Vedic Polity

7/23/2019 Vedic Polity

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VEDIC POLITYVEDIC POLITY


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TRIBAL POLITY IN RIG VEDATRIBAL POLITY IN RIG VEDA

THE EARLY ARYANS COULD NOT DEVELOPTHE EARLY ARYANS COULD NOT DEVELOP

STABLE KINGDOMS AS THEY WERE SEMISTABLE KINGDOMS AS THEY WERE SEMI

NOMADIC PEOPLE .THE RESULT WAS THENOMADIC PEOPLE .THE RESULT WAS THE

DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRIBALDEVELOPMENT OF THE TRIBALPRINCIPALITIES.PRINCIPALITIES.

TO GET AN IDEA OF THE POLITICALTO GET AN IDEA OF THE POLITICAL

ORGANISATION OF RIG VEDA ,IT ISORGANISATION OF RIG VEDA ,IT IS

NECESSARY TO STUDY THE SOCIAL LIFE OFNECESSARY TO STUDY THE SOCIAL LIFE OF

THE VEDIC ARYANSTHE VEDIC ARYANS


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THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE RIG-VEDATHE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE RIG-VEDA

WAS BASED ON THE KINGSHIP.THE TERMWAS BASED ON THE KINGSHIP.THE TERM

GOTRA A ND VRATA OCCURRED IN THE RIG-GOTRA A ND VRATA OCCURRED IN THE RIG-

VEDA AT MANY PLACES.THE PEOPLE WHOVEDA AT MANY PLACES.THE PEOPLE WHOLIVED IN THE SAME COWSHED BELONG TOLIVED IN THE SAME COWSHED BELONG TO

THE SAME GOTRA.THE SAME GOTRA.

VRATA(HOARD OR TROOPOR ASSEMBLAGE)VRATA(HOARD OR TROOPOR ASSEMBLAGE)

ALSO A KIN BASED GROUP FUNCTIONEDALSO A KIN BASED GROUP FUNCTIONED

UNDER A HEAD CALLED VRATPATI.UNDER A HEAD CALLED VRATPATI.


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GRAMA MAENT SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF RELATED FAMILIESGRAMA MAENT SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF RELATED FAMILIES(KIN-BASED) THAT WAS THE BASIC ELEMENT OF THE SOCIAL(KIN-BASED) THAT WAS THE BASIC ELEMENT OF THE SOCIALSTRUCTURE .IT CAME TO DENOTE A VILLAGE WHEN ITSSTRUCTURE .IT CAME TO DENOTE A VILLAGE WHEN ITSMEMBERS TOOK TO AGRICULTURE AND SEDENTARY LIFE.MEMBERS TOOK TO AGRICULTURE AND SEDENTARY LIFE.

IT ALSO FORMED THE SMALLEST POLITICAL UNIT.IT ALSO FORMED THE SMALLEST POLITICAL UNIT.

JANA WAS THE HIGHEST SOCIAL UNIT BASED ON THEJANA WAS THE HIGHEST SOCIAL UNIT BASED ON THEPATRIARCHIAL KINSHIP.SOME THINK IT CORRESPOND WITHPATRIARCHIAL KINSHIP.SOME THINK IT CORRESPOND WITHTHE TRIBE WHOSE CHIEF IS KNOWN AS THE JANAPATITHE TRIBE WHOSE CHIEF IS KNOWN AS THE JANAPATIJANASYA GOPTA PR KING(RAJA)JANASYA GOPTA PR KING(RAJA)

VIS WAS THE SUB-DIVISION OF THE JANA OR TRIBE WHOSEVIS WAS THE SUB-DIVISION OF THE JANA OR TRIBE WHOSEHEAD WAS CALLED THE VISPATI.THE VIS WERE CLOSELYHEAD WAS CALLED THE VISPATI.THE VIS WERE CLOSELY

KNIT TOGETHER AND ON THE BATTLEFIELDS,BATTALIONSKNIT TOGETHER AND ON THE BATTLEFIELDS,BATTALIONSWERE OFTEN ARRANGED AS PER VIS FROM WHICH THEYWERE OFTEN ARRANGED AS PER VIS FROM WHICH THEYHAVE BEEN RECRUITED.HAVE BEEN RECRUITED.


