The Rig-Vedic Civilisation
The Vedic age is divided into Rig-Vedic Age and Later-Vedic Age. The Rig-Veda is the earliest of four Vedas. Though essentially a religious text the Rig-Veda provides information’s about the political, social, economic and religious life of the Aryans. The life and civilisation that are portrayed in the Rig-Veda are called the Rig civilisation. The span of the period is approximately 1500 B.C to 1000 B.C. This is called the Rig period.[1]
Political Life
The basis of the political and social organization of the Rig-Vedic people was the patriarchal family. Several families together formed a ‘grama’. The leader of the ‘grama’ was called ‘gramani’. A group of ‘gramas’ formed a ‘Clan’ or ‘Vis’ The head of a ‘Vis’ was called Vispati . Several ‘Clans formed a tribe or ,jana’. Each tribe was ruled by a King. He was called ‘Rajan’. As a rule kingship was hereditary, though there are instances when the King owed his position to the choice of the people. In the Rigveda we get the names of different Aryan tribes. They are Bharatas, Yadus, Sanjayas, Anus Tristus, Purus, Turvos and so on. There was constant conflict among these tribes. Wars between the Aryans and the non-Aryans were also frequent. The primary duties of a king were to lead the army in battles and protect the tribe and the tribal territory Senani, Gramani and Purohita were important officials who assisted the king in discharging his duties. The Senani looked after the army, the Gramani served as the village headman and the Purohita advised the king in important matters. The Purohita occupied a position of great weight and dignity. Though monarchical forms of government was common in the Rig-Vedic age, republican form of government also existed. .The Rigveda refers to republican niers who were called ‘Ganapàti’ ‘Jyeshtha’. Oligarchy was not unknown. .A very striking feature of Rig-Vedic state was the institution of ‘Sabha’ and ‘Samiti’, Though the king was the lord of the people he did not govern without their consent. From certain passages in the Rigveda it appears that ‘Sibha’ was a council. of Elders. It gave decision on matters of public importance. ‘Samiti’ was a popular assembly. All free people including. women. Attended the meetings at the Samiti. The King himself would remain present at the meeting. The Samiti was more representative in chacrecter than the Sabha.
Social Life
The society in the Rig-Vedic age wits patriarchal, the father being the, head of the family. He exercised full control over it. The head of the family was called ‘Grihapati’. Women occupied a place of honour and prestige in the society. The family being patriarchal the birth of daughters was not desired, but once born they were never neglected. They were given education. Several women like Ghosa, Apala and Visyavara composed hymns and rose to the rank of seers. Purdah was unknown. They moved freely and took part in the deliberations of ‘Sabha’ and ‘Samiti’. They attended public feasts and went to the battle field. Ordinarily a man married one wife. Polygamy was practised but polyandry was unknown in Rig-Vedic times. Child-marriage and the practice of Sati were not popular. Girls enjoyed considerable freedom in the choice of their consorts. The dowry system existed. The standard of morality of the womenfolk was very high. The costume worn, in early Vedic times consisted in. three parts— Nivi (under garment), Vasa or Paidhan (garment) and Adhivasa (mantle) . Besides cotton, wool and deer-skin served as materials for clothing. Ornaments made of gold and precious jewel were worn by women. The use of floral wreaths was common on festive occasions. Wheat and barley were the Staple food of the people. Vegetables, Food & Drink fruits, milk, milk like butter, curd and meat were other items of food. Strong drinks called ‘Soina’ (Soma juice) and ‘Sura’ was very popular. Favorite amusements were dancing, music, hunting, chariot racing and games of dice. When the Aryans settled in India , Indians were divided into two c1asses—white-skinned Aryans and dark (Dravidians). In course of time they were divided into four distinct theses on the basis of ability and profession. The ‘Purusha- of the Rigveda says that the Brahmana took rise from the mouth of Brahma, the Kshatriya from his anns, Vaisya froth his thighs and . the Sudras from his feet. Those who were engaged in performing religious rites and in learning and teaching were called Brahmanas. The Kshatriyas were ru1er and warriors. The Vaishyas cultivated land, tended cattle and carried on trade and commerce. The Sudras were defeated none accepted within the fold of the Aryan society. They served the first three classes of