Aryans, The Vedic Age - Society

When the Aryans first entered India, they were divided in three social classes, the warriors, the priests and the common people. However the concept of class as such did not exist, as people did not consider themselves to be a member of a particular group, and the whole system was fairly loose and flexible. Occupations were not hereditary, nor was there any restrictions on inter-marriages or taboos on who could eat with whom. These divisions solely existed for facilitating social and economic organization. The first developments in the direction of the caste system took place when the Aryans began treating the natives of the land (The Dasas) as beyond their social structure. Such an idea probably evolved because the Aryans felt they would lose their unique identity if they mingled with them. A rudimentary system now came up with 4 major castes, the Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors) , Vaishyas (cultivators) and the Shudras (Dasas and those of mixed Aryan-Dasa origin). The first three castes, were solely Aryan.

This was not however a formal division of society. The three Aryan castes was a sort of theoratical framework evolved that kept them as one distinct group, separate from the non-Aryans. Amongst these three castes, there was flexibility, and they could freely change professions and intermingling was not an

issue. An important point is that soon the ownership of goods like cattle and land were an important deciding factor in one's social status. This is one of the causes that led to the change in the caste system into a rigid one. The fourth caste however was considered separate, and over time they were considered lower, which after several centuries reached such a level that one would become polluted if one even touched them. Over a period there was a gradual change in the set up, the vaishya moved up, became traders and landowners, and the shudras became cultivators. However the shudras were still kept out of participation in Vedic rituals. This led the shudras to worship their own Gods. One consequence of such a development was that this created a vertical division of society. Ironically, such a division, later came to be of some positive use because whenever a new group of people arrived in India, they were accommodated very easily. They formed their own sub-caste, which allowed them to practice their own religion and beliefs, and the also fitted into the overall caste structure of society.

The establishment of the caste system was no doubt influenced by many other factors as well. With the gradual change of the Aryan community from a nomadic one into a settled agricultural one, specialization of labour began to take place. The clearing of forests and establishment of settled communities created a new set of people, the trading community. Thus they were now two distinct kind of people, those who cleared and cultivated the land and those who traded goods and supplies between settlements. With the gradual development of government and the creation of the king a new class of people was needed, those who would ensure the kings and the kingdoms protection. They came to be known as the kshatriyas (warriors). Meanwhile the brahmans (priests) of course existed in their own class. The priests were quick to see the benefits of such a society, and the power the upper castes could command. They deftly maneuvered themselves into the highest caste segment, by claiming that only they could bestow divinity and protection on the king. The priests began giving legal sanction to the caste system. The caste system over time went through significant changes. Castes became hereditary, restrictions on castes eating together came into place, inter-marriages became an issue. The caste system continued its evolution, and in time the initial four main castes were divided into numerous sub-castes and group leading to a highly divided society that attempted to face the British in the 18^th Century.

The Aryans as mentioned earlier were initially a largely non-urban civilization. They were organized in patriarchal families, and a number of families together constituted a grama or village. The concept of the joint family existed then, which basically meant that about three generations of the family lived together in the same house. Marriages were not held very early, and there was a fair degree of freedom in choosing one's partner. Both Polygamy and Polyandry were also practiced. The practice of dowry was practiced. A male child was always desired as Aryan rituals required the presence of a male child during ceremonies. The position of women however was on the whole relatively free. The concept of widow remarriage has been talked about in the texts. However there is evidence to show the beginning of sati (a practice where the bride was made to burn along with her dead husband on the funeral pyre). Apparently at this juncture the practice was largely symbolic, i.e. the widow did not actually burn herself.

The Aryan dwellings were all inclusive structures, which housed not only the large joint families but also the animals that they kept. Houses were initially constructed with wood and reeds but later with a change to a drier climate they were made of mud. The staple diet of the people was milk, ghee (clarified butter), vegetables, fruit and barley. On special occasions like a religious feast or the arrival of a guest, a more elaborate meal was organized. Meats from t he ox, goat and sheep were served along with intoxicating drinks like sura and madhu. The people wore simple clothes, wearing only a lower garment, but ornaments were fairly elaborate. The Aryans spent their free time singing, dancing, listening to music. Gambling, chariot racing and hunting were popular amongst the more adventurous.

The Aryans developed the Gurukula form of education. The word Gurukula means the home of the teacher. The system was similar to the boarding school concept that exists today. A pupil would leave his house at a young age, and go and stay with his guru for twelve years. The Gurukulas were usually located in isolated areas, and the twelve years were spent in education and learning the traditions and values of the time. The pupil would be a complete part of his gurus household, and revered the guru as much as his own parents. The pupil was required to serve his guru during his stay and help around with the housework. The gurus taught their pupils a variety of subjects, covering all fields, like religion, mathematics, philosophy, astrology, astronomy, grammar and several vocational subjects. Since there was very little written material at that time, most of the education was done orally, and hence the pupil depended greatly on his guru. The education of the pupil was taken up completely free of charge, it was however a custom to give the guru a guru dakshina (gift) at the end of his education.