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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE STATE LIKE THE FIXEDTHE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE STATE LIKE THE FIXEDTERRITORY,A REGULAR SOURCE OF INCOME ANDTERRITORY,A REGULAR SOURCE OF INCOME ANDTHE STANDING ARMY WAS ABSENT IN THE VEDICTHE STANDING ARMY WAS ABSENT IN THE VEDICPERIOD.PERIOD.

THE PEOPLE WERE MORE ATTACHED TO THE KINTHE PEOPLE WERE MORE ATTACHED TO THE KINRATHER THAN TO ANY TERRITORY.RATHER THAN TO ANY TERRITORY.

THE TRIBUTES WHICH THE VICTORIOUS KINGTHE TRIBUTES WHICH THE VICTORIOUS KINGRECEIVED FROM THE VANQUISHED,WERERECEIVED FROM THE VANQUISHED,WEREOBLIGATORY BUT NOT REGULAR.OBLIGATORY BUT NOT REGULAR.

THIS IS ALSO TRUE OF THE ARMY WHICH SEEMS TOTHIS IS ALSO TRUE OF THE ARMY WHICH SEEMS TO

BE AN IMPOVERISHED ONE MOBILISED OUT OF THEBE AN IMPOVERISHED ONE MOBILISED OUT OF THETRIBESMEN,WHENEVER THE NEED AROSE.TRIBESMEN,WHENEVER THE NEED AROSE.

BUT THE PROCESS WHICH GAVE RISE TO THE STATEBUT THE PROCESS WHICH GAVE RISE TO THE STATEORGANS HAVE ALREADY BEGIN IN THIS PERIOD.ORGANS HAVE ALREADY BEGIN IN THIS PERIOD.


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TRIBAL ASSEMBLIESTRIBAL ASSEMBLIES

VIDATHA..VIDATHA..

IT WAS THE EARLIEST VILLAGE FOLK ASSEMBLYIT WAS THE EARLIEST VILLAGE FOLK ASSEMBLYATTENDED BY MEN AND WOMEN ,PERFORMING ALLATTENDED BY MEN AND WOMEN ,PERFORMING ALLKINDS OFKINDS OF

FUNCTIONS,ECONOMIC,MILITARY,RELIGIOUS ANDFUNCTIONS,ECONOMIC,MILITARY,RELIGIOUS ANDSOCIAL.SOCIAL.

IT ANSWERED THE NEED OF THE PRIMITIVE WHICHIT ANSWERED THE NEED OF THE PRIMITIVE WHICHHARDLY KNEW THE DIVISION OF LABOUR ORHARDLY KNEW THE DIVISION OF LABOUR ORDOMINATION OF MALE OVER THE FEMALE .DOMINATION OF MALE OVER THE FEMALE .

THE KEYSTONE OF THE VIDATH SYSTEM WAS THETHE KEYSTONE OF THE VIDATH SYSTEM WAS THECO-OPERATION.CO-OPERATION.

IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE TAKEN ACTIVEIT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE TAKEN ACTIVEPART IN THE ADMINISTRATION.PART IN THE ADMINISTRATION.


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SABHASABHA

SABHA A ND SAMITI ARE REGARDED AS THE TWIN DAUGHTERS OF THE LORD PRAJAPATI.SABHA A ND SAMITI ARE REGARDED AS THE TWIN DAUGHTERS OF THE LORD PRAJAPATI.

THE SABHA AT FIRST WAS THE ASSOCIATION OF THE KINSFOLK,BUT LATER BACAMETHE SABHA AT FIRST WAS THE ASSOCIATION OF THE KINSFOLK,BUT LATER BACAMEALSO AN ASSOCIATION OF MEN BOUND TOGETHER EITHER BY TIES OF BLOOD OR LOCALALSO AN ASSOCIATION OF MEN BOUND TOGETHER EITHER BY TIES OF BLOOD OR LOCALCONTIGUITY.CONTIGUITY.

IT WAS A CENTRAL ARISTOCRATIC GATHERING ASSOCIATED WITH THE KING AND CAN BEIT WAS A CENTRAL ARISTOCRATIC GATHERING ASSOCIATED WITH THE KING AND CAN BELABELLED AS THE POLITICAL COUNCIL.LABELLED AS THE POLITICAL COUNCIL.

