Sunday 8 October 2017

Ancient Indian Literature, their Period and Historical importance . Part -5, Smriti, Mahakavaya (Epic).




                            Krishna with Arjuna on the Foot and Duryodhana on the Head side.
                                                                    
6. Smriti – In India after the age of “Sutra literature” the age of “Smriti literature” arrived.
Like Sutra, Smriti too influenced the human life and their various works

Various Methods (Vidhi- Nisedh) and Prohibitions were rendered (Pratipadit) to control the (Karya – Kalap) work- crazy.  Manu Smriti and Yaglvakaya Smriti is the oldest.

7. Mahakavaya (Epic)The 2 Mahakavya are Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Everyone knows about them more or less.

They throw light on Indian Politics, Society, Culture, Dharma, Human Nature, Education, family etc of that time and its influence even today, on the society.  

Ramayana is written by Maharishi (Great Sage) Valmiki. In the beginning in ‘Ramayana’ there were 6,000 sloka. In time it became 24,000 and finally 24,000 sloka.

In ‘Ramayana’ one can get actual and neutral story of Rama and Ravana. Ramayana has India’s history, geography, cultural, social condition of that time.

Different races which were living in India and outside of India, they are also mentioned in Ramayana.  

(Later in 15th century during Mugal emperor Akbar period, another Sant Tulsidas wrote ‘Ramcharitmas’, which many take as Ramayana, which is not).

Ramayana’s 2nd to 5 Th Kand (chapter) is said to be original. 1st and 7th kand is added later, which historians say that these are ‘Prachiptans’ (appendix).

Mahabharta - The writing of Mahabharata went through 3 steps

First it was written and known as “Jay”, the number of sloka was 8,800. It was the collection of stories of Victory.

Second time it is written by the name of “Bharat” and the number of sloka went up by 24,000. 

The name changed to ‘Bharat’, because in it the history of Vedic”Bharat” Kul is written.

Third and final edition came by the name as “Mahabharata” and the number of sloka got its final touch 1, 00,000.
 
Another name of ‘Mahabharata’ is “Satsahastri Sanhita” (Collection of 10 million or 1 lakh sloka). Now it became the story of Greater India - Mahabharta.

Mahabharata is written by Ved Vyasa. Most scholars say that the war of ‘Mahabharta’ was fought in between BC ‘2000 – 1000’. 

First time the book of ‘Mahabharata’ is mentioned in ‘Ashwalayan Guha sutra’. 

‘Sankhayan Guha sutra’ mentions the name of Mahabharata preacher ‘Vasampayan’ ‘Jamini’ etc.

Scholars say that Ramayana is composed around 600 BC. In that case Macdonald says that Mahabharta is composed around 500 BC.  

Today in Mahabharta there is 1, 00,000 slokas. But in the beginning in it, there were only 8,8,00 slokas.

In 700 AD, a writer – scholar ‘Kumaril’ mentions “Mahabharta” as a great Smriti

Scholar – writer ‘Ban’ mentions ‘Mahabharta” as a great Epic.   

Another Inscription of 600 AD found in “Cambodia” mentions ‘Mahabharta’ as a religious book

Many Inscriptions of 5th and 6th century AD found time to time in India mentions ‘Mahabharta’.

New additions of ‘Mahabharta’ which came in between 300 AD to 100 AD describes about Temples and Stupa’s.

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