Evaluate the following statements related to the Rigvedic society:
Statement 1: The Rigveda contains hymns dedicated to deities such as Indra, Agni, and Soma.
Statement 2: The society described in the Rigveda was entirely urban and based on iron tools.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Only Statement 1 is correct.
Explanation:
☛ Statement 1 is correct: The Rigveda is the oldest among the four Vedas and consists of 1,028 hymns (Suktas) praising various deities. Prominent among them are Indra (the god of thunder and war, with 250 hymns), Agni (the fire god, with 200 hymns), and Soma (the god of plants and a sacred ritual drink).
☛ Statement 2 is incorrect: The Rigvedic (Early Vedic) society was predominantly pastoral and rural in nature, not urban. Pastoralism and cattle rearing were central to their economy, with cow (Gau) being considered the most significant asset.
☛ Furthermore, the Rigvedic people primarily used copper or bronze (termed as 'Ayas'). The knowledge and widespread use of iron (termed as 'Shyama Ayas' or 'Krishna Ayas') began later, around 1000 BCE during the Later Vedic period.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ The Rigveda is divided into 10 Mandalas (books), of which Mandalas 2 to 7 are the oldest and known as 'Family Books'.
☛ The famous Gayatri Mantra is found in the 3rd Mandala of the Rigveda, composed by sage Vishvamitra and dedicated to the solar deity Savitr.
☛ The Purusha Sukta, which explains the origin of the four varnas, is found in the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda.
☛ Rigvedic society was organized into patriarchal families where the head of the family was called Kulapa or Grihapati.
☛ Popular tribal assemblies that checked the royal power were Sabha, Samiti, and Vidatha.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which river is praised as 'Naditarna' (the best of rivers) in the Rigveda? → Saraswati
☛ The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasrajan War) was fought on the banks of which river? → Parushni (modern Ravi river)
☛ Which metal was referred to as 'Ayas' in the Rigveda? → Copper or Bronze
☛ Which Mandala of the Rigveda is completely dedicated to the god Soma? → 9th Mandala
☛ What was the primary unit of political and social organization in the Early Vedic period? → Kula (Family)