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THE VEDIC CULTURE: THE RIGVEDIC AGE. Original home of the Aryans. Some of them think they are original inhabitants of India Some regard them as invaders who destroyed the superior civilization of the original inhabitant’s whom they drove beyond the Vindhyas. Original home of the Aryans.
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Original home of the Aryans • Some of them think they are original inhabitants of India • Some regard them as invaders who destroyed the superior civilization of the original inhabitant’s whom they drove beyond the Vindhyas.
Original home of the Aryans • Historians agree that the original home of the Aryans was in central Asia in regions around the Caspian sea.
Original home of the Aryans • They might have been forced to migrate due to shortage of food and fodder to seek settlement in other lands. • Aryans who came to India are called ‘Indo-Aryans’.
Spread of Aryans in India • Aryans first settled in Punjab • Founded their first settlements on the banks of the rivers Indus [Sindu] & Saraswathi [which has since dried up]
Spread of Aryans in India • While driving the ‘Dasyus’ beyond the Vindhyas and thus gained the occupation of more and more land in the eastern & northern parts of the country –they renamed it as ‘Aryavarta’ [abode of the Aryans]
Life of theAryans • Evidence of the Aryans are found in the ‘Vedas’ • ‘Vedas’-means knowledge
Different vedas are: • Rigveda – most ancient • Yajurveda • Samaveda • Atharvaveda
Social life • Family life • Food • Games & Amusements • Dress • The Varnas /Castes
Family life • Lived in joint families • They followed the patriarchal family • Grihapati- eldest male member in the family who exercised full authority over all the members.
Family life • It was his duty to perform sacrifices or Yajnas • Women also occupied a position of honour – their presence was essential at all religious ceremonies. They were given right education & some even composed the Rigvedic hymns
Food • Simple but nourishing • Wheat and barley cakes, milk & milk products like butter, ghee, curd, Cheese.
Games & Amusements • Found leisure for enjoyment • Fond of merry-making & pastimes • Favourite amusement – horseracing, chariot racing, hunting
Games & Amusements • Fascination for gambling with dice [this game has been referred to in the Rigveda as leading to ruins and slavery]. • Loved music & played on a flute which resembled the ‘Vina’
Dress • Simple & generally consisted of 3 parts – • Undergarment nivi/dhoti • Garment vasa/shirt • Over-garment adhivasa /mantle/cloak of cotton & wool
Dress • Turbans were also commonly used by them • Adorned their persons with gold & silver ornaments garlands & wreaths of flowers jewels etc. • Ornaments were worn by men & women
The Varnas /Castes • Divided into 4 Varnas • Brahmanas priests were learned people who performed sacrifices • Kshatriyas ruling class or warriors
The Varnas /Castes • Vaishyas trading class- farmers, goldsmiths, weavers, potters etc • Shudras descendants of Dasyus –serve the 3 higher varnas
Economic life: their occupations • Agriculture • Domestication of animals • Trade • Discovery of Iron • Other occupations and Industries
Agriculture • Primary occupation was cultivation of land • Agricultural products – barley, wheat, rice, cotton, oilseeds
Agriculture • Source of irrigation water – wells, canals, sometimes from lakes • People depended upon rains • Fields cultivated by a pair of oxen.
Domestication of animals • Domestication of animals was another important occupation • Wealth and prosperity depended on the possession of a large number of animals [especially cows – which was held in great esteem]
Domestication of animals • Other animals domesticated bulls, oxen, horses, sheep, goats, asses, & dogs.
Trade • They were not indifferent to trade & commerce. • Barter system – exchange of articles was in vogue • Cow was regarded as the standard of value. [value of things was measured in terms of cows]
Trade • Coinage known as “Nishka” was also prevalent • Trade was mainly carried on by road. • Trade by sea was not quite unknown
Discovery of Iron • Greatest contribution of the civilization is discovery of iron • Iron was – a hard & tough metal hence better suited for making tools & weapons compared to copper or bronze • Iron was used in making axe-heads – used for clearing jungles and making land fit for cultivation
Discovery of Iron • Other products made were sickles, hoes, plough-heads • Led to the development of various arts & crafts like carpentry, black-smithy, tannery etc.
Discovery of Iron • Iron tools helped sculptor in creating exquisite specimens of sculptures and rock-cut temples. • Different rulers equipped their armies with different weapons such as swords, shields, arrow-heads, spear-heads etc.- laid the foundation of vast empires.
Other occupations and Industries • Indulged in many other professions & occupations • Chief industries referred to in the Rigveda – carpenters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, leather’s, potters & physicians.
Other occupations and Industries • All work for the benefit of the people as a whole • No profession was inferior & below dignity
Government or political life • Status of the King • Ministers and the King • The Sabha & Samiti • Mode of warfare
Status of the King • Rigvedic Aryans lived in tribes called ‘Janas’ • Each Jana had its own ruler called ‘Rajan” • Kingship was generally hereditary.
Status of the King • Elected monarchies were not unknown • People could select a worthy monarch of their own choice from among the members of the royal family or the nobility when situation demanded
Ministers and the King • King was assisted by a number of ministers like • Purohita religious adviser • Senani leader of the army & helped king against his enemies.
Ministers and the King • All ministers & officials were all men of high character & exercised a sort of great check on the autocracy of the king • King was helpless without ministers as a bird without its wings.
The Sabha & Samiti • The tribes were further divided into ‘Gramas’ or the villages • King also consulted the ‘Gramini’[village headman] • Important matters were put before the two assemblies called the Sabha & Samiti.
The Sabha & Samiti • Anybody could give his suggestions in the Samiti • Membership of the Sabha was restricted to the elders of the families • Group of villages inhabited by the people of a tribe was called the ‘Vish’ hence the king was also known as ‘Vishpati’ [lord of the ‘Vish’]
Mode of warfare • They were good warriors [developed a high standard of warefare. • King & nobles fought on chariots • Common people fought on foot
Mode of warfare • Warriors wore a coat of - armour, a helmet, a hand & arm guard. • For offence they used swords, spears, axes, lances, bows & arrows [some times poisoned]
Mode of warfare • Helmets, armours & shields were used for defence • They never attacked or wounded an unarmed or sleeping enemy • It was considered a sin to kill a person who did not take part in a battle
