Vedic Society - an essential subject

The term Vedic society refers to a state that is organized according to directions given in the Vedas. The Vedic social structure is not manmade but divinely inspired. Unlike the modern age, the Vedic social structure has existed for thousands of years. The Vedic society is called varṇasāśrama, which refers to its four material divisions (varṇas) and four spiritual divisions (āśrama). The Varṇas comprise of the brāhmaṇas, the kṣatriyas, the vaiśyas and the śūdras. Aśramas are categorized to brahmacharya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa.

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Vedic Society category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 5 quotes.

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	HOME Choose Another Essential Subject Ability Abode of Krishna Absolute Knowledge Absolute Truth Absorbed in Thought of Krishna Absorbing the Mind Absorption Acarya Accepting a Spiritual Master Accepting God Accepting Krishna Accepting the Body as the Self Accumulating Money Accumulating Wealth Acquiring Knowledge Acting in Krishna Consciousness Activities in Devotional Service Adharma Advanced Devotees Advanced in Knowledge Advanced in Krishna Consciousness Advancement of Civilization Agitation Agriculture Aham Brahmasmi After Death Aim of Life All-pervading All-powerful Altar Ambition Ananda (Bliss) Anartha Anartha-nivrtti Anger Animal Civilization Animal Life Animal Slaughter Animal Propensities Animal Sacrifice Animalistic Animal Society Antimaterial Anxiety Appreciation Approaching a Spiritual Master Approaching Krishna Arati Aryan Asrama Assets Association of Devotees Association of Nondevotees Association of Pure Devotees At the Time of Death Athato Brahma Jijnasa Atheism Atma Atonement Attachment for Krishna Attachment for Women Attaining Perfection Attention Auspiciousness Austerity Authoritative Scriptures Authoritative Sources Authority of the Vedas Avatara Avidya Awareness Basic Principles Battle of Kuruksetra Becoming a Brahmana Becoming a Spiritual Master Becoming God Become God Conscious Become Happy Becoming Krishna Conscious Benediction Beneficial Benefits Benevolent Bewilderment Bhagavad-gita Says Bhagavan Bhagavata-dharma Bhakti Bhakti-yoga Bharata-varsa Bhava Bible Birth after Birth Birth and Death Birth, Death, Old Age and Disease Blasphemy Blessings Bliss Blissful Life Bodily Concept of Life Bodily Consciousness Bodily Necessities Body and Mind Body and Soul Body of The Lord Bona Fide Spiritual Master Brahma-bhuta Brahmacari Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Movement Caitya-guru - the Spiritual Master Within Celibacy Chanting Hare Krishna Charm Cheating Cheating Propensity Cognizant Committing Mistakes Common Sense Compassion Complete Knowledge Compromise Concentrating the Mind Conchshell Conditioned Living Entities Conditioned Souls Conditioned State Confidential Confusion Connection Contamination Controlling Deities Controlling the Mind Controlling the Senses Conviction Cooperating With The Krishna Consciousness Movement Cooperation Corruption Cosmic Manifestation Craziness Cruelty Cultivating Krishna Consciousness Culture Culture of Knowledge Curses Cycle of Birth and Death Danger Dead Bodies Death Means... Death Dedication Degradation Deity Worship Delusion Demigod Worship Democracy Demoniac Demons Depending on Krishna Depression Desireless Destiny Destruction Detachment Deterioration Determination Devastation Developing Krishna Consciousness Deviations Devotees Are Always... Devotees Are Not... Devotees Are... Devotees Can... Devotees Cannot... Devotee Do Not... Devotees Go Back to Godhead Devotees Know... Devotees Never... Devotees of Lord Caitanya Devotees of Lord Krishna Devotees of the Lord Devotees Should Not... Devotees Should... Devotees Sometimes... Devotees Compassion Devotion Devotional Ambition Devotional Anger Devotional Anxiety Devotional Attachment Devotional Service Devotional Service to Krishna Dharma Dirty Things Within Our Heart Disagreement Disciplic Succession Disclosure Discrepancy Discrimination Dishonesty Disobedience Disrespectful Dissatisfaction Distress Disturbances Divisions of Human Society Divorce Doubt Dress of a Sannyasi Duality Duplicity Earn Money Eating, Sleeping, Mating and Defending Economic Development Economic Problems Ecstatic Love Ecstatic Love for Krishna‏‎ Ekadasi Embarrassment Embodied Souls Embryo Emotions Empowerment Encagement Encouragement Energies of the Lord Engaging in Devotional Service Engaging in the Service of the Lord Enjoying Sex Life Enjoying Life Entering into the Kingdom of God Enthusiasm Envious of God Envy Equal Rights Eternal Existence Eternal Life Eternal Relationships Eternal Time Everything Belongs to God Everything Belongs to Krishna Executing Devotional Service Executive Heads of States Extraordinary Faith Faith in God Faith in Krishna Fall Down False Ego False Identification Family Attachment Fear Fearfulness Fearlessness Firm Faith First-class Men Following in the Footsteps Fools and Rascals Forgetful Living Entities Forgetful Souls Forgiveness Free from Anxiety Free from Bondage Free from Contamination Free from Designation Free from Material Desire Free from Miseries Free from Reaction Friendship Fruitive Activities Fruitive Workers Frustration Full Krishna Consciousness Fully Surrendering Gains Gambling Ganges Gaudiya Vaisnava Gayatri Go Back to Home, Back to Godhead God Give Us Our Daily Bread God Conscious Godlessness God Says