The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c6.s1.3

c6.s1.3

Unquestionably a century or two must have passed between the conclusion of the Vedic period and the beginnings of Buddhism. Buddhist literature presupposes Brahmanical literature and religion in a stage of considerable advancement beyond the Vedas. We are, therefore, reasonably safe in saying that the real Vedic period was concluded about 700 b.c. We are further on safe ground in demanding a number of centuries for the much stratified language, literature, and religion of the Veda. But how many? It is as easy to imagine three as thirteen or twenty-three. Only one thing is certain. Vedic ideas are very old. I have noted the fact that the concept *ṛta*, "cosmic or universal order," is found in cut and dried Iranian names in Western Asia as early as 1600 b.c. I am, for my part, and I think I voice many scholars, now much more inclined to listen to an early date, say 2000 b.c., for the beginnings of Vedic literary production, and to a much earlier date for the beginnings of the institutions and religious concepts which the Veda has derived from those prehistoric times which cast their shadows forward into the records that are in our hands. Anyhow, we must not be beguiled by that kind of conservatism which merely salves the conscience into thinking that there is better proof for any later date, such as 1500, 1200, or 1000 b.c., rather than the earlier date of 2000 b.c. Once more, frankly, we do not know.