In: Psychology
What is the goals of Early vedic religion andn Late vedic religion?
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Vedic religion is the main principal ideology that constitutes Hinduism.The origin of the Vedic religion has its roots in invasion by Indi-European community in about 1500 BCE. It also shares its origin with Zoroastrianism, another main religious establishment in Iran. Both of the religion i.e. Zoroastrian(mainly Zend Avesta) and Hinduism has same basic ideology,same meaning of God's and similar division of society based on occupation ( caste and gothra).Before Zoroastrianism, there was no caste division or citations .The concept of reincarnation in Vedic religion is a by product of Zoroastrianism.Therefore, vedic religion is not an indigenous religion , and shares its traditions and rituals with others. Thus, the goal of Vedic religion is diverse but remain essential to the idea of union between the man and the God.
During Vedic times,the main goal was ascension, a unity between one self and cosmos. A concept called "moksha"(salvation ) was the crucial end goal of the community practicing Vedic religion and its ideologies. This was often done through rituals, sacrifices and hymns (sounds used while performing a ritual).The goal was also to produce rich texts and literature that explains Vedic rituals and its proposed meaning in one's life. For example, Rig Veda is composed of around 1,000 hymns which praises and address multiple Gods for prosperity and ascension, the Yajurveda constitutes of verses and chants for the rituals and the Rigveda consists of musical strings that aids the performance of scared hymns in the rituals being performed. The essential goal of the above Vedas was to achieve salvation, deattachment from worldly desires and merge in complete union with the infinite Gods.
During the later Vedic period(from c. 800 to c. 500 BCE), the notion of rituals,process on how to perform ceremonies and hymns being performed by the pandits (priests ),was dismissed on the grounds of puriity .There was a shift from focussing on the God as a a way to find oneself, to spiritual journey from within. The goal shifted from seeking union woth the outside to merging with self. People rejected materialistic way of being and worldly attachments. This philosophy of living was complied into a text called The Upanishads, which forms the core ideology of the late Vedic period. Thus, we see a gradual rejection of priest culture in the late Vedic period. The goal and essence of both the period changed from focus on external sacrifices to internal spiritual awakening to seek salvation, or 'moksha', as Hindus orate .