God Consciousness God is Everywhere God is Dead God is One God is God God is Not so Cheap God is Great God's Killing God's Creation God's Compassion God Realization Godless Civilization Godly Qualities Goloka Vrndavana - Krishnaloka Good Qualities Gosvami Govardhana Gratefulness Great Offenses Greatest Danger Great Acaryas Greatest Authority Great Service Greatest Service Greatest of All Grhastha Guru-parampara Happiness Happiness and Distress Hatha-yoga Hearing and Chanting Hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam Hellish Condition Hellish Life Highest Benefits Holy Names of God Honesty Human Civilization Human Form of Life Human Life is meant for Humanity Humble and Meek Humility Hypocrisy I Am God I Am Not This Body I Am Spirit Soul Identification With The Body Idol Worship Illicit Sex Life Impediment Incarnations of God Inferior Energy - Material Matter Influence of Time Instructions of the Spiritual Master Intoxication Isvara Jagannatha Puri Jealousy Jiva Jnana Jnana-kanda Jnani Kama Karma Karma-kanda Karma-yoga Killing Animals Kingdom of God Kirtana Knowing God Knowledge of God Knowledge of Krishna Krishna and the Gopis Krishna Conscious Education Krishna Conscious Persons Krishna Consciousness Means Krishna Consciousness Movement Means Krishna Consciousness Movement is a Spiritual Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement is an Educational Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement is Not a Sectarian Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement Is Not... Krishna Consciousness Movement is Saving the World Krishna Consciousness Movement is Teaching... Krishna Consciousness Movement Is... Krishna is Everywhere Krishna is God Krishna is So Kind Krishna-prema Krishna, the Friend of All Krishna's Beauty Krishna's Body Krishna's Disappearance Krishna's Face Ksatriyas Ksetra-jna Laws of God Leaders Leaving this Body Liberated from Liberated Persons Liberated Souls Life after Death Liberation Limited Line of Disciplic Succession Loving Affairs Loving Devotional Service Lover of God Loving God Loving Propensity Loving Service Madness Maha-bhagavata Maha-mantra Mahajanas Mahat-tattva Management Mantra Manufacturing Ideas Marginal Energy Marginal Potency Material Activities Material Advancement Material Association Material Atmosphere Material Attachment Material Benefits Material Bodies Material Body Material Bondage Material Civilization Material Comforts Material Conception Material Consciousness Material Contamination Material Creation Material Desires Material Disease Material Energy Material Enjoyment Material Entanglement Material Existence Material Form Material Gains Material Happiness Material Knowledge Material Life Material Manifestation Material Miseries Material Nature Material Opulence Material Platform Material Possessions Material Qualities Material Science Material Senses Material Universe Materialism Materialists Matter and Spirit Maya the Illusory Energy Mayavada Philosophy Mayavadi Philosophers Mayavadi Sannyasis Meat-eating Meditation Memory Mental Concoction Mental Speculation Mental Speculators Mercantile Class - Vaisyas Mercy Mercy of God Mercy of Guru Mind Miscreants Miserable Conditions Miseries of Life Misinterpretation Mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu Mission of Human Life Mistakes Misuse Mleccha Mode of Goodness Mode of Ignorance Mode of Passion Modern Civilization Mortality Money Mudha Mukti Mystery Naked Nastiness Negative Neophyte devotee Next Life Nine Processes of Devotional Service Nirvana Nitya No Limit Nondevotees Nonsense Nonviolence Not Believing in God Not Envious Not Surrendered Occupational Duties Offering Prayers Offering Garlands to the Lord Old Age Omkara One With God Opulence Orders of Krishna Orders of the Spiritual Master Origin Of All Origin Original Consciousness Original Cause Original Form of God Original Personality of Godhead Original Position Original Source Paramahamsa Paramatma Parampara Parampara System Part and Parcel of Krishna Past Life Past, Present and Future Passing Away Pastimes of the Lord Path of Devotional Service Path of Liberation Path of Self-realization Patience Peace and Prosperity Penance Perfect Knowledge Perfection Perfection of Life Performing Sacrifices Perpetuity Personal Benefits Personal Feature of the Lord Pessimistic Philosophical Speculation Pious Activities Places of Pilgrimage Planetary Systems Platform of Devotional Service Pleasing Krishna Politicians Politics Poor Fund of Knowledge Positive Pradhana Prakrti Prasadam Preaching Preaching the Krishna Consciousness Movement Predominating Deities Prema Preparing for Our Next Life Presence of Krishna Previous Acaryas Previous births Previous Lives Pride Principles of Devotional Service Private Problems of Life Process of Bhakti Process of Devotional Service Producing Food Grains Propagating the Krishna Consciousness Movement Prosperity Protected by The Lord Protecting Cows Protection of Women Psychology Puffed Up Puranas Pure Consciousness Pure Devotional Service Pure Devotees of the Lord Pure Goodness Pure Love Pure Souls Purification of the Heart Purified Senses Purity Purpose of the Krishna Consciousness Movement Purusa Pushing on the Krishna Consciousness Movement Qualification‏‎ Qualities of Krishna Quality of Goodness Quitting this Body Radha-Krishna Worship Ramayana Rasa-lila Rascal Civilization Rascaldom Reaction Reality Real Happiness Real Identity Real Knowledge Real Love Real Purpose Real Religion Receiving