The Vedic Age looms large in the annals of mankind because of its glorious culture.

And the socio-political organisation economic life and the religion of the Vedic Aryans bear testimony to their glorious culture Since all about it are printed in glowing colours on the Rig vedic, the period connected with its compilation is known as the Vedic Age and the culture is known as Rigvedic culture. This is also known as Early Vedic Age.

(1) Social Life :

The patriarchal family was the basis of the social and political organisation of the Rigvedic Aryans.

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The father or the Kulapati had absolute control over the family. He performed the family sacrifices and decided all family disputes. As the Guardian of the family he was known as Grihapati. The relation between the members of the family was based on love and affection.

Women enjoyed an honoured position during the Rigvedic period. As the mistress of the house the woman took part in all religious ceremonies. The woman also played an important role in the management of the domestic affairs. The education of the woman was also not neglected.

The Rigvedic Aryans gave due importance to female education. The women were free to take part in various kinds of intellectual discussions. There were learned women like Viswavara, Lopamudra, Apala and Ghosa.

The practice of child marriage was not prevalent in the Rigvedic society. The girls used to spend their childhood in the house of their parents.

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They enjoyed certain amount of freedom in choosing their husbands. Marriage was considered by the Rigvedic Ary ans as sacred tie. The seclusion of woman was not prevalent in the Rigvedic society.

Dress and Ornaments:

The Rigvedic Aryans used clothes made of both cotton and wool. Their dress included three parts. The lower garment was called Vasa and the upper garment was known as Adhivasa.

The under garment was called Nivi. Both men and women used ornaments. The Rigveda makes references to the ornaments like ear-rings, necklace, armlets and anklets. The people regularly oiled and combed their hair.

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Food:

The food of the Aryans was quite simple. They are milk and its products; wheat, barley, rice, fruits and vegetables. They also used to take the meat of goats and sheeps. They used to take an intoxicating drink called “Soma” on ceremonial occasions. They also made use of Sura, a popular drink.

Amusements :

The favourite pass-time of the people were chariotracing horse racing, dicing, gambling, dancing and music. They had great liking for music and dancing. Women Used to sing and dance to the accompaniment of musical instruments. They played with flute and violion.

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The Aryans were prominently, a rural people. Their main occupation were cultivation and cattle rearing. However agriculture was their most important occupation.

The cultivated lands were called Kshetra. The main agricultural products were Dhana and Yava. The Aryans cultivated lands with a plough which was drawn by bullocks. They considered cows and bullocks as their valuable possessions. The other domesticated animals of the Rigvedic Aryans were goat, sheep and horse.

The Early Aryans were quite skillful in the art of weaving both cotton and woolen clothes. The wood worker was both the carpenter and chariot builder.

The potter used to make different kinds of household articles and the metal workers used to make various kinds of tools and equipments. The Rigvedic Aryans carried in extensive in land trade.

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The system of barter was prevalent in the sphere of trade and commerce. The merchants used to take their goods in carts drawn by either bullocks or horses. The chief unit of value in the exchange of commodities was the cow.

(2) Religious Life:

Like several aspects of their daily life, the religion of the Rigivedic Aryans was very simple. They worshipped the various aspects and forces of nature. They realised the fact that human welfare depended on the power of nature.

The Aryans considered the different forces of nature as the manifestation of the Supreme Creator, who created the universe. They worshipped Prithvi or the mother earth. Indra or the God of rain and thunder. Vayu or the God of wind. Agni, the God of fire. Usha or the Goddess of Dawn.

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Surya or the Sun God and Varuna or the Sky God Thus all the Gods of the Rigvedic age represented various forces of nature. At the same time they believed in the existence of one supreme power as the creator of the universe. There is no sign of image worship during the Rigvedic period.

The Aryans worshipped their Gods with humble offerings of milk, grain and ghee. The main intention behind the worship was to get earthly happiness and material prosperity. The Rigveda refers to the beautiful hymns and prayers in praise of these Gods. Thus the religious belief of the Aryans was quite simple.