Early Vedic Period, Timeline, Map, Religion, Administration

The Early Vedic Period began in India in about 1500 BC and extended up to 1000 BC with the coming of the Aryans, who scattered on the plains of northern India. The Rigveda, which is the oldest Vedic text, reflects the social and cultural development of the early Vedic period. The date of composition of the Rigvedic hymns corresponds to the age of the Early Vedic period, also known as the Rigvedic period. The early Vedic period marked the transition from nomadic pastoralism to settled village communities that mixed pastoral and agrarian economies.

Rigveda

There are four Vedas, Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda. The Rigveda is the oldest Veda, composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda is a collection of 1,028 hymns composed by sages (rishis).

• Migration of Aryans: The authors of the Vedic hymns were the Aryans, who lived in southern Russia and Central Asia. From here, a group of them migrated to northwest India, where they became known as Indo-Aryans or Aryans.
  • The Rigveda is the fountain source of the so-called Aryan culture in all its manifestations that spread beyond the Indian subcontinent to large parts of South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Central Asia.
  • The early Vedic Aryans lived in an area known as sapta-sindhu meaning an area of seven rivers. The seven rivers included Sindhu, Vitasta (Jhelum), Asikni (Chenab), Parushni (Ravi), Vipash (Beas), Shutudri (Sutlej), and Sarasvati.
• Features: They are the earliest compositions and thus depict the life of India's early Vedic people. The Samaveda is a collection of verses derived primarily from the Rigveda.
• Some of the hymns in the Rigveda are in the form of dialogues. This is a section of one such hymn, a dialogue between a sage named Vishvamitra and two rivers (the Beas and the Sutlej) who were worshipped as goddesses.
• It is a collection of poems, prayers, and songs sung by the Aryans primarily in praise of nature and its bounty in all of its various manifestations.
• The Rigveda has been included by UNESCO in the list of literature signifying World Human Heritage.
• Each Veda consists of four portions, namely, Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.
  • Samhitas: Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas which contains mantras, prayers, litanies, and hymns to God.
  • Brahmanas: They are prose interpretations of the Samhita chapters and give explanations of sacrificial rituals.
  • Aranyakas: Aranyakas are theosophy (Brahmavidya), meditation (Upasana), and knowledge of breath (Pranavidya). They describe the secret meaning of the sacrifice and the concept of Brahma as well.
  • Upanishads: There are 108 Upanishads containing a great variety of philosophical ideas about sacrifice, the body, and the universe.

Rigvedic Period Features

The Rigveda is considered to be the earliest literary document in the world and also serves as the first literary source of the ancient history of India. This valuable treasure of the ancient world has been preserved in the form of manuscripts in India and handed down over centuries from generation to generation.

Polity of Early Vedic Period

• Administration: The chief social unit of the Aryans was known as the Jana, headed by Rajan, whose main function was to protect the Jana and cattle from enemies.
  • He was helped in his task by the tribal assemblies called sabha, samiti, vidatha, gana, and parishad, which are mentioned in the Rigveda.
    • These assemblies performed the functions of the government and administration and were also involved in the selection of the raja from amongst the clansmen, as the post of chief was not hereditary.

• Taxes: There is no official mentioned as a collector of taxes. The people gave the chief what is known as Bali. It was simply a voluntary contribution made by ordinary tribesmen on special occasions.
• Army: The sena or army, was not a permanent fighting group and consisted of able-bodied tribesmen who were mobilised at the time of the wars.
• Tribal conflicts: The growing demand for more pasture lands and cattle is likely to have contributed to an increase in inter and intra-tribal conflicts and warfare, causing societal division.
• Status of Brahmins: The clans held large yajnas or sacrifices, to help the warrior groups in the wars, which were performed by Purohita. They received a major share of the gifts from the rajas and assumed a superior position vis-a-vis the other clan members.

Society of Early Vedic Period

The Early Vedic society was a tribal society in which social relations based on kinship ties were predominant. 

