Discuss the literary sources of ancient indian history.?What were it's limitation .6 mark
Answers
Answered by
50
Literary sources of Ancient Indian History: The ancient literature and the religious books are important sources of information for the reconstruction of ancient Indian history. Their classification is simple – religious and secular literature, historical literature and foreign accounts.
1. Religious Literary Sources of Ancient Indian History
Religious literature provides information for the period between the beginning of the Aryans into India and Alexander’s invasion into India.
The Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and other contemporary literature are the religious literary sources of Ancient Indian History.
The Vedic Literature
The Vedic literature – such as Chaturvedas, Vedanga, the Sutrasahitya, etc. gives us a clear picture of the political, social and economic life of the Aryans, and of the nonstop conflicts between the Aryans and the non-Aryans.
The four Vedas are Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. The Historic Facts about religious ceremonies and rituals of the Aryans can be traced from Vedic literature.
The Buddhist Literature
The principal Buddhist literature such as – Tripitaka, Nikaya, Jataka, Dvipavamsa or Dipavamsha etc. gives us an impression of the socio-economic-religious condition of existing Indian society.
Dvipavamsa (or Dipavamsa) together with Mahavamsa narrates the history of Ceylon. The life of the Buddha and the principles of Buddhism can be understood from the ‘Lalitavistara’ and ‘Vaipulya Sutra’.
The work called ‘Jataka’ contains records relating to the life of Buddha in his previous birth. According to the Buddhist belief, the Buddha had experienced many births before being born in the Sakya family at Kapilavastu and thereafter got enlightened and came to be known as Buddha. There are about 550 Jataka that gives us an idea of the contemporary social, political, economic and religious life of the Indians. They were possibly compiled in the second and third centuries (A.D.). The Jataka stories occupy an important place in the history of civilization of the third century A.D.
Other Imporant Religious Literatures as Sources of Ancient Indian History
The Jain religious works, such as, Bhagabati sutra, Merutunga, etc. are important religious works and serves as sources of Ancient Indian History.
The ‘Mahabhashya’ of Patanjali, the ‘Gargi-Samhita’, the ‘Ashtadhoyi’ of Panini, the ‘Arthashastra’ of Kautilya etc., contain valuable information of ancient Indian history. Kautilya was the prime-minister of Mauryan Empire. Arthashastra gives us details on various aspects of economy and government.
2. Historical Literary Sources of Ancient India
The historical materials are scattered and it is difficult to draw a comprehensive picture of the ancient age. The historical literature can be sub-divided into several groups. They are Puranas, the epics, dynastic history and biography.
The Puranas
The ‘Puranas’ serves as a source of historical facts of ancient India. There are eighteen Puranas. The puranas provides historical information of various dynasties. The fact relating to various dynasties and kingdom specially those about Magadhan Kingdom are collected. The chronological accounts given in the Puranas should be used with caution and care. In the Puranas, legends have been so unidentifiably mixed up with historical data that the data provided in Puranas should be used carefully. In the Puranas, it is held that the events of the past would repeat themselves in future. An attempt to forecast the future has been made through these events.
Ramcharita
Sandhyakara Nandi’s Ramacharita provides us with further information on Ancient India. It has two aspects. In one aspect, it is the story of Rama, the principal character of the Ramayana. On the other hand, it gives us an account of the works of King Ramapala, the famous Pala King of Bengal.
Rajatarangini
Kalhana‘s Rajatarangini is another great work that the ancient kings of Kashmir used to conserve historical materials. Kalhana, the famous historian of Kashmir, presents continuous details of the political events of Kashmir from ancient times down to the twelfth century A.D.
Prithviraja Raso
Prithviraja Raso, an epic poem, composed by Chand Bardoi, traces the details of Pritviraj II, the great Chauhan King of Delhi.
Others
Other religious books such as Naroda, Brihaspati Smriti, Sukraniti, Manusmriti etc.
1. Religious Literary Sources of Ancient Indian History
Religious literature provides information for the period between the beginning of the Aryans into India and Alexander’s invasion into India.
The Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and other contemporary literature are the religious literary sources of Ancient Indian History.
