¤ History of Indian Literature
The number of officially recognized languages in India is 22 in number. This huge variety of languages has made a significant contribution in the ancient Indian literature. India was one of the first places in the world to start the writing system and this began in around the 2500 BC. This was the Harappan writing. After the invasion of the Aryans around 1500 BC, the system of writing by the Harappans was forgotten and for the next 1000 years no one in India had the knowledge of writing.
It was only around the 500 BC when people in India took to writing again and this marked one of the important episodes in the history of ancient Indian literature. It is believed that the Persians writing could have had some influence in the Indian writing at that time. However, the Persian script was not used and alphabetic writing was used. This writing was what we know as Sanskrit. Some of the notable ancient Indian literary works are:
* Vedas
* Ramayana and Mahabharata
* Vaastu Shastra
* Arthashastra
* Recognition of Shakuntala
* Raamcharitmaanas
* Sangam poetry
* Prabhrita and Chudaman
Ancient Indian literature signifies the earliest known and acknowledged form in Indian literary traditions, which manifests its very first traces through the system of oral transmittance, or by word of mouth. Even prior to the arrival of Aryans into India, the legendary Indus Valley Civilization possessed amongst them the custom of `gurukul` education. Gurukul essentially symbolised that a child during his boyhood was to leave his home and travel to his guru`s (teacher) place in the ashram, wherein he was to receive his absolute education, which was to be imparted orally. Such guru-shishya (relationship between a student and his teacher) educating fashion had paved way for the very first transmission of legends, stories, myths or facts, which further witnessed the gradual descending of these knowledge from generations to generations.
Indian literature is considered one of the oldest in the world. The Ancient Indian Literature dates back to the Vedic Age. The oldest literary work of India is the Rig Veda. It also happens to be the world's oldest literary work. The ancient literature is the crowning glory of the Indian civilization. No other part of the world has produced such voluminous literature of knowledge and wisdom. The Vedas are the most celebrated possessions of the mankind. The Rig Veda is the oldest literary work in the history of the world. The Vedas are the exquisite expressions of the Divinity. They are the first significant utterances on the lips of man.
The scriptures of ancient Indian literature are classified into two categories - The Shruti literature and The Smriti literature. Shruti literature concerns 'the revealed' or 'the heard' whereas the Smriti literature concerns 'the remembered.'
¤ Shruti Literature
The word shruti has been derived from a Sanskrit word 'shrut' which means 'to hear'. In the ancient times, the great sages used to do tapasya and sadhana and could 'hear' the divine truths. These divine truths were presented in the Vedas and Upanishads. The Vedas and Upanishads are a part of the Shruti literature. Shruti literature is inviolable and veritable.
Historians have also ascribed the word Shruti to the Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) system, where the disciple hears directly from the guru. On the other hand, some other explanations attribute Shruti to the revelation of truth through hearing, which is linked more closely to the sound of AUM (OM) being the utmost truth. Shruti are considered the principal text. Shruti has higher authority over any other document and Shruti constitutes the Vedas; Bhagavad Gita also is known as Shruti.
¤ Smriti Literature
Smriti literally stands for `remembered or memorised`. Based on Shruti literature, the Smriti literature incorporated in its texts the knowledge which was acquired through tradition or experience. The Manu-Smriti, shastras and several other smritis are a part of the Smriti literature. The Smriti literature mainly contains guidelines for moral obligations, ethics, customs and social codes. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are a part of the Smriti literature. Time and place can influence modifications in the Smriti literature.
Smriti is known to have been compiled over a great span of time, related to an assortment of subjects. Smriti though wields comparative lower authority, when associated with Shruti. If there comes about any contradiction between Shruti and Smriti, then Smriti needs to be discarded, while assuming Shruti as the authority. Smriti are divided into 6 basic categories: Dharmashastra, Itihasa, Purana, Sutra, Agama and Darsana.
It was only around the 500 BC when people in India took to writing again and this marked one of the important episodes in the history of ancient Indian literature. It is believed that the Persians writing could have had some influence in the Indian writing at that time. However, the Persian script was not used and alphabetic writing was used. This writing was what we know as Sanskrit. Some of the notable ancient Indian literary works are:
* Vedas
* Ramayana and Mahabharata
* Vaastu Shastra
* Arthashastra
* Recognition of Shakuntala
* Raamcharitmaanas
* Sangam poetry
* Prabhrita and Chudaman
Ancient Indian literature signifies the earliest known and acknowledged form in Indian literary traditions, which manifests its very first traces through the system of oral transmittance, or by word of mouth. Even prior to the arrival of Aryans into India, the legendary Indus Valley Civilization possessed amongst them the custom of `gurukul` education. Gurukul essentially symbolised that a child during his boyhood was to leave his home and travel to his guru`s (teacher) place in the ashram, wherein he was to receive his absolute education, which was to be imparted orally. Such guru-shishya (relationship between a student and his teacher) educating fashion had paved way for the very first transmission of legends, stories, myths or facts, which further witnessed the gradual descending of these knowledge from generations to generations.
Indian literature is considered one of the oldest in the world. The Ancient Indian Literature dates back to the Vedic Age. The oldest literary work of India is the Rig Veda. It also happens to be the world's oldest literary work. The ancient literature is the crowning glory of the Indian civilization. No other part of the world has produced such voluminous literature of knowledge and wisdom. The Vedas are the most celebrated possessions of the mankind. The Rig Veda is the oldest literary work in the history of the world. The Vedas are the exquisite expressions of the Divinity. They are the first significant utterances on the lips of man.
The scriptures of ancient Indian literature are classified into two categories - The Shruti literature and The Smriti literature. Shruti literature concerns 'the revealed' or 'the heard' whereas the Smriti literature concerns 'the remembered.'
¤ Shruti Literature
The word shruti has been derived from a Sanskrit word 'shrut' which means 'to hear'. In the ancient times, the great sages used to do tapasya and sadhana and could 'hear' the divine truths. These divine truths were presented in the Vedas and Upanishads. The Vedas and Upanishads are a part of the Shruti literature. Shruti literature is inviolable and veritable.
Historians have also ascribed the word Shruti to the Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) system, where the disciple hears directly from the guru. On the other hand, some other explanations attribute Shruti to the revelation of truth through hearing, which is linked more closely to the sound of AUM (OM) being the utmost truth. Shruti are considered the principal text. Shruti has higher authority over any other document and Shruti constitutes the Vedas; Bhagavad Gita also is known as Shruti.
¤ Smriti Literature
Smriti literally stands for `remembered or memorised`. Based on Shruti literature, the Smriti literature incorporated in its texts the knowledge which was acquired through tradition or experience. The Manu-Smriti, shastras and several other smritis are a part of the Smriti literature. The Smriti literature mainly contains guidelines for moral obligations, ethics, customs and social codes. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are a part of the Smriti literature. Time and place can influence modifications in the Smriti literature.
Smriti is known to have been compiled over a great span of time, related to an assortment of subjects. Smriti though wields comparative lower authority, when associated with Shruti. If there comes about any contradiction between Shruti and Smriti, then Smriti needs to be discarded, while assuming Shruti as the authority. Smriti are divided into 6 basic categories: Dharmashastra, Itihasa, Purana, Sutra, Agama and Darsana.
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