Sources of Ancient Indian
History
1. Literary Sources : Vedic, Sanskrit,
Pali, Prakrit and other literature and
foreign accounts.
2. Archaeological : Epigraphic, numismatic
and architectural remains; archaeological
explorations and excavations.
• Study of development of scripts:Palaeography.
• Study of inscriptions: Epigraphy.
• Study of coins: Numismatics
• Study of monuments, material remains:
Archaeology.
LITERARY SOURCES
• Winternitz writes in his work History of
Sanskrit Literature, “It has never been
the Indian way to make a clearly defined
distinction between myth, legend and
history; histography in India was never more
than a branch of epic poetry.”
Puranic Literature
• The Puranic literature is very vast.
• 18 main Puranas, 18 subsidiary Puranas
and a large number of other books.
• In all the Puranas royal genealogies are dealt
with the reign of Parikshit, the grandson of
Arjun, as a benchmark. This may be because
of the fact that the coronation of Parikshit is
considered to be the beginning of Kali Age.
Ramayana, Valmiki
• The composition of Ramayana started in
5BC. It passed through five stages, the fifth
stage being 12AD.
• 6000 verses to 12000 verses and finally
24000 verses.
• As a whole, this text seems to have been
composed later than Mahabharata.
Mahabharata, Ved Vyas
• Reflects the state of affairs between
70BC to 4AD.
• Originally 8800 verses, collection dealing
with victory.
• Later raised to 24000 verses- came to be
known as Bharata after Bharat tribe
• Final compilation: 1 lakh verses and
came to be known as Mahabharata or
Satasahasri Samhita.
• Didactic portion from Post Maurya,
Gupta times.
Vedic Literature
• The Four Vedas : We cannot find much trace
of political history in the Vedas, but can
have reliable glimpses of the culture and
civilization of the Vedic period.
• Vedic literature are entirely in a different
language, which can be called the Vedic
language. Its vocabulary contains a wide
range of meaning and at times different in
grammatical usages.
• It has a definite mode of pronunciation in
which emphasis changes the meaning entirely.
Later Vedic Literature
Brahmanas elaborate on vedic rituals
Aranyakas give discourses on different
spiritual and philosophical
problems.
Upanishads culmination of the vedas
Sulvasutra prescribe measurements
for sacrificial altars. Mark
the beginning of study of
geometry and maths.
Srautasutra account of royal
coronation ceremonies
Grihyasutra domestic rituals with
birth, naming, marriage,
funeral etc.
Jain and Buddhist Literature.
Jain and Buddhist Literature
• Jain literature was written in Prakrit language
• Buddhist literature was written in Pali.
• Since the modern historians have discarded
most of the dynasties mentioned in the
Puranas; and Mahavira and Buddha are
considered historical personalities, only
those portions of the puranic dynastic lists
have been accepted which are supplemented
and supported by the Buddhist and
Jaina literature.
Jataka Stories
• Before he was born as Gautama, the Buddha
passed through more than 550 births, in
many cases in animal-form.
• Each birth story is called Jataka. There are
more than 550 such stories.
• Throw light on socio-economic conditions
between 5BC to 2BC.
Dhamasutras and the Smritis
• These are rules and regulations for the
general public and the rulers.
• It can be termed in the modern concept as
the constitution and the law books for the
ancient Indian polity and society. These are
also called Dharmashastras.
• These were compiled between 600 and 200 B.C.
• Manusmriti and Arthashastra are prominent
among them.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra
• A book on statecraft was written in
the Maurya period.
• The text is divided into 15 chapters
known as books.
• Different books deal with different subject
matter concerning polity, economy and society.
• Even before the final version of Arthashastra
was written in the fourth century B.C.
by Kautilya, there appeared a tradition
of writing on and teaching of statecrafts
because Kautilya acknowledges his debt to
his predecessors in the field.
• Mudrarakshasa, a play written by
Vishakhadatta, also gives a glimpse of
society and culture.
Notable writers
Kalidasa Malavikagnimitram is based
on some events of the reign of
Pushyamitra Sunga dynasty
which followed the Mauryas.
Abhijanashakuntalam: glimpse
of Guptas.
Bhasa and
Sudraka
Wrote plays based on historical
events
Banabhatta Harshacharita throws light on
many historical facts
Vakpati Wrote Gaudauaho, based on the
exploits of Yasovarman of Kanauj
Bilhana Vikramankadevacharita
describes the victories of
the later Chalukya king
Vikramaditya.
Kalhana His book Rajatarangini.
Biographical Writings
Banabhatta’s
Harshacharita
7th AD
Describes the early career
of Harshavardhana-
courtlife and social life in
his age.
Sandhyakar Nandi Ramacharit. 12th AD
Conflict between Kaivarta
peasants and Pala prince
Ramapala. Prince wins.
Bilhana’s
Vikramanak-
adevacharita
On the life of king
Vikramaditya,
the sixth
• Kumarapalacharita of Jayasimha,
• Kumarapatacharita or Duayashraya
Mahakauya of Hemachandra,
• Harnmirakavya of Nayachandra,
• Navasahasankacharita of Padmagupta,
• Bhojaprabandha of Billal,
• Prithuirajacharit of Chandbardai.
• Sangam Literature
• Earliest Tamil text.
These poets assembled in colleges and
compiled poems over a period of 3 to 4
centuries. This is Sangam literature.
• Describes many kings and dynasties
of South India.
• This literature generally describes events
upto the fourth century A.D.
• Total 30,000 lines of poetry
• Arranged in eight Anthologies called Ettuttokai
• Two main groups, Patinenkilkanakku (18
lower collections) and the Pattupattu (ten
songs). The former is older than the latter.
• Some kings and events are supported by
inscriptions also