The Early Vedic Period
1. Social Conditions
The Rigveda is the oldest book in the world. The Rigveda points to a highly organised society. Monogamy was the general rule, but among princess, polygamy was also practised. The marriage was a sacred bond which could not be broken by any human action. However, widows are allowed to re-marry, particularly, when she was without a child. Dowry was usual at time of marriage. But, sometimes money had to be paid by son-in-law to purchase his bride. The marriage of girls was not considered to be essential and there are references to girls remaining unmarried till late age, living with her father and brothers.
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| Vedic Civilisation |
After marriage, the bride was brought to the house of bride-groom, which was her new home. She was given a place of honour. She was to have authority over her aged father-in-law, mother-in-law, and her brothers and sisters of her husband. The wife was the partner of the husband at the time of religious ceremonies. And no ceremony was considered to be effective without her participation.
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Child marriage was unknown. The choice of the father was counted in the selection of bride-groom, but the girl was also given independence in that matter. The father had complete control over his children. There is a reference to father who blinded his son on the ground that, the son was a gambler. The father was the head of the family and as long as he lived, was the owner of the property. Individual ownership of movable things such as, cattle, horses and gold was recognised.
The right of adoption was recognised. If the father had no son, the property could be inherited by the son of the daughter and not daughter herself. The unit of social-formation was the family, which consisted of several members under a common head, who was called the 'kulapa' Many families were combined together and they constituted a 'grama' or village under a headmen known as the 'Gramani'.
There was a distinction between Aryans and non-Aryans. The non-aryans were called as 'dasas', dasyus or Asuras. They were also referred as 'Pishachas' or 'rakshasa'. Who uttered fearful cries in the battle. They were also described as dark-skinned and nose-less or snub-nosed. Their language was different from that of Aryans. They did not perform the sacrifices, they did not worship vedic gods. They worshipped the 'Phallus', which was condemned by Aryans. They had their forts, and Aryans had to struggle to capture them.
As regards to the dress of the people, the Rigvedic people had two or three kinds of garments. Some people had two three kinds of garments. Some people put garments of various colours or those embroidered with gold. Ornaments such as, necklaces , earings, bracelets, anklets etc. were used by both men and women. Hair was combed and oil was used. Women wore their hair plaited. Sometimes, men arranged their hair in the coils. A barber was called a 'vapta'.
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Milk and it's products were the most important part of food of Aryans.They also used a mess of grain, cooked with milk. Cakes of rice or barely were mixed with ghee and then eaten. Parridge was prepared from 'yaval' grain. Meat of goat and sheep which were sacrificed were used.
Cow was considered to be sacred and could not be killed. The amusement of people were chariot riding , music, dancing and drinking was done with stakes and consequently, many families were ruined. Both, men and women took part in dancing, wbhich was accompanied by music from symbols(drum). The drum, Dundubhi, Karkari, flute etc. were used for music.
The Aryans of early vedic were not nomads. They lived a settled life and built cottages of wood and thatch(bhuse, cutta) fort their dwellings(livings) Columns were setup on form grounds with supporting beams, leaning obliquely against them. Between the corner post, other beams were setup according to the size of the house.
2. Economic Condition
The Rigvedic Aryans were essentially agriculturists. Great importance was attached to Krishi or (agriculture). Agriculture was carried out with the help of balls and oxen. The ploughed land was called 'Urvara' or kshetra. The plough was drawn by the oxen in terms of 6, 8, or 12. The harvest was cut with the help of sickles. Lands were watered by artificial channels and ordinarily two crops every year were raised.
There were pastures for grazing of cattle. There are references of herdsmen. The wealth of the people was known in terms of cattles, horses or good sons. The grain grown was called 'yava' or 'dhanya'. Agricultural pests as birds, locusts and insects are mentioned in the Rigveda. Too much of rain or too much of drought spoiled the crops. water was got from the wells, lakes and canals.
The Rigvedic Indians resorted to hunting for livelihood, sport and protection of their flock from wild animals. The carpenter played an important role in the rigvedic society. He made earths. There is also a mention of metal workers, potters, smiths-weaving was done by men. There was barter system in the rigvedic society.
It is stated that, the price of image of Indra was 10 cows. There was a practice of haggling(bargain) in the market. The people contracted debts(loans) and paid interest on the same. Trade was carried on with other countries.
3. Religious Condition
The religion of early vedic people was a simple one. They worshipped large number of gods in the form of phenomena of nature. They believed in terresstial gods like, prithvi, agni. Atmoshere gods like, Indra, Vayu. Heavenly gods like, Varuna, Ashwin, Surya,Savitri, Mitra and Vishnu. Varuna is the god of sky and occupied a very high place of honour. A large number of hyms(mantra) have been addressed to Varuna.
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| Early vedic period |
There is a reference to abstract dieties or gods, such as shraddha or faith. There are minor dieties like, Gandharvas or aerial spirits, ribhus or aerial elves or Apsaras or water nympls. Some of the Rigvedic gods are refered to as animals, eg: Indra is referred to as a bull and the sun is referred to as swift horse.
However, it is pointed out that, there was no animal worship in early vedic India. The people offered prayers to the gods from whom they wanted favours or boons. Sacrifices were also performed for the same purpose and things like, milk, grain, ghee and flesh were offered at the time of sacrifices, and an elaborate procedure was prescribed for the performance of sacrifices. Various kinds of priests came into existence and were referred to as Hotri, Adharvayu and Udgatri.
The Rigvedic people believe that, the gods ad godessess behaved like, human beings. The Aryans could not understand the power behind the natural phenomena and they tried to explain the realities in the universe with the help of myths. The forces of nature were defied and fictious stories were told about them. It was in this way that the mythology developed around the natural phenomena and super-natural personality.
Rigvedic religion did not put emphasis on the sadder aspects of life, it put emphasis on optimism. The Aryans were the men of vigour and activity. They viewed life with hope and ambition. The people of Rigvedic India had faith in life after death, in the world controlled by Yama.
4. Political Condition
The Aryans were in possession of a large territory. The geographical details found in Rigveda shows that, the Aryans knew the rivers- Kubha or Kabul, Kurmu or Kurram, Gomati or Gomal, Suvastu or Swat, Sindhu or Indus, vitasa or Jhelum, Askini or Chenab, purushmi or Ravi, Vipasha or Beas, Shutudri or Sutlej, Saraswati, Yamuna, and Ganga. There is also reference to thunder, thunder, lightning, bursting of clouds and mountains.
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| The Aryans |
Reference may be made to the tribes and kingdom of Rigvedic India. They were settled in the teritorry between the Saraswati and Yamuna. They had to fight against their Aryan rivals in the west and Non-Aryan rivals the east. The Purus were a powerful tribe and settled on both sides of the Saraswati. They were the rivals of the Bharatas.
The Bharatas were the one's, after whom India has been named in the new constitution. The two important rulers of the Bharatas were Divodasa and Sudas. Divodadsa fad to fight against the Purus, Yadus and Turvasas. Suda is famous for his victory in famous battle of the Ten kings
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