<P> The Rigveda is far more archaic than any other Indo - Aryan text . For this reason, it was in the center of attention of western scholarship from the times of Max Müller and Rudolf Roth onwards . The Rigveda records an early stage of Vedic religion . There are strong linguistic and cultural similarities with the early Iranian Avesta, deriving from the Proto - Indo - Iranian times, often associated with the early Andronovo culture (or rather, the Sintashta culture within the early Andronovo horizon) of c. 2000 BC . </P> <P> The Rigveda offers no direct evidence of social or political system in Vedic era, whether ordinary or elite . Only hints such as cattle raising and horse racing are discernible, and the text offers very general ideas about the ancient Indian society . There is no evidence, state Jamison and Brereton, of any elaborate, pervasive or structured caste system . Social stratification seems embryonic, then and later a social ideal rather than a social reality . The society was pastoral with evidence of agriculture since hymns mention plow and celebrate agricultural divinities . There was division of labor, and complementary relationship between kings and poet - priests but no discussion of relative status of social classes . Women in Rigveda appear disproportionately as speakers in dialogue hymns, both as mythical or divine Indrani, Apsaras Urvasi, or Yami, as well as Apāla Ātreyī (RV 8.91), Godhā (RV 10.134. 6), Ghoṣā Kākṣīvatī (RV 10.39. 40), Romaśā (RV 1.126. 7), Lopāmudrā (RV 1.179. 1 - 2), Viśvavārā Ātreyī (RV 5.28), Śacī Paulomī (RV 10.159), Śaśvatī Āṅgirasī (RV 8.1. 34). The women of Rigveda are quite outspoken and appear more sexually confident than men, in the text . Elaborate and esthetic hymns on wedding suggest rites of passage had developed during the Rigvedic period . There is little evidence of dowry and no evidence of sati in it or related Vedic texts . </P> <P> The Rigvedic hymns mention rice and porridge, in hymns such as 8.83, 8.70, 8.77 and 1.61 in some versions of the text, however there is no discussion of rice cultivation . The term "ayas" (metal) occurs in the Rigveda, but it is unclear which metal it was . Iron is not mentioned in Rigveda, something scholars have used to help date Rigveda to have been composed before 1000 BC . Hymn 5.63 mentions "metal cloaked in gold", suggesting metal working had progressed in the Vedic culture . </P> <P> Some of the names of gods and goddesses found in the Rigveda are found amongst other belief systems based on Proto - Indo - European religion, while words used share common roots with words from other Indo - European languages . </P>

Name the varna which comprised mainly the common mass in the vedic period