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HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HARAPPAN PERIOD & VEDIC AGE
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Historical Developments in Harappan Culture
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Excavations of Harappa in Montgomeri district, Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Larkana district, Sindh (now in Pakistan) in 1920–22 provided valuable archaeological evidence of a well developed civilization, which was 5000 to 6000 years old. The famous Indus Valley civilization was better known for highly developed culture and organized society.
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People of Indus Valley civilization were familiar with dogs, bulls, sheep, goats, buffaloes, horses, and elephants. They were also aware of a number of wild-game and animal products, such as milk, curd, ghee, and meat.
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Fish was their main animal food. These people were fond of mutton, beef, chicken, and meat of tortoise. Seals recovered from Indus valley provided knowledge of bulls, buffaloes, goats, elephants, ibex, and many other animals. The script on these seals has not been fully deciphered so far.
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Historical Developments in Vedic age
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A lot of information is available on keeping of animals in the Vedic Age in the Rigveda, which is the oldest holy book of Aryans. In Rigveda, animals were considered as wealth. Aryans maintained their cattle on pastures, which were near to their dwellings. They cut the jungles and grazed cattle there. The cows were milked thrice a day. Castration of males was practiced and oxen were used for farm transport. It appears that Aryans preferred cows. Buffalo was not a commonly used animal by them. They kept dogs for guarding houses and for hunting of boars. Sheep were kept mostly for wool and goats for milk. Oxen were used for plowing and irrigation also. The cow has been defined as aghanya, i.e., not to be killed, indicating the high sanctity of the cow in the Vedic period. In Rigveda, barley, sugarcane, and leftovers of sesame after extraction of oil were used for feeding of animals.
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Masters of philosophy searched the secrets of life and the universe and developed “cow science”. Virtually “cow science” is a unique gift of India to the whole world. Learned people of ancient India considered that whole cow family or “gau vansh” was essential for existence of humanity, its protection, nourishment, development, and culture. Cow milk provided special energy, strength, and intelligence. Cow dung and urine nourished agriculture farming. Bullock power helped in development of techniques in agriculture like carrying draft,
transportation, and cottage industry. Skin from dead animals supported the leather industry and handicrafts. Therefore, cow husbandry was always core-point in the Indian lifestyle and economy during the Vedic period.
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