Overview
To study the origin of our cultural and religious diversification, we need to go back to the ancient times. The times of Vedas & Puranas and the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Going back to those times can help us explore the various sources of ancient history and historiography which can give great insights into our cultural and religious foundation.
Sources of Ancient History and Historiography
Vedas
The word “Veda” is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘vid’ which means knowledge. In the Hindu tradition, the large body of ancient sacred texts and scriptures is known as the Vedas. These scriptures form the religious foundation and philosophical belief of the Hindu culture. Vedas are the most ancient and the most authoritative Hindu scriptures.
Vedas are mainly of four types, namely-
- Rigveda: It consists of several hymns that serve as the source of knowledge for performing any rituals and prayers.
- Yajurveda: It consists of pure mantras that are used in the context of sacrificial ceremonies.
- Samaveda: It consists of melodies and chants that are used during several rituals and ceremonies.
- Atharvaveda: It consists of hymns and spells that help in our day-to-day life situations.
In all Vedas are the Hindu scriptures that play a very important role in everyday life. Whether we talk about rituals, spirituality, morality, etc Vedas are present everywhere.
Epics
Epics are generally long stories or poems about the heroic deeds of someone in the past. It serves as the basis for developing a cultural identity of a specific tradition. In epics common things found are legendary figures, gods, etc. Some common examples of epics in the Hindu tradition are “The Ramayana” and “The Mahabharat”.
Ramayana
Ramayana is the story of the eldest son of the King of Ayodhya, Dasaratha. In this story when the Ayodhya king appoints his eldest son, Ram to be the yuvaraj of the kingdom his youngest queen disagrees. Due to this, Ram along with his wife Sita and younger brother Laxman went to exile for 14 years. In this exile period, Sita was kidnapped by the king of Lanka, Ravan. To rescue Sita, Ram takes help from Hanuman and his allies who all together defeat Ravan on the battlefield. After their return from exile, Ram became the king of Ayodhya but got separated from Sita due to some issues. Afterward, Sita gave birth to two children i.e. Luv and Kush who later reunited with their father Ram.
Ramayana is a Hindu epic poem which is composed by Valmiki. This book is divided into six parts that tell the six phases of Ram’s journey. These phases are:
- Bala Kanda
- Ayodhya Kanda
- Aranya Kanda
- Kishkindha Kanda
- Sundara Kanda
- Yuddha Kanda
The Mahabharatha
Other than Ramayana the other Sanskrit epic of the Hindu tradition is “The Mahabharatha”. It tells us about the war of Kurukshetra and the story of Kauravs and Pandavs. The foundation of this epic is based on four goals of life i.e. Purusartha. This epic serves as a knowledge source for leading the life in the right way.
Ithihasa-purana tradition
It is composed of several Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. In addition, it also consists of several Puranas. The Puranas are the ancient texts that serve as an important source of teachings of life as they include mythological narratives, genealogies, teachings on dharma, etc. These texts are considered an authentic source of knowledge in the Hindu tradition. And, it also influences the Hindu religious beliefs to a greater extent.
Buddhism and Jainism
Both Buddhism and Jainism are two subtypes of the Hindu religion. Both these religions had emerged around the 6th century BCE.
The founder of the Buddhist religion is Siddhartha Gautama, who is also known as Buddha. This religion teaches the four noble truths of life. These truths are:
- the truth of suffering
- the cause of suffering
- the cessation of suffering
- the path to the cessation of suffering i.e. the Eightfold Path.
This religion is mainly spread across the Asia continent and several kinds of people have transformed their lives with the help of the same.
The founder of Jainism is Mahavira, whose life’s main principles are non-violence(ahimsa), non-possessiveness, truthfulness, non-stealing, and celibacy. This religion has been divided into two sections, namely
- Digambara (sky-clad)
- Svetambara (white-clad)
In this religion, people follow strict adherence to vegetarianism and have due respect for all life forms.
Both these religions have had a significant impact on the people of Indian society and have also influenced people around the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sources of ancient Indian history and historiography offer several valuable insights into the rich heritage and culture of ancient India. It tells us that the diversification and the richness that we see in this modern era are the result of the ancient period.
