Indian Literature

Indian Literature Overview

Page 1: Historical Context and Vedic Texts

  • Earliest People in India

    • Dating back to 3000-2500 BCE.

    • Sanskrit as the language of Hinduism.

  • Vedas: The Bible of Indians

    • Four Vedas:

      1. Rigveda

        • Oldest Vedic text comprising hymns praising deities and natural elements.

        • Collection of hymns (ruktas) primarily for success, prosperity, and protection.

        • Priests called Hotri invoke god's blessings.

  • Yajurveda

    • Contains sacrificial formulas (yajus).

    • Focuses on the knowledge of sacrificial rituals.

  • Samaveda

    • Primarily musical and liturgical.

    • Consists of hymns and melodies sung during Vedic rituals.

  • Atharvaveda

    • Contains formulas and spells to counteract diseases and calamities.

  • Brahmanas

    • Explanatory texts related to Vedic rituals.

  • Upanishads

    • Strong religious expressions comparable to the Old Testament psalms.

Major Text Types in Indian Literature

  • Samhitas

    • Earliest foundational texts of Vedic literature.

    • Consist of hymns, prayers, chants, and mantras for rituals.

  • Aranyakas

    • Bridge between Brahmanas (ritual-focused) and Upanishads (philosophical).

    • Means "forest treatise," meant for study in seclusion.

  • Brahmanas

    • Collection of texts providing explanations and instructions related to Vedic rituals.

  • Upanishads

    • Teachings of core Vedanta, a major school of Hindu philosophy.

Epic Literature

  • Mahabharata

    • Longest epic in the world.

    • Centers on the creator god Vishnu and the reincarnation of Krishna.

  • Ramayana

    • Epic featuring Rama, the hero and incarnation of Vishnu.

  • Indian Drama

    • Bhasa

      • First great name in Indian drama with 13 attributed plays.

    • Kalidasa

      • Greatest writer of plays, author of "Shakuntala."

      • Story of a king who falls in love with a maiden named Shakuntala.

Fables and Influence

  • Panchatantra

    • Ancient collection of interrelated animal fables written in Sanskrit.

    • Attributed to Vishnu Sharma, believed to be compiled around 200 BCE.