Knowledge Regulative Principles Relationship with God Relationship with Krishna Religion Religious Principles Remedies Remembering Krishna Rendering Devotional Service Rendering Service Rendering Service to the Lord Renounced Order of Life Renunciation Repentance Repetition of Birth and Death Representative of God Responsibility Return Home Back to Godhead Reveal Revealed Scriptures Revelation Rewards Rising Early in the Morning Rogues and Thieves Root Cause Rules and Regulations Sacred Thread Sadhana-bhakti Sadhu Sadhu-sanga Sahajiyas Saintly Persons Saktyavesa-avataras Salvation Samadhi Sampradaya Sanatana Sanatana-dharma Sanctify Sankhya Philosophy Sankirtana Sankirtana Movement Sannyasa Sastra Satisfying Krishna Satisfying Our Senses Sattva-guna Satyaloka Scholarship Science of God Scripture Searching after God Secret Secret of Success Seeing God Seeing God Face to Face Seeing Krishna Self-realization Self-realized Souls Self-sufficient Sense Enjoyment Sense Gratification Sense Objects Sense Organs Sense Perception Sense Pleasures Sentiments Servant of God Servant of God Servant of Krishna Service Attitude Service to Humanity Serving Krishna Servitude Seva Sex Desire Sex Enjoyment Sex Indulgence Shelter of Krishna Shyness Silence Simplicity‏‎ Simultaneously One and Different‏‎ Sin Sincere Devotees Sincerity Sinful Activities Sinful Life Sinful Men Sinful Persons Sinful Reactions Sinner Slaughterhouse‏‎ So-called Happiness‏‎ So-called Scientists‏‎ So-called Devotees So-called Education‏‎ So-called Scholars‏‎ Society, Friendship and Love‏‎ Solving all Economical Problems Solving Problems Solving The Problems Of Life Sons of God Source of Everything‏‎ Soul within the Body‏‎ Speculative Knowledge Spiritual Activities Spiritual Advancement Spiritual Bliss Spiritual Benefits Spiritual Body Spiritual Consciousness Spiritual Culture Spiritual Education Spiritual Energy Spiritual Existence Spiritual Form Spiritual Happiness Spiritual Identity Spiritual Kingdom Spiritual Knowledge Spiritual Life Spiritual Master Spiritual Nature Spiritual Perfection Spiritual Planets Spiritual Position Spiritual Potency Spiritual Progress Spiritual Realization Spiritual Science Spiritual Sky Spiritual Spark Spiritual Understanding Spiritual World Spiritualists Spiritually Advanced Spontaneous Love Spreading Krishna Consciousness Spreading the Krishna Consciousness Movement Sraddha Sravana Sruti Stages of Devotional Service Starting the Krishna Consciousness Movement Starvation Stopping Death Stringent Laws of Material Nature Struggle for Existence Submission Subtle Body Success Successful Life Suffering Suicide Supersoul Supreme Absolute Truth Supreme Consciousness Supreme Controller Supreme Enjoyer Supreme Father Supreme Friend Supreme Goal Supreme Person Supreme Personality of Godhead Supreme Spirit Supreme Source Supreme Truth Surrender Surrender to Krishna Surrendered Souls Sympathetic Sympathy Taking Birth Taking Shelter Taking Sannyasa Taking to Devotional Service Talking Nonsense Tamo-guna Tapasya Tattva There is No God Tests Temple Worship The Holy Names of God Give Liberation The Time Will Come Theism Theoretical Knowledge Thinking of Krishna Three Modes of Material Nature Tilaka Time Factor Time Immemorial Time, Place and Circumstances Tolerance Tradition Transcendence Transcendental Activities Transcendental Bliss Transcendental Body Transcendental Devotional Service Transcendental Form Transcendental Knowledge Transcendental Life Transcendental Literature Transcendental Love Transcendental Loving Service Transcendental Loving Service of the Lord Transcendental Mellows Transcendental Nature of the Lord Transcendental Position Transcendental Qualities Transcendental Science Transcendental Service of the Lord Transcendental Subject Matter Transferring to the Spiritual World Transformation Transmigrating From One Body To Another Transmigration of the Soul Tribulations Trust Trust in God Truth Truthfulness Tulasi Ugra-karma Ultimate Destination Ultimate Goal of Life Unalloyed Devotees Unalloyed Devotional Service Unchasity Uncivilized Unconscious Uncontaminated Under The Direction of Krishna Understanding Bhagavad-gita Understanding God Understanding Krishna Understanding Srimad-Bhagavatam Understanding the Absolute Truth Understanding the Krishna Consciousness Movement Undesirable Undisturbed Unfortunate Unhappy Unintelligent Unsuccessful Untruth Unwanted Things Useless Waste of Time Vaikuntha Vairagya Vaisnava Vaisnava Philosophy Vanaprastha Vani Vapu Varnasrama Varnasrama-dharma Vedanta Philosophy Vedas Vedic Civilization Vedic Culture Vedic Evidence Vedic Hymns Vedic Injunctions Vedic Instructions Vedic Knowledge Vedic Literature Vedic Mantras Vedic Principles Vedic Rituals Vedic Scriptures Vedic Society Vedic Version Vedic Wisdom Vegetarian Very Expert Very Happy Very Intelligent Very Sincere Vijnana Vikarma Visnu-tattva Vital Force Vrndavana War War and Sinful Activities Wasting Time Water of the Ganges Welfare Activities Western Civilization Western World What is Bhagavad-gita What is Education What is God What is Srimad-Bhagavatam Whole Human Society Will of the Lord Wisdom Within the Heart Without Any Doubt Without Deviation Without Hesitation Without Knowledge Without Krishna Consciousness Words of Krishna Working for Krishna Worshiping Worshiping God Worshiping Krishna Worshiping Lord Vishnu Worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yajna Yamuna River Yoga Yoga Practice Yoga System Yogamaya Yogi Yukta-vairagya

