01:840:211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Rigveda, Vedas
Document Summary
India historical background: the aryans migrated from asia to india in 1500 bc, nomadic people. 2: very advanced urban culture accelerated civilization growth, protective of literature. Rigveda: transmitted orally, oral " written culture, written in archaic sanskrit. Four groups of vedas: rigveda (oldest, sammaveda, yajurveda, athravaveda, written as hymns to the gods. Rituals: repetition in actions, boring, perform , goes through the motions, rituals is a tool that humans can organize more effectively. Religion used in ancient societies: gives people a sense of unity, used to structure society. In order to have a larger human society, justice must be instilled: something more powerful to control justice i. ii. A higher devotion that descends this tribal attachment. Structure: establishing a line of authority, the story of the gods chooses the privileged few to lead and formulate structure, can negotiate with them, a society is organized through rituals and a line of authority is established.
