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- Exploring Indian Literature in the Ancient Period | LEC 18 by Aadesh
Exploring Indian Literature in the Ancient Period | LEC 18 by Aadesh
Delve into the rich Indian literary traditions of the ancient period with LEC 18 by Aadesh. Discover the significance of literature as a reflection of society, gaining insight into the past, present, and future. Explore the Vedas, one of the world's oldest surviving texts written in Sanskrit.
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Video Transcript
Indian Literature
Part 1
Literature is called the mirror of society.
Literature reflects the conditions of society.
Through literature, we can go back to our past
and understand the perspectives of our ancestors.
Not only can we better understand our present culture and society,
but we can also help us predict our future trajectory.
can help us to predict the future.
That's why literature is very important for society.
If we take our country India,
then its literary traditions have always been very strong.
Vedas is considered one of the oldest literatures in the world.
It is the oldest surviving text of Indian civilization.
Vedas was written in Sanskrit language.
Sanskrit and Vedas can actually be called the foundation stone of Sanatan Dharma and Indian civilization.
Where Vedas represent religious literature, many non-religious literatures were also written in ancient India.
The dramas and poetry written by Kalidas are no less than masterpieces.
They have not only been translated into India but also into many languages of the world.
has been translated into many languages.
India's literary history is actually like an unbroken chain
which connects our present with the past.
Friends, in today's video, we will understand India's literary history.
In this video, our focus will be on the literature of Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit and Dravidian languages.
Sanskrit is one of the oldest surviving languages in the world,
whose development, Vedic age, started around 1500 BC.
Sanskrit is called the mother of all Indo-Aryan languages
because its influence is not only seen on Prakrit, Pali, Dravidian languages,
but also borrows languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Assamese etc. from Sanskrit.
In the Sanskrit literature of ancient India, Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and many non-religious texts such as Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kalidas's Abhigyanashakuntalam etc. are included.
So let's start with Sanskrit literature.
The starting of Sanskrit literature is with Vedas.
Vedas
The literal meaning of Vedas is knowledge.
Vedas are considered divine or eternal in Sanatana Dharma.
Vedas are considered the sacred text of Sanatana Dharma,
but Vedic knowledge is not restricted to any particular sect or geographical area.
It treats the whole universe as one family.
and prayers for peace, prosperity, health and happiness.
Historians believe that Vedas were composed between 3000 BC to 1000 BC.
For a long time, they were transmitted from generation to generation orally.
Around 600 BC, Vedas were compiled in written form.
Vedas are of four major types – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda.
Rig Veda is the oldest among the Vedas. It has 1028 individual Sanskrit hymns.
Rig Veda is the oldest surviving composition of any Indo-Aryan language.
Rig Vedic bhajans are mostly based on themes like life, death, creation, sacrifice.
are based on themes like that.
Mostly Rig Vedic hymns
are dedicated to Indra,
i.e. the rain god.
