Rig Vedic Tribal Assembly | Sabha | Samiti | Vidhata
The chief or the king in the Rig Vedic period did not exercise unlimited power, for he had to reckon administration with the tribal organizations like Sabha, Samiti, and Vidhata.
Sabha
The term sabha occurred eight times in the Rig Veda and seventeen times in the Atharva Veda. In one instance, sabha referred to a meeting hall. In other instances, sabha referred to a “body of men shining together.”
- Sabha was a select body of elders. The head of the sabha was known as ‘Sabhapati’.
- The Sabha advised the king on administration. It discussed pastoral affairs and performed judicial and administrative functions and exercised judicial authority. It functioned as a court of law and tried the cases of criminals and punished them.
- The term Sabha denotes both the assembly (in early Rig-Vedic) and the assembly hall (later Rig- Vedic).
- Women called Sabhavati also attended this assembly.
- It was basically a kin-based assembly and the practice of women attending it was stopped in later-Vedic times.
- Rig-Veda speaks of the Sabha also as a dicing and gambling assembly, along with a place for dancing, music, witchcraft, and magic.
- The Sabha, situated outside of settlement, was restricted to the Vratyas, bands of roving Brahmins and Kshatriyas in search of cattle, with a common woman (pumscali) while the vidatha was the potlatch-like ritual distribution of bounty.
Samiti
The term samiti occurred nine times in the Rig Veda and thirteen times in the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda stated that one could not rule without a samiti. One Vedic reference described a rajan‘s (ruler) presence in a samiti. Another reference described several rulers sitting together in a samiti. The Rig Veda reported people in a samiti discussing their cattle. One Rig Veda prayer called for agreement and unity of thought in the samiti. The Atharva Veda included the prayer of a Brahman priest on behalf of a samiti.
- The references to samiti come from the latest books of the Rig-Veda showing that it assumed importance only towards the end of the Rig-Vedic period.
- Samiti was a folk assembly in which people of the tribe gathered for transacting tribal business.
- It discussed philosophical issues and was concerned with religious ceremonies and prayers.
- References suggest that the Rajan was elected and re-elected by the Samiti.
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Difference between Sabha and Samiti
- In the beginning, there was no difference between the Sabha and the Samiti. Both were called daughters of Prajapati.
- In the early Vedic Age the Sabha and Samiti had a commendable role to play as the political organisation of the aryans.
- Both were mobile units led by chiefs who kept moving along with the forces.
- The only difference between Sabha and Samiti seems to be the fact that Sabha performed judicial functions, which the Samiti did not. Later, the sabha became a small aristocratic body and samiti ceased to exist.
Vidhata
The vidhata was a form of assembly referred to 122 times in the Rig Veda and 22 times in the Atharva Veda. Translated as a “family council,” the vidhata included women and elders as participants. The vidhata collectively worshiped Vedic deities such as Agni and Indra, offering sacred food and singing their praises. Occasionally the vidhata selected a priest to sing or lead the singing. The vidhata hoped that, in return for the offerings and songs, Agni or Indra would provide wealth and brave sons. Over the centuries, references to the vidhata gradually disappeared.
- Vidhata appears for 122 times in the Rig-Veda and seems to be the most important assembly in the Rig Vedic period. Vidhata was an assembly meant for secular, religious and military purpose.
- The Rig-Veda only once indicated the connection of woman with the Sabha whereas Vidhata is frequently associated with woman.
- women actively participated in the deliberations with men.
- Vidhata was the earliest folk assembly of the Aryans, performing all kinds of functions- economic, military religious and social. The
- Vidhata also provided common ground to clans and tribes for the worship of their gods.
Also refer:
- Download the pdf of Important MCQs From the History Of Ancient India
- List Of Important Inscriptions In India
- Vedic Period
