Indian Languages and Literature Flashcards
Ashtadhyayi
- Written by Panini, a Sanskrit grammarian
- Analysed word formation in Sanskrit
- Descriptive grammar
Mahavastu
- Sanskrit Text
- Collection of stories
- Hinayana Buddhism
Lalitavistara, Buddhacarita
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Sacred text in Sanskrit
- Buddhacarita by Ashvaghosa used text from Lalitavistara
- Life of Buddha from descent to first sermon
Rajataringini
Sanskrit text
Written by Kalhan
Description of kings of kashmir
Jonaraja
Sanskrit text
Glories of Prithviraj
kalidasa
Plays and Poems in Sanskrit
Poems
- Meghaduta
- Ritusambara
- Kumar Sambhavam
- Raghuvamsha
Plays
- Abhijanam Shakuntalam
- vikramorvashi
- Malvikaganimithram
Shudraka
Mricchakatika or The little clay cart
10 act sanskrit drama
Throws light on life of peasants and others by including them as characters
Deviates from Natya shastra principles which says plays should focus on nobilities
Bhasa
Bhasa was an ancient poet
Swapna Vasavadattam is a play about love between vatsa king udyana and vasavadatta
Sri Harsha
Ratnavali
Sanskrit Play
Story of Udyanan and Ratnavali
Chanakya
Arthashstra
Kamasutra
Vatsyayana
Pampa
- Kannada Poet of 10th century
- Arikesari was his patron prince
- His writings have long inscription form
- Historical narrative of Mahabharata
Harihara
Bhakti Poet
Monotonous form Most likely the result of oral tradition
Kumarvyasa
Bhakti Poet
Re telling of Mahabharata in Kannada
Poetry belongs to a society of oral tradition
4 vedas
Rig
Yajur
Sama
Atharva
Each Veda consists of Brahmanas, Upanishads, Aranyakas
Atharva Veda incorporated later
Traji
Rig Sama and Yajur collectively
Rig Veda
Earliest Veda
1028 hymns
Vedic Sanskrit
Nature of Hymns
Well known Rishis
- Vasishta Gautama gritasmada vamadeva Vishvamitra Atri
Prominent Gods
- Indra, Agni, Varun, Rudra, Aditya, Vayu, Aditi, Ashwini Twins
Prominent Goddesses
- Usha goddess of dawn
- Vak goddess of speech
- Prithvi goddess of earth
Provides knowledge of social political and economic condition of ancient India
Yajur Veda
Yajur means sacrifice or worship
Rites and Mantras for different sacrifices
Directions for performance of Yajnas
Poetic and Prose renderings
Two major branches
- Shukla : Vajasaneyi Samhita
- Krishna : Taitriya Samhita
Sama Veda
Sama means melody or songs
16000 ragas and Ragini or musical notes
1875 verses - 75 original while others from rig Veda
Book of chants or saman
Linked to development of music during the period
Atharva Veda
AKA brahma Veda
Treatment of 99 diseases
Source - rishis atharva and angiras
Religious ideas at early period of civilisation
Two branches
- Paippalada
- Saunaka
Detailed info in family social and political life of later Vedic period
Ritual, Etymology, Metrics, Astronomy
Kalpa, Nirukta, Chanda, Jyotisha
Brahmanas
Developed after 4 vedas
Detailed explanation of Vedic rituals and instructions and deal with a science of sacrifice
Aranyakas
Later portion of brahmanas
Deal with soul births and death and life beyond it
Studied and taught by vanapratha that were munis and inhabitants living inside forest
Upanishads
Later part of Aranyakas
Derived from words upa meaning nearby and Nishad to sit down
Guru shishya parampara
Culmination of Indian thought and are final parts of vedas
Abstract and difficult discussions of ultimate physical problems
More than 200 upanishads known
Mukti ka gives a list of 108 upanishad
Brahmanas of rig Veda
Kaushitki and Aitreya
Krishna Yajur Veda Brahmana
Shukla Yajur Veda Brahmana
Taitteriya
Shatpath
Atharva Veda Brahmana
Tandav Panchvish Jaimaniya
