· Politics of Vedic India was well structured and organized.
Political Structure
· The political structure of Rig Vedic India can be studied in the following ascending order −
o The Family (Kula), the smallest unit.
o The Village (Grama)
o The Clan (Vis)
o The People (Jana)
o The Country (Rashtra)
· Kula (family) included all the people living under the same roof (griha).
· A collection of several families constitutes the grama (village) and its headman was called gramini.
· The collection of several grama (village) was called as the Vis and its head was called Vispati.
· Several Vis constituted a Jana as it is mentioned as Panchajanah, Yadva-janaha, and Bharata-janaha.
· The aggregation of all Jana constitutes Rashtra (country).
Administration
· The hereditary kings were the popular form of Government.
· The provision of a democratically elected king by the assembly of people Jana was also known.
· The Rashtra was small states ruled by a raja (king).
· The bigger kingdoms were ruled by ‘samrat’ that reflects that they enjoyed a position of greater authority and dignity.
· The Raja administered justice with the assistance of Purohita and other officials.
· The Raja was offered bali, which was voluntary gift or tribute for his services. The bali was offered by his own people and also from defeated people.
· The crimes were strongly dealt with by the administration. Major crimes were theft, burglary, robbery, and cattle lifting.
· The important royal officials were −
o Purohita (chief priest and minister)
o Senani (army chief)
o Gramini (head of a village)
o Dutas (envoys)
o Spies (spy)
· Sabha and Samiti were two important assemblies mentioned in the Rig Veda. These assemblies were forms the essential feature of the government.
· The Samiti was mainly dealt with the policy decisions and political business, included common people.
· The Sabha was a selected body of the Elders or Nobles and less political in character.