people. During the Rig-Vedic age the division among the first three classes of people was not rigid. Inter marriage and change of profession -were allowed. Towards the fag end of the Rig-Vedic age the system of ‘Chaturdshramd’ or four stages of life developed. This was actually the characteristic of the social system of the Later Vedic age. The four ashramas or stages of life were ‘Brahntachrya’,‘Garhasthya’, ‘Vanaprastha’ and ‘Sannyas’. The member of the three upper castes Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas had to pass through these four stages of life. In the ‘Brahmacharya’ stage an Aryan child had to live in the house of his ‘Guru’ (Preceptor) and acquire learning. In the next stage, namely ‘Garhasthya’ an individual got married and performe4 his duties as a householder. The third stage was ‘Vanaprastha’ which started at the age of fifty. In this stage he left his house and lived in the forest as a hermit. The fourth and the final stage was ‘Sannyas’. In this stage the individual renounced the world and lived the life of an ascetic.[2]
Economic Life
The economic life of the Rig Aryans was distinctly rural. The Aryans lived in villages. There was a ‘Pura’ or fort in Rural Civilisation every village. At the time of war women, children and old men took shelter there. The Rig makes no mention of cities. Agriculture was the main occupation of the Rig Aryans. They were experts in all agricultural works, such as tilling the soil, cutting furrows, sowing seeds, use of manures, irrigation and harvesting corn. They cultivated wheat and barley. But Dr. H. C Roychoudhury holds that they also cultivated paddy. According to other scholars they did not know how to cultivate paddy. They learnt it from the local tribes. As a means of livelihood the place of cattle rearing was next to that of agriculture. Cattle was considered to be valuable possession of the Ria Aryans. Milk were important items of font. Values of commodities or lands were determined in terms of cattle. People desired more and more cows. The Rigveda contains passages full of wishful prayers for increase of cattle. In the Rigveda the other name of war is Gavisti’ or search for cattle. In this age wars were mainly waged to plunder or recover cattle. Rig-Vedic age saw the cultivation of different industrial arts. There were weavers , carpenters , chariot-makers , tanners , potters and metal workers. At the beginning of the Rig-Vedic age commerce was largely in the hands of the people called Pani who were supposed to be non Later the Vaishvas began to take part in trade and commerce. Trade was both land and sea borne. As coins were not in wide circulation historians think that the economy of the age was not developed. Barter system was prevalent in those days. The cow was the usual means of barter. There is evidence of the use of gold coins named ‘niska’ and mana’. But they had very limited use because gold corns cannot be means of daily exchanges. According to Dr Bashain there was no existence of a community of businessmen. In respect of transport this age was by no means advanced. Horse- drawn chariots, Ox-drawn Carts and boats were the common means of transport. There is reference to boats with hundred oars in early vedic texts. This suggests that people of the age undertook Voyages. But historians are not unanimous on this point.[3]
Religious Life
The Rig-Vedic Aryans used to worship natural phenomena as gods. The deities worshipped by them were fairly numerous. Indra was king of gods. He was god of rain and thunder. There are 250 hymns on him in the Rigveda. Among the gods Agni (fire) was next to Indra. There are 200 hymns on him. To the people of the primitive age fire was of great importance. In cooking and clearing jungle fire was indispensable. So people made offer rigs to Agni, the fire god on the occasion of religious sacrifices. The third god of importance was Varuna. He was the god of water. Varuna was the most sublime deity. He was the guardian of moral laws. To Varuna people turned for forgiveness of sins. Of other Rig-Vedic gods mention may be made of Parjanya (clouds), Surya (sun), Marut (storm), Vayu (winds) and Dyau (sky). The Rigveda mentions the names of several goddesses such as Aditi, Usha, Savitri, Saraswati etc. To propitiate the deity’s prayers and sacrifices were offered to the accompaniment of milk, grain and ghee. People believed that gods subdue the forces of evil and regulate the order of nature. They also believed that the gods reward the righteous and punish the sinful. The Rig-Vedic Aryans were not idol worshipers. They did not even build temples. Though they worshipped many gods they believed in the unity of the godhead.[4]
