Political System in Vedas

Today, majority of the world's countries are now democratic and India is the largest democratic country in the world. Although the democratic style in India is inherited from the west, a British effect. But do you know that Vedic texts is evident of democratic system during the Vedic ageIn RigVeda, there are evidences of democratic government in India. The following Vedic verses discusses democratic system.


RigVeda 10.191.1-4
संसमिद्युवसे वृषन्नग्ने विश्वान्यर्य आ І 
इलस्पदे समिध्यसे स नो वसून्या भर ІІ1ІІ   
सं गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम् І 
देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे संजानाना उपासते ІІ2ІІ
समानो मंत्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम् І 
समानं मंत्रमभि मंत्रये वः समानेन वो हविषा जुहोमि ІІ3ІІ 
समानी व आकृतिः समाना हृदयानि वः І 
समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति ІІ4ІІ   

Its main idea is परस्पर तथा समान रूप से चलने वाले हे स्तोताओ! तुम संगतिपूर्वक वार्तालाप करोІ तुम सब उसी प्रकार मत हो जाओ, पूर्वकाल में जिस तरह सज्जनों ने एक साथ मिलकर जिस प्रकार यज्ञादि कर्मों का निर्वाह करते हुए देवताओं की स्तुति की थी   i.e. assemble and speak up. Let your minds be of one accord similar to the way the ancient Gods sit down unanimously to their appointed share.

There are many terms in Vedic texts which proves the implementation of democratic and republic system in Vedic times. Like Sabha(repeated eight times in RigVeda) which refers to gathering, Samiti which refers to committee, Raja which means leader(not King) or we can say an elected leader. Term Sabha is still in use in Indian political system as Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

Ramayana discuss about the instance where King was open to suggestions & complaints in an assembly. Thus democratic principles were introduced in Indian civilization since ages.