Social Structure During The Early Vedic Period

      Let us now look at early Vedic period to understand how the society organized itself at that point in time. This will work like the sounding board for appreciating all later developments and will pave way for building our story line in proper sphere.

      While one does not have direct information about the social life in early Vedic period from any recorded literature as such but early Vedas are strongest words available about human contemplation and a good study of the surroundings reveal a clear picture of life at that point in history. The contents of Rig Veda do provide references about verious aspects of social life around that time and these references are strong enough to be used as bits and pieces to put together a detailed sketch of the social scenario of early period. The remarks mentioned below, therefore, are a result of compilation of hints from Rig Veda, the earliest composition among all the Vedas.

Vedic Society

      Early Vedic people were pastoral in nature and cattle rearing was their main occupation. Agriculture was taking roots and that lead, to settlements of families near the fields used for agriculture. The society so formed, was patriarchal where family was the basic foundation. Within a family, father was the head and was called by the name of Grihapati or Grihaswami. Wife and children were subject to the will of the Grihapati. He was supposed to be emblem of Rindness, compassion and magnanimity. As head of the family, he was vested with all major (decisions in the family. The most common form of relationship between man and women was monogamy but there are some instances of polygamy especially among elite class. Woman position was quite strong in early period. In spare time, they were engaging in songs, dance and. merrymaking activities. Education was given due importance and sons were to be sent to best possible gurus who run their academies in separate location where pupils lived on residential basis.

      Women were given high level of respect and freedom but were also extended protection and safety. The concept of Goddesses was certainly towards appreciation of woman's qualities as feminine embodiment of important aspects and powers. Women were held, in high esteem and regularly participated in all sacrifices and rituals along with their husbands. The wife was the lady of the house and controlled servants, slaves and own children as well as unmarried siblings of her husband. The position of women in Vedic times is best understood by the often-quoted, verse which translates to "where women are worshipped, there the Gods drwell". This kind of respect for women is unique to Vedic culture and does not have any parallel in human history.

      Life of these people was ascribed, to many objects of nature. People were mesmerized with natural forces like Sun, Moon, Earth, Wind, Fire, Rain, and Thunder and these forces were considered divine powers. These natural powers were personified, into many

Gods and Goddesses and were worshipped for their blessings and favours for better life. Holding 'yajnas' was the central feature for early Vedic people. Many people conducted 'yajnas' at home while Rajas conducted 'yajnas' on larger scale on special occasions, which got celebrated like festivals. They believed that Gods arrive to the pits of 'yajnas' for accepting offerings made during the rituals. Hence, there was a direct contact expected with Gods during 'yajnas'.

      Houses were made of clay, bamboo and later they started using wood items. Roofs were thatched with long grass and leaves. Each family had their own house. Most of the people were able to do all jobs themselves as self-reliance was high. Houses had kitchen in a separate corner, which was considered very pure with fire kept burning on continuous basis for rituals and cooking.

      Marriage was not mandatory and there are references where a girl reached to advance age living in her father's house without marriage. Person interested to marry someone's daughter was to send his friend or father as a messenger to ask her hand from the Grihapati. Marriage generally happened only after permission from girl's father. Interestingly, many customs prevailing in present day Hindu society can be traced to early Vedic time without any dilution over last five thousand years. These included groom going to brides house with his friends and relatives, preparing grand meal for all guests, marriage ritual by taking rounds around the sacred fire and offerings gifts for groom and his family members.

      Abundance of sons was constantly the subject matter of pray as that was the way of expanding family lineage. Most auspicious blessing to a married woman was for having many sons. Not having son was considered being equal to poverty. Adoption from near family members was a poor substitute. Rather unfortunate but fact of life was that having daughters was considered as having misery. These were early seeds of a long journey of gender discrimination in our culture. We may be talking of five thousand years history but it sounds so contemporary. Alas, so many other customs and traditions got diluted over all these years but gender bias has remained alive all through the history of Hinduism. Plight of half of the population has remained conspicuously pathetic.

      Morality was high, adultery and rape were considered serious offences. Illegitimate births were there but efforts were made to conceal such happenings. Cattle lifting were most common offence. Clothes were made of sheep's wool and deer skin. Ladies did popularly used necklace, bracelets, anklets and earrings made from various items including metals. Ladies are also depicted as oiling and making out their long hairs with lot of attention. Men braided their hair and wound the same as a shell. Incidentally; you must have seen many pictures of Lord Shiva in that very getup.

      Cow milk was main nutrient among various kind of foods. It was used for drinking, cooking grains as well as offering to Gods. Next in line was Ghee, the purified butter which was used for adding to all types of cooking and for oblations to Gods. Numerous types of vegetables and fruits were consumed together with wheat and maize. Rice was not yet grown so much as other grains. Flesh was used mostly on ceremonial occasions. Bulls were chief offering at important 'yajnas'. Cooking vessels were made of earth and base metals. Drinking water was always stored in earthen pots. There are repeated references of 'Som-ras' which is supposed to be some intoxicant juice of Soma plant which has since been extinct. Som-ras was offered to Gods and later distributed among all as 'Prasad'.

      Cattle breeding and agriculture were the mainstay of livelihood for all. Cattle was pride possession and considered wealth. Cows were used for barter trading as well as initial currency. Prosperity of a person was measured in terms of how many cows he possessed. Hunting and gambling with pieces of dices together with chariot races and war dances were social recreational activities and some people got hooked on to these as vices. They have developed 'Sura' (some variety of country made liquor) using maize and many people are described as regular user of sura.

      Gram (village) was lowest unit of society followed by Gana (tribes) and Rajya. Most settlements were near rivers and were to spread inside forests based on how much land was required for agriculture. Density of population was very thin. Most Rajas were hereditary but if Ganas were not happy, they could choose some other person as their Raja. Fights were regular. These were largely on foot with bow and arrow as main weapons. Later, chariots drawn by horses came on the scene.

      People were initially self-reliant which means that there was no profession based segregation to begin with. But later portion of the Vedas do mention class-based categorization suggesting that later on different people branched out to undertake different professions. In between, came some initial activity of industry. The first industry was in wooden activities followed by chariot making, melting, forging metals and tanners. Women were known to engage regularly in sewing, plaiting mats from grass or making dresses and ornamental wears. Later developed traits also included rope maker, jeweller, elephant keeper and actor. Music instruments used were drums, flute and Veena. Vocal music was very popular and was resorted to on all auspicious occasions.

      Composing of poetry was considered a great blessing of gods as only few people had mastery over playing with words. Such people were looked up as knowledgeable and to some extent as specially blessed people. They were later called "arya" in Sanskrit (Aryan in English). Arya literally means 'noble person' and was referred to designate people who believed in Vedic culture of performing rituals and yajnas and worshipped Vedic Gods. Coming from a common society, Aryans were certainly first among equals. It was out of this learned category of blessed people that composition of the Vedas got started.