In ancient India, during the Vedic period from about1500 BC to 600 BC, most education was based on theVeda (hymns, formulas, and incantations, recited orchanted by priests of a pre-Hindu tradition) and laterHindu texts and scriptures.Education, at first freelyavailable in Vedic society, became over time morediscriminatory as the caste system, originally based onoccupation, evolved, with the brahman (priests) beingthe most privileged of the castes