Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c13.64

c13.64

The Evolution of Vedic Society.—We may begin by reviewing briefly the evolution of Vedic society. In the early Vedic period we find the Aryans settled mainly in the north-west of India. Their geographical horizon extends from the Kubhā in the west to Gaṅgā and Yamunā in the east. It is, however, the rivers of the Punjab which mark the principal scene of their activity. Particularly important is the region later called ‘Brahmāvarta’ between the two divine rivers, Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī. Later on, the region of Kuru-Pañcāla in Western U. P. became the chief centre of Aryan orthodoxy. That remained so even when the Aryans, crossing the Sadānīrā, had advanced from Kośala to Videha. As Fick has shown, even in the age of Buddha, the Brāhmaṇas looked to the north and the north-west for their inspiration. The region of Magadha was looked down upon as impure and the Licchavis were described as Vrātyas. It seems, thus, that the passage of the Aryans towards the east, particularly into the region of Bihar, was felt to be associated with the growth of heterodoxy. This harmonises well with the fact that Buddhism and Jainism both arose in this eastern area.