THE VEDIC

CULTURE: THE
RIGVEDIC AGE
Aryans
 Aryans
• Most civilized & cultured races
of the world. They were tall &
fair-complexioned people with
sharp features, & strong
physique
 Aryans
Indians, English, Germans,
Spanish, French & Persians
pride themselves to be the true
descendents of the Aryans.
They came to India during the
second millennium B.C. This age
is called the Vedic Age
Original home
of the Aryans
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
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 the
Aryans
 Life of the Aryans

Evidence of the Aryans are

found in the ‘Vedas’
‘Vedas’-means knowledge
Different vedas are:
Rigveda – most ancient
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Atharvaveda
Social life
 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
 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 an
Industrie

All work for the benefit of

the people as a whole
No profession was inferior &
below dignity
Government or
political life
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