When the Aryans first entered India, they were divided in three social classes, the warriors, the priests and the common people. However the concept of class as such did not exist, as people did not consider themselves to be a member of a particular group, and the whole system was fairly loose and flexible. Occupations were not hereditary, nor was there any restrictions on inter-marriages or taboos on who could eat with whom. These divisions solely existed for facilitating social and economic organization. The first developments in the direction of the caste system took place when the Aryans began treating the natives of the land (The Dasas) as beyond their social structure. Such an idea probably evolved because the Aryans felt they would lose their unique identity if they mingled with them. A rudimentary system now came up with 4 major castes, the Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors) , Vaishyas (cultivators) and the Shudras (Dasas and those of mixed Aryan-Dasa origin). The first three castes, were solely Aryan.

This was not however a formal division of society. The three Aryan castes was a sort of theoratical framework evolved that kept them as one distinct group, separate from the non-Aryans. Amongst these three castes, there was flexibility, and they could freely change professions and intermingling was not an issue. An important point is that soon the ownership of goods like cattle and land were an important deciding factor in one's social status. This is one of the causes that led to the change in the caste system into a rigid one. The fourth caste however was considered separate, and over time they were considered lower, which after several centuries reached such a level that one would become polluted if one even touched them. Over a period there was a gradual change in the set up, the vaishya moved up, became traders and landowners, and the shudras became cultivators. However the shudras were still kept out of participation in Vedic rituals. This led the shudras to worship their own Gods. One consequence of such a development was that this created a vertical division of society. Ironically, such a division, later came to be of some positive use because whenever a new group of people arrived in India, they were accommodated very easily. They formed their own sub-caste, which allowed them to practice their own religion and beliefs, and the also fitted into the overall caste structure of society.

The establishment of the caste system was no doubt influenced by many other factors as well. With the gradual change of the Aryan community from a nomadic one into a settled agricultural one, specialization of labour began to take place. The clearing of forests and establishment of settled communities created a new set of people, the trading community. Thus they were now two distinct kind of people, those who cleared and cultivated the land and those who traded goods and supplies between settlements. With the gradual development of government and the creation of the king a new class of people was needed, those who would ensure the kings and the kingdoms protection. They came to be known as the kshatriyas (warriors). Meanwhile the brahmans (priests) of course existed in their own class. The priests were quick to see the benefits of such a society, and the power the upper castes could command. They deftly maneuvered themselves into the highest caste segment, by claiming that only they could bestow divinity and protection on the king. The priests began giving legal sanction to the caste system. The caste system over time went through significant changes. Castes became hereditary, restrictions on castes eating together came into place, inter-marriages became an issue. The caste system continued its evolution, and in time the initial four main castes were divided into numerous sub-castes and group leading to a highly divided society that attempted to face the British in the 18^th Century.

The Aryans as mentioned earlier were initially a largely non-urban civilization. They were organized in patriarchal families, and a number of families together constituted a grama or village. The concept of the joint family existed then, which basically meant that about three generations of the family lived together in the same house. Marriages were not held very early, and there was a fair degree of freedom in choosing one's partner. Both Polygamy and Polyandry were also practiced. The practice of dowry was practiced. A male child was always desired as Aryan rituals required the presence of a male child during ceremonies. The position of women however was on the whole relatively free. The concept of widow remarriage has been talked about in the texts. However there is evidence to show the beginning of sati (a practice where the bride was made to burn along with her dead husband on the funeral pyre). Apparently at this juncture the practice was largely symbolic, i.e. the widow did not actually burn herself.

The Aryan dwellings were all inclusive structures, which housed not only the large joint families but also the animals that they kept. Houses were initially constructed with wood and reeds but later with a change to a drier climate they were made of mud. The staple diet of the people was milk, ghee (clarified butter), vegetables, fruit and barley. On special occasions like a religious feast or the arrival of a guest, a more elaborate meal was organized. Meats from t he ox, goat and sheep were served along with intoxicating drinks like sura and madhu. The people wore simple clothes, wearing only a lower garment, but ornaments were fairly elaborate. The Aryans spent their free time singing, dancing, listening to music. Gambling, chariot racing and hunting were popular amongst the more adventurous.

The Aryans developed the Gurukula form of education. The word Gurukula means the home of the teacher. The system was similar to the boarding school concept that exists today. A pupil would leave his house at a young age, and go and stay with his guru for twelve years. The Gurukulas were usually located in isolated areas, and the twelve years were spent in education and learning the traditions and values of the time. The pupil would be a complete part of his gurus household, and revered the guru as much as his own parents. The pupil was required to serve his guru during his stay and help around with the housework. The gurus taught their pupils a variety of subjects, covering all fields, like religion, mathematics, philosophy, astrology, astronomy, grammar and several vocational subjects. Since there was very little written material at that time, most of the education was done orally, and hence the pupil depended greatly on his guru. The education of the pupil was taken up completely free of charge, it was however a custom to give the guru a guru dakshina (gift) at the end of his education.