SOCIAL LIFE OF RIG VEDIC AGE

                                     SOCIAL LIFE

Food and drink

Vedic Aryans where very simple in their eating habit . Their diet was both balanced and enriching which included both, vegetarian and non- vegetarian dishes. Wheat, Barley, rice, fruits and vegetables comprised of their main diet. Milk and Milk products like curd, cheese, butter and ghee were quite favorite . On festive occasions and social gatherings they preferred non vegetarian dishes of mutton, fish and birds.

 The drinking water of the Aryans used to be drawn from rivers, streams and Wells. The Vedas give reference to some intoxicating drinks like somarasa and sura which were consumed during festival and religion occasion of sacrifice. Somaras was a type of liquor extracted from Soma plant and other wines were prepared from different types of corns. In spite of these beverages, in general, the food and drinking habits of the vedic people were rather simple and Wholesome.

 Dress and ornaments

 In any civilized society the use of dress and ornaments are given equal importance along with food and drinking habits. The Aryans generally used cotton and woolen garments which were of both single and multi colours. The apparel had three divisions.

1)Nivi or nivibasa, used for the lower part of the body.

 2) Vasa or paridhan for the upper portion of the body.

 3) Adhivasa or atkaor drapi the head dress.

 There was not much of difference between the dress habits of males and females. However the rich people wore more attractive, embroided and colourful silken and clothes than the common people who wore coarse cotton garments.

 Equally interesting was the Aryans habit of wearing ornaments. Both men and women were fond of ornaments which were made of gold, Coral and semi- precious stones. Ornaments were worn on various parts of the body like ear, nose, wrist, neck etc. stylish combing of the hair was quite common. Man used to grow moustache or beard while the ladies used to decorate their hair with flora braids.

EDUCATION

For the noble minded vedic Aryans, education was a very essential part of human life, their education centered round gurkula (literally meaning the home of the teacher) where a pupil was sent to stay and receive education. The acharya or the teacher taught the pupil vedic text which the pupils learnt by heart. The primary aim of vedic education was building of character. Education on different branches of knowledge like ethics, grammar, philosophy, religion and warfare etc. was given to the pupil. Education was knowledge oriented. It is mainly due to labourious and systematic way of imparting such knowledge that huge mass of vedic literature has been saved for posterity.

RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT

The Vedic Aryans were very supportive and entertainment loving people. They used to spend their leisure and replace their mind in various ways. Since they live in villages they were fond of outdoor games. Hence, past times like gambling, dancing, Chariot racing, hunting and war-dances were very popular. Along with singing and dancing, they play different musical instrument like flute, lute and drums. Female folk were equally enthusiastic about singing, dancing and other forms of merrymaking. We also find reference to the holding of Samana (fairs) at different periods of the Year where people exhibited their feats of bravery in Sporting events.

KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINE 

The Vedic Aryans at sufficient knowledge about plants and Herbs having medicinal qualities. There were Vedic physicians who used to prepare curative medicines. At times, they also perform some preliminary surgical operations. Miraculous cures over attributed to Ashwini kumaras –the divine doctors who were great healers of fatal diseases.

CAST SYSTEM

In the beginning of the vedic age caste system, as a formulated on the basis of persons birth, was very much absent. Members of one family took two different professions. They used to perform their own duties and preferred to lead a happy and contented life. It is quite clear that there was a freedom and mobility in the adoption of professions. Concept of hereditary trade and occupation was not there. In later vedic age, with the increase in number of professions, the society was divided into four distinct varnas. It means brahmins were the head of the human race, the Kshatriyas the hand, vaisyas the theighs and the sudras were born out of feet.

During this period, the four varnas such as a Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra came into existence which was not strictly hereditary and rigid. This system had provided for stability to be maintained in the society.