Difference between Rig Vedic Society and Later Vedic Society

QUES . Distinguish between the social conditions of Rig Vedic life and the Later Vedic Period.

HINTS:

The period that followed Rig Vedic Age is known as Later Vedic Age. This period saw significant changes in social life as compared to Rig Vedic period.

In the Rig Vedic society the family belonged to a larger group known as a vis or clan. One or more than one clan made Jana or tribe and the Jana was the largest social unit. In later Vedic period the family continues to be the fundamental unit of society however with three or four generations living together, the later Vedic family grew large enough to be called a joint family.

There was no varna system in the early Vedic period. Whereas there were four varnas (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) in the later Vedic society.

Despite the patriarchal nature of Rig Vedic society, women played an important role in it. They had been educated and were entitled to the assemblies. There were many women poets like Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa, and Lopamudra. Women were free to choose their partners and could marry whenever they wanted. But women in the later Vedic society were considered subordinate to men and were not involved in any major decision-making. Their participation in public meetings was restricted. Child marriages became more common.

Varna-Ashrama system was not prevalent during the early Vedic period. However, the texts of later Vedic society mention three stages of life: Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha (householder life), and Vanaprastha (hermitage). Later on, sanyasa, the fourth stage, was added. Together with varna, it came to be known as varna-ashrama dharma.

The growing need for more pasture lands and cattle in the Rig Vedic society contributed to an increase in inter and intra-tribal conflicts and warfare. Inter-tribal conflicts were frequent, an example being the battle of the Ten Kings mentioned in the Rigveda. However in the later Vedic period, the nature of inter-tribal conflicts and conflicts within tribes also changed. Fights were now for the acquisition of land.

Gotra system was not prevalent in the Rig Vedic society. On the other hand, in the later Vedic period Gotra system developed according to which people having a common gotra descended from a common ancestor, and no marriage between the members of the same gotra could take place.

In the Rig Vedic society marriage was typically monogamous, but chiefs occasionally practised polygamy. Whereas despite the prevalence of polygamy in the later Vedic period, monogamous marriages were preferred.

In the Rig Vedic society occupation was not based on birth. Varna, or colour, was used to distinguish between Vedic and non-Vedic people. However, the division of social groups in the later Vedic period was based on occupation alone, and society was still flexible, where one’s occupation did not depend on birth.

Thus, the early Vedic period social structure, which was based on clan relations and was largely egalitarian, became much more complex in the later Vedic period.

Also refer : Difference between economic conditions of Rig Vedic Period and Later Vedic Period

Vedic society and religion

External link : https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Vedic_Period

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