Religion
During the Rigvedic time the gods worshipped were generally the personified
powers of Nature. It was believed that
divine powers were capable of conferring both and punishments on man. Fire was
sacred as it was regarded to be the intermediary between man and God.
There were nearly 33 gods. Later day
tradition classified them into 3 categories of terrestrial (Prithvisthana), aerial or intermediate (antarikshasthana) and celestial
(dyusthana) god.
(i)
Terrestrial
(Prithvisthaniya): Prithivi, Agni, Soma,
Brihaspati and rivers.
(ii)
Aerial/ Intermediate(
Antarikshasthaniya): Indra, Rudra, Vayu – Vata, Parjanya.
(iii)
Celestial (Dyusthaniya): Daus, Surya (In 5 forms: Surya, Savitri,
Mitra, pushan, Vishnu). Varuna, Aditi, Usha and Asvin.
Indra, Agni and Varuna were the most popular deities of
Rigvedic Aryans.
Indra or Purandra (destroyer of fort ): The most
important god (250 Rigvedic hymns are devoted to him); who played the role of
warlord and was considered to be the rain god.
Agni : The second most important god (200 Rigvedic hymns
are devoted to him); fire god was considered to be the intermediary between the
gods and the people.
Veruna: Personified
water ; was supposed to uphold ‘Rits’ or the natural order
(‘Ritasyagopa’).
Surya (sun) was
worshiped in 5 forms : Surya,
Savitri, Mitra, Pushan and Vishnu.
Surya (Sun) : God who used to drive daily across the sky
in his chariot driven by seven horses.
Savitri (the god of light ) : The famous Gayatri Mantra
is addressed to her.
Mitra : A solar god.
Pushan : The god of marriage: main function – guarding
of roads, herdsmen and straying cattle.
Vishnu: A god which covered earth in three steps (Upakrama).
Soma: Originally a plant producing a potent drink during
courses of Agnishtoma sacrifice, could
be hemp /bhang, called king of plants ;
identified later with the moon . The 9th mandala of Rig Veda, which contains 114 hymns , is
attributed to the Soma. That’s why it is called ‘the Soma Mandala’.
Other Gods / Goddesses:
Rudra (the god of animals ), Dyaus (the Oldest god and the father of the world ), Yama (the
god of death). Ashwin/ Nastya (the god of health ,youth and immortality); Aditi (the great
mother of gods), Sindhu (river goddess).
Sometimes gods were visualised as animals but there was
no animal worship.
The nature of Rigvedic
religion was Henotheism i.e. belief in many gods but each standing out
in turns as the highest.
Their religion
primarily consisted of the worship of gods with a simple ceremonial known as Yajna or sacrifice. Sacrifices consisted of offerings of milk,
grain, flesh and soma.
Economy
The Aryans
crossed the nomadic stage. Yet, great importance was attached to herds of
cattle. Various animals were
domesticated.
The vedic people were probably not familiar with cat and
camel. Tiger was not known ,but the
wild animals like lion ,elephant and
boar were known to them.
In all probability ,very little of trade was there.
Money and markets
were known but they were not extensively
used. Cows and gold ornaments of fixed value were the media of exchange. Coins were not known.
Complexity in producing goods made its appearance. Men of various professions like carpenters,
smiths, tanners, weavers, potters and grinders of corn were there.
The art of healing wounds and curing diseases were in
existence. There were experts in
surgery. Along with herbs and drugs
charms and spells were regard as equally potential in healing diseases.
OCP (Ochre Coloured Pottery) Culture: 1500 BC – 1000 BC.