Vedic Age: Religion, Society, Polity, and Economy

The Vedic Age began around 1500 BCE and is believed to be one of the greatest cultures of ancient India. Many historians also call it the ‘age of Aryans (a strict ethnic group). However, the major reason behind naming the era ‘Vedic Age’ is the composition of Vedic texts, which was done during these years. These are among our country’s richest works of literature and are believed to have been composed by Indo-Aryans.

Indo-Aryans can be defined as a subgroup of people speaking Indo-European languages. There are numerous theories associated with the origin and invasion of the Aryans. The Aryan invasion is also believed to be a possible reason for the decline of the IVC; however, there is no strict evidence supporting this. Read below this comprehensive article to learn more about the religion, society, polity, and economy during the Vedic Age.

Vedic Age – Time Periods

The Vedic Age (1550–600 BCE) can be divided into two parts, including the Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Age (15000–1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic Age (1000–600 BCE). Rig Veda was the earliest Vedic text, which was created during the early Vedic period. The remaining three Vedas were composed during the later Vedic period. Apart from this, there were some major differences in the nature of society, economy, and polity between these two periods, which we are going to discuss further in this article.

Vedic texts are among the most significant sources of ancient Indian history. These texts contain information about the geographical extent of Indo-Aryans, i.e., how they went from North-West to East India, and a lot of other details. Apart from this, Vedic texts tell us about the socio-economic conditions of that particular period. These texts mention the evolution of the varna system, belief system, transition from a tribal to a centralized polity, and position of women during the Vedic age.

Religion of Vedic Period

Religion in the Vedic age refers to an organized belief system that consists of idol worship, rituals, sacrifice, etc. There can be one or multiple deities in any form. Most of the Vedic gods were males, and only a few of them were females. Let us discuss Vedic religion in more detail:

Religion in the Early Vedic Period

In the early Vedic period, religious beliefs were guided by naive realism, i.e., there was no philosophical component. Below are some important points to note:

• People did not believe in the concepts of heaven and the afterlife.
• They classified forces of nature as deities. Surya (the God who drives away darkness), Indra (the greatest God of Aryans), Vayu (the God of air), Varuna (the God of personified water), Soma (the God of plants), and Maruta were the major deities during the early Vedic period. Moreover, ‘Agni‘ was worshipped as an intermediary between people and God.
• Rig Vedic people followed some simplistic rituals, including yajnas, domestic rituals, and a few community rituals that were held by tribal chiefs.
• Women were allowed to participate in all these rituals.
• The concept of human or animal sacrifice was not there. People used to offer basic things, such as fruits and vegetables, during these rituals.
• Astronomy was practiced. The positions of celestial objects are used to influence the auspiciousness of a particular time.
• Some ‘joint burials’ of men and women have been found, which makes us believe that maybe the concept of’sati’ was there.

Religion in the Later Vedic Period

There are various considerable differences in the religion during the early Vedic and later Vedic periods. Below are some important points about the Later Vedic religion:

• Along with the forces of nature, later Vedic people were worshipping some new deities. They majorly worshipped Prajapati, or Brahma (creator), Shiva (destroyer), and Vishnu (preserver).
• Rituals in the later Vedic age were more elaborate and materialistic. These were considered the means of acquiring legitimacy by the ruling class.
• The priestly class rose as an intermediary, and their influence increased during this period.
• Women were not allowed to participate in any rituals, except domestic ones.
• Ashwamedha, Vajapeya, and Rajasayu were some popular rituals performed by the king.
• Kshatriya used to give dana and dakshina to Brahmanas. Moreover, the concept of Bali (voluntary offerings by Vaishyas) was there.
• This was the period of the rise of the Brahman-Kshatriya nexus.

Society of Vedic Period

Vedic people in the Indian subcontinent used to live in the land of seven rivers, i.e., Sapt Sondhu, which included the River Indus, its five tributaries, and the River Saraswati. We will now discuss how Vedic society went from a simple society during the early Vedic age to a complex one during the later Vedic period.

Society in the Early Vedic Age

Rigvedic, or early Vedic, society was quite simple. People used to live like a family, and there were no major struggles between them. Below are some important points about society in the early Vedic period:

• The early Vedic people had an egalitarian or tribal society based on the kinship bond. As per the kinship bond, all the members of society live like a family, and they have joint ownership of all the resources.
• Reference to terms like Vis, Grama, or Jana has also been found. The term ‘Jana’ was used for a tribe.
• Some important tribes were the Kuru, Puru, Bharat, and Panchala.
• Although there were no big struggles between them, there are some references to clashes on issues like color. There was a struggle between the white community (Aryans) and the black community (Dasas and Dasyus).
• There used to be extended joint families with a male head, known as ‘Kulapa.’
• Women were dependent on their male counterparts but enjoyed equal ritual, educational, and political rights.
• There was a patriarchal, patrilocal, and patrilineal set-up.
• Women had the second position everywhere, as there was no reference to women chiefs, women priests, or women receivers of dana. However, there is a reference to women seers (scholars), such as Apala, Gosa, Visvara, etc.
• Women were respected because they had the ability to produce sons.
• The birth of daughters was not welcomed, but there are no references to infanticide.
• There were wealth inequalities due to the unequal concentration of agricultural surplus.
• There were income inequalities due to cattle ownership, war spoils, etc.
• There were social inequalities based on age and gender.

