Society of Early Vedic Period

Society of Early Vedic Period

Society

» The Rigvedic society comprised four varnas, namely Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra. This classification of society was based on the professions or occupations of the individuals.
» Teachers and priests were called Brahamanas; rulers and administrators were called Kshatriyas; farmers, merchants and bankers were called Vaishyasr, and artisans and labourers were reckoned as Shudras.
» These vocations were followed by persons according to their ability and liking, and the occupations had not become hereditary as they became later on.
» Members of the same family took to different professions and belonged to different varnas as well illustrated by a hymn of the Rig Veda. In this hymn a person says : “I am a singer; my father is a physician, my mother is a grinder of com.
» The unit of society was family, primarily monogamous and patriarchal.
» Child marriage was not in vogue.
» A widow could marry the younger brother of her deceased husband (Niyoga).
» The father's property was inherited by son.

» Right to property existed in respect of moveable things like cattle, horse, gold and ornaments and also in respect of immovable property like land and house.
» The home of the teacher was the school where he taught the particular sacred texts.
» Milk and its products-curd, butter and ghee-formed an important part of the diet. There is also the mention of grain cooked with milk (Kshira- pakamodanam).
» The meat of fish, birds and animals was eaten.
» The cow was already deemed Aghanya i.e. not to be killed
» Rig Veda prescribes a penalty of death or expulsion from the kingdom of those who kill or injure cows.
» Alcoholic drinks, Sura and Soma were also consumed.
» Aryans were primarily agriculture and pastoral people who reckoned their wealth in terms of cows.
» Amusements included music, dancing, chariot-racing and dicing One stanza in the Rig Veda known as the gambler’s lament says : ‘ My wife rejects me and her mother hates me’.