Social Life
1. Varna System: There were four varnas – Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. It was not birth-based. It was based on Karma (deeds). Varna was decided by ability and deeds of a person.
2. Family: It was a basic unit of the society. Joint family system was prevailed. The eldest person was the head of the family. He was called Grahapati. Women had been given great respect.
Purdah system was not prevailed. Marriage was not a contract but a religious ceremony. Marriages held at mature stage. Sons and daughters had equal rights of getting education. Women education had been given great respect. In vedic literature, names of such women are given who were famous for knowledge and literacy. For example, Gargi, Matraiya, Gandharvagrihita, etc. who were intellectual women belonged to this era.
3. Ashram and Sanskar System: Ashram system was there to run the society. Ideal age of an Indian was imagined 100 years. It was divided into four Ashrams- Brahmachaiya Ashram, Grahastha Ashram, Vanaprastha Ashram, Sanyasa Ashram.
This system is a great system of management of life in the world. There were 16 Sanskars to inculcate best qualities in human life. Among them Punsvan, Annaprashan, Mundan, Namkaran, Vidyarjan. Vivah sanskaras worked as social system.
4. Food, dress and amusement: Food – Barley, wheat, rice, pulses, milk, curd and soma drink. Dress-Clothes of cotton, silk, wool, were used; Ornaments – male and female both wear ornaments like necklace, ear rings and bangles.
5. Amusement: Chariot race, horse race, hunting, wrestling were main means of amusement. Dance and music were loved. Prime music instruments were Veena, Bansuri (flute), Shankh and Mridung were in trend.
