Vedic Period

Vedic Period refers to a cultural trend which existed in ancient Indian History. This cultural trend has been named Vedic culture and the period in which the trend emerged and became prevalent is called the Vedic period.

Aryan or Indo-Aryan does not represent any ethnic group or racial group. They represented a family of languages and their speakers. The main language under this family was Sanskrit. Therefore the Vedic period represents the Vedic culture associated with the Aryans or Indo-Aryans. The word Arya occurs many times in the Rigveda. In general it refers to a cultural community speaking specific languages.

You should also read our other articles on Ancient History:

• Indus Valley Civilization
• Prehistoric Period in India
• Chalcolithic Period in India
• Post Vedic Period

Timeline

The timeline of vedic period is from 1500 BCE to 600 BCE. In this period, all four Vedas emerged which are the main religious books of Sanatama Dharma. Vedic period can be separated into two parts, rigvedic or early vedic phase and later vedic phase. The Rig Vedic or Early Vedic period represents the timeline from 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE and the timeline of the Later Vedic phase was from 1000 BCE to 600 BCE. The culture was founded by a group of people known as Aryans or Indo-aryans.

In this article we will learn about the economic, political, social and religious life of the Vedic period. These four aspects of the life of the Vedic people constitute the Vedic culture.

Advent of Aryans

Before we go into the various aspects of the life of the Vedic people or the Aryans, we must know the details of the origin of the Aryans. After all, where did the Aryans come from?

Although there is a lot of disagreement on this issue, and different theories are discussed. But it is generally believed that the Aryans were the people who came from the Central Asia steppes region. They came and settled in the Indian subcontinent.

Most of the linguists and historians consider that there existed a community in central asian steppes region. They called these community as Indo-european community. They were speaking simillar type of languages like Latin, Greek, German, Sanskrit. This group of languages is called as Indo-european languages. It is further divided into western and eastern branches. We are concerned with eastern.

There is one story, and accordingly that indo european community began to migrate from their orignial homeland around 2000 BCE. Parts of this community moved towards different regions of the world. A part moved towards iran, and an branch of people who moved towards iran came to indian subcontinent. They were known as aryans or Indo-aryans. The credit for bringing Indo-European languages to India is also given to these people. For now, this is the most accepted view amongst the linguists, historians and archeologist.

However, some historians also believe that Aryans or Indo-Aryans were not migrants or outsiders. They were original inhabitants of india. The community was an intellectual community and they developed multiple technologies and wrote literatures.

Geographical Extent

During rigvedic period, they were spread in north western part of india. There is a term in Rigveda “Saptasaindhav” which means the land of seven rivers. The Land of Seven Rivers represents this region geographically.

From the various geographical terms that appear in the Rigveda, we can conclude that they were confined to this area in the Rigvedic period. But in later vedic period, they started moving towards eastern india. During later vedic period they also moved towards south india in a limited extent.

Economic Life of Vedic Period

Economic Life of Early Vedic Phase:

The entire economy is called as the pastoral economy because they were dependent on pastoralism for food and for various other activities also. Below are the main characteristics of economic life of the Rigvedic phase.

• Herding: These people were involved in activities like domestication of animals and animal husbandry.Cow, horse and bull are the animals they have domesticated. The cow was in prime position and they have also fought wars to capture the cows.
• Acquisition of Pastoral Land: They also occupied the pastoral land because it was necessary for animal grazing. They also acquired some more residential land, but at that time it was not seen as a major achievement and as such did not give rise to any regional identity.
• Semi-nomadic community: Generally, they were called semi-nomadic communities because they kept roaming from one place to another. They have used horses and horse-drawn chariots. Horse-drawn chariots are also considered war equipment. They were doing agricultural work, but on a limited scale.
• Crafts and Trade: Evidence of crafts and artisans are also found. It shows that they were involved in the production of crafts. Wood craft, metal craft, skin-based or leather crafts are the ones which was found at a large scale. There was no evidence of commercial and trade activities at this time.

Economic Life of Later Vedic Phase: 

Many changes took place in the economic life of the people of the later Vedic period. They were no longer semi-nomadic. They had settled down at one place. Below we have discussed the characteristics and changes in economic life of Later Vedic People.

• Sedentary Agriculture: Since they were no longer moving from one place to another, they started sedentary farming. It means that they settled in an area and started farming there.
• Ploughing: There are multiple evidences of ploughs. Aryans used wooden ploghs which played an important role in efficient farming.
• Barley-Rice-Wheat: These were the three main crops that the Aryans produced during this period.
• Crafts: Crafts was already there in the previous phase but it became more diverse during this phase. There were three main diverse terms for crafts. PGW: It stands for painted graviour. Later vedic people used different kinds of pottery but the most sophisticated and refined pottery they used was painted graviour. Iron: In this phase, iron technology was used extensively. In north india, iron technology came to be used in around 1000 BCE. Later vedic people were aware of iron technology. It is said based upon archeological and literary sources. Multiple iron weapons and some tools were discovered. Since iron tools were less in number, it is assumed that iron had not played any significant role in economic life. It was largely used in politico-millitary life. Glass: Multiple glass objects were also found, which is an indication of glass craft.

