Early Vedic period

The Early Vedic period in Indian history, spanning from the 2nd millennium to the 7th century BCE, is primarily understood through the Rigveda, a collection of 1,028 hymns. This period marks the earliest stratum of religious activity in India for which written materials exist, and it significantly shaped Hinduism.1

The people of this era left few material remains but a rich literary record. The Rigveda, with its hymns dedicated to various deities, reflects a well-developed religious system, with its final recension often dated to 1200 BCE. This period also saw the emergence of the concept of varna, a fourfold social division, with Brahmans (priests) at the top, followed by Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (servants). The Vedic religion was polytheistic, with deities often associated with natural phenomena, and centered around ritual sacrifices. Later Vedic texts, such as the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads, further elaborated on ritual and philosophical speculation, laying groundwork for classical Hinduism.2314