Chapter-4
The Vedas, comprising the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, are among the world’s oldest literary sources. The Rigveda, over 3500 years old, contains a thousand hymns praising gods like Agni, Indra, and Soma. Sages, predominantly men, composed these hymns in Vedic Sanskrit, distinct from modern Sanskrit.
Language Families: Sanskrit and Indo-European
Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European language family, shared by Indian languages (Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, etc.), Asian languages (Persian), and European languages (English, French, German). Words like ‘matr’ (Sanskrit), ‘ma’ (Hindi), and ‘mother’ (English) showcase linguistic commonalities. Languages in the subcontinent belong to various families like Tibeto-Burman, Dravidian, and Austro-Asiatic.
Oral Tradition and Written Records
Unlike modern books, the Rigveda was initially recited and heard. It was written down centuries after composition and printed only recently. Historians study this text, combining material remains with written sources. Dialogues in hymns, like Vishvamitra conversing with rivers, offer insights into ancient society, where horses, cows, and chariots held cultural significance.
Societal Aspects: Battles, Wealth, and Leaders
The Rigveda depicts a society engaged in battles for cattle, land, and water, with wealth distribution among leaders, priests, and the community. Yajnas or sacrifices involved offerings to gods. Leadership, described as rajas, lacked palaces and armies, and succession wasn’t automatic. Terms like Aryas and Dasas differentiated groups, later evolving to mean free and enslaved individuals.
Megaliths: Silent Sentinels of Burials
Megaliths, erected about 3000 years ago, marked burial sites across regions like the Deccan, South India, and Kashmir. Stone boulders, arranged meticulously, indicated underground burials. The process involved digging pits, transporting stones, breaking boulders, placing stones, finding suitable ones, shaping stones, and burying the dead. Megalithic burials displayed social differences, with varying grave goods suggesting status variations.
Inamgaon: Unique Burial Practices and Occupations
Inamgaon, along the river Ghod, occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago, showcased distinctive burial practices. Adults were buried straight, with vessels possibly containing food and water. Some burials occurred within houses, including a unique case of a man in a large clay jar in a settlement’s center. Skeletal studies aided in identifying social differences, and evidence of wheat, barley, rice, pulses, and various animals hinted at diverse occupations.
Conclusion: Unveiling Ancient Realities
Exploring the Rigveda and archaeological findings unveils glimpses of ancient Indian societies – their languages, rituals, battles, and burial practices. From linguistic connections to societal structures, these remnants offer valuable insights into the rich tapestry of early civilizations.