The Vedic Literature
The Vedic literature – such as Chaturvedas, Vedanga, the Sutrasahitya, etc. gives us a clear picture of the political, social and economic life of the Aryans, and of the nonstop conflicts between the Aryans and the non-Aryans.
The four Vedas are Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. The Historic Facts about religious ceremonies and rituals of the Aryans can be traced from Vedic literature.
The Buddhist Literature
The principal Buddhist literature such as – Tripitaka, Nikaya, Jataka, Dvipavamsa or Dipavamsha etc. gives us an impression of the socio-economic-religious condition of existing Indian society.
Dvipavamsa (or Dipavamsa) together with Mahavamsa narrates the history of Ceylon. The life of the Buddha and the principles of Buddhism can be understood from the ‘Lalitavistara’ and ‘Vaipulya Sutra’.
The work called ‘Jataka’ contains records relating to the life of Buddha in his previous birth. According to the Buddhist belief, the Buddha had experienced many births before being born in the Sakya family at Kapilavastu and thereafter got enlightened and came to be known as Buddha. There are about 550 Jataka that gives us an idea of the contemporary social, political, economic and religious life of the Indians. They were possibly compiled in the second and third centuries (A.D.). The Jataka stories occupy an important place in the history of civilization of the third century A.D.
Other Imporant Religious Literatures as Sources of Ancient Indian History
The Jain religious works, such as, Bhagabati sutra, Merutunga, etc. are important religious works and serves as sources of Ancient Indian History.
The ‘Mahabhashya’ of Patanjali, the ‘Gargi-Samhita’, the ‘Ashtadhoyi’ of Panini, the ‘Arthashastra’ of Kautilya etc., contain valuable information of ancient Indian history. Kautilya was the prime-minister of Mauryan Empire. Arthashastra gives us details on various aspects of economy and government.
2. Historical Literary Sources of Ancient India
The historical materials are scattered and it is difficult to draw a comprehensive picture of the ancient age. The historical literature can be sub-divided into several groups. They are Puranas, the epics, dynastic history and biography.
The Puranas
The ‘Puranas’ serves as a source of historical facts of ancient India. There are eighteen Puranas. The puranas provides historical information of various dynasties. The fact relating to various dynasties and kingdom specially those about Magadhan Kingdom are collected. The chronological accounts given in the Puranas should be used with caution and care. In the Puranas, legends have been so unidentifiably mixed up with historical data that the data provided in Puranas should be used carefully. In the Puranas, it is held that the events of the past would repeat themselves in future. An attempt to forecast the future has been made through these events.
Ramcharita
Sandhyakara Nandi’s Ramacharita provides us with further information on Ancient India. It has two aspects. In one aspect, it is the story of Rama, the principal character of the Ramayana. On the other hand, it gives us an account of the works of King Ramapala, the famous Pala King of Bengal.
Rajatarangini
Kalhana‘s Rajatarangini is another great work that the ancient kings of Kashmir used to conserve historical materials. Kalhana, the famous historian of Kashmir, presents continuous details of the political events of Kashmir from ancient times down to the twelfth century A.D.
Prithviraja Raso
Prithviraja Raso, an epic poem, composed by Chand Bardoi, traces the details of Pritviraj II, the great Chauhan King of Delhi.
Others
Other religious books such as Naroda, Brihaspati Smriti, Sukraniti, Manusmriti etc.
Answered by
2
Philosophical, as well as archaeological documentation, seem to be the 2 broad categories that would provide substantiation of an ancient decade of India. A further explanation is given below.
Explanation:
Literary sources usually involve Vedic, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and perhaps much other literary criticism, amongst other trading entities.
Limitations:
- Printing still hasn't been recognized. Everything had been published on synthetic materials such as pine needles, green floral, paper, and so much more.
- That several of them seem to be inherently religious giving a few other concepts of currently accepted economic circumstances, and therefore difficult to position them throughout the frame of reference of the specific moment.
Learn more:
https://brainly.in/question/4483876
Similar questions
English,
8 months ago
Math,
8 months ago
Business Studies,
1 year ago
History,
1 year ago
Math,
1 year ago