2. VEDIC LITERATURE
3. VEDIC LITERATURE
The Vedas
-Arayn refers to agroup of indo euroeans of indo europeans who moved to various parts of world including India.
-The holy book of Iran zend Avesta Indicated entry of aryans to India via Iran
-The Location of the original home of the Aryans still remins a controversial point some schlars belive that the aryans were native to the soil of indai 9sapta sindu as thier home)
-some other scholars belive that the Aryans were migrated from out side (central Asia Max Muller) : Europe or Arctic region (bal gangadhar tilak)
THE VEDIC LITERATURE
The Vedas
-The word veda comes from the root vidi signifying Knowledge, vedas are aslo known as shruti (to Hear0 as they were passed from generation to genaration through verbal ransmission.
-There are four vedas-
(i) Rig veda
(ii) sama veda
(iii) Yajur veda and
(iv) Atharveda. the first 3 vedas are collectivey Known as trayi or trio. Each veda is further divided into sanhitas.
(i) RIG VEDA
-Oldest religios text (composed around around 1700BC) in the world. The hymns of Rig veda were recited by hotri.
-It contains 1028 hymns (1017 + 11) valakilyas) and was divided in to 10 mandalas (II to vII are the earliest: i vIII and X were the later additions and ix was the compliation of soma hymns)
This veda was recited at the time of sacrificial rites and other rituals with the utmost devation.
-Six mandalas (from 2nd to 7th mandalas ) are called gotra/vamsha mandalas (kula granth)
-The third mandala cotains the gayatri mantra 9addresses to sun) The X mandala contains the famouse purshukta which explainrs that the 4 varnas 9brahmanas ,Kshatriya, vaishya and shudra)
were born from the month arms, thighs and feet of the Brahma repectively.
(ii) Sama veda
- It is a collection of hymns used by priests during the soma sacrifices
-it consists of 1549 stanzas, taken almost entirely from veda. the hymns of rhe sama veda were recited by udgatri, This veda is important for indian Music as ir contains Dhrupada Raga.
(ii) YAJUR VEDA
- Deals with the procedure for the performane of sacrifices Its hymns wee recited by Adhvaryaus.
-There are two main texts of Yajur veda:
(i) shukla jajurveda (or white Yajurveda)and
(ii) Krishna yajurveda (or Black yajurveda) the former contains mantras ans the latter has commetnary in prose.
(iv) Atarva veda
- For a very long time it was not included in the category of the veda. ti contains charmans and spells to ward off evils and diseases.
-Divided into 20 Kandas 9books0 with magic.
THE BRHAMANS
-Brahma means sacricific. The various sacrifices adn rituala have been elaborately discussed in the Brahmana attached to yajurveda, which i mosr exhasitive and ipmortant of all it recommenda one hundred sacred paths.
THE ARANYAKAS
-The word Aranya means the forest. The forest texts were called Aranyaka. Arnyaka re the concluding portions of hte brahmansa.
-It was written mainly by the hermits and the students living in the jungle for thier pupils It deals with mysticism and philosophy but opposed to sacrifice and empasise Meditaion.
THE UPANISHADS
- The word upanishad means to sit down near some one and denotes a astudent sitting near his guru to learn, upanishada are philosophical texts and the main source of Indian philosophy they are generally called vednta as they came towards the end of the veda.
-Thee are 108 upanishads. Virhadranaka is oldest upanishada.
LITERATURE OD VEDIC TRADITON (600bc-600 ad)
Comprises of 6 literary works :
1. vedangas/sutras
2. smiritis/Dharmashastra
3. Mahakavyas (epics0
4. purnanas:
5. Upavedas
6. shad -Darhanas.
1. Vedangas/ sutras
-Six vedangas are :
(i) shiksha (ii) kalpa sutra (iii) vyakarna (iv) Nirukta (v) chhanda and (vi) jyotisha.
(i) Shisha (phonetics /prounciation) : The oldest text on phonetics is prtishakya.
(ii) kalpa sutras (rituals):
(a) shrauta sutras /shulva surtas deal with the saccifirse
(b) Grihya sutra deal with family ceremonies
(c) dhrma sutras deal with varnas, Ashrmas etc
(iii) vyakarna (grammar) The oldest grammer of the world is Asthdhyayi (panini)
(iv) Nirukta 9Etymology0 : Nirukta (yasj) based on Nighntu (kashyap)- acollection of diifficult vedic words the oldest word colletion of the worls nihgatu:
1.The oldest dictionary of the worls is nirukt.
(v) chhanda (metrics) : The famouse text - chhandautruas9pingal0
(vi) Jyothiya 9Atronomy0 the oldest jyitisha text is vedaga jyothisha (lagdha Muni)
2. smritis/ Dharmashastras
-Explians rules and regulation in the vedic life.
-Main are Manusmriti, naradsmriti, yagyvalkyassmriti and parasharsmriti
3. Epicks/ Mahakavyas
-The two epics
(i) the Mahabharatha and
(ii) the ramayana - were complied later, they reflect the state of affairs of the later vedic period.
(i) The mahabharata (ved vyasa) : The longest epic of the world at present it consist of one lakh shlokas/ verses
(originally - 8,800-jay samhita later-24,000 chatuhurvinshati sahastri/ bharta, finally 1,00,000 shatasahsti samhta.? maha Bhartah )
in 18 parvans/ chapters plus the Harivamsa supplemetn shanti parvan is the largest parvan (chapter) of the Mahabaratha . Bhagavadgitah is extracted from Bhishma parvan of Mahabhartah.
(ii) The ramayana (valmiki0 : It is Known as Adi Kavya (the oldest epic of the worls) at present it consists of 24, 000 shloka/ verses 9originally 6,000 latter - 12000 Finally - 24000) in 7 Khandas i.e section 1 st and 7 th khanda were the latest additions.
4. purana
-The purana means the old they described genealogies of various royal dynastties
-there are 18 famouse puranas the oldest purantinic texts is mastsya puaran The other important puranas are the Bhagavata purana the vishnu purana the vaya purarnas are the bhagvata puraan the vihnu purana the vaya purana etc.
5. Upavedas (Auxiliary vedas)
There are four upavedas
1.Ayurveda 2. Dhanurveda 3. Gandhavaveda 4. Shilpaveda
6. Shad -Darshanas
-There are 6 schools of Indain philosophy Known as shad - darshana. These are given by 6 philaosohers of Ancient Inda:
1. Purva -Mimaansa 2. Naya Dasrshana
3. Snhya darshana 4. uttara Mimansa //vedant
5. vaisheka Dasrshna 6. yoga darshana