Overall we can say that in earlier phase of vedic age economic life was mainly associated with pastoralism. In around 1000 BCE, they also started sedentary agricultural activities.

Political Life of Vedic Period

The Vedic period is known for its important traditions and characteristics, which laid the foundation for the major social, economic, and political changes of the Post-Vedic period. 

In the Rig Vedic period we see a chiefdom based system, while in the later Vedic period a proto state based system emerged. In the later Vedic period, many changes took place on the foundation of the Rigvedic period. In the Rig Vedic period, we see the importance of sabhas and samitis. 

In the later Vedic period, the importance of sabhas and samiti declined and Ratnis emerged. Ratnis were used to be the advisor of the proto king. 

Now we will discuss separately the political life of the Rigvedic period and the later Vedic period.

Political Life in Rigvedic Period

The political life of the Rig Vedic people was tribal based. The Aryans were divided into many tribes. Each tribe chose its own chief and all the members of that tribe were loyal to the chief. On the basis of these references, we can say that the political life of the Rig Vedic period was based on the chiefdom based system. 

• Jana Based: We get the word “Jana”  which refers to the tribe. The members of each tribe were not great in number. References show that each tribe had about 100 members or slightly more than that.
• Chiefdom: It simply means, during this time there was no state system or kingdom. There were chiefs for each tribe and they were elected. Elected chiefs were called the ‘Rajana’. The main duty of the Rajana was to protect the tribe from outsiders. Rajana was also known as ‘Janasya Gopa’ and ‘Gopati Janasya’. 
• Tribal Assemblies: There existed four types of tribal assemblies. These were Vidarbha, Sabha, Samiti and Gana. In these assemblies, women also participated equally. These assemblies played important political, social, military, religious and economic functions. The assembly ‘Samiti’ played an important role in the election of the chiefs. Tribal assemblies represent a crucial aspect of life during the vedic period. 
• Purohit: Purohit played the role of the priest. The priest used to be the spiritual advisor of the Rajana. It was the top most position in the organisation. Usually the Purohit son was entitled to the post. Whenever a war situation arose, Purohit also used to pray for the victory of the Chief. Vishvamitra and Vashishtha are the famous priests of Rig Vedic period. 
• Senani: Senani played the role of the Head of the Military. Despite having the chief for the whole tribe Rajana, there was another post for holding the chief of military. The Senani was the leader in the war for the tribe. He assisted the main chief  Rajana during the war.  Although, there was no evidence of a separate military during this period. Whenever a war situation arose, the entire tribe became a military force for itself. 
• War (Gavishthi): The term gavishthi generally refers to the search for cows. For war, we get references of using the gavishthi. From this we can draw a theory that the wars were mainly fought for cows during this period. War was a common feature of Aryan political life. There are references of wars between the Aryan tribes and between Aryans and non-Aryans.
• Bali: Bali refers to a voluntary offering given by the members of the tribe to the chief. It was not a tax, it was voluntary in nature.

Overall, we can conclude that the political life of the Rigvedic period was based on the chiefdom. There is no clear indication of the rise of the state, state functionaries, state officials, taxation system, law, judicial system. So, it was a tribal kind of political system.

Political Life in Later Vedic Period

Political life of the later vedic phase witnessed multiple shifts from the Rigvedic period. First major change was to shift from the chiefdom based system to the proto-state system. 

In the later vedic period, assemblies became less important. There a new concept of Ratnis emerged. The position of priest was still in the most precious position. We have discussed the main characteristics of later vedic phase through below points.

• Proto State: Proto state is not a true state but a state kind of political organisation. It marks the transition between the chiefdom system of the Rigvedic period and the true state based system of the post vedic phase.
• Proto-Kingship:  In this period, we also get the shift from the position of chief to proto-king. We can ‘t call the chief of the proto state the actual king. The proto state system witnessed a proto king. 
• Assemblies: In the later vedic phase, assemblies lost relevance. The vidarbha, sabha, samiti and Gana was not considered to be as much important as they used to be in the Rigvedic period. Whatever assemblies existed, women were not allowed to participate in those. 
• Ratnis: There emerged a group of functionaries known as Ratnis. They handled different kinds of functions of the state. We can consider ratnis as proto state functionaries not exactly officials. The functions of the assemblies in the Rigvedic phase were acquired by the Ratnis in this period.
• Sacrifices: This period is marked by sacrifices that can be considered as the royal sacrifices. It simply means that sacrifices became a core aspect of vedic religious life. Sacrifices also got connected to political life. We get various references of sacrifices: Rajsuya, Ashwamedha, Vajpeya. These sacrifices were meant for strengthening the power of proto-king. 