Earliest upanishad
Brihadaranyaka Sukla Yajur Veda
Chand yogya sama veda
Important upanishad
Aitareya
Kena
Katha
Ramayana
AKA Aadikavya
Valmiki Adi Kavi
Presents a picture of an ideal society
Sanskrit
Several renderings in different Indian languages
Mahabharat
Written by Ved Vyas
Originally Jaya or a collection dealing with victory written in Sanskrit with 8800 verses
Raised to 10000 called Bharatha
Final compilation of 100000 came to be known as Mahabharatha
Contains Bhagvan Gita
Puranas
18 in total
And same in number upapuranas
Some well known puranas
- Brahma, Bhagvat, Padma, Vishnu, Vayu, Agni, Matsya and Garuda
Origin
- Buddhism was gaining importance
Mythological works which propagate religious and spiritual messages through parables and fables
Earliest Puranas during Gupta Empire
Contain important geographical information and histories
Mysteries of creation re creation and dynastic genealogies
Amarasimha
Sanskrit Lexicographer
Tripitakas
Canonical Literature (Sacred)
Vinaya Pitaka
- Rules and regulations of daily life
Sutta Pitaka
- Dialogues and Discourses on morality and deals with dharma
Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Philosophy and Metaphysics
- Discourses in various subjects such as ethics psychology theories of knowledge and metaphysical problems
Jatakas
Non Canonical Literature
Stories on previous births of Buddha
Invaluable light in social and economic conditions ranging from 6th century BC to 2nd century BC.
Jain Texts
Written in Prakrit
Angas Upangas prakirnan Chhedab sutras malasutras
Compiled 6th century AD
Valabhi, Gujarat
Reconstruct political history of eastern UP and Bihar
Repeatedly refer to trade and traders
Law Books
Dharmasutras and Smritis together known as Dharmashashtras
500 to 200 BC
Duties for different varnas as well as for kings and their officials
Rules for holding selling and inheritance of property
Punishments for assault murder adultery
Manusmriti
Role of man and woman in society
Code of conduct and relationship
Visakhdutta
Playwriter
Plays
- Mudra Rakshas
- Dev Chandra Gupta
Harisena
Amongst great poets and play writers of Gupta Period
Poems praising valour of Samudra Gupta
Inscribed in Allahabad Pillar
Ashvaghosha
Buddhacharitra Biography of Buddha
Saundarnanda Sanskrit Poetry
Patronised by Kushana Kings
Charak
Books on medicine
Sushruta
Books in surgery
Madhava
Book on Pathology
Varahamihira
Books on astronomy
Aryabhatta
Books on astronomy
Astrology Books
Lagdhacharya
Somadeva
Kathasaritsagar
Jaidev
Geet Govinda finest Poems of Sanskrit
Machana Somanatha
Court Poet of Bukka 1
Poem Uttaraharivamsam
Krishnadevaraya
Poet of great merit
Telugu Literature
Amukta Malyada : Excellent prabandha in Telugu Literature
Ashtadiggajas
Eight Telugu literary luminaries
Among them
-Allasani Peddana
- Author of Manucharitram was the greatest
- Andhra Kavitapitamaha
Other seven poets
- Nandi Timmana : - Author of Parijathapaharanam
- Madayagari Mallana
— Rajashekharacharitra war and lives of Rajashekhara King of Avanti
- Dhurjati
—devotee of Shiva
—two poems Kalahasteeswara Mahatmayam, Kalahasteeswara Satakam
- Ayyalaraju Ramanhadra Kavi
— Author if Rambhyudayam Sakalakathasara Sangraham
- Pingali Surana
—Raghavpandaviyam : Mahabharat and Ramayan together
—Kalapuranodayam
- Ramaraja Bhushana
— Vasucjaritram
— also known as Bhattumurti
— Narasabhupaliyam
— Harishchandra Nalopakhyanam
- Tenali Ramakrishna
—Court Jester
— Practical Jokes in high placed men
— Panduranga Mahatmayam (poem)
Madhava
Jain scholar
Dharmanathapurana ( on 15 th Tirthankara)
Kannada lit
Uritta Vilasa
Dharma Parikshe
Kannada
