ESSENCE OF INDIAN TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
( BNC602)
Unit2:
Indian Literature, Culture, Tradition,and Practices Evolution of scriptand languages in India:Harappan
Script and Brahmi Script. The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Puranas,
Buddhist And Jain Literature in Pali, Prakrit And Sanskrit, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Famous Sanskrit
Authors, Telugu Literature, Kannada Literature, Malayalam Literature , Sangama Literature ,Northern
Indian Languages & Literature, PersianAnd Urdu ,Hindi Literature
Indian Languages
Language :Key to expressing thoughts and understanding culture.
Four Language Families:
- Aryan: Most influential; evolved from Vedic Sanskrit to modern Indo-Aryan languages.
- Dravidian: Older than Aryan;includesTamil,Telugu,Kannada,andMalayalaminSouthIndia.
- Sino-Tibetan: Spoken in the northeast; declining due to Aryan language influence.
- Austric: Oldest but spoken by few; influenced Aryan languages and helped shape Classical Sanskrit.
Evolution of writing in India
The evolution of writing in India began with diverse cultures merging over time. Early scripts like Brahmi (7th
century BC) and Kharosti (5th century BC) emerged. The discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization in 1920 revealed
an even older script, likely Dravidian, from around 2500 BC. This shows that India had ancient writing systems long
before Aryan influence.
BrahmiScript
- One of the oldest Indian scripts used around the final centuries BCE and early centuries CE.
- Its origin is debated: some scholars believe it developed independently in India, while others think it was influenced
by foreign scripts like Phoenician or South Arabian.
- It may have connections to the older Indus Valley script.
- Written from left oright ,it's anabugida (letters represent consonants with vowel diacritics).
- Simple ,clear characters with early forms showing limited punctuation.
HarappanScript
- Symbols used by the Indus Valley Civilization , undeciphered to this day.
- Inscriptions are short, usually 5signs, with no bilingual texts found.
- Writtenright-to-leftwitharound400 pictorial and abstract signs.
- Believed to be logo-syllabic but not enough data to confirm a specific language.
TheVedas
TheVedasaretheearliestknownliteratureinIndia,writteninSanskritandpasseddownorallythrough generations.The word
'Veda' means knowledge. There are four Vedas:
1. Rig Veda: The oldest of the four Vedas, consisting of 1,028 hymns and 10,600 verses. Focuses on praising
deities like Indra, Agni, and Soma. Composed around 1700–1100 BCE, it forms the foundation of Vedic
traditions.
2. SamaVeda:Knownasthe"VedaofMelodies",itputsthehymnsoftheRigVedatomusic.Contains1,875 verses and
influences Indian classical music and dance.
3. Yajur Veda: The "Book of Rituals", comprising prose mantras for performing Yajnas (sacrificial rituals).
Divided into Krishna (Black) and Shukla (White)Yajurveda. Key source for Vedic rituals and ceremonies.
4. AtharvaVeda:Knownasthe"VedaofMagicFormulas",with730hymnsforhealing,protection,anddaily life.
Focuses on practical aspects like medicine, spells, and philosophical musings about life and the universe.
TheUpanishads
The word Upanishad literally means "sitting down near,"signifying the esoteric teachings imparted by a
teacher toa close groupof students. The Upanishads are also known as Vedanta, representingthe final part of
the Vedic texts, focused on spiritual wisdom rather than rituals. They are considered one of the three
foundational texts of Indian philosophy.
The Upanishads are the earliest systematic attempts at philosophical thought in India, emphasizing
contemplative knowledge over ritualistic practices. There are over 200 Upanishads, with the ten principal
ones being Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, and
Brihadaranyaka.
Puranas
The term "Purana"means "ancient"and refers to a key branch of Hindu literature that explains the Vedas.
Puranas simplify Vedic teachings by using stories about people and events, highlighting spiritual truths and
commands.
There are 18 major (Maha) Puranas and 18 minor (Upa) Puranas. These texts cover topics like creation,
dissolution, divine genealogies, the ages of Manus, and the lineages of kings. Puranas are categorized basedon
their qualities (sattvika, tamasa, rajas) or the deity they focus on, such asVishnu, Shiva, or Brahma.
The Ramayana
Summary
The Ramayana is the tale of Rama, a prince destined to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. Along
the way, Rama, aided by his brother Lakshmana and allies like Hanuman, faces numerous trials. The story teaches
lessons in duty, loyalty, humility, and righteousness, culminating in Rama’s victorious return to Ayodhya after a
fourteen-year exile. The epic has influenced art, literature, and popular culture across South and SoutheastAsia.
Lessons from the Ramayana
The Ramayana offers profound moral lessons:
1. TruthTriumphs :Good ultimately prevails over evil, exemplified by Rama’s defeat of Ravana, the symbol of
evil.
2. Respect for Elders and Parents: Rama’s exile reflects his commitment to honoring his father’s promises, even
at great personal cost.
