Continuation for Indian Literature

1. Reporter: Ronald L. Rubi

2. Sanskrit is the mother of
many Indian languages. The Vedas,
Upanishads, Puranas and
Dharmasutras are all written in
Sanskrit. By reading about the
languages and literature created in
the past, we shall be able to
understand our civilization better and
appreciate the diversity and richness
of our culture.

3. Sanskrit is the most ancient language of India. The
literature in Sanskrit is vast, beginning with the most
ancient thought embodied in the Rig Veda, the oldest
literary heritage of mankind, and the Zend Avesta. It was
Sanskrit that gave impetus to the study of linguistics
scientifically during the eighteenth century. The great
grammarian Panini, analysed Sanskrit and its word
formation in his unrivalled descriptive grammar
Ashtadhyayi.
Sanskrit is perhaps the only language that
transcended the barriers of regions and boundaries.
Kalhan’s Rajatarangini gives a detailed account of the
kings of Kashmir whereas with Jonaraja we share the glory
of Prithviraj. The writings of Kalidasa have added beauty to
the storehouse of Sanskrit writings.

4. The Vedas are the earliest known literature in India. The
Vedas were written in Sanskrit and were handed down
orally from one generation to the other.
The word “Veda” literally means knowledge. In Hindu
culture, Vedas are considered as eternal and divine
revelations.
There are four Vedas, namely, the- Rig Veda, Yajur
Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. Each Veda
consists of the Brahmanas, the Upanishads and the
Aranyakas.

5. The Rig Veda is the earliest of the
Vedas.
It is a collection of 1028 hymns in
Vedic Sanskrit. Many of these are
beautiful descriptions of nature.
The prayers are largely for seeking
worldly prosperity.
The most often addressed gods
were nature gods like Indra (rain
god; king of heavens), Agni (fire
god), Rudra (storm god; the
howler), Soma (the draught of
immortality, an alcoholic brew)

6. Yajur means sacrifice or
worship.
This Veda is concerned mostly
with rites and mantras of different
sacrifices. It gives directions for
the performance of the Yajnas.
There are two major branches of
Yajur Veda, namely Shukla and
Krishna Yajur Veda i.e.
Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taitriya
Samhita.

7. Sama means melody or songs.
This Veda consists of 16,000 ragas
and raginis or musical notes. Out of
total 1875 verses only 75 are original
and others are from the Rig Veda.
The Sama Veda prescribes the
tunes for the recitation of the hymns
of the Rig Veda. It may be called the
book of Chants (Saman). This book
is an evidence of the development of
Indian music during this period.

8. The Atharva Veda is also known as
the Brahma Veda.
It contains treatment for ninety-nine
diseases.
The source of this Veda is traced to
two rishis called Atharvah and
Angiras. The Atharva Veda is of
immense value as it represents the
religious ideas at an early period of
civilization.
It has two branches, the Paippalada
and the Saunaka. This book gives
detailed information about the family,
social and political life of later Vedic
period.

9. These books gave a detailed explanation of Vedic
rituals and instructions and deal with the science of
sacrifice.
The latter portions of the Brahmanas were called the
Aranyakas while the final parts of the Aranyakas are
philosophic books named Upanishads which belong to
the later stage of the Brahmana literature.
The Arayankas deal with soul, birth and death and life
beyond it.
These were studied and taught by men in Vanprastha
i.e. Munis and the inhabitants living inside the forests.

10. The word Upanishad is
derived from upa (nearby),
and nishad (to sit-down), that
is, “sitting down near”.
There are more than 200
known Upanishads, one of
which, the Muktika, gives a list
of 108 Upanishads – this
number corresponds to the
holy number of beads on a
mala or Hindu rosary.

11. The Ramayana of Valmiki is the original Ramayana.
It is called Adikavya and Maharishi Valmiki is known as Adi Kavi.
The other epic, the Mahabharata, was written by Ved Vyas.
It was written in Sanskrit and contained 8800 verses and was
called “Jaya” or the collection dealing with victory.
The final compilation brought the verses to 100,000, which came
to be known as the Mahabharata or the Satasahasri Samhita.
The Mahabharata contains the famous Bhagavad Gita which
contains the essence of divine wisdom and is truly a universal
gospel.

13. The Puranas occupy a unique
position in the sacred literature of
the Hindus.
Some of the well known Puranas
are - Brahma, Bhagvat, Padma,
Vishnu, Vayu, Agni, Matsya and
Garuda.
Puranas are mythological works
which propagate religious and
spiritual messages through
parables and fables.

15. Commonly known as Mahatma
Gandhi, was the preeminent leader
of Indian nationalism in British-
ruled India. Employing non-
violence, civil rights and freedom
across the world.
He became a leader of Muslims
protesting the declining status of
Caliphate.
He is known as the Father of the
Nation, but was assassinated on
30 January 1948 by a Hindu
nationalist.

16. a Noble Laureate, being the great
poet has contributed a lot to Indian
Literature
Tagore had an early success as a
writer in his native Bengal.
The first non-European to win a
Nobel Prize
His most notable work is Gitanji
(Song Offerings).

17. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan 4th wife.
Mumtaz Mahal was married to another man
who was killed by Shah Jahan so that he
could marry her.
Mumtaz Mahal was died in 1631 while
delivering her 14th child.
It took her husband 22 years and most of his
royal treasury to build a monument befitting
the memory of his beloved wife.
Taj Mahal, meaning “crown of palaces” in
Arabic, was built by the 5th Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal, which is a
symbols of love for many, is located in the
city of Agra in Uttar Pardesh province of
India.

18. Shah Jahan married Mamtaz
Mahal’s sister after her death.
Shah Jahan’s sons fought a battle,
called Battle of Samugarh, against
each other for the crown.
There was no state funeral for Shah
Jahan. He rules India from 1628 until
1658.
Shah Jahan was laid to rest next to
his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in the
Taj Mahal.

19. Also known as Akbar the Great
The 3rd Mughal Emperor
He is most appreciated for having a
liberal outlook on all faiths and
beliefs.
He was fond of literature and had
several Sanskirt works translated
into Persian.

20. She was considered as the Iron Lady
and Prime Minister of India who made
the enemies even bow before her.
She served as the third Prime Minister
for three consecutive terms (1966-1977)
and a fourth term (1980-14984).
She was the first woman to become
Prime Minister in India and the daughter
of Jawarlahar Nehru.
She remains as the world’s second
largest serving female Prime Minister of
2012.
She was assassinated by her Sikh
bodyguards in retaliation for ordering
Operation Blue Star.

21. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born
August 26, 1910, in Macedonia to a
financially comfortable Albanian family
(they owned two houses, one of which
they lived in).
Agnes was fascinated with
missionaries from an early age, and by
12 she knew that she would commit
herself to a religious vocation.
She took her vows as a nun in 1931,
choosing the name Teresa to honor
Saints Therese of Lisieux and Teresa
of Avila.

22. Mother Teresa was honored with many awards throughout
her life, from the Indian Padma Shri in 1962 to the inaugural
Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971 to Albania’s Golden
Honour of the Nation in 1994… and, most famously, the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
She refused the traditional Nobel honor banquet, instead
requesting that the $192,000 budget be given to help the
poor of India.
She continued her work with the poor for the rest of her
life, leading the Missionaries of Charity until just months
before her death Sept. 5, 1997.
The Catholic Church has begun to move Mother Teresa
along the steps toward sainthood, and she was beatified in
2003. Her official title is now Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.