History of Aryans in India

It cannot be definitely said when the Aryans began to spread over to different lands after having left their original homeland. Nor can it be asserted when they appeared first in India. We are aware of the long evolution of the Vedic civilisation and its relations with Indian history of the later periods. Perhaps, the Vedic age began in a period which was about two thousand or two thousand five hundred years before the birth of Christ. Nothing more than this can be ascertained.

Geographical references contained in their literature prove that the Aryans spread gradually over to north India. Rivers such as Kuva (Kabul), Paushni (Ravi), Bipasa (Beas), Satadru,Bitasta (Jhelum), Ashikui (Chenub), Saraswati, Drishatvati, Yamuna, Ganga and Saraju are mentioned in the Vedic literature. Greater portion of this region was known as Saptasindhu. The Aryan expansion proceeded from Saptasindhu to Brahmavarta (eastern region of the Punjab), and thence gradually to eastern India.

The Aryan power began to be established in

• Kuru-Panchala (area surrounding Delhi and Meerut),
• Kosala (Oudh), Kashi (Varanasi),
• Videha (North Bihar) and
• other places.

The Aryan civilisation spread to Bengal towards the end of or immediately after the Vedic age. Dharmasutra is a part of Vedic literature. Its study creates the impression that Bengal was outside of the Aryavarta. Manu’s code of laws that succeeded the Dharmasutra describes that the Pundras (people of North Bengal) were outcaste Kshatriyas, and that their homeland was within the Aryavarta. In the Mahabharata, the Pundras and the Bangas are described as Kshatriyas. In Panini’s work, the term ‘Gandapur’ and in Kautilyas Arthasastra gold-pieces of Gauda have been mentioned, but it is not definitely known which place ‘Gauda’ exactly meant at that time.

Aryan expansion began in the south also. The legendary tale about the journey of saint Agastya to the South reminds us of Aryan expedition to the south in some unascertainable past. The kingdom of Sattwata in Vidarbha, the Dandaka Kingdom near Nasik, Mulaka and Ashmaka Kingdoms on the Godavari bank were clear demonstration of the expansion of Aryan power in the south by the end of the Vedic age. It is not the fact that everywhere in north India and the Deccan the Aryan Kingdoms were established. There are references to the facts that some of the kingdoms were under the ‘Dasas’. Over and above this, in regions of dense forests, there lived such non-Aryan tribes as Pulindas, Nishadas, Savaras, Kalingas, and Andhras etc. In the south, unchallenged supremacy of the Aryans had never been established. Even in the north, co-existence and mutual influence of the Aryan and non-Aryan civilisation are matters of deep observation. The Aryans once nurtured fear and hatred about the non-Aryans. They took to whole hearted and devotional adoration of such gods as Indra, Surya, Agni and Varuna for destruction of their non-Aryan adversaries. And yet, they could not avoid contact with these peoples. It led to an unexpected synthesis of twin cultures.

All Aryans, however, did not combine for onward expansion. They were divided into many groups. Mutual jealousy and feud often made them fall out among themselves. The famous battle of the Ten Kings described in the Rigveda ought to be remembered here. The Kingdom of the Bharata group was extended over to the Gangetic valley. Naturally, it was inhabited by many non-Aryan peoples. The social place of the non-Aryans in the former Aryan Kingdoms of the Punjab was comparatively insignificant. King Sudasa of the Bharata group received the blessing of Saint Vashistha and defeated ten Kings who were favorites of Saint Viswamitra. It is this event which has been described by many historians as one of grave consequence in the annal of Aryan migration. The non -Aryans, in this war, joined both sides Triumphant Sudasa was felicitated as paramount emperor. The Vedic writings mention no programme of conquest prior to this event. The Aryans and non-Aryans fought in large numbers on the side of Sudasa, for, in the former Aryan Kingdoms the number of the non-Aryans was small and their influence insignificant. Hence, the contributions of the both Aryans and non-Aryans to the establishment of Aryan power over the Gangetic valley are invaluable. Indeed, it can be said that what happened in India in the Vedic Age is not to be called the triumph of the Aryans only. It is proper to describe it as one of the Aryan movement and expansion.