3. Unity with Siblings:The loyalty between Rama and his brothers, especially Lakshmana is a central theme.
4. Appearances Can Be Deceptive: Sita’s desire for a golden deer led to her abduction, showing how appearances
can be misleading.
TheMahabharata
The story of the Mahabharata centers on the dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura between the Kauravas
and Pandavas, culminating in the Great Battle of Kurukshetra. The Pandavas ultimately triumph, but the epic ends
with the death of Krishna, the fall of his dynasty, and the ascension of the Pandava brothers to heaven. The
Mahabharata is a reflection on the complexity of human relationships, the nature of duty, and the moral dilemmas
that arise in times of conflict.
Lessons from the Mahabharata
• Kindness Alone Isn’t Enough – Life can be tough, and understanding how the world works is key to surviving
and thriving.
• Bad Company Ruins Lives– Shakuni’s negative influence led to the downfall of theKauravas.
• Loyal Support Takes You Far–The Pandavashad Krishna’s support, and Karna was always there for
Duryodhana.
• Fight for What’s Yours–The Pandavas never gave upon reclaiming the irrightful kingdom.
• Too Much Emotion Can Cloud Judgment– Dhritrashtra’s blind love for Duryodhana led to disastrous
consequences.
Buddhist literature
Buddhist literature, mainly written in Pali, started in Magadha, Bihar, where Buddhapreached. It is divided into Canonical
and Non-Canonical texts.
The Canonical works include the Tripitaka:
- Vinaya Pitaka: Rules for monks.
- Sutta Pitaka: Buddha's teachings.
- Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophy and metaphysics.
The Non-Canonical texts are led by the Jatakas, stories of Buddha’s past lives that reflect ancient Indian society.
Buddhist texts also existing Buddhist Sanskrit and Pure Sanskrit, with key contributions from scholars like Nagarjuna and
Asvaghosa, enriching Buddhist philosophy and thought.
JainLiterature
Jain texts were written in Prakrit and compiled in the 6th century AD in Valabhi, Gujarat. Key texts include Angas,
Upangas, Prakirnas, and Chhedasutras, which offer insights into the social, economic, and political life of ancient
India, especially eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, spread Jain teachings in Ardha-
Magadhi, focusing on ahimsa (non-violence).
Jain Sanskrit Literature
Though mostly in Prakrit ,Jain literature includes Sanskrit works like the Tattvarthadhigama-Sutra byUmasvamin,
Key for both Digambaras and Svetambaras.
Kautilya’sArthashastra
The Arthashastra is an ancient Sanskrit manual on statecraft, economics, and military strategy, written by Kautilya
(Chanakya). It covers politics, administration, and warfare and is divided into 15 books and 180 sections.
Keytopics include:
1. King’s duties and training
2. Roles of ministers
Famous Sanskrit Authors and TheirWorks
1. Ashvagosa:
1. Wrote Buddhacarita, Mahalankara, andSaundaranandakavya.
2. Known as the first Sanskrit dramatist and Buddhist monk.
2. Bhasa:
1. Wrote plays like Svapnavasavadattam, PanchRatra, andMadhyama-Vyayoga.
2. Svapnavasavadattam was rediscovered in1912.
3. Kalidasa:
1. Famous poet and play wright known for his timeless works.
4. Sudraka:
1. Wrote Mricchakatika, Vinavasavadatta, and Padmaprabhritaka.
Literature in Indian Regional Languages
Telugu Literature:
• Early works were religious ,based on epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Later works focused on the Puranas, heroes' biographies, and religious texts.
• Influenced by Hindu knowledge systems and moral teachings.
Kannada Literature:
• Divided into three phases: Old, Middle, and Modern.
• Early works were Jain literature; later Veerashaiva and Vaishnava literature emerged.
• 19thcenturysawtheadoptionofWesternliteraryforms.
Malayalam Literature:
• Earlyworks include Ramacharitam.
• Notable poets like Ezhuthachan promoted Bhakti literature.
• Modern Malayalam poetry is socially and politically conscious.
Sangam Literature:
• Tamil literature from three Sangams(literaryacademies).
• Features poems categorized into ahm(interior) andpuram(exterior), depicting emotions and sociallife.
Northern Indian Languages and Literature
Old Apabhramsha evolved into regional languages. Hindi dialects include Braj Bhasha, Avadhi, and Khadi Boli,
with Khadi Boli becoming prominent in the 19th century. Hindi literature flourished with Bhakti poetry.
Persianand Urdu Languages
Persian was the language of Mughalcourts,producing historical text sand poetry. Urdu developed from Hindi and
Persian, with poets like Khusrauand writers like Pandit RatanNathSarshar.
Hindi Literature
Evolved from Apabhramsainthe7th-8thcenturies.Influenced by the Bhakti movement,Hindi poetrybecame
Deeply devotional and popular.
