Name any two gods worshipped by the Rig Vedic Aryans and the Later Vedic Aryans.

Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follows:

"The varna system had become rigid. Transformation from one varna to another had become difficult. Community lunch and inter-marriages had ceased to exist."

(a) Give the names of the four 'Varnas'.

(b) How did the varna system change during the Later Vedic period?

Name the two great Indian Epics. What cultural values do they reflect?

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:

"Despite the presence of some women philosophers and the references to a few queens participating in the coronation rituals, women were considered subordinate to men, and were not involved in any major decision making."

(Source : https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/64790/1/BLOCK%203.pdf)

(a) What changes occurred in the status of women from the Rig Vedic to the Later Vedic period?

(b) Despite the decline in status, what rights or practices still honoured women during the Later Vedic period?