ganges) and Vangas
(eastern Bengal).Northern tribes were
the Uttarakurus, the Uttara Madras,
Gandharis, Kambojas and the
Kekayas. In South India there were
tribes like Satvantas, Vidarbhas,
Nishadas, etc., some non-Aryan tribes
of the later Vedic period mentioned in
the Aitareya Brahmana are the Andhras, Pundras, Sabaras, Pulindasand Mutibs. The later Vedic
texts mention rivers such as the Narmada, Gandak, Chambal, etc. The Satapatha Brahmana
mentions the Eastern and Western Seas (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea). The later three Vedas
give three broad divisions of India, viz. Aryavarta (Northern India), Madhyadesa (Central India),
and Dakshinpatha (Southern India).
Routes followed by the Indo-Aryans:The
Aryans were nomadic pastoralists from Central Asia
that migrated into Northwestern India or Indus
Valley. The Aryans came from Iranian region and
settled in India after coming and habitating in Indus
valley.
Architecture: Vedic architecture is commonly
known as Vastu Shastra. To define Vastu Shastra -
Vastu , which means physical environment and
Shastra meaning knowledge or principles, is one of
the traditional Hindu canons of town
planning and architecture. Its current
popularity stems from its focus on a
wholesome approach to space and form. A
home can be so much more — it can be a
special space that creates an influence of
good health, happiness, family harmony
and enlightenment. Vedic architecture
reliably gives our homes these influences
by using laws of nature that connect individual intelligence with cosmic intelligence. • Vastu
Shastra in essence unifies many subjects together like science, art, astronomy and astrology. It
can also be said as an ancient mystic science that was used for designing and building the ancient
palaces . Vastu Shastra according to believers helps one to make lives better by securing the
living space and preventing things from going wrong.
