POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF RIG VEDIC AGE

Political organization

Like their high standard of social and economic life, rig vedic Aryans had proved their efficacy through systematic political organization. As a matter of fact, it was the index of their balanced thinking. A vivid picture is available from the rig veda regarding the polity and political organization of the early Aryans.

Features

Aryans in the early vedic age village-dwellers. So family was the nucleus of political organization which was known as a Griha or kula. A collective body of families formed a grama or village. A number of villageS combined together was known as a vis. ‘Jana’ or ‘Janapada’ consisted a group of vises. At the top remained the largest political organization known as. Rastra or desha. Thus, the Rig Vedic political organization was in the form of a pyramidal structure where family was at the base and Rastra at the top. It can be represented in the following manner:

# Griha or kula or family

# grama or village

# vis

# jana or Janapada

# rastra

The head of the family was grihapati or kulapati. gramini was the head of the village while vispati headed vis. the highest political authority was vested in the hand of Rajan who was the head of Jana or Janapada. References to Yadava Jana, Bharat Jana are found in Rig Veda. Entire country was designated as rastra.

Monarchy

Monarchy was prevailing from the government in Rig vedic age which was hereditary. Of course exception was there where king was selected by the people. King or monarch was the repository of power and authority. The aim of the king was Excel like God Mitra in kindness, Varuna in virtues and Indra in valour.

 Rig veda places high ideals for monarchial form of Government. The fundamental duty of the king was not only to provide a Welfare Government but to protect the subject by rule of law. He used to rule through prevailing customs and rites making the country safe and Secure from external aggression. To help the king in the stupendous task of Administration there were gramani, Purohita, senani, spasha and other officials. After the coronation ceremony, the king wearing Royal Robes lived in the palaces. Different types of taxes namely Bali, sulka and Bhaga were collected from the subject and vanquished power. The duties of the King included public welfare, crushing the Enemies, maintenance of internal and external security of the kingdom. Reference to Samrat in Rig veda indicate the use of the title by powerful kings having power, property and prowess over small things in the region.

Royal officials

 Among the category of Royal officials, the foremost position was occupied by Purohita. The sages, Saints or person of knowledge and wisdom were adorned in the post of Purohita who used to give valuable suggestion and guidance to the king in administrative detail. It was the prime duty of the Purohita to pray for the king during War and Peace and for his overall health and happiness.

# next in the hierarchy was senani or commander-in-chief. As the Head of the army he was concerned with the military organization and safety of the kingdom.

# a special class of officials, known as a spasha or spy was appointed to provide a detailed account of events of the kingdom to the king.

# gramani was another category of officials. Besides collecting text from the village, he assisted the king in the task of Administration.

Sabha and Samiti

Sabha and Samiti are the two democratic organisations of the Rig vedic age which played a dominant role in administrative affairs. The king was no doubt the pivot of the administration. Yet to maintain proper balance, these two organizations were created which controlled the activities of the King to a great extent from letting him become a tyrant. The authority of Sabha was restricted to village administration. On the other hand, Samiti had a greater say in the central administration related to important decision on War and Peace. In the words of Professor A.S Altekar:

‘It was a powerful body wielding what may be conveniently described as a sovereign powers, for every often the fate of a king depended upon his ability to carry the Samiti with him. If the Samiti assumed an abstractive attitude, the life of the King become miserable.’

Judicial administration

Rule of law and judicial administration has acquired great primacy in early vedic age. Justice was imparted in the village level by gramavadi. Rig veda refers to the severity of punishment for thief, fraud or robbery.the king was fountain head of justice. Officials like ‘Ugra’, ‘Jivagriva’ were entrusted with police duties in the kingdom.

Military organization 

The military organisation of rig vedic age comprised of infantry, cavalry and charioteers. Comparatively, horses were of Limited use. A soldier of infantry, was named patti while a charioteer was rathin. The bows, arrows, swords, spears etc. were the major military weapons. The army was called Sardh a,vrata or gana. War music was played upon by drums and pipers. Headgears or helmets, metal dress and shields were used for self-defence. Vedic reference to pura or Durga(fort) make it quite clear that during military expedition these forts played an active role. purapati was the leader of these.

Democracy

Monarchy was the prevailing form of Government no doubt. But democracy was prevalent in certain areas. The head of the gana was known as the Ganapati or ganajyestha. They were devoted to Welfare administration along with their respective responsibilities.