A Review of Aryan’s Origin, Social Life, Economic Life, Culture and Religion

INTRODUCTION

The Aryans came out in India a bit sooner than 1500 B.C. The first Aryans settled down in eastern Afghanistan, Punjab, and fringes of Uttar Pradesh. The Rig Veda pointed out the names of certain waterways of Afghanistan like the river Kubha, so the river Indus and also its 5 limbs. The first settlements of Aryans have been restricted to the valleys of the river Sindh and the tributaries of its & of the Drishadvati and also the Saraswati. The household was regarded as the political and social device. It was the nucleus of the social life of the first Aryans. The father was the top of the household and he was recognized as "Grihapati". The Aryans had joint households. The Aryans consumed both animal and vegetable foods. Rice, barley, bean as well as sesamum created the staple foods. Additionally they ate bread, butter, ghee, milk, cake, then curd combined with fruits. Fish, rams, goats, birds, bulls as well as horses were slaughtered for the food of theirs. Slaughter of cow was prohibited. Additionally they drank intoxicating liquor, referred to as Sura, a brandy made out of barley and corn and also the juice of soma plant.

The primary occupation of those was cattle rearing and the wealth of theirs was assessed in number of livestock. • They practiced farming by clearing the forests. • Metals used were copper, bronze and iron. • Few individuals worked as goldsmith, carpenters, spinners and potters. • The tax levied in the Vedic Period was Bhaga as well as Bali. • Gold coins known as Nishka were employed for transaction. • Rivers were utilized for transportation. • They utilized Barter system.

• Society was tribal but egalitarian. • Aryans have been fair in colour and also the one the inhabitants were deep in complexion. This gave community distinction. The Dasyus and Dasas were treated as Shudras and slaves. • The top of tribes have been viewed as outstanding. The culture got split into fighters, Priests, People on exact same design with Shudras as well as Iran. • Women slaves have been involved in household functions. • Division based on the occupation is likewise known. • Patriarchal Society: Rig Veda clearly show a culture where family was obviously a fundamental unit headed by Grahapati. • Both females and men used apparel made of cotton and a lot of ornaments. • Cows have been deemed sacred thus feeding on its meat was prohibited. • Entertainment: Dance, chariot racing, music, horse racing had been enough time pass pursuits. • Upper class females shared equal rights as males.

• Generally monogamy was applied however in royal households polygamy was typical. • There aren't any traces of Child or Sati matrimony. • Examples of widow remarriage can also be observed in Rig Veda.

• Group of families or maybe Kula forms a Grama or a village that is headed by Gramani. • Group of villages is named Vis. The top of the Vis is Vishyapati. • Jana called tribes had been the top in the political organisation. Couple of instances of Jana are Bharatas, Purus, Matsayas and Yadus. • The top of the Jana had been Rajan or maybe the king that were assisted by commanders or priest of army.

The Vedas create probably the oldest literary works of the Aryans and occupy a really notable place in the story of the world literature. Vedas are looked upon as the exposed words of God by huge numbers of Hindus. In course of countless generations Vedas had grown up and also was orally handed down from generation to generation. The Vedas were most likely written during 1800 BC and 600 BC. It is composed of 3 successive classes of literary manufacturing. • Aryans of Early Vedic Period worshiped elements like: • Its value was the Indra also known as Purandara (God of Rain), destroyer of fort • 2nd place was awarded to Agni (fire), • Other critical elements have been Prithvi (earth Vayu and) (wind) • Female Goddess as Ushas and Aditi had been Goddess of dawn. • There have been thirty three Gods. • They didn't worship to stop the misery of theirs rather they worshiped for Praja (kid), Pasu (cattle), meals, money as well as health. • Offerings have been milk, grains, ghee and vegetables.

Though they had been confined primarily in Punjab, however, the external settlements of theirs reached on the banks of the Yamuna and also the Ganga. They named that area Madhya Desa. Steadily they occupied the whole of Uttarapatha, the mortgage among Himalayas and also the Vindhyas and also out of the western seas on the east had been called as Aryavarta.

1. Thapar, Romila, Ancient Indian Social History 2. http://www.historydiscussion.net/vedic-age/early-vedic-age-origin-social-life-economic-life-culture-and-religion/3013 3. Later Vedic Period: Politics, Social and Economic Life – Explained! : Anand

MA, Department of History