Most Ancient Aryan Society

Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

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( 190 ) collective. They were one-intentioned and one-minded which indicates the tribal character of the Gaņa. All obeyed one sole leader, the Ganapati. Devas, like Agni and Uşā, served the Gaņa. All wealth belonged to the Gaņa which was distributed amongst the Gaņa-members according to the accepted principles of the age. Gaņapati had sovereign control over the members and wealth of the Gaņa. Horses and chariots were of prime importance to the Āryan Gaņa. Food and drink were common. All the Gaņa-members had to 'offer' all the wealth they earned in times of peace or as spoils of war to the Ganapati. Men and women had singleness of purpose. Acquisition of wealth and victories in battles was the common bond. They accomplished everything with joint labour in their Yajñic activities. The functions of the most ancient Aryan Society, the Gaņa, were founded upon commonalty.
The main characteristics of the Gaņa are :
1. Gana was a tribal collective. A Gaņa-member had no individual independent existence. He existed only as a part of Gaņa collective.
2. Gana was the supreme owner of the means of productions in agriculture and industry. The individual production had to be offered to the Gaņa for increased tribal prosperity. . 3. Wealth and property of the Gaņa was commonly owned. It was commonly distributed. The basic standard was the integrity, unity and strength of Gaņa.
4. The military, economic and social activity of the Gana were tribal. These tribal activities were known as Yajñas.
5. There was no family, no marriage, Gana-people enjoyed promiscuous sex-relationship.