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K. Religion of the Migrants
The religious beliefs of the Aryan migrants are contained in the Rigveda,
and in the later Samhitas and need not be discussed here since many scholars
have studied them earlier. Dandekar [1997a:34] opines the new surroundings
did have a profound effect on the original religion of the Aryans, and it
would be worthwhile to quote his speculations here:-
The concept of Indravarunau is however of far greater consequence. The
dominant religious cult of the Proto-Aryan period was the Varuna-cult. The
last years of the Proto-Aryan period witnessed the migration of the
Proto-Aryans towards Iran on the one hand and towards Saptasindhu or the
land of Seven rivers on the other. The migration towards Saptasindhu meant
for these people, whom we may now call Vedic Aryans, a drastic change in
their way of life and thought, particularly after their fairly long sojourn
in the region of Balkh. It was now a life of fateful confrontation with the
Vrtras- human foes and environmental impediments- and of consequent warlike
adventures. This new life of conquest and colonization called for a new
religion and a new god. The cosmic religion of the world sovereign Asura
Varuna could no longer adequately meet the exigencies of the new age. The
Vedic Aryans naturally craved for a heroic god who could bless and promote
their onward march towards the Saptasindhu and beyond. So was Vrtraha Indra
‘born’ in the Vedic pantheon. Consequently, there developed in Vedic
religion two major sects, presumably rivaling each other, namely, the more
ancient sect centering round Asura Varuna and the newly evolved one
centering around Asura Varuna. A headlong conflict between these two sects
could have adversely affected the solidarity of the Vedic community. The
impending schism within the Vedic Aryandom had to be avoided at all costs.
This was achieved by the evolutionary Vedic mythology through the conception
of the dual divinity Indravarunau.
In this manner, the migrations into India are said to have had a profound
effect on the original religion of the Aryans.
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