The social life of the Rig Vedic period (500 – 1000 BCE) was simple, pastoral, and semi-nomadic. Society was structured into families, clans, tribes, etc. Society was focused on social norms and religious and ethical principles.
Social Structure
- Basics: The basic structure of society in the Rigvedic period was the family.
- Source: The only source to know about the society of the Rig Vedic period is Vedic literature.
- Nature of family: The family was mainly monogamous.
- Patriarchal Society:
- The society of that time was patriarchal.
- It is believed that the father or the eldest person was the head of the family.
- The words ‘grihapati‘or ‘kulpati‘ (or kulapa) mentioned in the Rigveda indicate that the eldest male in the family was the head of the family.
Caste system
- The Rigveda mentions the composition of four castes in the tenth mandala of Purusukta.
- The four castes of the Aryans, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra, emerged on the basis of virtue and deeds, and the defeated non-Aryans were classified as Shudra.
- The Rigveda says that the white, tall, well-shaped-nosed Aryans entered this country and defeated the primitive inhabitants of dark-skinned people.
- Since then, two castes have been created in India – the Gauravarna Aryans and the Krishnavarna Non-Aryans.
- According to the Vedas, the Brahmins originated from the mouth of the primordial man, the kings or Kshatriyas from his arms, the Vaishyas from his thighs, and the Shudras from his feet.
- Brahmins for religious observance, warriors or Kshatriyas for governance and defense, and Vaishyas for agriculture and business.
- The Shudra or slave class arose to meet the needs of these three classes.
Info: During the Rig Vedic period, there was no strictness in the caste system – a person of one caste could change his profession or occupation and take up the profession of another caste.
Chaturashrama:
- The Aryans belonging to the four castes of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra divided their lives into four ashrams or stages called Chaturashrama.
- These four stages are:
- Brahmacharya, i.e. the period of studying in the Guru’s house while maintaining virginity,
- Garhasthya, i.e. the stage of getting married in youth and following the family religion,
- Vanaprastha, i.e. the period of separating oneself from worldly affairs in adulthood and contemplating God, and
- Sannyas, i.e. the stage of renouncing the world and adopting the life of a wanderer and contemplating God.
Social Customs Related to Marriage
- Child marriage or the practice of Sati is not known at this time.
- Intercast marriages (Anuloma Vivah and Pratiloma Vivah) were also known.
- Various types of marriages were prevalent in society.
- Gandharva marriage (love marriage) was prevalent in society according to the personal preferences of men and women.
- A man from a higher caste marries a girl from a lower caste in Anuloma Vivah.
- A lower caste man marries a higher caste girl in Pratiloma Vivah.
- Pratiloma Vivah was restricted in the Rigvedic society.
Info: Monogamy was the norm, but polygamy existed among the rich and higher-class people.
Status of Women in Society
- During the Rigvedic period, women had considerable respect.
- They participated in religious activities, social festivals, academic pursuits, and even in war.
- Women like Juhu, Paulami, and Kamayani showed special proficiency in religious pursuits.
- Women like Ghosha, Apala, and Vishwabara showed special proficiency in the study of scriptures.
- At that time there was a system of providing equal opportunities to women in the field of education.
- Women enjoyed freedom in choosing their life partner. From being a Swayamvara to the right to widow remarriage, women’s freedom is reflected in all areas.
- However, child marriage and widow marriage were not common in society.
- The educated women of the society of that time were Upavitdhari, that is, they were given Upanayana. They were allowed to read Vedas e.g. Gargi and Lopamudra.
- Some of them were also the authors of the Suktas or hymns of the Vedas.
- Lopamudra was the wife of sage Augusta. She compiled some hymns of the Rigveda.
- As the authors of the Sukta, they were also called Brahmavadini or Rishi (female sages).
Food
- Milk, ghee, fruits, vegetables, and barley were the main foods of the Rigvedic Aryans.
- Meat was one of the main foods on the diet. On festival days, they ate the meat of various animals including cows.
- Cows were considered fire-proof, meaning they could not be slaughtered. The meat of bulls, sheep, and goats was eaten.
- They drank a special type of drink called Sura and Somaras as drinks.
- Although Somaras was praised in the Rig Veda, alcohol was condemned.
Entertainment:
- The tenth mandala of the Rig Veda mentions dance songs, recitations, hymns, and even hunting.
- Dance, singing, hunting, dice, and fist fights were part of their entertainment.
- Horse racing and chariot racing were the other entertainment.
- Elephant and bull fight, wrestling, mace fight, etc. used to have.
- festivals like Van-vihar, yantras, and fairs were seen on a large scale.
Info: Singing hymns and reciting poetry were considered noble activities.
Clothing
- In that era, there was no special difference in the clothing of men and women.
- People of the Vedic period were familiar with two types of clothing – Basa and Adhivasa.
- They wore basa on the lower body and adhivasa on the upper body.
- This clothing was mainly made of thread, wool and deer skin.
- Both men and women wore ornaments.
- It is mentioned in the Rigveda that dancers of that time used finely worked clothing called ‘pesa‘.