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books

vanipedia.org

According to the system of Vedic society, whenever an unknown sannyāsī comes to a village or town, someone must invite him to take prasādam in his home. Sannyāsīs generally take prasādam in the house of a brāhmaṇa because the brāhmaṇa worships the Lord Nārāyaṇa śilā, or śālagrāma-śilā, and therefore there is prasādam that the sannyāsī may take. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 17.269)

vanipedia.org

In Vedic society, after the death of a relative, especially one's father or mother, one must go to Gayā and there offer oblations to the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore hundreds and thousands of men gather in Gayā daily to offer such oblations, or śrāddha. Following this principle, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also went there to offer piṇḍa to His dead father. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 17.8)

vanipedia.org

Since the Vedic society is divided into four classes of men—the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras—their means of livelihood are also mentioned in the scriptures. The brāhmaṇas should live by spreading knowledge and should therefore take contributions from their disciples, whereas a king should give protection to the citizens for their development to the highest standard of life, and he can therefore levy taxes from them; businessmen or mercantile men, because they produce foodstuffs for the whole of society, can take a little profit from this, whereas the śūdras should give service to the higher classes of society and be provided by them with a supply of the necessities of life. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.21.50)

vanipedia.org

The entire elaborate system of Vedic society was therefore based on the importance of the brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas. The Lord is the real protector, but He is unattached to the affairs of protection. He creates brāhmaṇas for the protection of the kṣatriyas, and kṣatriyas for the protection of the brāhmaṇas. He remains aloof from all activities. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.22.4)

vanipedia.org

There is no question of overpopulation or of children's being a burden for their parents in a Vedic society. Such a society is so well organized and people are so advanced in spiritual consciousness that childbirth is never regarded as a burden or a botheration. The more a child grows, the more his parents become jubilant, and the child's attempts to turn over are also a source of jubilation. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.7.4)

Vedic Society - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.