Religious texts-Religious literature

Religious literature

The attitude of Indian mystics has always been spiritual. Therefore, the religious element was predominant in his works. These religious texts also have a very important place as a means of history. The Brahmanic texts contribute highly in providing knowledge of ancient Indian history. The oldest literature of India is primarily religious. There are many Brahmin books by which the story of ancient India's civilization and culture is known. They are the following main-

Religious literature

Brahmin scripture-

 Vedas (वेद) –

The Vedas occupy an important place in the Brahmin Religious texts. Vedas are four-

 Rigveda (ऋग्वेद)                     Yajurveda (यजुर्वेद)

 Samveda (सामवेद)                  Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेद)

Vedas literally means knowledge. The ancient knowledge of ‘Arya Rishis’ is safe in these Vedas. This shows that who was the original resident of India, how they spread in different parts of India, how was their internal division, how they fought with their enemies, and how they influenced them. Together with all these things, it also shows how the religious, political, economic, cultural and social conditions of India in the Vedic period.

Upanishad and Brahmin literature (उपनिषद और ब्राम्हण ग्रन्थ) –

Upanishads have an important place after the Vedas as a means of ancient Indian history. From the Upanishads and the texts, we get information from the time of King Parikshit (परीक्षित) till the end of Bimbisara (बिम्बिसार). The Yagyas are described in great detail in the Brahmin texts. The social, economic and political conditions of the time have also been highlighted in between.

Sutra – literature (सूत्र – साहित्य) –

Sutras - Literature is very helpful in giving cultural information about ancient India. Sutra - Literature is divided into three departments - Kalpasutra (कल्पसूत्र), Grihasutra (गृह्ससूत्र) and Dharmsutra (धर्मसूत्र).The Kalpasutra mentions Vedic yagyon. In Grihasutra's description of rites, rituals and seasonal yagyas have been written in detail. It provides adequate knowledge of the then religious, economic and social conditions. The Dharmasutra contains a very beautiful description of the political, religious and legal system.

Religious literature-Epic

Epic( Maha-kavya) – (महाकाव्य) –

There are two ancient epics of India ---

Ramayana and Mahabharata. Valmiki Ji composed Ramayana. In this, he has mentioned about Ram's life in detail. From this description, we get the knowledge of the debates of the then history. Similarly, Ved Vyasa Ji composed the Mahabharata. Mahabharata can also be called a mirror of many conditions of ancientIndia. The creator has prepared a tableau of the then life by making a detailed mention of all aspects of life. These two texts are considered by scholars as historical texts.

Puran (पुराण) –

Purana literally means 'ancient'. Therefore, all ancient literature comes in Purana literature. Under this, religion, history, narrative, science, etc. of India are all described. All the historical material is full of these Puranas. The Puranas are sometimes considered by contemporary dynasties or rulers to be successors and some are left out altogether. For example, the Puranas are silent about the Kushans, Indo-Greeks (इंडो-ग्रीक) and Indo-Parthini(इंडो-पार्थिनी). Dates are not given in these. The names of the kings are often given uncertain. Table of Andhra kings. Despite these two, it has been said that the Puranas help a lot in creating ancient history.

Memories (स्मृतियाँ) –

After the sutra-literature, Smriti-Shastra emerged in India. Manusmriti मनुस्मृति and Yagyavalkya याज्ञवल्क्य Smriti have special significance in the memories. Manusmriti मनुस्मृति has mentioned the ideals of Hindu society. Therefore Manu Maharaj's Manusmriti मनुस्मृति has special respect in Hindu society.

Buddhist literature (बौद्ध-साहित्य) –

Like Brahmin-literature, Buddhist literature is also helpful in the formation of ancient Indian history. The religious principles of Buddhists are stored in Tripitakon. There are three parts of Buddhist literature- (1) Jataka (जातक), (2) Pitak (पिटक) and (3) Nikaya (निकाय).

Religious literature 

Jataka (जातक) –

Buddha is the story of previous births of God. Although the description of the Jataka was imaginative and exaggerated, yet in this, the social conditions of Buddha God are described in a very beautiful way. Pitakon (पिटकों) also have important places in Buddhist literature.

These are the Pitaka (पिटक)  three--

Vinayapitak(विनयपिटक), Abhidhammapitak(अभिधम्मपिटक), Suttapitak (सुत्तपिटक)."

Vinayapitak (विनयपिटक) –

In Vinayapitaka, there are ethics, thoughts, prohibitions, and descriptions related to the union of monks and daily. The Sutta-Pitaka (सुत्त-पिटक) describes the religious principles of the Buddha God.

Its five Nikaya which are as under—1) Dirghanikaya (दीर्घनिकाय), 2) Majjhimnikay (मज्झिमनिकाय), 3)Sanyukt Nikaya (सयुक्त निकाय), 4)Anguttaranikaya (अंगुत्तरनिकाय), and 5) Khuddanikaya (खुद्दनिकाय). Vedantic principles are discussed in the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Among the books of Pali literature(पाली साहित्य) in Milindpanho(मिलिन्दपन्हो), Deepavansh(दीपवंश) and Mahavansh(महावंश) are particularly notable. Milindopanho(मिलिन्दपन्हो) has a conversation between the Greek King Milind and the Buddha monk Nagasen. The history of Lanka is described in the Deepvansh(दीपवंश) and the Mahavansh(महावंश). By the way, both of these texts are composed of crafty facts, yet they get some material from historical material.

For example, the first information about Chandragupta Maurya comes from these religious texts. Mahavastu(महावस्तु), Lalitvistar(ललितविस्तार), Buddhacharit(बुद्धचरित), Saundaranand Kavya(सौन्दरानंद), Divyavadan(दिव्यवदन) and Manjushri Moolakulpa(मंजुश्री मूलकुल्प) are particularly notable. Apart from these, there is enough historical material in the works of Mahakavi Ashwaghosh(महाकवि अश्वघोष). Information about the history of Asoka's successors to Pushyamitra(पुष्यमित्र) Shung(शुन्ग) is received. 'Manjushree Moolakalp' presents a brief history of ancient dynasties.

Jain literature (जैन-साहित्य) –

Religious literature

Like Buddhist literature, Jain literature also provides us enough historical knowledge. Jain Agamas जैन आगम is more important in these. It has 12 angs(अंग), 12 upang(उपांग), 10 prakirn(प्रकीर्ण), 6 chhand sutra(छंद सूत्र). It has not been created in any one person and time. In fact, it must have been composed in the long run from the fourth century AD to the sixth century AD with the great efforts of various economic musicians and individuals. Special significance is given to the Appendix Fiesta. The author of this book is considered Hemchand.

Bhadrabahucharitra भद्रबाहुचरित्र learns the

history of the time of Chandragupta

Maurya. Similarly, Katha Kosh कथा कोष,

Trilok Pragyapti त्रिलोक प्रज्ञप्ति, Bhagavatisutra भगवतीसूत्र, Kalikapurana कालिकापुराण, and

Lokvibhag लोकविभाग have special significance. There are 12 angs(अंग) of the main religious text of Jains. There is also sufficient historical content from Jain literature. The Jain texts, especially the fifth and sixth centuries, highlight the important events of the East.

'I hope you have liked this post 'Religious literature', then you must comment and share and subscribe to this website through your email so that you can get the next post on email.'


                                                                                                                             Thank you!