Old NCERT Gist (RS Sharma): Advent of the Aryans and the Age of the Rig Veda | Additional Study Material for UPSC PDF Download

Aryans

• They were nomads from Eurasian and Central Asian region and spoke Indo-European languages.
• They were spread in Iran, Indian and other parts of Indiaan sub-continents.
• They are mentioned in the rig veda.
• Meaning of the word Arya: Noble.
• It is believed that they entered India through the Khyber Pass.
• They came in several waves around 1500 BC and came in conflict with the Indigenous tribe called Dasyus.

Rig Veda

• The Rigveda is divided into ten books which are known as Mandalas
• It is a collection of 10,600 verses and 1,028 hymns
• It is the oldest text in any Indo-European language
• It has originated from early as 1700 BC
• Many verses of the Rig Veda are still    used as very significant Hindu prayers and during rituals.
• As per to the Rig Veda, the Universe devised from Prajapati, the initial God and the principle basis of creation.
• The hymns are known as Sukta that were composed to be used in rituals.
• Indra is the chief deity cited in the Rig Veda.
• The sky God Varuna, fire God Agni, and the Sun God Surya were some of the other chief deities who were important in the Rig Veda beside older Aryan deities.
• The God of storms and mountains Rudra, as cited in the Rig Veda is the origin for Lord Shiva, the Hindu God.
• Lord Vishnu who is one of the Trimurti of Hindu Gods was also a minor deity, as mentioned in the Rig Veda.
• The universally famous Gayatri mantra (Savitri) is also in Rig-Veda.
• The vama system, Four-fold division of society, ‘Sudra’, Gamester’s Lament, Purusha Shukta Hymns are mentioned in this Vedic text
• Rig Veda had the original concept of the caste system.

Political Structure of Rig Vedic Age

• Monarchical form of government with a king known as Rajan.
• Patriarchal families. Jana was the largest social unit in Rig Vedic times.
• Social grouping: kula (family) - grama - visu - jana.
• Tribal assemblies were called Sabhas and Samitis. Examples of tribal kingdoms: Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus and Purus.

Social Structure

• Women enjoyed respectable position.
• They were allowed to take part in Sabhas and Samitis. There were women poets too (Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara and Ghosa).
• Cattle especially cows became very important.
• Monogamy was practiced but polygamy was observed among royalty and noble families.
• There was no child marriage.
• Social distinctions existed but were not rigid and hereditary.

Economic Structure

• They were a pastoral and cattle-rearing people.
• They indulged in agriculture.
• Products made out of copper, iron and bronze were in use.
• They had horse chariots.
• Rivers were used for transport.
• Cotton and woollen fabrics were spun and used.
• Initially trade was conducted through the barter system but later on coins called ‘nishka’ were in use.

Religion

• They worshipped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain, thunder, etc. by personifying them into deities.
• Indra (thunder) was the most important deity. Other deities were Prithvi (earth), Agni (fire), Varuna (rain) and Vayu (wind).
• Female deities were Ushas and Aditi.
• There were no temples and no idol worship.