Consider the following statements withrespect to Rig Vedic Age:1. The ...
- Social Life of Rig Vedic Society
- The Rig Vedic society was patriarchal. The basic unit of society was the family or kula. The head of the family was known as grahapathi.
- Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent among the royal and noble families.
- The wife took care of the household and participated in all the major ceremonies. Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
- There were women poets like Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa and Lopamudra during the Rig Vedic period. Women could even attend the popular assemblies. There was no child marriage and the practice of Sati was absent. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- Both men and women wore upper and lower garments made of cotton and wool. A variety of ornaments were used by both men and women. Wheat and barley, milk and its products like curd and ghee, and vegetables and fruits were the chief articles of food. The eating of cow’s meat was prohibited since it was a sacred animal. Chariot racing, horse racing, dicing, music, and dance were the favourite pastimes. The social divisions were not rigid during the Rig Vedic period as it was in the later Vedic period.
- Religion
- The Rig Vedic Aryans worshiped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain and thunder. They personified these natural forces into many gods and worshipped them.
- The important Rig Vedic gods were Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain), and Indra (Thunder). Indra was the most popular among them during the early Vedic period. Next in importance to Indra was Agni who was regarded as an intermediary between the gods and people. Varuna was supposed to be the upholder of the natural order.
- There were also female gods like Aditi and Ushas. o There were no temples and no idol worship during the early Vedic period. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- Prayers were offered to the gods in the expectation of rewards. Ghee, milk and grain were given as offerings. Elaborate rituals were followed during the worship.
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Consider the following statements withrespect to Rig Vedic Age:1. The ...
Introduction:
The Rig Vedic Age refers to the period in ancient Indian history when the Rig Veda, the oldest text in the Indian subcontinent, was composed. It is believed to have lasted from around 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE. During this time, several social, cultural, and religious practices were prevalent. Let us analyze the given statements regarding the Rig Vedic Age.
Statement 1: The people did not practice idol worship.
During the Rig Vedic Age, idol worship was not a prominent feature of religious practices. The Rig Veda mainly consists of hymns and prayers addressed to various deities such as Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Soma. These deities were not represented by idols but were conceptualized as divine forces or natural elements. The worship primarily involved offering hymns, prayers, and sacrifices. The idea of idol worship became more prevalent in later periods of Indian history.
Statement 2: Women were not given opportunities for their spiritual and intellectual development.
Contrary to this statement, women in the Rig Vedic Age enjoyed relatively more freedom and opportunities for spiritual and intellectual development compared to later periods. The Rig Veda mentions several female seers and poets, such as Apala, Ghosha, and Visvavara. These women composed hymns and participated in religious rituals. They were respected and held positions of authority in society. The Rig Vedic society recognized the importance of women in religious and social spheres.
Statement 3: There was no child marriage and the practice of Sati was absent.
The Rig Vedic Age did not witness the practice of child marriage or Sati. Child marriage refers to the marriage of a child, usually a girl, before reaching the age of adulthood. The Rig Vedic texts mention marriage as a social institution, but there is no evidence to suggest child marriages were prevalent during this time. Similarly, the practice of Sati, where a widow self-immolates on her husband's funeral pyre, was absent during the Rig Vedic Age.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, statement 1 is correct as idol worship was not practiced during the Rig Vedic Age. However, statement 2 and statement 3 are incorrect. Women were given opportunities for their spiritual and intellectual development, and the practices of child marriage and Sati were not prevalent during this period. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B' - 1 and 3 only.
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