Vedic Literature - Tvasta and Ritvij

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Tvasta: First Distributors

  • According to Sayana, who has written commentary on Rig Veda: Saneru means dis­tribution or Sambhaktra; Sanugi was woman distributor; vajasati mentioned dis­tribution of foods
  • Asvins used to protect from wolf (vrka)
  • Parivesaka was the dis­tributor of food in Atharvaveda
  • Vrata means custom and conduct, it also means race called Panchavrata
  • Khadira or Khair also called Kattha was commonly found.
  • Babul most common.
  • Simsapa mentioned in Atharvaveda.
  • Skandhavaras means military camps
  • Atranjikhera, Hastinapur were Painted Grey Ware sites.
  • 7 types of brick found in Taittiriya samhita, 9 in Kathaka samhita, 11 in Maitrayani samhita
  • Royal share was 1⟋12 to 1⟋ 10 of the produce.
  • Accord­ing to Gautama royal share in me beginning was 1⟋12 but gradually reduced to l⟋6m.
  • Vaisya were mostly agri­culturist called Balihrt or Balikrt.
  • Ananyasukham (indebt­edness) , Jumgita (untouch­ables) , Aghnya (not to be killed) ,

Ritvij

  • Specialists who participated in the yajna and helped in its completion
  • There were four types of Ritvij each for the four Vedas:
    1. Hotra Rigveda
    2. Adhvaryu Yajurveda
    3. Udgatra Samveda
    4. Brahmana Atharvaveda
  • First convert to monasticism were 5 persons called the Panchvargiya bhikshu who converted and formed the basis of monks:
    1. Yasa, first
    2. Vimala
    3. Subahu
    4. Purnjina
    5. Gavampati
  • The Maruts are regarded to be sons of Rudra, but tiiey became the companions of Indra and are called Indrasakha.
  • Rig Veda has tribal character: Important heads: Caidya of Kasu,
  • Ugra and Jivagrbha (to deal with criminals) , Madh-yamasi (mediator of dis­putes)
  • Vedas are also known as Shruti (to hear) .
  • Each Veda has three parts:
    1. Samhita meaning mantra.
    2. Brahmana meaning Cha­pter (Each chapter deals with different people) .
    3. Aryanaka meaning Ap­pendix (Called thus as they were compiled in the for­ests) .