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Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas and Heterodox Religions – UPSC GS1

This module of the GS Paper 1: History, Culture, Geography & Society course covers early and later vedic society, sixteen mahajanapadas, buddhism and jainism. It has 4 study lessons and a 35-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. The Vedic Age: Early and Later Vedic Society, Economy and Religion

Free 8 min

The Vedic Age (c. 1500–600 BCE) is named after the Vedas, the oldest texts of India. The people who composed them called themselves Aryans ("noble ones"). Most historians accept that Indo-Aryan speaking groups entered the…

2. Mahajanapadas and the Rise of Magadha

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Around the 6th century BCE, north India saw the second urbanisation (the first being Harappan). Towns such as Rajagriha, Shravasti, Kaushambi, Varanasi, Champa and Ujjain grew into cities. Several changes made this possible: iron tools…

3. Buddhism: Life of the Buddha, Teachings, Councils and Spread

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The 6th century BCE was an age of intellectual ferment across the world – Confucius in China, Zoroaster in Iran, and the Greek philosophers. In India, as many as 62 sects are mentioned in Buddhist…

4. Jainism, Ajivikas and Other Heterodox Schools

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Jains believe their religion is eternal and was revealed by 24 Tirthankaras ("ford-makers" who help people cross the river of rebirth). The first was Rishabhanatha (Adinatha), and the 23rd, Parshvanatha, was probably a historical figure…

Module quiz: Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas and Heterodox Religions (35 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

A Rigveda manuscript in the Sharada script. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · CC0.

Map of north India showing the Rig Vedic heartland in Punjab and Haryana and the eastward expansion of Later Vedic culture to Kuru, Panchala, Kashi and Videha — Iron tools helped clear the Ganga forests; Vedic culture spread east, as told in the legend of Videgha Mathava. Regions are approximate.

Comparison table of early and later Vedic economy, polity, assemblies, society and gods — The shift from cattle to plough reshaped politics, society and religion.

Tree diagram of Vedic literature: four Vedas, attached Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, and the six Vedangas — Each Veda has its own Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.

Silver punch-marked coins of the Maurya period. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · CC0.

Map of north India marking the capitals of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, from Taxila and Rajapura in the north-west to Champa in the east and Potali on the Godavari — Most Mahajanapadas lay in the Ganga plains; Ashmaka on the Godavari was the only one in the south. Locations are approximate.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: The Vedic Age: Early and Later Vedic Society, Economy and Religion; Mahajanapadas and the Rise of Magadha; Buddhism: Life of the Buddha, Teachings, Councils and Spread; Jainism, Ajivikas and Other Heterodox Schools.

Answer: Tenth. Tenth mandala.

Answer: Mundaka Upanishad. Mundaka Upanishad.

Answer: Sindhu. Sindhu; Sarasvati was the most sacred.

Answer: Vidatha. Vidatha.

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Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas and Heterodox Religions – UPSC GS1

Lessons in this module

1. The Vedic Age: Early and Later Vedic Society, Economy and Religion

2. Mahajanapadas and the Rise of Magadha

3. Buddhism: Life of the Buddha, Teachings, Councils and Spread

4. Jainism, Ajivikas and Other Heterodox Schools

Maps & infographics in this module

Frequently asked questions

What is covered in Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas and Heterodox Religions for UPSC GS1?

The Purusha Sukta, which first mentions the four varnas, is in which mandala of the Rig Veda?

"Satyameva Jayate" is taken from the:

In the Rig Vedic period the most frequently mentioned river is:

Which assembly of the Rig Vedic period disappeared in the Later Vedic period?

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