IT WAS A TRIBAL ASSEMBLY WHERETHE MEMBERS DEBATED OVER THE DOMESTICATIONIT WAS A TRIBAL ASSEMBLY WHERETHE MEMBERS DEBATED OVER THE DOMESTICATIONOF CATTLE,PLAYED DICE AND OFFERED PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES.IN THE LATER VEDICOF CATTLE,PLAYED DICE AND OFFERED PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES.IN THE LATER VEDIC

TIMES WOMEN ALSO ATTENTED THE SABHA BUT IT WAS DISCONTINUED LATER IN THETIMES WOMEN ALSO ATTENTED THE SABHA BUT IT WAS DISCONTINUED LATER IN THEVEDIC TIMES.VEDIC TIMES.

THIS ASSEMBLY CAME TO ASSUME A PATRIARCHIAL AND ARISTOCRATIC CHARACTER INTHIS ASSEMBLY CAME TO ASSUME A PATRIARCHIAL AND ARISTOCRATIC CHARACTER INTHE LATER VEDIC PERIOD.THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS COMPOSED OF THE MEMBERS OF HIGH CHARACTER ANDALTHOUGH IT WAS COMPOSED OF THE MEMBERS OF HIGH CHARACTER ANDINTEGRITY ,LEARNING AND BEARING------IN OTHER WORDS MEN OF DISTINCTION ANDINTEGRITY ,LEARNING AND BEARING------IN OTHER WORDS MEN OF DISTINCTION ANDHIGH SOCIAL STATUS.HIGH SOCIAL STATUS.

THE SABHA TRANSACTED BOTH POLITICAL AND NON-POLITICAL BUSINESS.ITTHE SABHA TRANSACTED BOTH POLITICAL AND NON-POLITICAL BUSINESS.ITDELIBERATED OVER THE PASTORAL AFFAIRS AND MATTERS CONCERNING RELIGION.ITDELIBERATED OVER THE PASTORAL AFFAIRS AND MATTERS CONCERNING RELIGION.IT

ALSO FUNCTION AS THE NATIONAL JUDICATURE.ALSO FUNCTION AS THE NATIONAL JUDICATURE.THE SABHA CONDUCTED ITS BUSINESS BY DEBATE AND DISCUSSIONS.FREE AND FRANKTHE SABHA CONDUCTED ITS BUSINESS BY DEBATE AND DISCUSSIONS.FREE AND FRANKDISCUSSIONS WERE HELD BEFORE ARRIVING AT UNANIMOUS DECISIONS.THE DECISIONDISCUSSIONS WERE HELD BEFORE ARRIVING AT UNANIMOUS DECISIONS.THE DECISIONOF THE SABHA WERE BINDING ON ALL.THE KING ATTENDED THE MEETING OF THEOF THE SABHA WERE BINDING ON ALL.THE KING ATTENDED THE MEETING OF THESABHA AND CONIDERED ITS ADVISE TO BE OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.SABHA AND CONIDERED ITS ADVISE TO BE OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SABHA WAS CALLED SABHAPATI.THE PRESIDENT OF THE SABHA WAS CALLED SABHAPATI.


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SAMITISAMITI

IT IS SOMETHING LIKE A LOWER HOUSE ,A MORE COMPREHENSIVE BODYIT IS SOMETHING LIKE A LOWER HOUSE ,A MORE COMPREHENSIVE BODYCONSISTING OF ALL THE COMMON PEOPLE ---THE BRAHAMANS AND THECONSISTING OF ALL THE COMMON PEOPLE ---THE BRAHAMANS AND THELOWER AND RICH PATRONSLOWER AND RICH PATRONS

IN OTHER WORDS ,IT WAS AN AUGUST ASSEMBLY OF A LARGER GROUP OFIN OTHER WORDS ,IT WAS AN AUGUST ASSEMBLY OF A LARGER GROUP OFPEOPLE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF TRIBAL BUSINESS AND WAS PRESIDEDPEOPLE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF TRIBAL BUSINESS AND WAS PRESIDEDOVER BY THE KING.OVER BY THE KING.

