INDIAN LITERARURETIME:

2500 B.C---A.D 1500PLACE:INDIA

Literary SignificanceIndia boasts a rich, diverse, and long

lasting literary tradition. Most westerner's are surprised to discovered that the Indian literary tradition contains more texts than the ancient Greek and Roman traditions combined.

The Earliest Indian Literature has survived from the Aryan migration the occurred around 1500 B.C. The Literature of this period is called VEDIC LITERATURE, after the Vedas, Collections of sacred hymns.

In the Sixth Century B.C Indian Literature entered its classical Period, which lasted about A.D 1000 B.C. The literature of this period, which includes EPICS, COURT POEMS, and DRAMAS, was written in Sanskrit, an elite language known for its formality and richness of expression.

Both the Vedic and classical literatures reflect the beliefs of India’s Dominant religion, Hinduism. Such central Hindu concepts as DHARMA, KARMA and reincarnation feature prominently in the literature of the classical period. This includes the Indian epics the MAHABHARATA and RAMAYANA, as well as the less lofty but thoroughly entertaining beast fables represented in the PANCHATANTRA and other collections.

THE VEDIC PERIOD in INDIA

The first literary period in IndiaThis period name for VEDAS

VEDAS >its is a set of hymns that form to cornerstone of the Aryan culture. > Hindus’ believe that it is the most sacred of all literature.

RIG VEDAS > oldest existing Vedic hymns > featuring poems of praise to the beauty of the earth of the wonder of existence.

THE CLASSICAL PERIOD: The Legacy of Sanskrit

SANSKRIT>“perfect speech”> one of the most important legacies of

Indian’s ancient literary tradition.> considered a sacred language, the

language spoken only the god and goddesses.

“Sanskrit had become a fixed and frozen literary language the would change very little over the centuries to come”

LITERATURE DURING the CLASSICAL PERIOD

2 GREAT EPICSMahabharataRamayana

>these works had been part of India’s oral traditions for centuries, but they were finally written down in more-or-less fixed during the classical period.Panchatantra

>a world classic that has appeared in some two hundred versions in many different languages.

HINDUISM: The Key to Indian Culture

Hinduism evolved from the beliefs of the ancient Aryans of the Vedic period.

More the religion A way of life Endless variety of beliefs, rituals and

gods.3 particular deities

1. Brahma --- the Creator2. Vishnu--- the protector3. Shiva --- the destroyer

LESSON OF INDIAN LITERATURE: Following One’s Dharma

Dharma >comes from the Sanskrit verb meaning “to hold”.

> in English “religion”

The Caste System in India

VARNA> “color” or “rank” to refer to the

order of the various caste in the Society.

“the caste system in India finds its origins in the Vedic Hymns of the ancient Aryans”

KARMA and REINCARNATION

O Karma^ is a Sanskrit word meaning “action”.

O Reincarnation ^ “transmigration of soul”

BUDDHISM----The Search for Spiritual Peace

O BuddhismO great religious and political ferment marked the

close of the Vedic age.O Founded by: Siddhartha Gautama .

THE GUPTA EMPIRE

Gupta Dynasty>the next political power in India.> which controlled most of northern India from 320 A.D to 467.

“ Hinduism reached a full flowering during the Gupta Empire. ( A.D 320-

467).”

UNITY THRUOGH DIVERSITY

Indian culture maybe characterized as a struggle to achieve unity in the face of enormous diversity.

In many ways, it has been the geography of India– the land itself – that has ultimately unified India’s multitude of languages, customs, and beliefs.

For its classical literature of India– the Epics, Dramas, Poems, and Tales the we see again and again, the expressions of the Hindu belief in the connection b/w all living things and their oneness in the divine unity.

THANK YOU!!!TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY

=D