Consider the following statements with respect to the Early Vedic Period: 1. The Rig Vedic society was matriarchal and the basic unit of society was graham. 2. During the Rigvedic period, child marriage was prevalent while the practice of Sati was absent. Which of the following above given statements are correct?

Consider the following statements with respect to the Early Vedic Period: 1. The Rig Vedic society was matriarchal and the basic unit of society was graham. 2. During the Rigvedic period, child marriage was prevalent while the practice of Sati was absent. Which of the following above given statements are correct? Correct Answer None of the above

The correct answer is None of the above.

Mistake Points

• Child marriage, the system of Sati emerged in the shape of a formal custom during the later Vedic period.
• There was no child marriage and the practice of Sati was absent during the Early Vedic or Rigvedic Period.

Key Points

• The Rig Vedic society was patriarchal. The basic unit of society was family or graham. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• The head of the family was known as grahapathi.
• Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent among the royal and noble families.
• Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
• There was no child marriage and the practice of Sati was absent. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• During the Rig Vedic period, the tribal society was divided into three groups—warriors, priests, and the people.
  • The fourth division called the Sudras appeared towards the end of the Rig Vedic period because it is mentioned for the first time in the tenth Book of the Rig Veda, which is the latest addition.
• There are references to slaves who were given as gifts to the priests in the Rig Vedic period.
  • They were mainly women slaves employed for domestic purposes.
  • It is clear that in Rig Vedic times slaves were not used directly in agriculture or other producing activities. 
• In the age of the Rig Veda differentiation based on occupation was started but this division was not very sharp as there are references of various families in which different occupations were held within the same family.
• During the Rig Vedic period, tribal elements in society were stronger and social divisions based on the collection of taxes or accumulation of landed property were absent.
  • ​The society was still tribal and largely egalitarian.
  • It clearly signifies that there was not any evidence of feudalism in the Rig Vedic period.