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During the Vedic period, Sabha and Samiti were important councils formed to control Rajan and advice him on various matters. Samiti was constituted by the people’s representatives, while Sabha was consisted of chief executives and other scholars of repute as his members. During the Vedic period, Sabha and Samiti had various administrative powers and they could even elect or dismiss Rajan. They assisted Rajan in discharging his duties. The powerful Rajan could not overrule these advisory councils very easily.

Following Vedic period traditions and ceremonies (rituals) are being practised even during the present days:

1. Traditions and customs – Joint participation of men and women in social and religious functions and a social system based on labour and acts. 

2. Ceremonies (Rituals) – Joint family system, wife system, respect of women and not conducting child marriages. Equal education for boys and girls.

Vedic religion and philosophy have been the basis of entire Indian life and literature. Under this, things such as speaking the truth, committing no theft, purity of acts and deeds, control over evil spirits and anger, control over your organs and donating to the needy, etc. are included. Philosophy of Vedic religion is not limited to Indians only, rather it has the capacity of transforming an individual into world individual. It is useful for every individual of the world.

Vedic civilization after the Rigvedic civilization is known as the civilization of the Post-Vedic period.

Vedic period traders section was known as ‘Pani’ and gold coins were known as ‘Nisk’.

STORY- 1 Surya dynasty was a famous dynasty of the ancient period. This dynasty was popular for keeping its words. Raja Raghu took birth in this dynasty. With the passage of time, this dynasty became popular as the Raghukul. Raja Dashrath was there in this dynasty. Rama was one of his four sons. He was Maryada-Purushottam. He even sacrificed his beloved family members for the protection of truth. During his reign, he eliminated various oppressors.

STORY- 2 Dushyant was a very powerful ruler of ancient times. He was very brave and courageous. During the fight between the gods and the demons, he was called to heaven by Lord Indra for the protection of gods. There, he led the gods in the war. While returning from heaven, he met a woman named Shakuntala on the earth. He was fascinated by her. Later, both of them conducted Gandharva Vivaha and gave birth to a son named Bharat. He later became a glorious emperor. Our country has been named ‘Bharat’ after of his name. Note – The students should enact these stories on the stage during the student meeting.

Answer is: (d) Barren

1. Vedas 

2. Atharvaveda 

3. Vish 

4. Sabha, Samiti 

5. Cow

Answer is: (c) Gramini

Correct Answer is: (c) Four

(d) Dwashdwati

Joint family system was prevalent during the Vedic period.

Vedas are an important basis of Indian culture as the entire knowledge is imbibed in the Vedas. The Vedas are of Indian origin and are the oldest creations of the Aryavratas.

A brief description of the four Vedas is as follows:

1. The Rigveda – This is the oldest Veda. The ‘Gayatri Mantra’ as prevailing today is a mantra from this Veda. 

2. The Yajurveda- This contains hymns and mantras uttered during yagyas. It has been written in prose as well as in poetry form. 

3. The Samveda – All the mantras uttered during the worship of gods are contained in this Veda. Some part of Samveda has been taken from the Rigveda. The notes of Indian music have originated from this Veda. 

4. The Atharweda – This Veda is named after Rishi Atharwa. It contains information about various diseases and their cure.

The Vedas provide information about the life, lifestyle, social system, family system and occupation, etc. of the contemporary people.

Family was the basic unit of the society of the Vedic period. Joint family system prevailed during this period. Mother-father, brother-sister, uncle-nephew, songrandson, etc. lived together in one family up to four or five generations. Father was the head of the family. There were two basic principles in the basis of the joint family system. The first was the need to protect the family property, prosperity and livelihood and the second was that all the family members contributed to the sources of livelihood of the family. Although the head of the family was always a man, yet women occupied an important place in the family activities. In this maimer, family life during the Vedic period was peaceful and happy.

Following are the supreme law formulating institutions in our country: 

1. Parliament (at central level) 

2. Legislative Assembly (at state level).

The Rajan was state’s highest authority. Generally, after the death of a ‘Rajan’, his son was nominated as the ‘Rajan’, i.e. his post was hereditary. But, sometimes, the Rajan was elected by the people. Total powers of the state were centralized in Rajan. He appointed the employees and officers of the state, promoted, demoted and dismissed them at his free will. A Rajan’s decision was considered final. But he was not autocratic, rather he formulated the policies for the state after consultation with his cabinet.

We get knowledge about the Vedic culture from the Vedas and the Vedic literature.

Varna system during the Vedic period was based on the principles of labour and acts. It was not related to birth. Anyone could be a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, a Vaishya or a Shudra. The varna system was associated with a person’s profession and not to the birth in a particular class or family. As per his/her need, any person could change his profession and accordingly his varna or class would change. There was no restriction on eating or food habits or marital relations between different classes or vamas and untouchability was not prevalent then. At a place in Rigveda, one states that, “I am the creator of mantras, my father is a vaidya and my mother is a housewife who grinds grains with the help of flourmill.” It is evidently clear from this that the Vedic period varna system was based on profession and not on birth.

The meaning of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ is ‘The whole world is my family’. This is the compassionate feeling of all the human beings of the entire world being the members of a single family.

During the Vedic period, there was provision of 16 rituals to be performed by an individual.

