Social system in Vedic Vangmaya

Social system reflected in the vedic literature is not limited to either a place or periphery of time. It’s eternal or universal. It has the capacity to guide human beings for many eras.

The word society emanates from sam upsarg purvak aj (moving) dhatu. In other words, the close association of human beings and living a life through mutual cooperation is called society. The society where people cooperate with each other wholeheartedly is called developed society.

Uttam purush plural has been used while praying in most of the mantras of the Ved. In the famous gayatri mantra, we pray for the encouraging intellect of all of us. 1 In another mantra, we pray for getting rid of darkness. 2 Similarly, we pray to the ultimate god for getting enlightenment. 3 It’s collective prayer for all of us instead of an individual.

The vedic richas give inspiration to see entire animals in our souls and vice-versa. 4 It’s the condition when the people get rid of anger, hatred, alienation, etc. The Ved directs us to live a happy and prosperous life. 5

The family is the first school of getting such good intentions. It’s the family where human beings have learned social rules and regulations since their childhood. Therefore, the famous sukta of the Atharvaved expresses cooperation among mother-father and sons, brother-sister, husband-wife, etc. 6 The Ved describes such intention and mutual affection as the cow metes out to her newly born calf. 7

You can get totality in the social life through a sense of cooperation acquired in the family. According to the Ved, human beings are the offspring of the ultimate god. The Ringved clearly describes that all human beings are the sons and daughters of the God. Therefore, nobody is high or low by birth. The people should move ahead on the path of prosperity through this intention. 8

According to the Ved, the people are the part of society and therefore they must invest their entire strength for bringing prosperity in the society. It's a true religion for them. The word ‘vrat’ has been used on many places for the human being in the Ved. It means society or federation. It means that human beings are linked with groups naturally.

Enjoyment with sacrifice is the second base of vedic social system. 9 We must be ready for mutual sacrifice in the social life. Whatever we have is given by the society. Therefore, it’s an indication of the healthy society to sacrifice everything happily for the society in case of need.
Synchronization holds great significance in the vedic system. But at the same time, it eradicates no diversity. It has been accepted in the Ved that despite reflecting similarity, both the hands do different works. Difficult time is also necessary for continuation of existence. Despite having equal proportions of satva, rajas, tamas, etc, the creation fails to proceed with. Difficult time is the need of the hour for its proper development. Similarly, despite having different nature, refinement, working capacity, etc, the human beings can work for realizing their dreams as per their nature. As the earth is ready to protect every type of human being and all the members of the house provide shelter to their house. 10

Therefore, accepting natural odd, the vedic socialism is entirely different from modern devastating socialism and communism. They believe in change of heart. Performing yagya and donation are the vital elements of it. According to the Ved, those people who indulge in prosperous life without distributing food grains and other materials to the needy people commit nothing but sin. 11 The Taittiriya Upnishad also describes donation. The human beings must donate as per their capacities. They must donate for friendship. 12 The Ved also mentions about ishta and aapurt. Air purification for the entire humanity through performing yagya is called ishta and installing drinking water tanks, inn, digging well, providing food grains, planting sapling, etc are called purt. Such type of generous intention helps the people build a prosperous society.

According to the Ved, the real donor is those who donate to the people roaming in search of food grains. 13 The people indulging in donation are great. They must keep one fourth with themselves and three fourth should be donated to the needy people. At the same time, those who keep half of food grains and other materials with themselves are also called good. But at the same time, those who keep entire food grains with themselves are nothing but animals. They must learn from the people donating half of their food grains. They want to understand the importance of donation at the last moment of their life. 14

In other words, the yagya is nothing but donation and sacrifice. The yagya is an important part of vedic social ideology. In a mantra, the people pray for instilling a sense of yagya in their vital energy, respiration, speech, mind, meditation, strength, etc. It’s a great sense of offering everything in the yagya. It means that the people performing yagya also pray for instilling a sense of yagya among themselves. 15 Donation, helping, removing grief, getting rid of bad thoughts, etc are nothing but yagya. Getting skilled in good artisan, industry, science, etc are also the yagya. They must not be selfish.
Mutual love and affection and brotherhood in the entire society is the ideal of vedic society. The Veda also asks the people to see friends in every animal including human beings. 16 In the Atharvaved, the people pray that oh god! Shower blessings on us to keep harmony among animals directly and indirectly. 17 Our behaviour must be so affectionate that nobody can hate us. 18 We must help each other. We must protect human beings. 19 This ideology eradicates caste, colour, high, low, country, etc. The human being must be protected because they are human beings. It gives a sense of a highly global family. According to the Ved, lazy people devoid of human values are nothing but monster. 20
In the Ved, the prayer has been made for bringing world peace and welfare for all the people.

Swasti nah pathyasu dhanvasu swastyapsu vrijane svarvati I
Swasti nah putrakritheshu yonishu swasti raye maruto dadhatan II 21

Shanno mitrah shan varunah shanno bhavatvaryama I
Shanna indro brihaspatih shanno vishnururukramah II 22

In the Ved, the society has been described as mighty man. The four communities like Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra are existed through various organs of the men. According to which, as every organ of the human body is mutually related and if an organ complains for pain, then entire body gets affected with it. Similarly, the society also needs vital energy and strength. 

01)    Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat I
02)    Udvayam tamasaspari…… surmaganma jyotiruttamam I
03)    Agne naya supatha raye asman I
04)  Yastu sarvani bhutanyatmanyevanupashyati I Sarvabhuteshu chatmanam tato na vijugupsate II Va. Sa.40.4
05)   Ud budhyadhvam samanasah sakhayah (Ri. 10.10.9)
06)  Anuvratah pituh putro matra bhavatu samnah I Jaya patye madhumati vacham vadatu shantivam I Ma bhrata bhrataram dvikshanma svasaramuta svasa I Samyanchah savrata bhutva vacham vadata bhadraya II (Atharva. 3.30.2.3)
07)    Sahridayam samanasyavidvesham krinomi vah I Anyoanyamabhi haryata vatsam jatamivadhnya II (Athrava. 3.30.1)
08)    Ajyeshaso aakanishasa ete I Sam bhrataro vavridhuh saubhagaya II (Ring. 5.60.5)
09)    Tena tyaktena bhunjithah I Yaju. 40.1
10)    Janam bibhrati bahudha vivachasam nanadharmanam prithivi yathaukasam I (Atharva. 12.1.45)
11)    Kevalagho bhavati kevaladi I Ri. 10.117.6
12)    Tai0 U0 1.11
13)    Sa ida bhojo yo grihvate dadatyannakamaya charate krishaya (Ri.10.117.3)
14)    Ekapad bhuyo dvipado vi chakrame dvipad tripadamabhyeti pashchat I Chatushpadeti dvipadamabhishachare sanpashyan panktirupatishthamanah II Ri. 10.117.8
15)    Pranashcha meapanshcha me vyanashcha me ……. Va. Sa.18.29
16)    Mitrasya ma chakshusha sarvani bhutani samikshantam I Mitrasyaham chakshusha sarvani bhutani samikshe I Mitrasy chakshusha samikshamahe I Va. Sa. 36.18
17)    …….. Yanshcha pashyami yanshcha na teshu ma sumatim kridhi I Atharva. 17.17
18)    Ma no dvikshata kashchan I Atharva. 12.124
19)    Puman pumansam paripatu vishvatah I Ri. 6.75.14
20)    Akarma dasyurabhi no amanturanyavrato amanushah I Tvam tasyamitrahanvadhardasasya dambhaya II Ri. 10.22.8
21)    Ri. 10.63.15
22)    Ri. 9.90.9