Later Vedic Period

Later Vedic Period (1000-600 BC)

* The Later Vedic society came to be divided into four varnas called the Brahmanas, Rajanyas or Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Shudras, each varna was assigned with its duty. 

* The fourth varna was deprived of the sacred thread ceremony, and with it began the imposition of disabilities on the shudras. 

* All the three higher varnas shared on common feature, they were known as Dvijas. 

* The worst position is reserved for the Shudra. They were called the servants of another. 

* Women were generally given a lower position.

* Ashramas or the four stages of life were created in the Post-Vedic time. 

*The four ashramas werre: Brahmachari or a student, Grihastha or householder, Vanaprashtha or partial retirement and Sanyasa or full withdrawal from the world.

Kingdom of the Later Vedic Period

Location                                        Kingdom 

1) Bareilly, Badayun and       -    Panchal 

Farukhabad in U.P. 

2)Northern region of

 Uttar Pradesh                        -   Kushinagar

3) Modern Varanasi              -   Kashi

4)Faizabad in Uttar 

Pradesh                                   -     Koshal

5) Near Amritsar                  -     Southern madra

6) Kashmir                            -    Uttara Madra

7) Near Kangra                    -      Eastern Madra

8) On the bank of Beas      -       Gandhar 

river east o Gandhar 

kingdom

* Prajpati, the Creator, came to occupy a Supreme position in the later Vedic Period. 

* During the sixth and fourth centuries BC, Magadha, became the most powerful Mahajanpada. 

* The earlies capital of Magadha was at Rajgir, which was called Girivraja at that time.
These are Some Important Facts about Later Vedic Period.