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INTRODUCTION
The earliest documents which throw light upon the history of India are the hymns of the RigVeda. The rig Veda consisted of 1017 hymns or Suktas. It consisted of 10 books or
Mandalas. The Rig Vedic period started from 1500 BC to 1000 BC. It was situated on the
Sapta Sindhu area, which mainly consisted of seven rivers. The theory of Sapta Sindhu was
given by Avinash Chandra Das. The base of the political organisation was the family or Kula.
Rajan was the head of the tribe. The king was controlled by two assemblies- Sabha and
Samiti. Customs and traditions were organised as the law of the land, which even the king
had to obey. Monarchy was the system of government, but the King had limited powers.
There was no strict social division, but there were four folders in the society, namely
Learning group, Protectors, Farmers and Working-class. Women enjoyed every right equal to
that of men in every sphere of life. There was no Sati system or child marriage. Wheat and
Barley were the main food grains. Chariot racing and music, both vocal and instrumental,
was well-known.
(a) gods of the sky or Heaven such as Dyayus (sky), varuna (sky-god proper), Usha (down),
Asvins (morning and evening stars) and Surya, Mitra, Savitri, Pushan and Vishnu (all forms
of Sun)
(b) Gods of the Atmosphere such as Indra (thunder), Rudra (storm), Maruts (storm-god),
Vayu (wind) and Prajanya (rain), and
(c) Gods of the Earth such as Prithvi (earth), Agni (fire) and Soma (the plant of that name)