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
inhabitants 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
Grihapatieldest
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, leathers,
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