Society
As the time passed by Yajnas became
elaborate and complicated ceremonial leading to the emergence of learned men
known as Brahmanas. And as
the Aryans expanded to the east and south ,groupo of people known as Kshatriyas
emerged to conquer territories and administer them. The remaining Aryans formed a separate class
known as Vaishyas, a word derived from Vis meaning ‘people ’ . The non- Aryan formed the fourth
class known as Shudras.
Neverthless, these divisons of society were
not rigid. The
institution of Gotra 9i.e. the clan appeared in later Vedic Period.The higher castes could marry with the
lower ones, but Marriage with shudras was not permitted.
The idea of pollution appeared in society.
The earliest reference to the 4 Ashramas
(the stages of life ) _ Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanprastha and Sanyasa – is
found in the Jabala Upanished. The Ashranma system was formed to attain 4
Purushathas (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.)
The status of women declined. According to
Aitareya Brahamana a daughter is the sources of misery but a son is the
protector of family .According to Maitrayani Samhite there are
three evils _ liquor , women and dice.
Though monogamy (a man having one wife )
was the ideal but polygamy (a man having more than one wife) was frequent. Women were prohibited to attent the
political assemblies. Yajnavalkya – Gargi dialogue (Vrihadarnyaka
Upanishada) indicates that some women
had got higher education .
Types of Hindu Marriage (Vivaha)
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Brahma Vivaha
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Giving the girl to a man with dowry.
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Daiva Vivaha
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Giving the girl to the priest himself in lieu of his
fees.
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Arsha Vivaha
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Giving the girl to a man after accepting a bride-
price.
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Prajapatya
Vivaha
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Giving the girl to a man without demanding a bride-
price.
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Gandhava Vivaha
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Love marriage.
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Asura Vivaha
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Marriage with
a purchased girl.
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Rakshasa Vivaha
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Marriage with the daughter of a defeated king or
with a kidnapped girl.
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Paishacha Vivaha
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Marriage to a girl after seducing or raping her.
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Anuloma Vivaha : marriage between a
bridegroom from an upper caste and a bride from alower caste ; Pratiloma Vivaha
– the reverse of Anuloma Vivaha .