SOURCES OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY

SOURCES OF ANCIENT INDIA

Ancient India gave the world a rich culture and civilization at a time when many other regions still remained uncivilized. But hardly any record of ancient history was maintained. The establishment of British rule in India gave rise to systematic study of Indian history.

In 1784 Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of India for the study of History through study of antiquities found in India and other countries. Scholars like James Princep, Francis Buchanan, Alexander Cunningham and Sir John Marshall collected old manuscripts and other antiquities, on the basis of which, they tried to trace ancient history.

Classification of sources

The sources of ancient Indian History can be broadly classified as Literary and Archaeological.

1. Literary Sources – Contain detailed information about the political, social, economic and religious conditions of those times. The literary sources can be further classified into Sacred and Secular Literature.

a. Sacred Literature – These are religious texts. They are classified as: Brahmanical, Jain and Buddhist.

-          Brahmanical literature is written in Sanskrit language and includes Vedic literature, the Epics, Puranas, Smritis and Dharmasutras.

-          The Vedic literature is the oldest in India.  There are four main Vedas. The term ‘Veda’ is derived from ‘vid’ meaning ‘to know’. The four main Vedas are:

-          A. Rig Veda – A collection of hymns revealed by god through the Rishis

-          B. Sama Veda – Derived from Rig Veda – it consists of verses praising various gods and goddesses. Each verse is assigned with a melody. Sama Veda is a text of rituals

-          C. Yajur Veda is a ‘Book of Sacrificial Prayers’, it provides guidance towards more complex rituals.

-          D. Atharva Veda is known as the Book of Magic Formulae. It consists of spells and incantations against evil spirits and illnesses.

Brahmanas are commentaries on the Vedic texts

Arayankas are discourse on different spiritual and philosophical problems from the Vedic texts.

Upanishads are independent treatises on spiritual and philosophical problems. They mark the beginning of Indian Philosophy.

The Vedas, Brahamanas, Aryankas and Upanishads are part of the Shruti literature. Shruti means ‘revelation’ – inspired by god

The Smriti literature (Dharmashastras) belong to the post Vedic period. They show the change from simplicity of the early Vedic period to a rigid society. In order to regulate the social life of the people 5 kinds of sutras were created

Shrouta Sutra – which explained sacrificial rituals

Griha Sutra – which describes domestic rites and ceremonies

Kalpa Sutra – Manuals

Sulva Sutra and Dharma sutras specifying laws and social customs.

EPICS – RAMAYANA and MAHABHARATA are the two Sanskrit epics. They give us information about the life in ancient India

Ramayan written by Valmiki is the biography of Lord Rama – the ideal son, husband, brother and king.

Mahabharata composed by Vyasa give a glimpse of primitive Indian society.

The Bhagvad Gita, the philosophy of Hindus to date, is a part of Mahabharata.

The Ramayana depicts the southwards expansion of the Aryans where as the Mahabharata shows the synthesis of the Aryan and non Aryan cultures.

Puranas – deal with the process of evolution of the universe. There are 18 puranas. They form the main source of study for the pre-Buddhist era.

JAIN LITERATURE

-          It was written in Prakrit language. ( a form of Sanskrit)

-          It contains 12 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Prakirnas, 6 Chedda Sutras, 4 Mula Sutras and 4 Miscellaneous Tests.

-          It contains a lot of information about the social economic, political and religious conditions of the period

BUDDHIST LITERATURE

-          It was written in Pali (a form of Prakrit) prevalent in Magadha

-          It consists of 3 Pitakas (baskets). They are – Vinaya Pitaka – which consists of the monastic code of conduct, Sutta Pitaka – reveals ethical principles of Buddhism and Abhidamma Pitaka – which deals with Buddhist Philosophy.

-          There are also 5 Buddhist nikayas.

-          The non-canonical literature includes Milinda Panha, Petakopadesah and Mahavamsa.

2. Secular Literature – Can be classified as Indian and Foreign accounts.

INDIAN

Ancient Indian literature is present in various forms such as drama, biographies, treatises, grammar, poems etc which give valuable information on the life of the people.

Information on the social life of the people

-          Panini’s Ashtadhyayi

-          Patanjali’s Mahabhashya

-          Katyayana’s Vartika

Indian Polity

-          Kautilya’s Arthasastra

Sanskrit drama

-          Kalidasa’s Shakuntala and Malvikagnimitram

-          Bhasa’s Swapnavasavadatta

-          Vishakadutta’s Mudrarakshasa and Devichandragupta

Biographies and chronicles give valuable information

-          Banabhatta’s Harshacharita

-          Chandrabardai’s Prithviraja Raso

-          Kalhana’s Rajatarangini – gives history of Kashmir from 8^th to 12^th century

FOREIGN ACCOUNTS

Many foreign travelers have left accounts of India. Prominent among them are the works of the Chinese Greek and Arab travelers.

Greek

-          Herodotus

-          Curtius

-          Pliny

-          Ptolemy

-          Megasthenes – ambassador at the court of Chandragupta Maurya (Indica)

Chinese (pilgrims)

-          Fa Hein

-          Hiuen Tsang

-          I-tsing

Arabs

-          Alberuni’s Tarikh I Hind

-          Al Masudi

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES

These include inscriptions (Epigraphy), coins (Numismatics), structural remains, pottery, tools, sculptures, paintings and other antiquities found in excavations. These sources provide us very authentic information about the political, social, economic, religious and cultural life of the people.