Ancient History 1.

1
Presented by: Dr. Roman Saini DD
Doubt Demolisher
 Sources of Indian History

Literary:

Religious (Vedic, Buddhism, Jainism, Sangam)

Non-religious (Social, Political, Economic etc.)

Archaeological ( Inscription/ Epigraphy, Numismatics/Coins, Monuments)

Foreigner Details (Greek, Chinese, Arab travellers)

 Literature
Vedas: Vidi- to know, Shruti- to hear , verbal transmission,

Rig vedas (1500-1000 BC): Prayers, Upveda- Ayurveda, 10 mandals/chapters/sections

Later Vedic age (1000-600 BC):

Samaveda: Saman means melody, collection of melodies and tunes , MUSDA SAGA,
Music and Dance Samanveda, Upveda: Gandharvaveda, hymns dedicated to Soma,
Indra, Agni

Yajurveda: Rituals for performing sacrifices RIYAJ, Upveda: Dhanurveda i.e.

archery

Atharvaveda: Magical charms and spells to ward off evil. Upveda-Shilpaveda on

architecture MATH
 Vedangas

Part of Vedas:

Shiksha: Phonetics

Kalpa: Rituals

Vayakarna: Grammar

Jyotisha: Astrology

Nirukta: Etymology

Chhanda: Prosody
Aranyak: Forest books, by and for hermits, students spending time in
relative isolation in jungle etc., opposed sacrifices and rituals, stress on
moral virtues

Upanishads: Upnish- to sit down near guru, selected students, to learn,

all main ideas of schools of Hindu philosophy, 108, Satyameva Jayate-
Mundakopnishad, dialogue between Yama and Nachiketa-
Kadopnishad

Puranas: Ancient explanations, Gupta period, systematic record of

Indian historical traditions, 18 puranas, oldest Matsyapurana-
Satvahan period
 Buddhist Literature
Jatakas: Story of previous births of GB

Pitakas: Pali term meaning basket

Vinay pitak: Code of conduct followed by Buddhist monks

Sutta pitaks: Religious ideas of GB. Anand compiled it

Abhidhamma pitak: Philosophical ideas of GB, Ashoka the Great important

contributions

Milanda Panho: Menander, an Indo-Greek ruler, conversing with and questioning

Nagasena, a buddhist monk

Angutar Nikaya: Contain information on 16 Mahajanpads

 Jain Literature
Language: Prakrit

Kalpa Sutra: Initial history of Jains

24 tirthankars: First Rishab Dev, 24th: Mahavir

Nayadhamma Kaha: Doctrines of Mahavir

Acharanga Sutra: Code of conduct followed by Jains

 Sangam Literature
Language: Tamil

SilappaDiagrama (The jewelled anklet): Ilangovedigal, Kovalan, Madhavi (court

dancer), Kannagi (Patni pooja) or wife worshipping

Menimegalai: Sattanr, Daughter of Madhavi and Kovalan, after Kovalan death,

Madhavi converted to Buddhism, most balanced book of music, poetry and drama,
religious theme.

Tolkappiyam: Tolkappiyar, social and religious conditions, best book on Tamil

Grammar
 Epigraphy

Study of Inscriptons

Oldest : Harappa not yet deciphered

Oldest deciphered : Ashokan inscriptions 1837 by James Princep, Civil servant

in EIC

Territorial extent, developments, achievements of ruler

Mehrauli pillar: Chandragupta II, Qutub Complex, rust free till date
 Numismatics

Study of Coins, depicts faces of rulers ,trees, gods, animals socio-economic importance

Harappa and Rig vedic age(No currency, barter, exchange of goods , double co-
incidence of wants)

Later Vedic age (1000-600 BC) : Nishka gold coin

Mauryan Empire ( 4th Century BC): Punch marked coins k/a Pana/
Karshpana ( mix of Ag and Cu)

Rupya : Sher Shah Suri

 Monuments
Social and religious life, stage of development in field of architecture

Innumerable so will require a separate video lesson

2 important outside India are:

Angkor Wat temple: Cambodia, Hindu ,then subsequently a Buddhist the

largest religious monument in the world, KhmerKing Suryavarman II in the
early 12th century, Vishnu not Shiva

Borobudur Stupa of Java: Mahayana Buddhism

 Foreigners’ accounts
Greek:

Herodotus ( Historica),

Aristobulus and Onesicritus (326 BC, Alexander the Great),

Megasthenese (14 years in India, Indica, CGM), Daimachus (Syrian, came in

Bindusara court), Dionysis (Ashoka), Pliny (Naturalis historica- trade
relationship between Roman empire and India, Ist century AD), Ptolemy
(Geography-Indian soil, birds, territories), Periplus of the Erythrean Sea
80-115 AD, Anonymous, Best book
Chinese travellers

Faxian: Fo-kuo-ki (Records of Buddhist kingdom), Chandragupta-II (social life

of Gupta period)

Xuanzang/Hsüan-tsang; Si-yu-ki, Prince of Pilgrims, 16 years stay in India,

Harshvardhan, Nalanda university

Arab travellers:

Al-Biruni: Khiva (Uzbekistan), Kitab-ul-Hind, Tahakik-i-Hind, 1017 Mahmud

of Ghazni, interpreter and great scholar of Indian science, Maths, astronomy,
arabic and sanskrit, influenced by Bhagvad Gita, ‘Indians are genius but
arrogant, do not share knowledge, historians do not write in chronological order’
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