Who Were the Aryans ?
The Aryan problem is a complex problem in history. The identity of the Aryans is still a mystery. According to one view, Aryan refers to people of a particular language group. According to another view, the word Aryan should be used in the sense of race. Although the number of supporters of the first opinion is high at present, the second opinion has not been completely abandoned.
There is disagreement among scholars as to where the original abode of the Aryans was or whether the Aryans were foreigners or natives of India.
(1) Indian scholars (Ganganath Jhan, Triveda, Kalla, AC Das, Pusalkar) think that India is the original home of the Aryans, although there is controversy as to where in India they lived.
(2) According to the second view (European scholars like Giles, Hart, etc.) Europe is the original home of the Aryans. In this case, too, there is a difference of opinion as to where in Europe they lived.
(3) According to a third opinion (Brandenstein) the Aryans were originally from the steppe region of Central Asia and from here one of their branches entered Europe and the other branch entered India through Persia. At present, most scholars consider the third opinion to be acceptable.
Expansion of Aryan settlements || The Aryan Migration
The Aryans first lived in the seven Indus regions (the five rivers of the Punjab and the Indus and Saraswati valleys; that is, north-western India, including Kashmir, the Punjab and the Indus). But with the increase in population and abandonment of nomadic scholarship, they took up agriculture as their livelihood and settled in the eastern part of the Ganges-Jamuna floodplain. In this way at the end of the Vedic age they spread to Bihar. Later they crossed the Vindhya mountain and advanced towards South India.
The main features of the Aryan Civilization
Political Life of The Aryans Civilization
No great state or empire emerged in the Vedic age. The village consisted of several families. There were twenty villages and the sum of twenty was called John. Gopa was the chief villager of the village, the chief bishop of the twentieth and the chief of the people. It is difficult to say what the relationship was between the village, the twenty and the people. Probably the village was below all and John's place was above twenty. Although hereditary monarchy was the conventional state structure, neither mass nor republican rule was unknown. The lord of the people is called Ganapati or the eldest. The main duty of the king was to ensure the security of public life and to protect the country from external enemies. Through spies he kept the state informed and punished the guilty. He relied on priests for religious rites and advice. He was assisted by various employees. The chief of the army was a fighter. Although cavalry, infantry and chariots took part in the war, the use of elephants was probably uncommon. Arrows, bows, spears, swords and axes were the main weapons. Although the king had the highest power, he did not ignore public opinion. Meetings and associations are mentioned in the Vedic period. The prince and the people used to take part in the sessions of the association. The meeting was a council of elders.
Social Life of The Aryans Civilization
Family Life of The Aryans Civilization
The foundation of Arya Samaj was family. The head of the household was called the householder or couple. Although he is kind and affectionate, some cruelty is found. In general the family shots were joint. In a patriarchal society, the birth of a son was desirable. There was no fault in the care and upbringing of the daughter. Attention was also paid to their education. Gopus, Apalas, Mamtas, Lopamudras, etc., appeared in this era. Daughters were given in marriage at appropriate times. Gambling was common. The marriage ceremony was held at the daughter's father's house. Although polygamy was common among men, it was uncommon among women. Widowhood was also common. Women were not independent in the eyes of society and law. They were the husband's wife. At that time there was no curtain system. Satidah was not a custom. Widowhood was not to be condemned.
Garments of The Aryans Civilization
Their taste is found in their costumes and ornaments. The dress of the Aryans was divided into three parts, viz. These garments were made of yarn, wool and deer skin. Jewelry made of gold and flowers was popular among the Aryans. On the day of the festival, both men and women wore turbans. The Aryans loved to have long hair and trim it with a comb.
Food Habit of The Aryans Civilization
Grains, milk and milk products and fruits were the main food of the Aryans. The Aryans had no aversion to beef. Later, however, the sage Yajnavalkya issued a ban on eating beef due to the tension in the bull. But the Aryans did not know the use of salt. The Aryans collected drinking water from rivers and springs. But they also knew how to dig wells. The Aryans drank Sura and Somras. However, drinking was specific to religious ceremonies.
Recreation of The Aryans Civilization
In Aryan society, the instruments of entertainment were animal hunting, wrestling, dice, chariot races, dance songs etc. Elephants, lions, wild boars, deer, etc. were hunting animals. The Aryans loved to rejoice so much that they did not think of death. The dead bodies were cremated. Not everything was good in the Vedic age. Violence, deceit, theft, robbery, usurpation of old father's property - everything was there.
Social System of The Aryans Civilization
The Arya Samaj was divided into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. These distinctions were racial and professional. Hereditary caste system was not there at that time. So there were no restrictions on marriage and socializing. There were also opportunities to change scholarships. Chaturashram was prevalent in Arya Samaj. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas had to abide by the rules of the four ashrams - Brahmacharya, Garhasthya, Banprastha and Sannyasa. Four Stages of Life
Economic Life of the Aryans Civilization
Agriculture and Animal husbandry of The Aryans Civilization
Aryan civilization was a rural civilization. The city is not mentioned in the Vedic mantra. However, military cities, forts or cities are known. The Aryans lived in scattered villages and their economy depended on agriculture. Of course, they also used to raise animals. Arable land was called land or fertile. Agriculture had irrigation system. The use of fertilizers was not unknown. The grain produced was called paddy or barley. However, it is difficult to say what the real meaning of the two words was. Private ownership of agriculture and ecosystems was recognized. But there was joint ownership of khas land for grazing. However, there is disagreement among historians regarding land ownership. Cattle, dogs, goats, horses and sheep were the main domestic animals.
Trade and Commerce of The Aryans Civilization
Apart from agriculture and animal husbandry, the Aryans also engaged in trade. A class of people named Pony was engaged in this work. Cloth and leather were the main materials of trade. Trade was conducted through an exchange system. Cow-wealth was the medium of exchange. However, in this age, coins are known as ‘nishk’ and ‘mana’. Horse-drawn chariots and bullock carts are mentioned on the land. Historians do not agree on whether there was trade by sea.
Crafts of The Aryans Civilization
The main works of the Aryans were pottery, textile industry and leather industry. In addition to making chariots, boats, and houses, the artisans made finely carved pots. Blacksmiths made weapons and equipment with iron. Sakra used to make gold jewellery.
Religious Life of the Aryans Civilization
The Aryans did not worship any idols. The main feature of religion in the Vedic age is monotheism. They were worshipers of nature. They imagined natural forces as gods. Among the gods of the Aryans, Indra (god of thunder), Agni, Varun (god of rain), Soma etc. were the main ones. Among the goddesses, Prithvi, Aditi, Saraswati and Usha were particularly notable. A notable feature of Aryanism is the predominance of male deities. Although the Aryans had many gods and goddesses, they thought that all the gods were different manifestations of the same superpower. Yajnagya and ahuti or offering of offerings was the main part of Aryan religion. Ghee, milk, rice, meat and sourdough were offered by chanting mantras in the yajna. The Brahmins used to perform the duties of priesthood in Yajna. There is no clear indication of the Aryan conception of the afterlife theory in the hymns of the Rikveda. It is known from some hymns that the Aryans had the idea that people live in the Yamal after death.
See Also
The Indus Valley Civilization or the Harappan Civilization || Introduction the Main Features
ANCIENT HISTORY
Reference
Archive.org
Wikipedia.org
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