• The Rigvedic society was a simple, tribal, and largely egalitarian society. 
• The occupation was not based on birth.
• Varna or colour was the basis of the initial differentiation between the Vedic and non-Vedic people. 
• The Rigvedic tribe was divided into three sections: warriors, priests, and common people. The shudra category did not emerge until the end of the Rigvedic period.
• The society was not divided along caste lines, and even the rajas (kings), purohitas (priests), artisans, and so on were part of clan networks.
• The inter-tribal conflict was common, as evidenced by the battle of the Ten Kings mentioned in the Rigveda. The Bharatas, Purus, Yadus, Druhyus, Anus, and Turvasus were among the tribes that fought in this battle. 
• Many clans (vis) formed a tribe. The clans settled in villages or grama. The basic social unit was the Kula, or the family, and the Kulapa, i.e. ‘one who protects the family’ denotes the eldest male member or the head of the family.

• Society was patriarchal. The birth of a son was the common desire of the people.
• Position of Women: Even though society was patriarchal, women also had an important position in it.
  • They were educated, and they had access to the assemblies.
  • Women poets: Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa, and Lopamudra.
  • They had the right to choose their partners and could marry later.
• Various occupational groups such as those of weavers, smiths, carpenters, leather workers, chariot-makers, priests, etc. are also mentioned.

Religion of Early Vedic Period

The prayers to propitiate gods for physical protection and material gains were the main concerns of the Rigvedic people. The Rigvedic gods were generally personifications of different aspects of natural forces such as rains, storms, sun, etc.

• Rigvedic Gods:Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra, Dyaus, Pushana, Yama, Soma, etc., are all male gods. In comparison, only a few goddesses such as Ushas, Sarasvati, Prithvi, and others hold secondary positions in the pantheon.
  • Indra is the most frequently mentioned god in the Rigveda. 
• During the entire Vedic phase, people did notconstruct temples, nor did they worship any statues.

Economy of the Early Vedic Period

The Early Vedic society was pastoral; cattle rearing was the dominant occupational activity.

Hymns of the Rigveda yield extensive evidence of the importance of cattle in Early Vedic society.

• A large number of words are derived from the word “gau” meaning cow.
  • Gomat: A wealthy man who owned many cattle.
  • The terms used for conflicts and battles in this period were gavishti, gavesana, gavyat, etc. The former literally means ‘to search for cows’. 
  • Gopati: Raja or the chief is or the one who protects cows. 
  • Godhuli: Measure of time (mentioned in Rigveda)
  • Gavyuti: Distance
  • Duhitri: Daughteror one who milks the cows. 
  • Gotra: Kinship units
• Agriculture: Apart from ‘Yava’ or barley, no other grains are mentioned. 
  • The Early Vedic people did not use iron technology and were familiar with copper, but it had no value in agriculture.
  • Stone tools (like axes) were used, and these are mentioned in the Rigveda.

Shifting agriculture was practiced.

• Rivers mentioned in the Rigveda, i.e. the Satluj, Indus, Ghaggar, Ravi, etc., are known to change their courses frequently.
• Other economic activities: Hunting, carpentry, tanning, weaving, chariot-making, metal smelting. The products of these activities were exchanged through barter.
• Trade and Commerce: There is little evidence of trade and commerce in Early Vedic society. There was no concept of private property based on land ownership.
• Medium of Exchange: Cows were the most preferred medium of exchange. Priests received cows, horses, and gold ornaments to perform sacrifices.

Early Vedic Period UPSC PYQs

Question 1: With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2017)

1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver, and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c)

Question 2: The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of (UPSC Prelims 2012)

1. Bhakti
2. image worship and Yajnas
3. worship of nature and Yajnas
4. worship of nature and Bhakti

Answer: (c)

Early Vedic Period FAQs

Q1. What is the early Vedic period?

Ans. The early Vedic period began in India around 1500 BC and lasted until 1000 BC when the Aryans arrived and spread across the plains of northern India. The oldest Vedic text, the Rigveda, reflects the social and cultural development of the early Vedic period.

Q2. What is Rigveda?

Ans. Rigveda is the oldest Veda, composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda is a collection of 1,028 hymns composed by sages (rishis). The Rigvedic Samhita comprises ten books or ‘Mandalas’ of which books II to VII are considered to be the earliest and belong specifically to the Early Vedic Phase. Books I, VIII, IX, and X are considered later additions to the Samhita.

Q3. Who were the gods of the early Vedic period?

Ans. The Rigvedic gods were generally personifications of different aspects of natural forces such as rains, storms, sun, etc. Some Rigvedic Gods were Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra, Dyaus, Pushana, Yama, Soma, etc., are all male gods. In comparison, we have only a few goddesses such as Ushas, Sarasvati, and Prithvi.