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Thread: Sources of Indian History--revisited

  1. #21
    Contrary to general perception, the Ancient Indians were very good at keeping records of the happenings around them as is evident from the records of seals and sealings collected from various ancient Archeological important sites.

    Again, the Vedic, Puranic, Upanishadic, Great epics, Buddhist and Jain literature and so on belonging to ancient times is there to show to the world that they were second to none in the field of keeping records of the contemporary happenings .

    Tragedy is due to certain reasons like the original records prepared/composed by the ancients have either totally lost or have been interpolated by the later day compilers/editors.
    Last edited by DrRajpalSingh; May 13th, 2013 at 07:44 AM.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to DrRajpalSingh For This Useful Post:

    maddhan1979 (May 16th, 2013)

  3. #22
    Rajatarangini by Kalhana is a very important source of ancient Indian History.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  4. #23
    Arnayakas and Upanishads also throw important light on various aspects of Ancient Indian life and culture.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  5. #24
    Milindapanha is an ancient historic document consists of questions by King Milind and answers by the Buddhist scholar on various issues of contemporary concern.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  6. #25
    Si Yu Ki [The Records of the Western World] by Huen Tsang is a detailed travellogue of first part of seventh century A.D. India which has come as a welcome addition to our knowledge of the Ancient Indian History. It contains references to the places and the kings visited by him and also refers to other issues like religion, pilgrim centres, economy, architectural styles, religious faiths, social set up etc.

    For identification of many lost towns and cities, it has been usefully put to use by Archaeologists in general and Alexander Cunningham in particular.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  7. #26
    Quote Originally Posted by DrRajpalSingh View Post
    Si Yu Ki [The Records of the Western World] by Huen Tsang is a detailed travellogue of first part of seventh century A.D. India which has come as a welcome addition to our knowledge of the Ancient Indian History. It contains references to the places and the kings visited by him and also refers to other issues like religion, pilgrim centres, economy, architectural styles, religious faiths, social set up etc.

    For identification of many lost towns and cities, it has been usefully put to use by Archaeologists in general and Alexander Cunningham in particular.
    Writing about the importance of this Record as source of Ancient Indian History, V A Smith says:

    "The prince of pilgrims, the illustrious Hiuen Tsang, whose fame as Master of Law still resounds through all Buddhist lands, deserves more particular notice. His travels, described in work entitled Records of the Western World, which has been translated into French, English, and German, extended from A.D.629 to 645, and covered an enormous area, including almost every part of India, except the extreme south. His book is a treasure-house of accurate information, indispensable to every student of Indian antiquity, and has done more than any archaeological discovery to render possible the remarkable resuscitation of lost Indian history which has been recently affected."

    He goes on to add: "Although the chief historical value of Hieun Tsang's work consists in its contemporary description of political, religious, and social institutions, the pilgrim has increased the debt of gratitude due to his memory by recording a considerable mass of ancient tradition, which would have been lost bjt for his care to preserve it. The Life of Hieun Tsang, composed by his friend Hwui-li, contributes many details supplemental to the narrative in the records, though not quite so trustworthy."

    Thanks.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  8. #27
    Kautilya's Arthashastra is a first hand account on the ancient India and contains very illuminating description of the polity of his times. He was Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya and has left behind an eye witness record of many aspects of the personality of the Emperor as well as his administrative machinery and rules and regulations governing the country. His narrative is cited to compare and contrast other contemporary sources of Ancient Indian History.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  9. #28
    Fahian, the Chinese Buddhist Pilgrim has left his memoirs and travellogue, which if used with caution, gives a lot of information on the history of ancient India.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  10. #29
    Megasthenes, the author of Indica, in his book on history of the times of Chandragupta Maurya, throws welcome light on many aspects of the contemporary history.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  11. #30
    Those who are interested in understanding Vedic literature in proper perspective,

    the book : VEDIC INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS, vols. I and II, co-authored

    by Arthur Anthony Macdonell and Arthur Berriedale Keith, first edition, London, 1912

    and re-published by Motilal Banarsidass, Indological Publishers and Booksellers, Delhi in 1982,

    is a very useful reference.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  12. #31
    Quote Originally Posted by DrRajpalSingh View Post
    Those who are interested in understanding Vedic literature in proper perspective,

    the book : VEDIC INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS, vols. I and II, co-authored

    by Arthur Anthony Macdonell and Arthur Berriedale Keith, first edition, London, 1912

    and re-published by Motilal Banarsidass, Indological Publishers and Booksellers, Delhi in 1982,

    is a very useful reference.

