8.Indian literature Flashcards
1
Q
Theme
A
- contents of all vedas
ex. which one has magical charms and spells - book - writer -content
ex. ‘Mrichchhakatika’
ex. love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty - particular jobs
ex. whose job is to memorizing of chronicles?
2
Q
-book - writer -content
A
- Pnchtantra : vishnu sharma
- Hitopadesha : Narayan pandit
- Dharamsutras : books wrote on law
- dharamshastras : dharamsutras were compiled along with smritis known as dharamshastras
- 3&4 were basis of governing -> punishment etc. - Manusmriti : gives role of man & woman in society
- Kautilya’s arthshastra : about economic & social conditions of mauryan empire
- Buddhacharita : by ashvaghosha -> buddha biography
- Charak samhita : by charak -> medicine
- Sushruta samhita : by sushruta -> surgery
- Madhava nidana : by Madhava -> pathology
- Pancha siddhantika : by varamihira -> astrology
- Brihat samhita : varamihira -> planetary movement ; geology ; architecture
- Aryabhatiya : Aryabhatta -> Astronomy & maths
- by Lagdhacharya -> astronomy
- by Pingala : On maths
- by bhaskara : siddhanta shiromani
- Rajatarangini : by kalhan -> account of kings of kashmir
- katha-sarit-sagar : by somdeva
- Jatakas : stories from buddha’s previous life & future would be buddhas (i.e.bodhisattvas)
- Buddhacharita : by ashwaghosha
- Upamitibhava prapancha katha -> by siddharasi -> jain literature in sanskrit
- Angas ; upangas ; parikramas ; chhedab sutra ; Malasutra -> imp jain texts in prakrit
- Treatise on lexicography & grammer -> by hemechandra
- Gathasaptasati -> by hala -> in prakrit -> has elements of erotica
- Dipavamsa : about srilanka -> name means chronicle of island -> buddhist text
- Milinda panha : dialogue b/w king meander(milinda) & buddhist monk nagasena -> name means questions of milinda
- Mahavamsa : poem in pali -> about various kingdoms of south asia
- Udana : Theravada buddhist text -> has story of blind men & the elephant
3
Q
content of literature in ancient india
ex.which ones has magic & spells
A
- Rig veda
- focus on worldly prosperity & natural beauty
- themes of life,deth,creation,sacrifice & for seeking godly pleasure or soma
- dedicated to deities & goddesses - Atharva veda
- about peace & prosperity
- about man’s daily life ; treatment of 99 diseases
- about healing ; black & white magic ; speculation on changes in universe
- Yajur veda
- about rites & mantras of sacrifices
- ritual veda
- guide for sacrificial rituals
- Sama veda
- development of indian music
4
Q
what is didactic & narrative text?
A
- didactic: tries to persuade,compel reader into thinking in particular way
- Narrative: writer tries to keep reader interested
5
Q
ABOUT VEDAS
A
- Veda signifies knowledge -> it’s about providing humans about knowledge to conduct their life on earth & beyond
- in the form of sanskrit poetry (verse) i.e.shloka
- language has symbols & myths
- initally orally transmitted,later written
- preach vasudhaiva kutumbakam
- give importance to yagna(sacrifice)
6
Q
Rigveda
A
- oldest
- focus on worldly prosperity & natural beauty
- organised in 10 books i.e.mandalas -> it has suktas(hymns) for sacrificial purpose.
- themes of life,deth,creation,sacrifice & for seeking godly pleasure or soma
-dedicated to deities Indra,agni,varuna,
rudra(storm god),aditya, vayu
-female deities : usha;prithvi;vak(goddess of speach)
7
Q
Atharva veda
A
- AKA Bramha veda
- by rishis ->Atharvah & Angira
- about peace & prosperity
- about man’s daily life ; treatment of 99 diseases
- about healing ; black & white magic ; speculation on changes in universe
8
Q
Yajur veda
A
- Yajus signifies sacrifies
- about rites & mantras of sacrifices
- ritual veda
- guide for sacrificial rituals
9
Q
Sama veda
A
- named after saman : melody
- concentrates on songs
- AKA book of chants
- shows development of indian music
10
Q
What are vedangas
A
- AKA branches/limbs of vedas
- supplement to vedas
- focus on education, origin of words(nirukta), jyotisha, vyakarana
- ex.Panini’s ashtadhyay -> about sanskrit grammer
11
Q
What are brahmanas
A
- each veda has bramhana attached
- it’s commentaries on that veda
- has instruction for rituals ; explain significance of sacred words in rituals
12
Q
What are aranyakas
A
- attched to vedas
- describe rituals & sacrifices involved in vedas
- has info on birth & death cycle ; complexity of soul
13
Q
Upnishadas
A
- sit down near teacher
- in sanskrit
- generally last part of vedas -> AKA vedanta
- have truth about human life & show way towards human salvation or moksha
- talk of abstract/philosophical problems -> origin of universe,mankind ; life death cycle
- said to be 108 -> called Muktika
14
Q
Difference in upnishadas & aranyaka
A
Upnishada : about knowledge/spirituality section
Aranyaka : ritualistic actions / sacrifices section
15
Q
Ramayana
A
- called adikavya
- by valmiki (adikavi)
- gives 4 purushartha : dharma, arth, kama (Fulfilling worldly desires),moksha
- divided in 7 khandas
