Vedic Literature and Social Organisation of Vedic Times

Vedic Literature and Social Organisation of Vedic Times:

Varnashrama System:

• It is founded upon two systems or aspects of human life that is combined together to give human life a different and social meaning.
• It’s a fourfold classification of society and individuals.
• VARNASHRAMA system helped people in attaining 4 goals of one’s life according to the society or ancient period.
• PURUSHARTHAS – Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
• This system signified life management.
• Created balance and harmony in one’s life
• Society has Varna that is Castes
• Individual has phases of life or stages that are guided by Ashrama
• Social organisation - VARNASHRAMA Dharma.

VARNA OR CASTE SYSTEM:

• Originally the caste system was based on colour.
• The racial difference was of Arya varna and Dasa Varna.
• By the end of the Rigvedic period, this difference and the system got narrower, fundamental, rigid, and acquired the status of divinity.
• Earlier there were three divisions namely Brahman, Rajanya, Vis.
• Later it was replaced or changed by Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

(1) BRAHMANA:

• They topped the social hierarchy.
• They acquired the highest status and were respected in the society.
• They had a high standard of excellence religiously and spiritually too.
• They provided the details or information about the rituals to the masses.
• Brahmana were regarded as the custodians of spiritual life.

(2) KSHATRIYA:

• They were the fighting and the governing class of the society or any empire.
• This class had been superior in terms of learning.
• Kshatriyas did not involve in productive activities.
• They acquired the maximum economic advantage.

(3) VAISHYAS:

• Trade, industry, and agriculture came under this class.
• They were rich, ‘ Shreshtin’ – guilds of traders, organisation that had heads, good position in society because they were rich.
• Honoured in the royal court.

 (4)SHUDRAS:

• The lowest in the social hierarchy.
• The people of this caste did menial and were servile workers
• The people from this caste were expelled and looked down.
• There were two other groups – Vratyas and Nishadas
• Vratyas led a nomadic life
• Nishida's were aboriginal people.

ASHRAMA SYSTEM:

• An individual had to live through the four stages of life.
• This developed in the later Vedic age.
• It was divided into four-part according to the life span.
• Four equal parts of 25 yrs accordingly.
• At different stages of life, different duties were assigned.
• The first stage Brahmacharya ashrama (1-25 yrs)
• The second stage Grihastha Ashrama ( 25-50 yrs)
• The third stage Vanaprastha Ashrama ( 50-75 yrs)
• The fourth stage Sanyasa Ashrama ( 75-100 yrs)

(1) BRAHMACHARYA ASHRAMA:

• Here, everyone’s a student.
• You are supposed to live a celibate and austere life
• The students stays at Guru’s house.
• The teacher’s commands are to be obeyed compulsorily.
• Studying the Vedas is also a goal that should be achieved by one.
• They had to learn approximately 64 types of arts like archery etc.

(2)GRAHASTHA ASHRAMA:

• This is the second stage of a student’s life.
• Now he is no more a student but has taken the role of a householder.
• He has to earn for his family and provide for them.
• He is ought to get married, rear children.
• He has sacred duties too.
• The Brahmanas guide while performing the duties.

(3) VANAPRASTHA ASHRAMA:

• The householder is now become old and has grandchildren
• He has to sacrifice all the materialistic comforts and head to the forest.
• ‘Vanaprastha’ – departure to the forests and live there in the woods.
• For the next 25 years, he meditates and he is guided by ‘Aranyakas’ ( sacred text )

 (4) SANYASA ASHRAMA:

• Now he is a homeless wanderer.
• He carried a begging bowl and few ragged clothes
• It is that time of one’s life where he has to give up on all sorts of worldly pleasure and lead a saint’s life.
• The supreme goal is attaining MOKSHA
• For this, Upanishads are of great help.

THE VEDAS:

(1) RIGVEDA:

• This is the oldest Veda.
• It has 1028 Suktas and 10,600 Rucha
• Suktas are hymns and Rucha are verses.
• Comprised of Ten Mandala.
• It begins with a small mandala addressed to Agni, Indra, Soma, and other gods.
• A number of Ruchas strung together makes a Sukta (hymn). Many Suktas make one Mandala.

(2) THE YAJURVEDA:

• The Yajurveda offers an explanation of the sacrificial rituals.
• It explains when and how the mantras should be used
• A Rigvedic rucha, when recited in sacrificial rituals, is regarded as Mantra.
• The Yajurveda is a combined composition of the Rigvedic Rucha in verse and the explanation of its use as a mantra in prose.

(3) THE SAMAVEDA:

• It is the earliest text of rhythm.
• It is regarded as the foundation of Indian classical music.
• The Samaveda is a text that gives the rules of reciting mantras in a musical form.
• It is fundamental in the development of Indian music.
• It basically guides one through the right way of reciting mantras.

(4) THE ATHARVAVEDA:

• It provides solutions to problems related to people’s daily life. eg; chants for concentration.
• This Veda has information about charms and useful medicines.
• It is historically known for the scientific knowledge that the text provides.
• The primary source of information during the Vedic Period.