The term "Jana" in the Rig Vedic period primarily referred to as:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Tribe or a group of related families.
Explanation
In the Rig Vedic period, the society was pastoral and tribal in nature. The term "Jana" was frequently used to denote a tribe, a clan, or a collective group of people sharing common lineages and related families. The political structure was not based on a fixed territory or a large empire; instead, loyalty was tied to the tribe (Jana) and its chief, known as the Rajan. Other units like the "Gramagrama" or "Vis" represented smaller subdivisions within or closely related to the tribe, whereas large kingdoms (Janapadas) only developed much later during the Later Vedic period.
Key Points
The Rig Veda mentions the term "Jana" numerous times, emphasizing the kinship and tribal bond of the Early Vedic society rather than a territorial state.
The head of the Jana was called the Rajan (king) or Gopati (protector of cows), whose primary duty was to protect the tribe and their cattle.
The tribal identity was so strong that individuals were recognized by the Jana they belonged to, such as the Bharatas, Yadus, or Purus.
Territorial concepts were secondary during this era because the tribes were semi-nomadic and constantly migrated in search of pastures.
Additional Facts
While the term "Jana" (tribe) appears over 275 times in the Rig Veda, the term "Janapada" (territory or country) does not appear even once, highlighting the non-territorial nature of the Early Vedic age.
The Jana was further divided into smaller socio-political units called "Vis" (clans), which were composed of even smaller village clusters or family units.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: What term was used in the Later Vedic period when the tribal "Jana" settled permanently into specific geographic territories?
Answer: The settled territorial units came to be known as "Janapadas" during the Later Vedic period.
Question: Who was known as the 'Gopa' or 'Gopati' in the political structure of the Rig Vedic Jana?
Answer: The king or tribal chief (Rajan) was called the Gopa or Gopati, which literally translates to the protector of cows/cattle.