AMONGST ITS FUNCTIONS MENTIONS MUST BE MADE OF THE THEAMONGST ITS FUNCTIONS MENTIONS MUST BE MADE OF THE THE

ELECTIONS OF THE KING.IT COULD EVEN RE-ELECT THE KING WHO HADELECTIONS OF THE KING.IT COULD EVEN RE-ELECT THE KING WHO HADBEEN BANISHED.BEEN BANISHED.

ALL THE MATTERS OF THE STATE ,MILITARY AND EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS WEREALL THE MATTERS OF THE STATE ,MILITARY AND EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS WEREDISCUSSED AND DECIDED BY THE SAMITI.DISCUSSED AND DECIDED BY THE SAMITI.

QUESTIONS WHICH WERE NON-POLITICAL IN CHARACTER WERE ALSOQUESTIONS WHICH WERE NON-POLITICAL IN CHARACTER WERE ALSODISCUSSED BY THE SAMITI .AS A NATIONAL ACADEMY ,IT TESTED THEDISCUSSED BY THE SAMITI .AS A NATIONAL ACADEMY ,IT TESTED THEKNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATED PERSONS.KNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATED PERSONS.

AS A DELIBERATIVE BODY,THE PROCEEDING OF THE SAMITI WEREAS A DELIBERATIVE BODY,THE PROCEEDING OF THE SAMITI WERECONDUCTED BY DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVINGCONDUCTED BY DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVINGCONCORD.CONCORD.

EMPHASIS WAS LAID ON THE CONCORD BETWEEN THE KING AND THEEMPHASIS WAS LAID ON THE CONCORD BETWEEN THE KING AND THEASSEMBLY AND ON THE SPIRIT OF THE HARMONY AMONG ITS MEMBERS.ASSEMBLY AND ON THE SPIRIT OF THE HARMONY AMONG ITS MEMBERS.


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LATER VEDIC PERIODLATER VEDIC PERIOD

THE TRIBAL STATE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD TENDS TO ASSUME THETHE TRIBAL STATE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD TENDS TO ASSUME THETERRITORIAL CHARACTER IN THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD.THIS WASTERRITORIAL CHARACTER IN THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD.THIS WASINDEED THE RESULT OF THE SETTLED LIFE.INDEED THE RESULT OF THE SETTLED LIFE.

THE COMMUNITY TOOK TO THE AGRICULTURAL LIFE AND THISTHE COMMUNITY TOOK TO THE AGRICULTURAL LIFE AND THISFACILITATED THE REGULAR PAYMENT OF THE TRIBUTE TO THEFACILITATED THE REGULAR PAYMENT OF THE TRIBUTE TO THECHIEF OR TO THE RAJA.CHIEF OR TO THE RAJA.

THE PRIESTS INVENTED THE RITUALS TO SECURE THE RELUCTANTTHE PRIESTS INVENTED THE RITUALS TO SECURE THE RELUCTANTTRIBAL PEASANTRY!S PERMANENT SUBORDINATION TO THE RAJA.TRIBAL PEASANTRY!S PERMANENT SUBORDINATION TO THE RAJA.

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATERIAL SITUATION ,PARTICULARLY INTHE IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATERIAL SITUATION ,PARTICULARLY INTHE MIDDLE GANGA PLAINS ,IN THE POST-VEDIC PERIOD BROUGHTTHE MIDDLE GANGA PLAINS ,IN THE POST-VEDIC PERIOD BROUGHTTO THE FORE THE NEED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PRIVATETO THE FORE THE NEED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PRIVATEPROPERTY AND PATRIARCHIAL FAMILY,WHICH IN TURNPROPERTY AND PATRIARCHIAL FAMILY,WHICH IN TURNOCCASSIONED THE RISE OF THE STATEOCCASSIONED THE RISE OF THE STATE

AROUND THE "## B.C THERE WAS INCREASED AVAILIBILITY OF THEAROUND THE "## B.C THERE WAS INCREASED AVAILIBILITY OF THESURPLUS AND THE MACHINERY FOR ITS MOBILISATION HAD COMESURPLUS AND THE MACHINERY FOR ITS MOBILISATION HAD COMEINTO BEING.THESE DEVELOPMENTS COMPLETED THE PROCESS OFINTO BEING.THESE DEVELOPMENTS COMPLETED THE PROCESS OFSTATE FORMATION.STATE FORMATION.

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