Decline Of Vedic Religion

Exam-Oriented Q&A

Q1: When did the decline of Vedic religion begin?
Answer: Around the 5th century BCE, marked by a drop in Vedic literary activity and the rise of Brahmanism.

Q2: Which war critically weakened the Vedic social structure?
Answer: The Mahabharata War, which decimated the Kshatriya class and disrupted Vedic patronage networks.

Q3: Name two heterodox movements that challenged Vedic authority.
Answer: Buddhism and Jainism, both of which offered non-ritual paths to liberation.

Q4: How did the kingdom of Magadha influence the Vedic decline?
Answer: By supporting Sramanic sects and reducing Brahmanical sponsorship, Magadha accelerated the transition to classical Hinduism.

Q5: What Vedic elements survived in classical Hinduism?
Answer: Fire sacrifices (yajña) in purified forms, Vedic recitation in temple rites, and the varṇa (caste) framework.