Society in the Later Vedic Age

Unlike the Rigvedic age, society became more complex in the later Vedic period. To understand it in detail, refer to the below-listed points:

• Due to political and economic changes, social hierarchy was increasing in the later Vedic period.
• The position of women declined. They had no ritualistic rights and were not given Vedic education.
• There is a reference to some women scholars (called Brahmavadinis), such as Maitreyi and Gargi.
• Women were equated with a shudra (the lowest category in the varna system) by Satapatha Brahman. Moreover, Aitareya Brahman described a daughter as a source of misery.
• However, there were no social evils like sati, child marriage, or widow celibacy.
• The four-fold varna system emerged during the later Vedic age. The varna system was based on birth, and it was believed that the four varnas were produced from different body parts of a deity. Brahmanas were believed to be produced from the head of the deity and Shudras from the deity’s feet.
• The occupation was fixed for the four varnas.

Economy of Vedic Age

Aryans arrived in the Indian subcontinent as ‘Nomads,’ but they were aware of agricultural practices. Cattle farming was one of the major sources of income during the Vedic age. Moreover, there was limited agriculture, a barter system, and war booty. More about the Vedic economy is discussed further:

Economy in the Early Vedic Age

• Pastoralism was the major activity, along with agriculture as a secondary activity.
• The most significant sources of wealth were cattle and war booty. Cows were considered aghanya (shouldn’t be killed).
• Cattle herding was only performed by non-priestly, non-warriors, and non-brahmanical people.
• There is a reference to several words derived from ‘Gau’ (cow), including Gopa (chief), Gavisthi (war for capturing cow), Gomat (influential individual), etc.
• People were living a nomadic life, and there were constant wars, due to which people had no time for agriculture.
• A barter system existed for cattle exchange.
• There was no private ownership of land or war booty. It was equally distributed among the community in an assembly called Vidhata.

Economy in the Later Vedic Age

• People shifted from pastoral nomadism to a sedentary life based on agriculture. Therefore, there was a settled community.
• Some taxes were levied by the king. Some common taxes were ‘Bali’ (a voluntary tax) and ‘Bhaag’ (a share in agricultural produce).
• These taxes were used by the king for Dana/Dakshina, raising an army, paying officials, and personal expenses.
• Dana and Dakshina could be in the form of grains, cows, or human slaves. It was given for penance, religious merit, and supporting Brahmanas.
• Although Vedic society was rural, there is a reference to ‘Nagara’ and ‘Nagrin’ in the later Vedic texts.
• Due to the agricultural surplus, various non-agricultural classes were rising. People shifted to trade and crafts. The agricultural surplus also led to an increase in population as there was no nutrient deficiency.
• Some references to plowing, sowing, use of how, sickle, etc. have been found in the later Vedic texts.
• There is some reference to ‘Ayas’ (metal) in Rigvedic texts, but no evidence of iron. However, later Vedic texts mention ‘Krishna Ayas’ and ‘Shyama Ayas’ (black metal), which may be iron.

Polity of Vedic Period

From the early Vedic and later Vedic texts, we also get to know a lot about the polity in the Vedic period. Let us discuss the same in detail:

Polity in the Early Vedic Period

• People in a society used to live like a family based on the kinship bond. There used to be an elected tribal chief who was advised by a Purohit.
• The tribal chief was elected by Samiti.
• There is a reference to numerous tribes, including Yadu, Anu, Puru, Druhyu, Turvasha, etc. These five tribes were called ‘Panch-jana.’
• There is a reference to ‘Dasas,’ ‘Dasyus,’ and ‘Panis.’
• There used to be a tribal army consisting of all male youth.
• Some important chiefs include ‘Divodasa’ and ‘Trasadasyu.’
• There was warfare among Aryan tribes and some wars between the Aryans and the local indigenous tribes.
• The tribal chief used to be the defender of their tribe.
• There is a reference to the ‘battle of ten kings,’ which was between ‘Sudas’ and ‘Tribal Confederacy’. The war broke out on the banks of the Ravi River, and Sudas won.
• There was no ministerial setup. However, there is a reference to Purohit (advisor), Senani (commander of the army), and Gramini (village chief).

Polity in the Later Vedic Age

During the later Vedic period, most democratic elements were declining. More about this is given below:

• Due to the agricultural surplus, the population increased and the kinship-bond-based society declined.
• Assemblies fell into disuse and declined.
• War booty was no longer given the same importance.
• Sabha and Samiti declined.
• Women lost almost all their rights.
• The four-fold varna system evolved, which ruined the pre-existing structure of Vedic polity.

Conclusion

It can be clearly seen how the later Vedic society and economy became more complex due to the increasing population and rising social hierarchy due to the Varna system. Women, who were treated the same as men in the early Vedic age, lost all their rights during the later Vedic period and were considered just like objects used to produce sons. There were major differences between the early Vedic and later Vedic periods, which you must understand clearly to answer UPSC CSE-level questions.

FAQs on Vedic Age’s Religion, Society, Polity, and Economy

1. What was the position of women during the early Vedic age?

During the early Vedic period, women were given equal educational, ritual, and political rights. They were respected due to their ability to produce sons. However, their position declined in the later Vedic age, when almost all their rights were snatched.

2. Which five tribes were together called ‘Panch-jana’?

The term ‘panch-jana’ refers to a group of five tribes, including Yadu, Anu, Puru, Druhyu, and Turvasha.

3. What was the nature of early Vedic society?

Early Vedic society was a simple clan-based society. It was based on kinship bonds, according to which all the members of a society hold equal rights to all resources and land.