3. Early Vedic Society, Polity & Religion

Early Vedic Social Structure

Society was primarily tribal and largely egalitarian - "Jana" referred to a tribe or group of related families

Early Vedic Hierarchy structure

Rashtra (highest) - Jana - Visa - Grama - Kula (lowest)

Early Vedic Varna system

Division into four varnas based on profession (not hereditary)

Early Vedic Marriage & Family

Child marriage was not prevalent - Monogamy was general rule (some princes practiced polygamy) - Niyoga (widow remarriage) was allowed

Early Vedic Status of Women

Enjoyed fairly good position in society - participated in religious and social life

Early Vedic Economy & Wealth

The cow (Aghanya - sacred) was considered chief measure of wealth - Wealthy person called Gomat

Gavisthi

Battles for cattle

Early Vedic Polity

Tribal Kinship (Elective Monarchy)

Yajamana

The householder who sponsored the Yajna, usually performed at his home

Early Vedic Assemblies

Sabha (Community of privileged), Samiti (Community of common people), Vidhata (Community for religious purpose)

Women's participation in assemblies (Early Vedic)

Women could participate in both Sabha and Samiti

Sabha & Samiti relationship

Two daughters of Prajapati - mentioned in Atharva Veda

Early Vedic Ranking of Officials

Rajana (Tribal Chief), Purohit (Priest), Senani (Army Chief), Sangrihitri (Tax collecting officers), Shresthin (Merchants), Gramani (Village head)

Early Vedic Religious Practices

Worshipped nature (naturalistic polytheism) - no animal or idol worship - performed sacrificial prayers

Early Vedic Deity - Indra

Purandara / destroyer of forts (lord of plough)

Early Vedic Deity - Prithvi and Agni

Goddess of nature and Intermediary between human and God

Early Vedic Deity - Soma and Vayu

Lord of plants and God of air

Early Vedic Deity - Varuna and Rudra

God of Water or Rita and Protector of Cattle

Early Vedic Deity - Aditi and Savitri

Mother of Sun & Indra and Goddess of purity

Early Vedic Deity - Raka, Sinivali and Usha

Goddess of prosperity, Goddess of fertility, and Goddess of dawn

Early Vedic Pottery

Ochre coloured pottery was used

Dasyus (or Dasas)

The indigenous inhabitants described in Vedic texts as hostile, dark-skinned, and non-Vedic