Rig Vedic Society: Insights into Ancient Indian Culture

Introduction

Rig Vedic Society refers to the social structure and cultural norms prevalent during the Early Vedic Period (1500-1000 BCE) in ancient India. It was characterized by a pastoral and tribal society centered around the composition of the Rigveda.

Key Characteristics

• Initially, society was differentiated on the basis of “Varna” or colour: 
  • Aryans (fair-skinned) 
  • Non-Aryans (darker and spoke a different language).
• Non-Aryans (Dasyus) include Avrata (non-followers of divine ordinances) and Akratu (non-performers of sacrifices).
• Society was egalitarian and not caste-driven; occupations weren’t determined by birth. There was an absence of a strict social hierarchy. 
• The Varna System was introduced at the end of the Rig Vedic age, as it finds mention only in Purusashukta (Tenth Mandal of Rig Veda). 
  • Inequality started to develop in society, with tribal chiefs and priests acquiring a larger share of the booty, leading to the division of society into three groups- warriors, priests, and the people.  (on the same pattern as in Iran.)
• Rig Vedic people were familiar with slavery. There were mainly women slaves used for domestic purposes & not for agriculture.
• Evidence of cereals as a gift was rare, but evidence of land as a gift was absent.

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Family structure

• Social structure was rooted in brotherhood. 
  • The primary unit was the ‘Kula’ (Mother, father, son, slaves, and others) headed by a Kulapa.
• The basic unit of society was the family or Griha, headed by Grihapati, and his wife was known as Sapatni. It was perhaps a joint and patrilineal family.
• Several families formed a ‘vis’ or clan. Multiple ‘vis’ constituted a ‘Jana,’ representing the largest social unit. The term ‘Jana’ & ‘vis’  occurs in the Rig Veda but  ‘Janapada’ is nowhere mentioned in the Rigvedic text.
• Vis was divided into Grama or smaller tribal units meant for fighting. 
  • When Grama clashed with one another, it caused Samgrama or war.
• Marriages were primarily monogamous, but polygyny and polyandry were also observed. 
• In Rig Veda, no desire is expressed for daughters, though the desire for children and cattle is a recurrent theme in the hymns.

Status of women

• Though society was patriarchal, women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development like Upananaya (Investiture ceremony), education, selecting life partners, widow remarriage, etc. 
• Notable women poets were Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa, and Lopamudra.
• Practices like child marriage, sati and purdah were absent, and the marriageable age seems to have been 16 to 17.

Conclusion

• The Rig Vedic Society laid the foundation for the socio-religious fabric of ancient India, with its emphasis on rituals, social hierarchy, and reverence for nature. 
  • Its legacy endured, influencing subsequent periods of Indian history and shaping the cultural identity of the subcontinent.