Explain the political system of the rig Vedic period with the help of flow chart
Answers
Explanation:
The main source of the information for the study of early Vedic people is the Rigveda. Rig Vedic society was semi-nomadic tribal society with pastoral economy. Reiterating, the first change so observed in the political milieu was the transformation of the Rig Vedic Jana (meaning, people or tribe) into the Janapada (meaning, the area where the tribe settled).
Society of Vedic period
Society was patriarchal and the eldest male of the Kutumba was the head of the family. In the Rig Vedic society comprises of four varnas which was based on the occupation of individuals. But in the later Vedic period, the society became differentiated on the basis of Varna (Varna came to be birth based rather than profession based). The proliferance of profession gave rise to Jatis. The nature of kingship was transformed and rituals like Rajasuya (Royal coronation) assumed significance in the later Vedic period.
Summary of the Vedic Age: Polity | Society | Position of Women
Polity of Early and Later Vedic Period
Early Vedic Period
The polity of the Early Vedic period was basically a tribal polity with the tribal chief in the centre. The tribe was called Jana and the tribal chief was called Rajana. Rajana looked after the affairs of the tribe with the help of other tribal members and two tribal assemblies i.e. Sabha and Samiti. Sabha is consisted of elder members of the tribe, whereas the Samiti which mainly dealt with policy decisions and political business.
Women are allowed to participate in the proceedings of Sabha and Vidhata. In day to day administration the king was assisted by the two types of Purohita i.e. Vasishtha and Vishwamitra. The King did not maintain any regular army as there was no Kingdom as such. In fact Rig Vedic King did not rule over the kingdom, but over tribe.
List of Vedic Literature| Sacred Hindu Scriptures
Later Vedic Period
The Political system of the later Vedic period was shifted towards Monarchy. Now, the King ruled over an area of land called Janapada. The King started maintaining an army and the Bureaucracy also got developed. The Kingship was being given the status of the divine character and also this period witnesses the emergence of the concept of King of Kings.
The Rig Vedic popular assemblies lost their importance and royal power increased at their cost. The Vidhata completely disappeared. The Sabha and Sarnia continued to hold the ground, but their character changed.
The Sabha became more important than the Sarnia. They came to be dominated by the chiefs and the rich nobles. Women were not allowed to attend the Sabha which was now dominated by the nobles and the Brahmana’s.
List of Important Ratnis and Officials of Vedic Period
Transformation of political character from Early to later Vedic Period
1. The term “Rashtra”, which means territory, first appeared in later Vedic period.
2. The Rajanyas of the Rig Vedic age later became the Kshatriyas, who held power over the territories. The very reason of the wars (earlier, cattle) also underwent a change, with the acquisition of land now becoming an important element.Polity of Early and Later Vedic Period
Early Vedic Period
The polity of the Early Vedic period was basically a tribal polity with the tribal chief in the centre. The tribe was called Jana and the tribal chief was called Rajana. Rajana looked after the affairs of the tribe with the help of other tribal members and two tribal assemblies i.e. Sabha and Samiti. Sabha is consisted of elder members of the tribe, whereas the Samiti which mainly dealt with policy decisions and political business.