Vedic period can be divided into two periods, namely- Pre-Vedic period and PostVedic period.

‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ means that all the living beings on the earth belong to one family. Every person behaved with the same spirit in his heart during the Vedic period- “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina”. People used to behave in this manner during that time. Not only the human beings, but the animals also deserved the same treatment during that period.

Women had gained important position during the Vedic period. A woman had all the rights equal to a man. Women participated in all the religious and social functions along with men. Veil system was not prevalent. There was the system of imparting education to the girls, due to which, prominent women scholars such as Ghosha, Apala, Lopamudra, Sharddha had composed Vedic Richas during this period. The proof of “Gods live where the ladies are respected” is obtained from various mantras of the Vedas.

Following were the specialities of a joint family 

1. The need to protect the family property, prosperity and livelihood. 

2. All the members of the family contribute to the sources of livelihood.

Ghosha, Apala, Lopamudra, Shraddha were the respective names of the main learned ladies of the Vedic period.

Weaving cloth, tanning the skin and hide, making jewellery, ploughs, bullock carts, cots, boats, etc. were the major works performed under the craftsmanship during the Vedic period. People used to work as blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, doctors, etc.

A gold coin named ‘Nisk’ was used as currency during the Vedic period.

During the Vedic period, land was divided into two parts- fertile fields and barren lands respectively.

Vedic culture has been full with rituals, in which, there was a definite chronology and process of performing various rituals right from the birth of a child, yagyopaveet, marriage, up to the death of an individual by chanting mantras and shlokas. An individual had to perform 16 rituals from birth until death. This was an essential part of a person’s life. A majority of rituals were performed with the chanting of mantras along with yagya/yajna. The importance of these rituals can be understood by the fact that even after the lapse of a long time period, these rituals are being performed by Hindu families even today.

Following were the major peculiarities of the Vedic period: 

1. Joint family system 

2. Education and respect to women 

3. Priority to rituals 

4. The spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam 

5. Varna and Ashram system

Sanskrit was the medium of education during the Vedic period.

The Aryans reared animals such as cow, buffalo, sheep, horse, etc.

The basic principle of the political life of the Vedic period was family and a village consisted of many families. The village authority was called “Gramini”. A cluster of villages was called a” Vish”. Its authority was called “Vishpati”. A number of vishes constituted “Jan”, whose authority was called a ruler or “Rajan”. Political composition of various “Jans” was almost similar during the Vedic period.

Names of two Vedic period political entities were Sabha and Samiti respectively.

Parts ofVedas are Samhita, Brahman, Aaranyaka and Upnisad respectively.

The officer of ‘Jan’ was called Rajan or Ruler.

The basis of Vedic education was simple living and high thinking. The education was imparted in Gurukulas and boys and girls had equal right to gain education. Sanskrit was the medium of Vedic education. The main aim of Vedic education was mental and spiritual development along with the achievement of sanctity in acts and deeds.

Family was the basic principle of the political life of the Aryans.

Trade during the Vedic period was based on barter exchange system. Foreign trade took place from both surface and sea routes. Pani (traders) used camels, horses and bullocks to take goods from one place to another. Nisk was a gold coin used as currency by the traders during this period.

Ashram system during the Vedic period was respectively divided into four partsBramcharya, Grihastha, Vanprastha and Sanyas ashram. Bramcharya ashram was from yagyopaveet till attaining the age of 25 years, Grihastha ashram was from 25 years to 50 years of age, Vanprastha ashram was from 50 years to 75 years of age and Sanyas ashram was from the age group of 75 to 100 years. During the Vedic period, these ashrams were formed in the form of phases of travel of an individual’s life in the society.

Sharing the experiences of Grihasth ashram was a characteristic of Vanprastha ashram.

Marriage is the major ritual of Grihastha ashram.

Bramcharya ashram is considered as the first phase of human life.

(c) From 50 to 75 years

Ancient name Present name:

Following is a detailed description of the ashram system of the Vedic period: 

1. Bramcharya Ashram- This is supposed to be the first part of life. From yagyopaveet to attaining the age of 25, a person remained unmarried and obtained education at Gurukul. Whatever was learnt there was then practised in ‘Grihastha Ashram’.

2. Grihastha Ashram – From the age of 25 to 50, a man was supposed to live in Grihastha. All the social responsibilities were supposed to be of a Grihastha. Marriage was the main religious ceremony of this Ashrama. A Grihastha had to take responsibility of looking after the other three ashrams.

3. Vanprastha Ashram – This Ashram supposed to be from 50 to 75 years of age. As it appears from the name itself, a person being free from the responsibilities of family life, used to live in a jungle near a village. He used to share his experiences of Grihastha Ashram period with the people of the society for their well-being. Here, he used to think about the society instead of the -family. Giving advice to the Grihastha of the society was the chief aim of this ashram.

4. Sanyas Ashram – Man between the age group 75 to 100 years is said to be in Sanyas Ashram. In his journey up to Vanprasth Ashram, man gets all the education about karma and gyan. During this period, the person devotes all his time and energy to the service and welfare of the society. During this period, a person used to travel different places and used to give moral education to the people living there.

Samveda contains the compilation of all the mantras enchanted during the worship of gods.