    This book was published in 1912 and then again in 1982. These books were written in past at the time when there was no electric medium of seeking information i.e. an internet. So the writers had localized knowledge and used references of books, texts etc. which again were written based on localized knowledge. So one should be open minded and not take anything as absolute truth. Rather a person should self question the statements. In this way, it will not be easy to be exploited by any identity.

    It looks like some groups from Punjab region are also interested in our talks. It seems some people are following our talks and ideas. The group seems to have presence in Himachal Pradesh as well.

  13. #32
    Quote Originally Posted by maddhan1979 View Post
    This book was published in 1912 and then again in 1982. These books were written in past at the time when there was no electric medium of seeking information i.e. an internet. So the writers had localized knowledge and used references of books, texts etc. which again were written based on localized knowledge. So one should be open minded and not take anything as absolute truth. Rather a person should self question the statements. In this way, it will not be easy to be exploited by any identity.

    It looks like some groups from Punjab region are also interested in our talks. It seems some people are following our talks and ideas. The group seems to have presence in Himachal Pradesh as well.

    I hope these are not the people, who try to do land grabbing, resource grabbing of people travelling in and out of India.

  14. #33
    Quote Originally Posted by maddhan1979 View Post
    This book was published in 1912 and then again in 1982. These books were written in past at the time when there was no electric medium of seeking information i.e. an internet. So the writers had localized knowledge and used references of books, texts etc. which again were written based on localized knowledge. So one should be open minded and not take anything as absolute truth. Rather a person should self question the statements. In this way, it will not be easy to be exploited by any identity.

    It looks like some groups from Punjab region are also interested in our talks. It seems some people are following our talks and ideas. The group seems to have presence in Himachal Pradesh as well.
    And

    Quote Originally Posted by maddhan1979 View Post
    I hope these are not the people, who try to do land grabbing, resource grabbing of people travelling in and out of India.
    Friend,

    It is beyond comprehension what you want to convey by posting these two posts. Second part of the first post and the second post in toto have no relevance to the topic of discussion. Rather, the terms used by you like 'identity,' 'land grabing,' 'resource grabing' and some groups of people from here and there, bemuse the reader.

    It seems you have not really read or seen the book under reference; otherwise you would not had commented in the way you did.

    They are well researched and beautifully written volumes containing divergence of opinions well received by the authors and as such are mines of information for the beginners !

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  15. #34
    A.B. Keith : History of Sanskrit Literature, (Oxford, 1928) is a classic study of our classicals which is a must read for understanding the Ancient India.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  16. #35
    Max Muller: History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature (London, 1892) and M. Winternitz, History of Indian Literature, English translation Volumes I and II (Calcutta University, 1927, 1933) are very important contribution in the field of study of ancient literature of Sanskrit.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  17. #36
    For those who do not possess good knowledge of Sanskrit, Panini's Astadhyayi with Katyayana's Varttikas, [Madras, 1917); and, Paanini, His Place in Sanskrit Literature by Th. Goldstrucker, (London,MDCCCLXI) give useful direction to study his contribution to our ancient literary heritage.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  18. #37
    For understanding the proper use of modern secondary sources,,

    Historiography: Interpreting Various Historical Writings on Modern India,

    (2013} Jaipur, containing 22 articles by different scholars provides good insight.
    Last edited by DrRajpalSingh; July 3rd, 2013 at 05:47 PM.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  19. #38
    The Tamil Puranas:

    For writing the History of Ancient India none can overlook the presence of Tamil Puranas

    like the Periya Puranam, Thiruvilayadal Puranam and Thiruthondar Puranam etc.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  20. #39
    Some information on the contents of Tamil Puranams:

    Periya Puranam deals with the biographies of saints and is a treasure house of 'Saiva hagiology'.

    Thiruvilayadal Puranam deals with god [Shiva], His activities, His relations with human beings and

    the Pandya kings, people of the Pandya kingdom, their customs and manners etc.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  21. #40
    Again, there are available different types of quasi-historical poems in Tamil-Ulas, Kovai and Parani.

    Ulas are available on both the deities and the kings like the Ekambaranathar Ula and on kings

    like Ottakuttan's on three successive Chola monarchs. These are extant.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

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