Overall we can conclude that the Rigvedic period was marked by chiefdom headed by chief, and later vedic period marked by proto-state headed by the proto-king. 

After the later vedic phase, the post vedic phase is marked by the state and king. Proto-state and proto king of this phase shifted to the true state and true king in post-vedic period. 

Social Life of Vedic Period

Now we will talk about the social life of vedic people. In the Rigvedic period, we get references of Jana based primitive culture. In the later vedic period there emerged several new features in the life of aryans. 

Those were Janapad based living, Upnayana, Primitive towns, Three ashramas, Gotras and more. Below we have discussed the points related to Rig Vedic and Later Vedic period separately.

Social Life in Rigvedic Period

The social life of the Rigvedic period was essentially tribal based. These are the main characteristics we should discuss.

• Jana-based: As we already know, the Jana means tribe. Aryans were divided into various tribes. Each tribe was headed by the chief. This gives a clear indication that social life of the Rigvedic period was Jana or tribe based.
• Jana-vis-Grama-Griha: These are the social units of the aryans. Jana was represented for the whole tribe. Within jana there used to be various vis. Within a vis there were many Grama and in a single Grama there were many Griha (Families). Sometimes we get the term vis used as the tribe also. 
• Position of Women: During the Rig Vedic period, the social status of women was very good. They enjoyed several kinds of social rights. There we can see widow remarriage, participation in social gatherings and contribution of women in literature also. There is also no references of child marriage.
• Varna: We get the first reference of varna in the 10th mandala, the last part of the rigveda. The indication is done in the part named purushukta. There we get the indication of four varnas :Bramhin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.

It appears that varna emerged in the last phase of the Rigvedic period as we get the references of this in the last part of Rigved samhita. Meticulous study has been made on the rise of varna and its growth. 

It suggests that the system emerged at the end of the Rigvedic period. But it was not a rigid division. It was a functional division. It grew up slightly in the later vedic period and became more prevalent in post-vedic age.

Social Life in Later Vedic Period

Social life of the later vedic period witnessed multiple transitions from the rigvedic period. Here we get the references of a more grown version of Varna system. We also get the concept of three ashramas and upanayana ceremonies. A new concept of Gotra and Gotra exogamy started to become practised. Important characteristics of social life during the later vedic phase is discussed below.

• Janpad: Janpad refers to settlements or agricultural settlements. Jana means tribe and Pad means feat. It simply means the place where the tribe settled down. As we have come to know that aryans began to settle down during the later vedic phase. They started developing a territorial based recognition. We get references of small and big Janpad.
• Primitive Towns: Some bigger Janapad acquired the character of proto town. Though there were no urban centres. They were no true towns or cities. Yet town kind of settlements emerged. Hastinapur and Kausambi can be considered as the two primitive towns that emerged at the end of the later vedic phase. This was not the period which witnessed urbanisation. Urbanisation took place in the post-vedic phase. 
• Varna: The varna system which emerged at the end of the Rigvedic phase grew up in this period. Brahmins and Kshatriyas became important. Still the varna system was not a rigid system. Because of the rise of the varna system the kinship based society of Rigvedic period makes the transition to Varna based society.
• Upnayan: It was a ceremony that became one important sanskar later. In this ceremony, people adopted sacred thread and started their education. 
• Three Ashramas: Ashramas are the stages of life. The first three ashramas that emerged during this time were Bramhacharya, Grihasth and Vanaprastha. The fourth one which is Sanyas emerged during the post vedic phase. These Upnayan and three ashramas were practised by only the upper three varnas.
• Gotra: Gotra simply means the cow pen. It was an area where cattle were kept by these people. But it came to represent the descendents or descendents of common ancestors. It became an important aspect of marriage life. Gotra exogamy started being practised. It means not marrying in the same Gotra.
• Class of Priests:  In Fact during the Rigvedic period there was no class of priests. In this period there emerged sixteen classes of priests. They became a dominant class in the society. 
• Women: The position of women during the Rigvedic period is considered to be good. But it went through a change in later vedic period. Women were not allowed to utter gayatri mantra. They were not allowed to participate in assemblies also. Position or the status of the women declined in this period.

Conclusion can be made on these points that there were many social changes during the later vedic period in comparison to Rigvedic phase. This was all about the social life of aryans. Overall vedic culture represents a major part of ancient indian history. We have discussed all the important aspects of Vedic Period.

Post Vedic Period

After the end of vedic period which included sub phases as Rigvedic and Later Vedic. There emerged a period which is known as post vedic period. In post vedic era, we can see true kingdom, true states, true judiciary and milliatry. Post vedic phase witnessed the second urbanisation also after the Indus Valley Civilization.During the post vedic period these characteristics evolved further and became more prevalent. Here you can read more about the post vedic period.

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