Ancient Indian History - Vedic Society

 

Society

·        Occupation of individuals was the basis of classification of a society in the Rig Vedic period.

·        It was divided into four varnas, namely

o   Brahmanas (teacher and priests);

o   Kshatriya (rulers and administrators);

o   Vaisya (farmers, merchants, and bankers); and

o   Sudra (artisan and laborers).

·        There was complete freedom and mobility for the adoption of a profession.

·        Trades and occupations did not assume a hereditary character in the society (till now).

Salient Features of Vedic Society

·         The family was the smallest unit of a society. It was primarily monogamous and Patriarchal.

·         Child marriage was not in fashion.

·         There was freedom of choice in marriage.

·         A widow could marry the younger brother of her deceased husband.

·         The wife was a partner of the husband in all religious and social ceremonies.

·         The father's property was inherited by son.

·         The daughter could inherit it only if she was the only child of her parents.

·         Right to property was known in moveable things like cattle, horse, gold, and ornament and so also in immoveable property like land and house.

Education

·         The teacher was given great respect.

·         The school was in the home of the teacher where he taught the particular sacred texts.

·         The texts were in the first instance learnt by pupils repeating the words taught by their teacher.

·         A great importance was attached to enunciation and pronunciation.

·         Oral learning was the method of training.

·         Students were given intense training and learning to memorize and preserve the huge mass of Vedic literature.

Food and Drinks

·         The important part of the diet was milk and its products like curd, butter, and ghee. Grains were cooked with milk (kshira-pakamodanam).

·         Chappati (bread) of wheat and barley was eaten mixed with ghee.

·         People used to eat the meat of birds, wild animals (like boar, antelopes, and buffalo), and fish.

·         The meat of animals such as sheep, goat, and buffalo etc., which were sacrificed on ceremonial occasions, was also eaten.

·         The cow was mentioned as aghnya i.e. not to be killed. The Vedas prescribe a penalty of death or expulsion from the kingdom to those who kill or injure cows.

·         Sura and Soma i.e. alcoholic drinks were also consumed, though their consumption had been condemned.

Economic Life

·         Agriculture, cattle rearing, and trade and commerce were the main economic activity of the Rig Vedic people.

·         People had domestic animals like cows, sheep, goats, asses, dogs, buffalos etc.

·         Oxen were used for ploughing and drawing carts and horses for drawing the chariots.

·         The plough was drawn by the oxen at times in a team of six, eight, or even twelve.

·         The grains were harvested with sickles.

·         Manure was used for high yield; irrigation was also practiced.

·         Excess of rains and drought is mentioned as damaging the crops.

·         The grains are collectively called ‘Yava’ and ‘Dhanya.’

·         Some other occupations were pottery-making, weaving, carpentry, metal working, leather-working, etc.

·         Initially, copper was the only metal that was used and the general term 'ayas' had been used for this. In a later period, terms like ‘lohit ayas’ and ‘syam ayas’ were used for copper and iron respectively.

·         The trade and traders (vanik) were also known in the Rig Vedic era.

·         The practices of exchange of goods (Barter Economy) were in trend. It has been found that ten cows were quoted as the price for an image of Indra.

·         The use of money can be traced in the mention of a gift of 100 nishkas.

·         Money-lending was also popular. It is mentioned that an eighth or a sixteenth part of one being paid either as an interest or part of the principle.

·         The sea is mentioned in the context of trade and ocean wealth, like pearls, and shells.