Question

3. Give an account of the Geography of the Vedic texts and describe the social life during the Vedic
times.

Answer 1

Answer:

The Rig-Veda is the only source to give us an idea of the geographical expanse of the Early Vedic period.

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 of 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.