Correct Answer - Option 4 : North-West India
Bharatas were the Vedic tribe mentioned in Rigveda. The name Bharata was used for a group of people who lived in the northwest, and who are mentioned in the Rigveda, the earliest composition in Sanskrit. Later it was used for the country.
Vedic Period
- It is the period in the late Bronze age and early Iron Age of the History of India when the Vedas were composed in the northern Indian subcontinent.
- The associated culture was referred to as Vedic Civilization.
- The entire Earth was called the Bharatvarsha but in particular, the area that lied south to the Himalayan Mountain was called the Bharatvarsha.
- The Bharatvarsha was also known as Aryavarta meaning the land of Aryans.
- Aryavarta and Bharat are mentioned in Vedas, many scriptures, and Mahabharata.
- Bharatas were the Vedic tribe mentioned in Rigveda.
Rig Veda:
- The oldest Veda is the Rigveda. It has 1028 hymns called ‘Suktas’ and is a collection of 10 books called ‘Mandalas.’
- The meaning of the word ‘Rigveda’ is Praise Knowledge.
- Rigvedic books 2-9 deal with cosmology and deities. Rigvedic books 1 and 10 deal with philosophical questions and also talk about various virtues including charity in society.
- The meters used to form hymns are Gayatri, Anushtubh, Trishtubh, and Jagati (Trishtubh and Gayatri are most important).
Sama Veda:
- Known as the Veda of melodies and chants, Samaveda dates back to 1200-800 BCE.
- This Veda is related to public worship. There are 1549 verses (except 75 verses, all have been taken from Rigveda).
- There are two Upanishads embedded in Samaveda – Chandogya Upanishad and Kena Upanishad.
- Samaveda Samhita is not meant to be read as a text, it is like a musical score sheet that must be heard.
Yajur Veda:
- Stands to mean ‘Worship Knowledge’.
- Yajurveda dates back to 1100-800 BCE.
- It compiles ritual-offering mantras/chants. These chants were offered by the priest alongside a person who used to perform a ritual (in most cases yajna fire.)
- It has two types – Krishna (Black/Dark) & Shukla (White/Bright). Krishna Yajurveda has an un-arranged, unclear, motley collection of verses and Shukla Yajurveda has arranged and clear verses.
Atharva Veda:
- Stands to mean a tatpurusha compound of Atharvan, an ancient sage, and knowledge.
- It dates back to 1000-800 BCE.
- It has 730 hymns/suktas, 6000 mantras, and 20 books.
