notes from 10/6

indo europeans migrants found South Asia:

no urban experience

clan based

chiefdoms merged: kingdoms

increased tech and agriculture leading to elaborate hierarchy

knowledge to build chariots

religion

Aryan/ indo europeans time period of settlement

1000-400 BCE

Vedic religion was established in

1500 BCE

vedas

knowledge; hymns and rituals

4 veda- 1.) rg veda 2.) sama veda 3.) yajur veda 4.) Atharva veda

largely hymns, prescriptive and liturguical texts, myths-poetic, cosmological

emphasis on orality

vedas are meant to be ______

heard; like genesis he spoke it

they chanted and committed it to memory

what are the different gods they honor

agni- god of fire (And messenger for starting hymn)

vayn- god of wind

Dawn - the daybreak, took a little bit of lifespan upon each visit

what would happen if they failed the ritual

they would not be given/ receive certain things

agni hymns

invite gods to visit them

what are 3 things about rituals

forms of hospitality

entertainment

said in an interesting/ unusual way

hotar

chief priest

agnis hymn

hope he will bring them treasures

bring gods there/ be their messengers

come as a god and with the gods

ask: accompany us like how a father treats his son

Dawns hymn

marks the end of darkness and beginning of day

comes when the fire kindles

dawn shows you’re aging and closer to death

looks:like a woman, dressed in light, glistening, all can see, annoying insect and attractive

like a warrior, doesn’t fear men (slut), desirable