CHAPTER NO. 4
NAME OF THE CHAPTER : WHAT BOOKS AND BURIALS TELL US
PERIOD : 1
PERIOD : 2
PERIOD : 3
Marks - 15
Step –I: Read the following topic from page no.35 to 37 of the textbook.
· One of the oldest books in the world :
· Vedas-There are four Vedas.
· The oldest Veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago.
· The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”.
· These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.
· These hymns were composed by sages (rishis).
· Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. A few were composed by women.
· The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit.
· The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read. ( Oral
· How historians study the Rigveda
· Some of the hymns in the Rigveda are in the form of dialogues.
· There is a part of one such hymn, a dialogue between a sage named Vishvamitra, and two rivers, (Beas and Sutlej) that were worshipped as goddesses.
· ( Read the dialogue between Vishvamitra and rivers given on page no. 37)
Step –II:
Click on the link given below to see the video ON THE RIGVEDA:
Refer to the extra mark app for- detailed learning module (understanding concepts- 6 to 17).
Step – IV:
If you have any doubts clear them with your subject teacher
( Please check name and number of the subject from the school website)
Step – V:
Students to write down the following questions in their note book.
Q1. Write a short note on Rigveda.
Ans.
i) Rigveda is the oldest Veda.
ii) The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns in Vedic (old) Sanskrit.
iii) These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.
iv) These hymns were composed by sages (rishis).
Q2. Discuss in brief three Vedic Gods, considered especially important.
Ans.
Three Gods which are considered especially important in Vedas are :
i) Agni, the god of fire.
ii) Indra , a warrior god.
iii) Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared.
· END OF DAY 1
Step –I: Read the following topic from page no.38 to 39 of the textbook.
· Cattle, horses and chariots :
· There are many prayers in the Rigveda for cattle, children and horses.
· Horses were used in battles.
· Battles were also fought for land, water, and to capture people, and cattle.
· Wealth was kept by the leaders, some was given to the priests and the rest was distributed amongst the people.
· There was no regular army, but there were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace.
· They also chose leaders, who were brave and skilful warriors.
· Words to describe people in Rigveda :
· There are 2 groups who are described in terms of their work –
· The priests: who were also called Brahmins.
· They used to perform various rituals.
· The rajas: They did not have capital cities, palaces or armies, nor did they collect taxes.
· Sons did not automatically succeed fathers as rajas.
· Two words were used to describe the people or the community as a whole:
1.One was jana
2.The other was vish
· The people who composed the hymns described themselves as Aryas and called their opponents as Dasas or Dasyus.
· The term ‘dasa’ means slave.
· Slaves were women and men who were often captured in war.
Step - II :
Click on the link given below to see the video on the RIGVEDIC SOCIETY:
Refer to the extra mark app for- detailed learning module (understanding concepts- 18 to 26).
Step – IV:
If you have any doubts clear them with your subject teacher
( Please check name and number of the subject from the school website)
Step –V:
Students to write down the following questions in their note book.
Q3. Write any three reasons for which battles were fought during Rigvedic age.
Ans.
iv) To capture people.
Q4.Discuss different classes or categories of people as referred in Rigveda.
Ans.
i) People can be described in terms of the work they do, the language they speak, the place they belong to etc.
ii) Two groups described in terms of their work are the priests, and the rajas.
iii) Two words used to describe the people or the community as a whole was jana, and vish.
where
END OF DAY 2
Step -I: Revise the chapter for 10 mins, read the portion completed thoroughly.
Step-II: Attempt the following revision:
A)Fill in the blanks: 1x5=5
a) The Rigveda was composed about ______ years ago.
b) The hymns in the Vedas have been referred to as _______which means _____.
c) In a hymn in the Rigveda Vishvamitra used the Word ‘Sisters’for the two rivers ___ and _______.
d) Sanskrit is a part of ____ family of languages.
e) Slaves were captured during ______.
b) True or False:1X5=5
a) The Rigveda was written for the first time by hand about 3500 years ago.
b) Soma was the warrior God.
c)The oldest Veda is the Samaveda.
d) Hymns were composed by sages (rishis).
e) Sons automatically succeeded fathers as rajas.
C) Answer the following Questions:
1X5=5
b) In which language has the Rigveda been composed?
c) What were groups of people in terms of their work?
d) Who were Aryas and Dasas?
e) What were the two words used to describe the community as whole?
· END OF DAY 3